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Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 02:52:12


DomCobb
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@Hysterio
That's one reason the FBI exists- to alert the right people of terrorist threats.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 03:09:54


Trump2016
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@GeneralPE
Please read the thread before bringing up stupid points that have already been obliterated.

Le sigh. These bogus arguments are so easy to debunk if you take 10 seconds to google them. One of the first links I found was to this http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/20/charleston-south-carolina-shooting-gun-control-reform-myths which said:
Myth No4: Switzerland and Israel seem to do OK without gun control

Proponents of unfettered gun ownership often point to the example of Switzerland, which has a tradition of more widespread firearms ownership than most other European countries but is not known for its gun-ravaged inner cities.

One problem is the trend is not that different: more guns still lead to more shooting, just less so than in America. Switzerland is actually second among wealthy countries in terms of annual gun deaths (0.77 per 100,000 of population in one recent survey, versus 2.97 in the US and just 0.07 in England and Wales) but has barely half as many guns per 100 people (45.7 versus 88.8 in the US).

But even this comparison gets weaker if you look at the way the Swiss keep their guns, which stems from a tradition of military service that has been considerably tightened over the years. One US study by the National Institutes of Health points out that both Switzerland and Israel (another alleged exception to the rule touted as proof that guns don’t kill) actually limit firearm ownership considerably and require permit renewal one to four times annually.

Those are just the kind of gun control measures, in fact, that second-amendment fans in the US claim wouldn’t make any difference to gun violence.


I also learned (learning! what a great thing!) that recently Switzerland (in response to a mass shooting!) changed its rules about ammunition. According to a comment by a Swiss person on another article by Time, which repeated the myth uncritically:
"Gun-loving Swiss"?!? Seriously?!? This is disinformation!!! I'm very disappointed in the Time.

Switzerland is very gun averse! But the country sees it as a necessary evil to protect our country from outside theats. It comes from our history having a milicia and not a professional army. We, Swiss, hate guns! The grand majority of Swiss people feel that it is not necessary to keep our army rifle at home. So now, we don't have ammunition at home anymore. And the time we did have ammunition, we would go to jail as soon as we unpacked it without authorization. And unlike the US, we don't have guns to protect ourselves individually, but to protect our country. It's deep in our culture. And our laws prohibit the use of guns, even under threat. In Switzerland, if we get threatened by a person with a knife in our home and we kill him with a gun, we go to jail. That's because here, this would be an disproportionately inappropriate response to that threat.


They no longer keep their (militia) ammo at home but in a secure community depot.

For more (accurate rather than baloney) info, see [uphQHsARYMKy3HcgJ4=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland
]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland[/quote][/uphQHsARYMKy3HcgJ4]
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 03:11:43


Trump2016
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We should ban cars because they kill more people than guns...everyone should use public transportation

Actually, cars hardly kill more people than guns.
The two kill virtually the same number of people:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/injury.htm
The difference is less than 200.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 03:13:44


Darth Darth Binks
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Still, he has a point. We should all use public transportation.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 03:14:55


Trump2016
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We definitely need to be more responsible with guns. Giving gun owners professional training would go a long way towards destroying gun related problems in this country.

That makes no fucking sense. OK let's train the people who go around killing people with guns so they can kill people more efficiently!
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 03:44:55

[wolf]japan77
Level 57
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Hey, did you know 75% of all shootings are accidental?(why I oppose owning guns)

Infact here's a fun fact: States and Nations with the most restrictive gun laws have the fewest number of gun-related deaths per year(Hmmm...I wonder why)

In conclusion, we should just let the trained specialists(police, army, etc) do the shooting don't you think?
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 03:47:46

wct
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We should ban cars because they kill more people than guns...everyone should use public transportation



/sarc

We should require people driving cars to have licenses, and cars themselves should be registered with an identifying number, and to require drivers to follow traffic safety laws. Oh wait, we do...

/not sarc
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 05:47:55

[wolf]japan77
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We should just wait for robot-driven cars to take over.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 06:05:32


Жұқтыру
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As someone who did the Army thing(hooah), I feel it worth mentioning that one of the primary tenants constantly and universally celebrated is that you fight for the freedom of Americans.


No, soldiers don't, but this is something most Americans believe, imagine what Americans "patriotic" enough to join the military believe, oh boy. When is the last time America was really attacked, besides some half-arse Japanese missions in the Second World War? And when was the last time America was attacked without America provoking anything/warning to America? Ever? And don't bring up false flags.

That you are willing to kill and die for even people who hate you, so that they have the right to spit on your grave, because that is their American right.


The folk hate you since you're killing folk for no grounds other than to "uphold the American right" of invading countries for the immoral gain of it. And don't worry, the American government (like most stable militant governments) have successfully "taught" most folk that the military is the most respected organization, that there is no honour greater than being a soldier.

