1) Guns are a form of protection.
Shields, armour and helmets protect you. Guns shoot toxic pieces of lead into other people.
2) Guns are a form of self-defence.
They can be, sure. However, statistically speaking, more guns are used in crimes than are used in self-defence.
A study of gun use in the 1990s, by David Hemenway at the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, found that criminal use of guns is far more common than self-defense use of guns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States
Obviously, potential criminals are going to purchase guns if they are legal. Therefore, you make a useless trade: increased personal protection for increased need for it. The only logical outcome of that trade is more people will die.
3) I don't trust the government.
If the government wants to get you, then your Dirty Harry handgun is not going to stop them. End of story.
4) A 100 lb woman shouldn't have to struggle with a 300 lb rapist.
But you can't arm the victim without simultaneously arming the rapist. So, instead of a rape occurring, which is consequently then investigated by the people whose job it is to investigate rapes, you have a bloodbath. Maybe the rapist gets killed, maybe the victim gets killed, maybe they both get killed, or maybe innocent bystanders get killed.
There are alternative ways to deal with rapists which are final, much safer, and do not end in loss of life.
5) Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
Then it is a stupid idea to give them guns then, isn't it? Unless you are trying to make fucking sure.
Any thoughts?
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Dalai_Llama ago
1) Guns are a form of protection. If it is known you have a gun, attackers are less likely to follow through. Prevention of attack = protection.
2) Guns are a form of self defense. Whatever stupid fucking study you cite is one that overlooks the dark figure of crime. So many crimes go unreported and if you fend an unknown off with a gun, what report does that make? No one is recording statstics about how many times a would be thug schized out and fled like a bitch once they saw a gun come out.
3) If the government wants to get an individual, it will get them. But if many people en masse work together with firearms, there is a problem. The July Revolution in France 1830 led to the formation of a new government. Gun control is very important to their politicians now.
4) The firearm is the great equalizer. A 100 lbs woman with a gun can stand a chance against a 300 lbs man with a gun. A 100 lbs woman with no gun has no chance. Funny how you don't mention these "alternatives" to deal with rapists specifically. Alternatives after the rape occur are an entirely different matter. The gun does not "deal" with a rapist. It prevents the rape from occuring. I'm sure YOU would bend over and take it in the ass, but many would rather die while defending themselves then become as much of a cuckold as you.
5) People kill people. A fucking 10 year old Filipino can make a gun in his parent's backyard. What the fuck makes you think people aren't going to figure out how to kill you? And from the sound of it, the way you're trying to control people, you will not be a desirable ally.
It all comes down to life. Most people are fucking cowards and they want someone else to take care of them. Not everyone will live long and fruitful lives, not everyone will achieve their life's ambition, and not everyone will go their entire life without being the victim of a violent crime. Grow a fucking backbone and stand up for yourself. Stop advocating for people to outsource self defense, especially when you're outsourcing it to a party that treats you like fucking cattle. Good luck to you. I'm sure you'll need it.