What most motivates your opinion on gun control issues?

[joko104]

Many people on both sides are very adament about gun control issues. What MOST motivates your opinions on the subject - whether those are ideological, emotional, sociological, partisan, life experiences, gun ownership/non-ownership?

To avoid the poll being too long, I didn't double it up with gun owner and non-gun owner for each choice. If you comment, it would make sense to mention if you own a firearm, carry a firearm etc.

I'm not really debating the issues in this - although a thread evolves as it does. What is most at the core of your opinions on the subject?

 

[Mycroft]

The Constitution of the United States of America

 

[TurtleDude]

Many people on both sides are very adament about gun control issues. What MOST motivates your opinions on the subject - whether those are ideological, emotional, sociological, partisan, life experiences, gun ownership/non-ownership?

I'm not really debating the issues in this - although a thread evolves as it does. What is most at the core of your opinions on the subject?

the fact that I know as much as I do about guns, their uses and the laws surrounding them

when you know that much you cannot support gun control laws as crime control tactics

 

[Fisher]

The belief that people need to be at least as well armed as the thugs who might kick in their front door; that women need to have handguns for their protection from pyscho men in their lives; and the knowledge that outside the big blue cities, poor people do actually use guns for food. A single buck can make all the difference for a poor family to make it through a winter.

 

[lizzie]

My belief that individualism is at the core of human greatness, and that without the liberty of the individual to protect himself and his property, society will devolve. I wasn't raised with guns at all- it's something that I have learned as an adult, and I can now appreciate the importance of our right to self-defense and gun ownership fully.

 

[ttwtt78640]

I somewhat agree, but still place my safety and well being above even that basic document. A prime example being the castle laws or stand your ground statutes that extend those basic Constituional rights to my practical advantage.

 

[Bethlehem Bill]

i wouldnt say that i "grew up around guns", but i was in the boy scouts

we went and did shooting things all the time, rifles, shotguns, even archery at summer camps

we had the Pennsylvania hunters and anglers events

i got to fire a black powder rifle when i was only 12 and thought it was the coolest thing ever

just bc some people do irresponsible things with them doesnt mean i should be prohibited from owning one

 

[TurtleDude]

i wouldnt say that i "grew up around guns", but i was in the boy scouts

we went and did shooting things all the time, rifles, shotguns, even archery at summer camps

we had the Pennsylvania hunters and anglers events

i got to fire a black powder rifle when i was only 12 and thought it was the coolest thing ever

just bc some people do irresponsible things with them doesnt mean i should be prohibited from owning one

I WOULD ARGUE that because some people do illegal things with firearms is a good reason why you SHOULD BE armed!

 

[Federalist]

What is most at the core of your opinions on the subject?

While the constitution is an important factor, ultimately my opposition to gun control is based upon the golden rule. People shouldn't be bossing around other who aren't hurting anyone.

 

[Ray410]

Obama's job as a useful idiot is to deliver a mongrelized, disarmed America to the globalists and the UN. He has accomplished one of those goals, it is every American's job to individually resist the second.

And also because this is Obama's America: http://now.msn.com/chicago-mall-closed-as-teens-run-riot?ocid=ansnow11

 

[LaMidRighter]

Before anything I'm a constitutionalist, I also subscribe to natural rights theory which ties in the belief in it. Secondly though, I am a gun owner and have studied the topic for years, ultimately statistics and history bear that armed law abiding citizens tend to be more free, and those societies have lower rates of victimization.

 

[HonestJoe]

The same things the motivate my opinions on any other issue (which was closest described by your "best interests" option). I really don't see why gun control should be treated as a special case. It's probably the attitude that puts me in the lonely middle ground, generally taking cover from the crossfire.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

Ideological.

38.
Let a man never stir on his road a step
without his weapons of war;
for unsure is the knowing when need shall arise
of a spear on the way without.

In second place comes my fervent belief that an armed populace is the most potent form of national and domestic security possible.

 

[Cyrylek]

History. Civic duty, as I understand it. "Be prepared", in most general sense.