Similarly, they pound into your head that you have obligation to refuse any order you find to be morally wrong. They teach these sort of things for a reason.


Bit of the science behind propoganda is not to make it obvious. Often, there is a false anti-propoganda that is useless under the effects of the real for-propoganda. But anyhow, what can a soldier find morally wrong? They shoot folk for a living, and worst of all, it's legal! And for the torture, just send that to the CIA.

You cannot say "Oh, it'd be easy to convince the military to enslave and subjugate people in a manner directly at conflict with their training/conditioning/tenants/ideological purposes" any more than you can posit mind control.


Well, obviously, you're a victim of it. America fights for freedom of the American folk? Japan fought for freedom and prosperity of, not just Japanese, but all East Asians, and Germany fought for freedom of the German folk. And I guess Britain was making sure the British folk were free when killing/torturing every single person suspected of any affiliation with the Mau Mau. God bless America.

And also, that's kind of what propaganda is, a limited mind control. But there's some evidence that actual "re-teaching"/brainwashing ways has been developed. A lighter example that's been about for a while is hypnosis.

If you're going to go on the premise that anyone can be convinced of anything, then an argument is irrelevant. You cannot fight an omnipotent.


An argument is not irrelevant, it's futile. And it's an extremely likely premise.

Who exactly is supposed to convince the military to change their mind on supporting the Bill of Rights?


They're still going to be supporting the American government, that's not supposed to change.

Because many folks have tried and no one has had any success.


You're a living success of it.

From a cynical standpoint, there's also a HUGE amount of money in the firearm industry that would be working against those efforts.


This is a pretty unrealistic scenario to begin with, but I didn't make it. This scenario is based on that this is already happening, though. And once it's happening, this is one of the things where you go all in or not at all, it doesn't work halfway ever. "Hey, we tried taking your guns away using military force, ummmmm, don't worry, we have resolved the crisis that forced us to do it in the first place and, ummmm, we're really sorry." It's going to be really hard to propaganda that out.

Anything that causes a civilian uprising inherently sparks a military division as well. The point of the rant is that there cannot be a purely military v nonmilitary--you'd have military vehicles on all major sides and open war in as the country split apart while insurrectionist forces all screwed each other over. Eventually there would be some manner of peace in most remaining regions(always is), but realistically, both sides would lose unless one were willing and capable of mass genocide ie nuke large portions of the populated country. It'd fall, as usual, to foreign countries backing various fronts until America either reclaimed itself or died.


I disagree with how you put it, but I generally agree, but this is again, bit of the premise, that it's citizens ag military. If the military splits, some citizens are going to get military warfare, throw away that old pistol if you've it. Ordinary guns will not make a big difference. The military has plenty of better guns for everyone, don't worry, though. Same with "intervention".

Also, to be technical, a fundamental American right promised in the Bill of Rights is the right to assemble arms for the purpose of a militia.


There'd still be the right; some arms are illegal to have. You can't really "assemble some chemical weapons for the purpose of a militia", and here, would be extended to firearms.

So to that extent every time the military fights under the guise of ensuring American rights and freedoms... yeah, that is part of why they're fighting.


How do you find that? Since you shot somebody, some American gets to "assemble more arms for the purpose of a militia"? The stronger the military is, the less need there even is for a militia.

Whether they're managing it rationally or effectively is of course debatable and yours to decide, but from the Army's perspective, that's something for which you kill or die.


You say you kill for upholding these American freedoms. I think you should join the Finnish foreign legions, they've even more freedoms, and rank quite better than America, even according to RWB. Anyhow, you don't kill for American freedoms, you kill since you get money for it, for the thrill (not all folk), and since propaganda tells you this is the ultimate community service, and those who volunteer at the orphanage can get bombed to shreds with my freedom!

America is the idea established in the Constitution, not simply a set of borders


No, it's quite far taken out from it's original ideas. As early as 1785, revolts began popping up since American hypocrisy; now that they were free from British taxes, here are even more taxes and laws. By the 1910s? somewhere about there, it was fully authoritarian.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 06:14:43


Жұқтыру
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cry every time people say we should limit mags and military grade weapons. The smoothbore flintlock was the best weapon of the 18th century,and if the patriots hadn't had them(if they had had matchlocks instead, which would be fine for hunting) they would have lost. Also, Trump2016, although the military would play a role, insurgent warfare and thousands of armed civilians would be pretty crucial in a civil war. In the revolution, the Continental Army was fine, but guerillas were the main reason we won.


Yes, in the American revolution, the American rebels, with relatively advanced warfare (aarkenbus : frigate is not the same as AK-47 : atomic bomb) and with foreign support of several governments; France, Holland.


