Some bonsai folks have guns

Cosmos said:
Just a thought.

When the rest of the world talks to Americans about guns, it's not necessarily to say stuff like "guns are evil" or "gun culture is stupid" (in Canada, there is also a strong gun culture is rural regions). I think the main thing we are trying to get at when we look at the US with astonishment is that when everybody has guns and access to guns is super easy, the consequences of mental health issues in a society are magnified.
Click to expand...

id like to point that access to guns is not "super easy" - access to stolen or illegal guns is. background checks and jim crow pistol permits are still required - so if you are a qualifying, non criminal then, yes you can legally obtain a gun. i dont consider that easy - but i dont think obtaining a gun should be difficult for a lawabiding citizen in the first place. that is your right as a citizen and you dont forfeit those rights until you commit a crime. only then should your rights be taken away - thankfully there are still people in this country who want to limit the amount of control (and subsequent abuse) that a govt can inflict on its people.
 
substratum said:
True. Though that is a somewhat recent interpretation (2005). In that case, the facts were, IMHO, egregious, children died, Restraining Orders were demonstrated to be useless, and the Chief of Police should have been fired for the inaction of his agency. Sad that it led to a landmark case like that.

I seriously doubt any Constitutional LEOs (Sheriffs) have ever run on the, "We have no Constitutional obligation to protect you," platform, LOL!
Click to expand...
Hm.. I would say that points to a serious.. Failure of police. But then again, I grew up in a society where individuals are not judge and executioner. And where the police has a role to serve and protect. Glad that I am not living your lives. To me it sounds like a nightmare if you feel the need to have a gun to feel safe.
 
leatherback said:
Hm.. I would say that points to a serious.. Failure of police. But then again, I grew up in a society where individuals are not judge and executioner. And where the police has a role to serve and protect. Glad that I am not living your lives. To me it sounds like a nightmare if you feel the need to have a gun to feel safe.
Click to expand...

people wear seatbelts while driving, use (or at least have) pfds while on the water, lock their doors at night, and maybe even keep a fire extinguisher in case of emergencies. you seem to view gun ownership as being paranoid, fearful or living in a nightmare - but for those that do, its just another level of protection, just like all the previous examples mentioned. Nearly all who do own - will never need them, but for those that do its just another step in keeping their loved ones safe, protecting their livestock, enjoying a hobby etc. you wouldnt assume that im paranoid for wearing eye protection while woodworking, likewise i wouldnt have any negative associations with someone who is open carrying a pistol on their hip (which is legal in my state). someone with a negative viewpoint of guns would probably view them as a threat, a "crazy" or some right wing nutjob.

i hate that there is such a negative stigma around guns from those who never grew up around them or live in societies with different cultural norms. for example, i may not see the point in taking the risk associated with snow skiing, maybe i think it looks too dangerous and in a modern society is not necessary, or no one "needs" to travel down the side of a mountain like that . but my frame of reference is completely different from those who grew up near the mtns, skiing etc. what i may view as an unnecessary danger is a direct result of my not having the experience and exposure to it. if i took classes, went on a trip and practiced - my viewpoint would probably change once i saw that its serves a purpose (in this case entertainment) and is perfectly safe once you understand and follow some simple rules. you may think thats an apple and orange comparison, but its not from the perspective of someone who has grown up around guns and views them as tools.
 
I ended up purchasing a walther pk380.
I love it. I am a southpaw and being a left handed shooter has its advantages and draw backs. These have ambidextrous mag release and safety. I have now fired several types of guns and I do enjoy it. I will likely upgrade to a higher caliber after several more days at the range. I shot a 40 caliber but it was a little heavy. I think 9 mm is good.
The grip on the glock 19, 17, and 26 is a little too big for my hands. I will keep searching.
 
amcoffeegirl said:
I ended up purchasing a walther pk380.
I love it. I am a southpaw and being a left handed shooter has its advantages and draw backs. These have ambidextrous mag release and safety. I have now fired several types of guns and I do enjoy it. I will likely upgrade to a higher caliber after several more days at the range. I shot a 40 caliber but it was a little heavy. I think 9 mm is good.
The grip on the glock 19, 17, and 26 is a little too big for my hands. I will keep searching.
Click to expand...
My wife and daughter both have .380 pistols. Daughter has the Glock 42, which shoots nicely. Don’t feel pressured to move up in caliber. The .380 is a decent round in the trade offs of power, handling, weight, and such.
 
I just got a Sig Sauer p938 with extra magazines for concealed carry. It uses 9mm rounds. I love the size. It's very comfortable to wear.
substratum said:
My wife and daughter both have .380 pistols. Daughter has the Glock 42, which shoots nicely. Don’t feel pressured to move up in caliber. The .380 is a decent round in the trade offs of power, handling, weight, and such.
Click to expand...
 
watchndsky said:
i hate that there is such a negative stigma around guns from those who never grew up around them or live in societies with different cultural norms.
Click to expand...
Interesting return to my own "To me it sounds like a nightmare if you feel the need to have a gun to feel safe." Why is there a negative stigma in there? And why is it OK for you to think I am negative when I live in a country where peoplle do not have the need to own guns to feel safe? Because, let's be honest, that is the main argument that has been posted in this thread; Many own guns because they want to protect themself and their loved ones. I just prefer to live in a country where the police has this role.
 
leatherback said:
Interesting return to my own "To me it sounds like a nightmare if you feel the need to have a gun to feel safe." Why is there a negative stigma in there? And why is it OK for you to think I am negative when I live in a country where peoplle do not have the need to own guns to feel safe? Because, let's be honest, that is the main argument that has been posted in this thread; Many own guns because they want to protect themself and their loved ones. I just prefer to live in a country where the police has this role.
Click to expand...