I am neither a hunter, nor a sportsman, nor a collector. I certainly don't think of my guns as toys to play with, or some kind of masculinity badges. (My wife is a better shot than I am, anyway). And while personal protection is a factor, in reality in my American life I have never been at serious risk of mugging or home invasion. Newton, MA, Cambridge, MA, the crime-free New Hamphire on weekends, then Bellevue, WA - you get the picture...

But the state of being disarmed by your own government is something I am also quite familiar with - having grown up in the Soviet Russia. To put it crudely, if we allow "the authorities" to treat us all as if we were irresponsible, retarded children we will become "irresponsible, retarded children".
And it will not be pretty.
A healthy society cannot exist with such separation between the "authorized them" and the "unathorized us". "They" are not any different, except that we are paying them for certain specific chores to be done.

And no, being free is not safe. In many ways, it is outrght hazardous. Beats the alternative, though.

 

[BmanMcfly]

Many people on both sides are very adament about gun control issues. What MOST motivates your opinions on the subject - whether those are ideological, emotional, sociological, partisan, life experiences, gun ownership/non-ownership?

To avoid the poll being too long, I didn't double it up with gun owner and non-gun owner for each choice. If you comment, it would make sense to mention if you own a firearm, carry a firearm etc.

I'm not really debating the issues in this - although a thread evolves as it does. What is most at the core of your opinions on the subject?

I personally like the idea of not being a slave, but whatever, that's just me.

 

[Empirica]

"What most motivates your opinion on gun control issues?"

Other than the obvious, I'm extremely concerned about the domino effect regarding Constitutional rights_

The Obama Administration presents the greatest threat to the Constitution that it has ever before faced_

 

[StillBallin75]

"What most motivates your opinion on gun control issues?"

Other than the obvious, I'm extremely concerned about the domino effect regarding Constitutional rights_

The Obama Administration presents the greatest threat to the Constitution that it has ever before faced_

The Constitution died when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and when Roosevelt interned Japanese Americans. Spare us the false outrage.

 

[X Factor]

The Constitution died when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and when Roosevelt interned Japanese Americans. Spare us the false outrage.

So you think the Constitution is irrelevant now?

 

[StillBallin75]

So you think the Constitution is irrelevant now?

In a way, yes. Why even have a Constitution if you're going to consistently violate it? It's nothing new. It's been going on for centuries - ironically it can be argued that the Constitution itself was unconstitutional.

 

[X Factor]

In a way, yes. Why even have a Constitution if you're going to consistently violate it? It's nothing new. It's been going on for centuries - ironically it can be argued that the Constitution itself was unconstitutional.

Ok, just because you're indifferent to the Constitution doesn't mean others' concerns are "false outrage".

 

[StillBallin75]

Ok, just because you're indifferent to the Constitution doesn't mean others' concerns are "false outrage".

Given all the other violations of the Constitution from the moment it was ratified, to claim that President Obama represents the "greatest threat to the Constitution that it has ever faced" seems rather dramatic and hyperbolic, don't you think?

 

[X Factor]

Given all the other violations of the Constitution from the moment it was ratified, to claim that President Obama represents the "greatest threat to the Constitution that it has ever faced" seems rather dramatic and hyperbolic, don't you think?

If you believe the Consitution to be dead and irrelevant than I imagine you find any concerns over preserving Constitutional principles to be dramatic and hyperbolic, don't you? I do appreciate the honesty, SB, especially over those who claim a respect for it but then argue in every way possible in favor of subverting it. I'm just saying the Constitution may not matter to you, and that is your absolute right to feel that way, but don't assume it doesn't matter to others.

 

[cpgrad08]

This:

 

[LaMidRighter]

Ok, just because you're indifferent to the Constitution doesn't mean others' concerns are "false outrage".

Honestly, the only really big mistake the founders made forming the republic was failure to put real consequences for constitutional violations. Had that been a capital offense with public execution we wouldn't be losing ground to the truly corrupt and stupid right now.

 

[LaMidRighter]

Given all the other violations of the Constitution from the moment it was ratified, to claim that President Obama represents the "greatest threat to the Constitution that it has ever faced" seems rather dramatic and hyperbolic, don't you think?

Nope. He makes no bones about openly challenging the limitations, that is worse as it empowers every scumbag politician that follows, at least the rest of the crooks had the decency to at least try to cover their illegal actions.