Another shooting in the USA. Remind me about the reason for having guns again. - by SubJeff
Vivian on 6/9/2012 at 10:58
SOMEONE LIST THE PUTATIVE REASONS FOR NEEDING A HANDGUN PLEASE SO THAT I MIGHT SNOBBISHLY (and correctly) DERIDE THEM
edit: ACTUAL QUESTION AND INTENTION despite all caps
faetal on 6/9/2012 at 11:05
I wasn't looking to do that. I'm more coming from a gun-naive (live in the UK, where they scarcely exist as ordinary items) stance of not liking the idea that they *should* be an item people can just have, rather than looking at ways they are statistically less dangerous than toasters or whatever, since a toaster comes with a slew of positive reasons for inclusion in your life. I'm not more right than anyone else, just reeling a little from any mindset of "gun ownership is an important part of my life" which seems distinct from the more pragmatic issue of "guns exist, criminals have guns, so they are a certain amount of necessary if one needs to defend against armed criminals".
If that makes sense (I'm nuts deep in writing a 50k work science report, so my thought processes are a bit mangled when it comes to communicating normally).
jay pettitt on 6/9/2012 at 11:05
1. Shooting trees.
Vivian on 6/9/2012 at 11:16
OK, let's do this. Can anyone provide stats on the percentage of violent crimes that involve a tree, binned by state gun ownership?
well holy shit: (
http://donovan.hnri.info/pubs/crime_final.pdf) The Effects of Trees on Crime in Portland, Oregon
Apparently on domestic property, smaller trees are associated with higher crime rates as they provide cover, whereas larger trees both on domestic property and in public thoroughfares are associated with lowered crime rates. So, using a handgun to defend yourself against trees may be appropriate only if the tree is small and it is on your property. NEXT!
jay pettitt on 6/9/2012 at 11:22
dethtoll lives in America, he'll know.
--edit--
wtf
SubJeff on 6/9/2012 at 11:24
Well lots of items we have don't have a practical use except "we like them". Small pets for example. Recliner chairs. 50" TVs. Lingerie. Most luxuries actually. Sure, you can argue that some have a practical use, like a fancy car still being transport or roller blades having a health benefit.
I don't think the practical use of guns outside hunting is really an issue. Shooting at a range is just a luxury, but as far as I'm concerned thats fine.
One has to divorce this from the inherent dangerous nature of them. If the reason is actually a defence necessity (and there are countries/situations that need this, such as in Israel, farmers in places that have dangerous animals) that's fine. And of course in a country that currently has a number of guns in the hands of criminals.
Vasquez on 6/9/2012 at 11:33
What The Fuck??! :joke:
How about we all just be excellent to each other?
Jason Moyer on 6/9/2012 at 11:34
I've been sexually assaulted by a dude more times than I've had a gun pointed at me. If I lived in a country with real gay rights I'd have to wear a chastity belt, m i rite.
faetal on 6/9/2012 at 11:47
I'm sure if you start selling grenades, there will be people that like them too. My personal opinion is that guns are on the other side of the line I'd personally draw. People will always kill other people, but removing the need to be in arm's reach of them is something which guns makes far too easy IMO. Also, I'm reaching here, but I'd imagine that the psychology behind killing without there being any tactile feedback from the victim allows for greater removal from the act. I'm not going to lie, I simply don't like guns. Well, I do in terms of thinking they are cool in an engineering sense and shooting at targets is fun, I just don't like the culture of aggression which accompanies them, or the idea that gun ownership is tied to individual rights. I get that in the early days of the US, an armed populace was deemed a sensible antidote to tyranny of government, but I seriously doubt anyone can still think that is at all relevant, since military technology has far surpassed the point where home owners with glocks are going to prevent anything.
Vivian on 6/9/2012 at 12:20
Ok, so can we put 2: Shooting the Government?
