Gun owners?

[rexbeccarox]

I love to go to the range and unload a clip or two, but I don't own a gun because I have my pick of anything I want to try at the range for $5, and that's the only place I plan on shooting anything harsher than my pepper spray.

[Whateverist]

Clearly not a rational justification for guns and I'm against arming anyone who thinks like this.

And it's exactly these people who have guns...

I hate to do it, but it looks like we're going to have to start shooting these clowns.  

[Minimalist]

Could you give one example of an armed invasion of the US which was stopped by an armed rabble, G-C?

Revolutionary War.

Utterly incorrect.


Even though they were generally part of state militias (and not just every asshole with a gun) it was not until they were given proper training and discipline that they developed the capacity to stand up to the British Army. Washington routinely got his ass kicked until he was able to teach his men to be soldiers and not assholes.  Hence, his commentary about "militia" cited above.  It was the Battle of Monmouth which gave the Limeys the rude awakening that the Yanks had learned to fight.

The closest example you might have come up with would have been the Battle of New Orleans where Andy Jackson scraped together all sorts of people to add to his regular troops to fill out his line.  They were still mainly regulars and militiamen.  Fortunately that day the British were off their game totally and the war was already over although no one knew it.

[Godscreated]

Revolutionary War.

You didn't answer his question.  1) The British colonies were not the U.S.  2) The Revolution would have gone down in flames had it not been for French assistance (both direct and indirect). 

In answer to the OP, I own a 12-guage shotgun.

Sure we were we had declared our independence and protected it.

GC

[Godscreated]

Revolutionary War.

Utterly incorrect.


Even though they were generally part of state militias (and not just every asshole with a gun) it was not until they were given proper training and discipline that they developed the capacity to stand up to the British Army. Washington routinely got his ass kicked until he was able to teach his men to be soldiers and not assholes.  Hence, his commentary about "militia" cited above.  It was the Battle of Monmouth which gave the Limeys the rude awakening that the Yanks had learned to fight.

The closest example you might have come up with would have been the Battle of New Orleans where Andy Jackson scraped together all sorts of people to add to his regular troops to fill out his line.  They were still mainly regulars and militiamen.  Fortunately that day the British were off their game totally and the war was already over although no one knew it.

 The militia was armed by the public, without their guns we would not have had a chance, there was no real central government to to supply arms. Santa Anna found out how scrapy our citizens could be, yes I know they were helped by as central government, but many were self armed, Texacans and their children all owned guns. But I think you understand what I've been saying, the citizens of this country are better armed than the armies of other countries.

GC

[Crossless2.0]

You didn't answer his question.  1) The British colonies were not the U.S.  2) The Revolution would have gone down in flames had it not been for French assistance (both direct and indirect). 

In answer to the OP, I own a 12-guage shotgun.

Sure we were we had declared our independence and protected it.

GC

The U.S. came into existence when the victorious and newly independent colonies adopted a constitution (first the Articles of Confederation and then our current Constitution). Prior to that, there were 13 English colonies in rebellion. The leaders of that rebellion would have been hanged as traitors and the Declaration of Independence wouldn't have been worth the paper it was printed on if the war had been lost, a distinct possibility in 1776. The DOC, as significant a document as it has proven to be, was a piece of propaganda aimed at an international audience to justify the extraordinary steps the rebels had taken -- nothing more. It never had, nor does it have now, any force of law.

Anyway, who are the "we" you referred to?  I certainly had nothing to do with it and neither did you.  We are just the fortunate beneficiaries of that revolution.

[brian1570]

History class is that way >

[Gawdzilla]

New member. Curious as to how many of y'all own? And what your stance on the whole subject is.

Personally I am a former marine and currently enjoy gun smithing as a hobby. Would also love to get into competition shooting one day. But I am a strictly peaceful gun nut. I would never want to take another persons life. Especially that of another American. Even though I can carry in public I generally choose not to.

Retired chief petty officer here. Taught to shoot by a one-legged gunny sergeant. (I called him "Gunny Miyagi" later in life.) I spent most of one summer learning to take care of firearms, how to use them, and safety. Always safety, never had even a near accident in my life. After high school I swung twin .50s in a bow tub for a few years. I recent donated most of my collection to the Smithsonian with a "further trade" option so they could get things with the extra pieces I gave them. They did keep the Navy Colt revolver that Perry took to Japan in 1853. 

As for shooting people, I've shot a few. Last one was in South Central LA. He literally brought a knife to a gun fight.

[Godscreated]

Sure we were we had declared our independence and protected it.

GC

The U.S. came into existence when the victorious and newly independent colonies adopted a constitution (first the Articles of Confederation and then our current Constitution). Prior to that, there were 13 English colonies in rebellion. The leaders of that rebellion would have been hanged as traitors and the Declaration of Independence wouldn't have been worth the paper it was printed on if the war had been lost, a distinct possibility in 1776. The DOC, as significant a document as it has proven to be, was a piece of propaganda aimed at an international audience to justify the extraordinary steps the rebels had taken -- nothing more. It never had, nor does it have now, any force of law.

Anyway, who are the "we" you referred to?  I certainly had nothing to do with it and neither did you.  We are just the fortunate beneficiaries of that revolution.

The we is this country, the people who fought the war. I understand what you are saying, but the war was waged as a unit not 13 separate units.

GC

[Aroura]

I grew up in a rural area, on a small farm, so we had shotguns. I learned to handle guns at young age, and owned my own shotgun until about 24. After living in the big city for a few years, finishing college and getting a job, I realized my gun had been sitting in it's case, locked and untouched for years. It was useless to me in the city, so I sold it.
I'm fine with farmers owning rifles, and people who hunt getting permits for rifles as well.

I'm with those that think that handguns are pretty useless for anything except killing other people. There is no good reason for civilians to own handguns.
There are far too many instances of people with proper training being involved in accidental shootings. Humans are flawed. One small mistake, one moment of inattention, and someone is dead.

I've heard of very few accidental stabbings.