Also, whether or not the military would side with civilians is not important. If it does, than the civilians can throw away their toy guns for modern warfare. Same with foreign intervention.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 06:40:37


Genghis 
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Err well I'd rather the right to bear arms against a possibly corrupt system, rather no firearms against an almost perfect system.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 11:41:25


Blank
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Why do you guys have such a hard on for guns anyway?
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 11:52:30


Angry Koala
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^ Some psychological complexes perhaps, who knows.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 16:21:38


Luna {TJC}
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Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 18:56:01


Imperator
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I didn't bother reading the whole 106-post long thread, but I did read the op, and i'd like to point out that more restrictive gun laws don't necessarily equal less gun deaths.

He makes the point that america has 33,000 gun-related deaths per year, but this is misleading; As you can see here, america only has the 12th highest rate of gun violence in the world:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CQY3YgVWIAAtjoX.jpg:large

Using the same logic OP used, Honduras has around 5200 gun deaths per year, so the Restrictive gun laws in the country must not be working, yes? If Honduras used the same liberal gun laws the US does, we can extrapolate that they have an unnecessary 4300 gun deaths per year, and all because of those darn restrictive gun laws they have.

I'm sure you can see the problem with this logic.

Of the other nations, ie Brazil, Mexico, Jamaica, South Africa etc all have more restrictive gun laws than the US. In fact, it seems almost every country has more restrictive gun laws than the US, and there are still quite a few with more violence than us.

If anything, there seems to be a trend of higher gun violence in the Americas, as almost all of the nations with a 10 or higher death rate(with the notable exceptions of Swaziland and south africa) are american countries.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 19:52:42


shyb
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im trying to find any relevant info on this, but i can tell you with some amount of confidence that honduras probably has a tougher time enforcing their gun laws than the US does. i would say the same about the rest of those countries, but im not as confident.

these are just my assumptions (not facts!) based on news i read about the scope of criminality and corruption in some of those countries. please please disagree and find me some good links on it.

EDIT:

here's a start: http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/brazil



i picked brazil as an example because it is one of the more developed nations with high gun deaths.

Edited 11/20/2015 19:59:59
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 20:00:08


Imperator
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IMO that diea that they havea harder time enforcing their laws probably comes from various stereotypes a lot of americans have about Latin american/African countries being much less developed than the USA.

EDIT: From that same page:

The regulation of guns in Brazil is categorised as restrictive


Logically if Gun laws are more restrictive than More guns will be smuggled in, so it's not really relevant how amny guns get smuggled in.

Edited 11/20/2015 20:13:00
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 20:16:33


shyb
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Logically if Gun laws are more restrictive than More guns will be smuggled in.


very true, i didn't consider that.

im trying to find more pertinent info, but im having a hard time. im really not trying to stereotype those countries, but i do read in the news a lot about violent drug cartels in latin america that are stronger than police forces or have the ability to buy them off. we have a similar problem in the inner cities of the US. those issues need to be tackled before there can be any significant reduction of gun deaths. gun regulation is just a tool to help with that problem, but i don't think any serious person assumes it is a magic elixir. i don't think gun regulation should just be pushed out of discussion because it won't completely solve our problems. i think it can help and we should be doing whatever we can to lower the amount of people getting killed.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 23:06:20


Жұқтыру
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IMO that diea that they havea harder time enforcing their laws probably comes from various stereotypes a lot of americans have about Latin american/African countries being much less developed than the USA.


It's not a stereotype, they really are much less developed, partially since American influence, present or past. In living standard measures, Canada is a tier-9 country (best tier is 10), America is a tier-8 country, and from Mexico, it gets much worse. Mexico: tier-4 (America doesn't have massive, very problematic border fans giving drugs to Canada), Brazil: tier-5, Honduras: tier-1, Guatemala: tier-1, Cuba: tier-2, Venezuela: tier-4.
Why guns are STILL a bad idea: 11/20/2015 23:26:09


[AOE] JaiBharat909
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I'm gonna ask a sub-question to this. You can debate the validity of the question if you want. And note this only applies to the US in relation to guns.

Second amendment was written into the constitution when it was formed and ratified in 1791. Now, we all know that the second amendment was meant to allow citizens to protect themselves, their state, and their nation from government overreach or abridgment of their god-given rights. It was not meant as a hunting amendment. It was meant as a permanent and powerful check on the entire system of federal government by the citizens. That being said I want to know what has changed (last 200 years of history) that has made the necessity of an absolute check on government unnecessary?

You see I think of it like this (again in the US context): If you are advocating for the eradication of private ownership of guns aren't you effectively saying that citizens don't need to protect themselves from the federal government? If that is the case then we are essentially saying that government is and always is correct and will never harm the rights of their citizens. That is a theoretical utopian world.
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