Mass Shooting at Colo. Movie Theater, 14 People Dead

[Rich_Olszewski]

Is a man who cannot arm himself free?

I say no. His freedom is an illusion guaranteed by the strength of another.

I say yes. That strength of “another” is that of his government and its armed forces.

 

[rlg94086]

Agree. As it was elsewhere in the “colonies.” Why no War of Canadian (or Aussie or Kiwi, etc.) Independence?

Because they weren’t as successful as the American colonies?

I don’t know. Maybe they prefer(red) having a nanny.

 

[GEddie]

Same reason no one uses the word SUPER POWER when talking of Canada or Australia.

Either one could be a SP if they had our level of population.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Lost_Sheep]

So, why do you need a gun then? What is that says I must possess something that can kill another human being, just because I can?

Do you own a knife? Do you own an automobile? Do you own a hammer or a screwdriver? Do you own a shovel? Do you own a baseball bat, or golf clubs? Do you have a bottle of weed killer out in the shed? Maybe a length of rope?

Why do you have a need to possess something that can kill another human being, just because you can?

 

[liturgyluver]

The question is moot. You can kill another person with just about anything. The problem is not the object, but the motive of the individual. Unless you want to implement thought control to make sure that no-one ever THINKS about hurting another person ever, then your nanny-state solutions will never work. And if you are indeed Catholic, you should know that evil exists in the world and will not go away until Christ returns. If you want to be a pacifist, feel free. Stop imposing yourself on everyone else.

The question is not moot because one-third of homicides in the US are caused by guns so clearly possession has a huge impact. Using your anology it seems that there are more evil people in the US than elsewhere: could that be the answer? I don’t think so.

And please no patronising dross from you about pacifiscm or questioning my catholicity- even your Bishops have decreed that gun use should be restricted. To most western non-Americans possessing a gun would be considered distinctly un-catholic.

 

[tabycat]

Armed citizens are the defenders of society. An armed society is a polite society.

 

[liturgyluver]

Do you own a knife? Do you own an automobile? Do you own a hammer or a screwdriver? Do you own a shovel? Do you own a baseball bat, or golf clubs? Do you have a bottle of weed killer out in the shed? Maybe a length of rope?

Why do you have a need to possess something that can kill another human being, just because you can?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. No. No. No.

What a stupid argument: the primary purpose of all those objects is not to kill. Guns are created to kill. Why would I want one? Or more to the point, why do you feel you must have one?

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Armed citizens are the defenders of society. An armed society is a polite society.

Yeah. Nothing like imposing politeness at the point of a gun. “You’d better be polite to my wife and kids or I’ll shoot you dead!” Sorry, Scott, I don’t operate that way. But, if threatening folks into respecting you is appropriate behavior to you…

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. No. No. No.

What a stupid argument: the primary purpose of all those objects is not to kill. Guns are created to kill. Why would I want one? Or more to the point, why do you feel you musy have one?

They are created for that sure, but they’re main use is to deter.

Because I don’t want to chance being attacked by one of the things Lost listed

 

[GEddie]

Do you own a knife? Do you own an automobile? Do you own a hammer or a screwdriver? Do you own a shovel? Do you own a baseball bat, or golf clubs? Do you have a bottle of weed killer out in the shed? Maybe a length of rope?

While each of these items can kill, and some quite easily, all of them except the automobile require great physical strength, or premeditation or both to do so.

A firearm requires neither. It is designed for killing and nothing else.

Which does not mean nobody should possess one. But it does suggest that regulating them at least as much as we regulate things like cars and poisons, would not be amiss.

ICXC NIKA

 

[rlg94086]

Yeah. Nothing like imposing politeness at the point of a gun. “You’d better be polite to my wife and kids or I’ll shoot you dead!” Sorry, Scott, I don’t operate that way. But, if threatening folks into respecting you is appropriate behavior to you…

You may watch too many movies.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Yeah. Nothing like imposing politeness at the point of a gun. “You’d better be polite to my wife and kids or I’ll shoot you dead!” Sorry, Scott, I don’t operate that way. But, if threatening folks into respecting you is appropriate behavior to you…

I find it odd (well, not really, I’m making a point ) that the frendliest places in the country (Texas and the South and the West) are armed to the teeth.

 

[liturgyluver]

Your understanding of my motives are completely irrelevant to the discussion. As long as I am not violating the rights of anyone else, what business is it of yours to try to use the government to control what I do with my money, what I own, and what I do with the things I own?

I notice you still won’t answer the (simple) question: why do you feel that you need a gun? Is it like a toy? Does it make you feel more masculine? Does it make you feel more powerful perhaps, or exhibit a defiance against the state or your fellow citizens? I will just have to speculate because for some reason you won’t explain. No problem.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

You may watch too many movies.

I’m not the one who suggested that a polite society is guaranteed by the point of a gun.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. No. No. No.

What a stupid argument: the primary purpose of all those objects is not to kill. Guns are created to kill. Why would I want one? Or more to the point, why do you feel you musy have one?

Created to kill? Maybe. Created to kill people? Not necessarily.

If you don’t want one, don’t buy.

I don’t necessarily feel I MUST have one. I just feel safer having one.

 

[liturgyluver]

Created to kill? Maybe. Created to kill people? Not necessarily.

If you don’t want one, don’t buy.

I don’t necessarily feel I MUST have one. I just feel safer having one.

Okay now we are getting somewhere. Thanks for explaining. That is all I wanted to know. Peace.

 

[rlg94086]

I’m not the one who suggested that a polite society is guaranteed by the point of a gun.

Nor did Scott. He said an armed society is a polite society, not a society who points a gun at you will force you to be polite.

 

[Lost_Sheep]

Yeah. Nothing like imposing politeness at the point of a gun. “You’d better be polite to my wife and kids or I’ll shoot you dead!” Sorry, Scott, I don’t operate that way. But, if threatening folks into respecting you is appropriate behavior to you…

“You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word.” -Al Capone

 

[tabycat]

Not one? Are you not aware that many murderers, now serving time, would have been considered as law-abiding gun owners until they pulled the trigger on a wife or husband or other person?

They didn’t turn out to be very law-abiding gun oweners; maybe the government should just grab all guns. :bigyikes:

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

I find it odd (well, not really, I’m making a point ) that the frendliest places in the country (Texas and the South and the West) are armed to the teeth.

Indeed? I live in Arkansas, surely part of the South, and I see no indication that my neighbors are armed to the teeth. Didn’t have that impression either when I lived in San Antonio. Are you speaking of certain towns in Texas and the South and the West? The West? As in San Francisco???