re: Why are handguns legal?

You pretty much are anti-gun if you want any regulations in this climate. What should be a reasonable arena has become a battle of morality for both sides of the fight. It's the new abortion and I hate it.

I don't own a gun. I never shot one. I have no problem with people owning one. I wish we could stop acting like there aren't real dangers wrapped into that freedom. Apparently, the only way to stop crime is crossfire. It's a false narrative.

Is a little reason too much to ask?

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I'm not fearful, I just think it's stupid. To me, the people carrying in bars are the ones who are fearful. I've never once felt I needed a gun in a bar.

As I've said before, I'm not an anti-gun person by any means.

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I agree that it is stupid to drink while carrying a gun. If for no other reason than a DA could use it against you if you are involved in a legitimate self defense situation. Alcohol and guns don't mix, but not everyone who goes to a bar drinks at the bar (though, obviously, most do).

I'm glad you haven't felt you have needed a gun in a bar, but I'm sure most people felt they never needed a gun in a school, a post office, or a movie theater, either. I think people should have the ability to defend themselves wherever they are, not just where they feel unsafe. Violence doesn't just live in the "hood", and criminals like to target people and houses in "safe" areas because they expect less resistance and preparedness from their victims.

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I don't own a gun. I never shot one. I have no problem with people owning one. I wish we could stop acting like there aren't real dangers wrapped into that freedom. Apparently, the only way to stop crime is crossfire. It's a false narrative.

Is a little reason too much to ask?

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I don't think anyone who takes the 2nd Amendment seriously neglects the inherent dangers of such a responsibility and freedom. But that can be said about all of our inalienable rights. Free speech can ruin lives just as much as the use of a firearm can. Sometimes even more so.

Everyone needs to accept responsibility for their rights and use them with care and caution. Specifically in regard to firearms, I believe everyone who owns a gun should (voluntarily) get some training around how to use it, maintain it, and store it safely, and get in some practice every year (at least once a month would be optimal, but it can get very pricey).

And there are more ways to stop crime than by shooting back (crossfire), but shooting back should be a last resort based upon the fear of grave bodily harm or death; no one should grab their gun just because they see a thief pick someone's pocket.

I've never heard that guns should be used to stop all crime, though. Guns are a force equalizer that civilians should only use to protect themselves (or others nearby). If there is no danger to life or limb, I believe other alternatives should be used if possible.

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I figure they target nice areas because that's where the money is. Criminals aren't criminals for the sake of it, it's about the profit. Funny that they are still considered safe despite not everyone packing heat.

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Yeah, that's where the money is, but your common thief isn't just looking to score some loot, but they are trying to maximize their loot as easily (with as little danger to themselves) as possible. If they were just looking for big scores (without care of getting caught or killed), they'd all be trying to rob banks, jewelry stores, and other places where the take is huge. But because personal survival is also a factor, they look for places where the risk is lower and the loot is higher.

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Sure they're are isolated cases of loony mcboogerpants spree killing or a serial rapist, for the most part though thugs aren't randomly looking to come do you harm for the jollies. They're just looking to take your stuff. What happens when it goes on in a "safe" area? The fuzz are all over it.

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Oh I agree that the odds of being part of a mass shooting is so low that it is rather improbable. But the risk is still there. Like I said previously, the odds are that I will never need to use my gun in self defense, especially since I follow the "stupid rule" (“don’t do stupid things with stupid people in stupid places”), but just because I do my best not to knock on evil's door doesn't mean it won't come knocking on mine. I don't expect to use my gun, but I like to have it in case I need it. I never expect to use my airbag in my car, either (in fact, I never think about), but it's nice knowing it is there if I need it.

I don't put my trust in "the fuzz" being there to save my bacon, though. A violent act (gun or knife attack) tends to start and finish within seconds, not minutes. If a police officer were sitting in his car outside of my house and didn't see a burglar breaking into my house, any potential encounter with the burglar would be long over before the officer had time to react and bust down my door to intervene. And usually, it takes several minutes for the police to respond. They are usually around for mop-up duty, and the Supreme Court has even ruled that the police have no responsibility to protect anyone.

Just think about the Colorado theater shooting from a few years ago: there were police officers at the theater when the attack started, yet the killer was able to take out a lot of people and wound dozens more before the police stopped him heading back to his car.

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If you want to own a gun for self defense, be my guest. Freedom! I just think the self defense angle is overblown to play on people's fear more than the reality of what's happening.

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Even with the odds being extremely low that anyone in particular will need to use a firearm for self defense, the reality is that many people use them in self defense every day. Home invasions and burglaries happen every day. People are robbed and even killed in cold blood every day, by strangers and even friends and family members. Whether it will happen to you or me is irrelevant if it could happen to you and me. And being prepared for such a case does not mean it is based in "fear" any more than buying insurance, a fire extinguisher, or a car with lots of airbags and good safety belts are done out of "fear".

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Yeah, that's where the money is, but your common thief isn't just looking to score some loot, but they are trying to maximize their loot as easily (with as little danger to themselves) as possible. If they were just looking for big scores (without care of getting caught or killed), they'd all be trying to rob banks, jewelry stores, and other places where the take is huge. But because personal survival is also a factor, they look for places where the risk is lower and the loot is higher.

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It's like you're just making this up as you go along.

Of all the home invasions in Fayetteville the last few years, all of them have been at drug dealers' houses. ZERO have been in affluent neighborhoods. You may want to start citing some sources if you wish to continue.

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I'm glad you haven't felt you have needed a gun in a bar, but I'm sure most people felt they never needed a gun in a school, a post office, or a movie theater, either. I think people should have the ability to defend themselves wherever they are, not just where they feel unsafe. Violence doesn't just live in the "hood", and criminals like to target people and houses in "safe" areas because they expect less resistance and preparedness from their victims.

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I grew up, live, and work in the Memphis area. Please educate me more on where violence occurs.

Your condescending long-winded posts are exhausting.

I find myself disagreeing with a lot of your positions but I have to give you some cresit, your responses are generally thoughtful and always respectful.

I agree to disagree with you and I can say your position is not unreasonabke.

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If you want to own a gun for self defense, be my guest. Freedom! I just think the self defense angle is overblown to play on people's fear more than the reality of what's happening.

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The NRA and gun rights zealots are absolute masters at ginning up fear. The NRA is laughing all the way to the bank as people run to buy more guns, and the gun manufacturers are forking over more money to them.

Why are boobs good? Why is the sky blue? How does a positrack on a Plymouth work?