i dont think you are negative because of where you live, but its sounds like you have a negative attitude because
1) unless i have your use name confused im pretty sure ive seen other negative comments from you regarding the US and guns in general and
2) because you use the word nightmare as a descriptor. in general nightmares have a negative connotation and thats how you describe the need or desire to own a gun. maybe im wrong, but i dont think you would use the desire to wear a seatbelt or safety glasses or a lifejacket as a nightmarish existence.

maybe im wrong though - maybe there is a language barrier and nightmare has a different meaning for you?
 
leatherback said:
Interesting return to my own "To me it sounds like a nightmare if you feel the need to have a gun to feel safe." Why is there a negative stigma in there? And why is it OK for you to think I am negative when I live in a country where peoplle do not have the need to own guns to feel safe? Because, let's be honest, that is the main argument that has been posted in this thread; Many own guns because they want to protect themself and their loved ones. I just prefer to live in a country where the police has this role.
Click to expand...
Let's just wait till Sharia becomes the law of the land and see how you like Germany when the police no longer have your saftey and well-being in mind.
 
I am a little sad for being pretty much attacked in this thread over having a view on this. I am trying to word my view carefully as not to offend people. Yet some of the responses given are a bit harsh I find.

Vance Wood said:
Let's just wait till Sharia becomes the law of the land and see how you like Germany when the police no longer have your saftey and well-being in mind.
Click to expand...
:rolleyes:

substratum said:
I choose freedom, and prefer NOT to live in a police state.
Click to expand...
There is a slight difference between a police state, and a situation where the police have a role to actually serve and protect

watchndsky said:
2) because you use the word nightmare as a descriptor. in general nightmares have a negative connotation and thats how you describe the need or desire to own a gun. maybe im wrong, but i dont think you would use the desire to wear a seatbelt or safety glasses or a lifejacket as a nightmarish existence. maybe im wrong though - maybe there is a language barrier and nightmare has a different meaning for you?
Click to expand...

To me, these are different things. If I get into a vehicle and drive acros the country at 110mph, I bring myself in a situation where there is a serious risk of injury when I get say, a tire blowout. The same when I am grinding. I decide to bring myself in that position. Whereas, if I am at home, i should not have to take special secuurity measures to ensure I survive the night. I do understand that peope feel the need to do so. And the examples given in this thread are clear why people feel the need. I was just making the point that something is going horribly wrong if you have to live in a situation where you cannot be at peace in your own home. I would not elect to be in that situation.
 
leatherback said:
Interesting return to my own "To me it sounds like a nightmare if you feel the need to have a gun to feel safe." Why is there a negative stigma in there?
Click to expand...
There isn't a stigma at all.
What it is,is that the gun lobby has Americans scared their guns will be taken away. Somehow they have got people believing that its gods given right to own a gun here. Somehow they have brainwashed people into thinking you aren't free unless you own a gun. I dont believe Jesus carried a pistol. Or any weapon for that matter. It was his dad who even said Thou shall not kill. But some people here in the U.S. seem to think God and guns go hand in hand.
 
Since the link few posts earlier is broken... It's just funny, if you're pro or anti gun person....

 
The commandment is “Thou shall not commit murder.” Murder is “unjust killing.” The vast majority of Christian faiths consider killing someone to preserve life, just.

Jesus is God in the flesh. He didn’t need a gun, because he was in control. He did instruct his disciples to “sell a cloak and buy a sword,” which most biblical scholars will say is an acknowledgement that we live in a fallen and thereby, dangerous world.

The USA exists because of guns. The right to keep and bear arms exists to assure we never have a tyrannical government.

The police forces in the USA do protect the people. If they didn’t, we’d have chaos. The issue for most Americans is not wanting to be totally dependent upon the police. Oh, and because we are a free nation, we can own firearms.

If you take suicide out of the mix (which for political reasons get included in gun deaths, here), then the murder rate in the USA is on par with many other industrialized nations.

Just under 50% of ALL murders in the USA are committed by a demographic that represents <4% of the population of the USA (Black men under age 30). The victims of murders by Black Americans are Black, 95% of the time. I mention this to point out that a huge proportion of murders in the USA are attributable to a relatively small demographic. It is a fairly specific societal problem. (On a side note, the victims of murder by White Americans are White, about 95% of the time, too).

There are well over 400 million firearms in the hands of the citizenry in the USA. Citizens own far more AR15 style rifles than the Federal government does. There are trillions of rounds of ammunition in the hands of the citizenry. And yet, we don’t have anarchy, because all but an infantesimal few, love our country.

I have spent time in Europe, and have my opinions about Germany, and Europe in general, and would say that people there think differently than most Americans. I tend to keep my generalized opinions about the citizens of other nations to myself, mostly because I know that they could not care less about what I think.
 
Last edited:
substratum said:
“Thou shall not commit murder.”
Click to expand...

substratum said:
Jesus is God in the flesh.
Click to expand...
You like to bend the word to fit your idealogy like say...terrorists do with the koran?
Thou shall not kill.
God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son.
I'm betting you dont believe in evolution.
And that the world is only 7000 years old too.
Nothing existed before the bible right?

substratum said:
If you take suicide out of the mix (which for political reasons get included in gun deaths, here)
Click to expand...
Were they committed with a gun?
 
Cool. Straw Man, Red Herring, Ad Hominem attack, condescension, intellectual superiorty, and straight up Religious Bigotry - all in one post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom