An honest question to those who feel they must own guns.

[Skidmore]

Do any of us have the right to expect to our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness not be cut short by your need to own an arsenal? It seems to me that we have gotten to a point in our history where second amendment rights have superceded all other rights.

[dchill]

1. I'm sure you are aware that there are those...

who believe that their rights are righter than yours.

[kestrel91316]

2. Nope, sorry. Gun rights supercede ALL other rights. Says so right there in the Constitution.

[dchill]

4. 2nd Amendment - in its entirety.

"A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

I'm not sure what that all means, but the "well-regulated" part speaks to me.

[kestrel91316]

8. If it were well-regulated, things like this couldn't happen.

[shadowrider]

10. Well regulated, using the vernacular at the time

meant fully functioning, fully trained.

[kestrel91316]

11. So that is the minimal standard we should hold gun owners to today.

Lengthy, costly, oft-repeated formal training (with exams you have to pass) and screening for disqualifying traits like violent tendencies or a history of making threats.

IMHO it should include mandatory registration of all guns and tracking of all transactions and a requirement that they be stored in very expensive, secure gun safes. And legal responsibility for all harm done by them if you don't secure them properly.

[Lizzie Poppet]

14. Repeating the training is probably unnecessary, but frequent practice is critical.

Firing a gun is a rather simple task, and the basics (as well as the fundamentals of firearms safety) can be quickly taught. It's frequent, quality practice that makes a good shooter. I don't mind the idea of proficiency testing, at least for carry permits, either.

I'm also a fervid advocate of stiff penalties for failing to properly secure a firearm when that firearm subsequently falls into the hands of criminals. That was an element of basic responsibility drilled into me at an early age.

[shadowrider]

18. And the first amendment should also be followed as written at the time

you can't post unless done by printing press

[Sheldon Cooper]

3. For a brief period in my life, when I was alone and scared,

I contemplated buying a gun. I talked to many people that I respected, and they all told me, every one of them, to get a pump action shotgun for personal protection in the home. They told me that I wouldn't have to be a good shot to do some damage, and the sound of the pump action alone would be enough to send any sensible bad guy on his way.

Well, I got over my fear and never bought a gun, but even at my most frightened time, not one single person told me I had to carry a semi-automatic death machine on my person at all times, even in church. Or a daycare. Or wherever else the NRA types are telling us we must now be scared.

[Skidmore]

5. I've never owned a gun or allowed one on my property.

My brother in law showed up with one once and I kicked him out. I've lived alone with children and never felt I needed to have one for any reason. These NRA types who think that everyone should be armed to the teeth strike me as paranoid and delusional. Truth be told, they frighten me. The George Zimmerman types of the nation. Packing heat minus common sense.

[dionysus]

6. what if you happen to have one but don't feel you must?

[TalkingDog]

7. To people who ask hyperbolic, pedantic and rhetorical questions:

Why must you insist that every gun owner owns "an arsenal"?

Why do paint us as selfish, shortsighted assholes instead of people who, saaaaay, inherited guns from a dead parent and keeps them for practical and sentimental reasons?

[Zoeisright]

13. To people who immediately feel threatened whenever their little

"protection" is threatened: Fuck off.

[socialindependocrat]

9. Eight replies and you still haven't gotten your question addressed...

Why be paranoid?

You have life, liberty and you are pursuing your happiness.

You pass people every day who are carrying guns and you don't have any idea who they are.

You are wasting your life worrying that someone will cut it short.

Be happy - focus on life!

[Lizzie Poppet]

12. Those rights of yours are not threatened by my firearms.

I'm law-abiding, reasonably sane, have no criminal record, and I properly secure my firearms when they're not in my immediate possession. My firearms are no threat to you (assuming you're equally sane and law-abiding, obviously, which I have no reason to doubt is the case).

[Trailrider1951]

15. My dear skidmore, you have nothing to fear from me

I'm a 61 year old woman who lives alone in a rural area. There are plenty of varmints out here, the 2 legged kind, the 4 legged kind and the no legged kind. My arsenal is a 22 rifle.

But I might make you eat my vegan chili.

No shit.

[Skidmore]

17. I live in a rural area too.

I own no gun even for the purpose of getting rid of varmints. I don't live in fear. When I lived in town I didn't own one and I didn't live in fear. I'm a woman also and I was single parenting. I just think that at every turn the NRA ups the frothing fear of losing the guns until some of the membership can't own enough and become trigger happy because by ye gods, all of us non packing citizens are out to get them. Hence the George Zimmermans and that guy who just was charged with shooting the kid in the van because he was playing music too loud.

[uppityperson]

21. How does Trailrider's 22 become an "arsenal" or "supercede all other rights"? Honest question there.

[Posteritatis]

16. Honest questions don't presuppose a "correct" answer. (nt)

[uppityperson]

20. That is not an "honest question" but one that implies inaccurately and presupposes.

I would like to borrow a gun from a friend to scare off some coyotes but if I borrow one still don't have an "arsenal" and in no way sees how that would "supercede all other rights".

I you would like to rephrase that question to not be based on inaccuracies, I'd be glad to discuss it more. But it is not "an honest question" any more than push polling is honest.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. You know, I have no issue

With one or two guns, that mostly stay at home...the problem is those who really have an arsenal.

And those are the ones who insist on open carry, and shit like that.