(April 27, 2011 at 8:25 am)reverendjeremiah Wrote: I find it disturbing as well. Then again the second amendment isnt the only freedom that can be abused by irrespeonsible people. How about those uber religious assholes who take their sick children to the church instead of the hospital? I am not trying to change the subject here, this topic deals strictly with guns, but freedoms in general are a double edged sword. Why should I take a responisble persons freedoms away for a few irresponsible people? So I prefer to err in the direction of more freedom than less freedom when I make choices like this.

Witness the abuses of freedom of speech by one F.Phelps.

That's the thing about freedom though, it's not just about the nice bits.(attb. to Terry Pratchett)

In Australia there are no problems with gun ownership, but there are conditions, you need to belong to a club, you need to keep it in a gun safe, a few other things.

But then here owning a gun is just not a big deal, not like it is in the states.

Though I think if you guys imposed a minimum I.Q limit for gun ownership(say an I.Q of 100)

That would eliminate a lot of dramas right there.

Most of the bible belt would be right out for starters.

(April 27, 2011 at 8:54 am)Zen Badger Wrote: Though I think if you guys imposed a minimum I.Q limit for gun ownership(say an I.Q of 100)

Unfortunately, I.Q. would be a poor indicator of whether a person would be a safe gun owner. Some studies seem to suggest that certain mental illnesses, such as severe anxiety and major depression, are more prevalent among intelligent people.

(April 27, 2011 at 11:08 am)Shell B Wrote: Unfortunately, I.Q. would be a poor indicator of whether a person would be a safe gun owner. Some studies seem to suggest that certain mental illnesses, such as severe anxiety and major depression, are more prevalent among intelligent people.

It might work ok. There is a pretty strong correlation between sub-par IQ & criminality. I doubt it'd pass Constitutional muster however.

(April 27, 2011 at 11:08 am)Shell B Wrote: Unfortunately, I.Q. would be a poor indicator of whether a person would be a safe gun owner. Some studies seem to suggest that certain mental illnesses, such as severe anxiety and major depression, are more prevalent among intelligent people.

[sarcastic-over-the-glasses-glance] I wonder why that is?

So why do people want to own fire arms again?

I had a gun when I was younger, killed just about everything that moved, I don't see the attraction anymore. But I suppose one would come in handy if things feel apart.

(April 27, 2011 at 12:54 pm)Jaysyn Wrote: It might work ok. There is a pretty strong correlation between sub-par IQ & criminality. I doubt it'd pass Constitutional muster however.

Yes, but it isn't a fail safe. Plenty of smart people commit murders and plenty of people with low I.Q. scores are not criminals. It is no way near clear cut enough for me.

(April 27, 2011 at 12:57 pm)ib.me.ub Wrote: So why do people want to own fire arms again?

I had a gun when I was younger, killed just about everything that moved, I don't see the attraction anymore. But I suppose one would come in handy if things feel apart.

I used to kill people for $257/month. I didn't correlate that with sport shooting.

BTW, I don't hunt animals. If it doesn't have a fair chance to kill me back, it's no fun in my book.

(April 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote:

(April 27, 2011 at 12:57 pm)ib.me.ub Wrote: So why do people want to own fire arms again?

I had a gun when I was younger, killed just about everything that moved, I don't see the attraction anymore. But I suppose one would come in handy if things feel apart.

I used to kill people for $257/month. I didn't correlate that with sport shooting.

BTW, I don't hunt animals. If it doesn't have a fair chance to kill me back, it's no fun in my book.

there are many animals on this planet that could kill you rather quickly if they so desired.

(April 27, 2011 at 4:36 pm)Cinjin Cain Wrote:

(April 27, 2011 at 4:00 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote:

(April 27, 2011 at 12:57 pm)ib.me.ub Wrote: So why do people want to own fire arms again?

I had a gun when I was younger, killed just about everything that moved, I don't see the attraction anymore. But I suppose one would come in handy if things feel apart.

I used to kill people for $257/month. I didn't correlate that with sport shooting.

BTW, I don't hunt animals. If it doesn't have a fair chance to kill me back, it's no fun in my book.

there are many animals on this planet that could kill you rather quickly if they so desired.

At a thousand meters?

(April 27, 2011 at 4:43 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote:

(April 27, 2011 at 4:36 pm)Cinjin Cain Wrote: there are many animals on this planet that could kill you rather quickly if they so desired.

At a thousand meters?

Many are the animals who will kill you at 1,000 meters. Some are members of NRA.