I understand what you're saying. To be honest I haven't ever been able to come to a solid stance on guns. There's a lot of grey area. I believe that responsible people should be able to use something such as a hunting rifle for the purpose that was intended when it was made. How you control this, or at least try to is with gun registry like we have here in Canada. If you want a rifle to hunt, you register it. If you have a record or some serious mental illness, you're likely bound to not be able to get a gun. How do they control guns in the US? By making you purchase a piece of furniture worth $100 dollars or more and you get a free gun. If people were only allowed hunting rifles for the sake of hunting however, you'd have millions of red, white and blue John Wayne wannabes getting pissed off because you took away their right to own something with which if need be they can kill someone.
I bet 3 out of 4 people that are against guns, have never even fired one. Probably more than that, because once you shoot one you realize they really arent dangerous. You just have to know how to handle them. In fact, even a lot of hunters dont even have gun accidents or problems. Its something like 75% of people injured while hunting are actually injured while cutting themselves gutting the deer.
Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let people have guns ...why should we let them have ideas? --Joseph Stalin
People get stabbed and murdered all the time, so owning a knife isn't just for slicing bread. I unfortunately have been witness to violence more than I wish, once resulting in death. Not once was a gun involved. Knives, bats, fists, but no guns. Fact: if someone wants to commit violence against another, having or not having a gun will make little difference to the perpetrator. Fact: In the U.S. numerous studies have shown that private gun ownership has a direct impact of reducing violent crime. But facts like that don't sell newspapers, so you don't hear about it. Fact: If guns were made illegal for a private citizen to own, that would be of little consequence to the "criminal element". If a person is already committing crimes, do you think gun laws are going to be a deterrent to them possessing firearms? Fact: Every fascist regime in modern history had the outlawing and confiscation of private firearms as one of the first steps to establishing the regime. Fact: Gun ownership in the U.S. is a right and part of the freedoms afforded by the Bill of Rights. It is twofold in intent, to protect against threats from within as well as outside of the government. Anyone who thinks different needs a history lesson and a lesson on the Constitution and the reasons it was drafted. Considering shit like the Patriot Act that point is more relevant and real than it has been since the inception of the country. As with every other thing on Earth, guns are neutral, it's the human who gives it positive or negative use/connotation. Back in the 80's I read about two neighboring counties, in Florida I believe, were rapes were becoming very commonplace (probably from all the Cuban prisoners dumped here at the time). One county had strict regulations governing personal gun ownership. The other set out promoting gun ownership and many places offered discounts and free lessons for women. The result, rapes in the county promoting gun ownership dropped to 0, while they more than doubled in the other county. Personal gun ownership is not a trivial matter and should be treated with the respect the gun demands. Guns can end a life very quickly and finally.Taking another person's life isn't a simple matter as it is often portrayed in media. It's nasty and messy. I'm in favor of personal gun ownership and concealed carry as well. But if you are going to own a gun you damn well better know how to use it, and be prepared to end another's life if the situation should arise. I recommend the book "In the Gravest Extreme" by Masaad Ayoob, a 20+ year police veteran and firearm expert, both use and law. It is one of the best books on the topic and presents a no bullshit, no glamor look at gun ownership for personal defense.
