re: Father of 14-year-old Georgia shooter bought the gun as a gift

[Naithedan]

As a veteran who's also worked in private security for several years, I firmly believe everyone who is good minded should be armed and trained on their weapon. At least a pistol. Congratulations on your newfound wisdom on the matter. We need more like you. There was a robbery at a gas station in Kentucky once, guy was shot by everyone in the store. The best deterrent for gun crime is more good people with guns. Have you heard of an attack at a gun show yet? You likely won't, because everyone there is armed.

Another thing people seem to enjoy ignoring is the fact that getting rid of guns won't get rid of violence. The knife attacks for instance, some with more deaths than attacks with guns. Humans are the best at killing shit and finding ways to do it. Half the ingredients for black powder are literally in your back yard. Take the guns away and they'll use explosives, knives, gas, this can go all the way down to running around with a brick and hitting people on the head with it.

I don't want what happened to other countries where civilians were disarmed to happen to my damn home just because my AR, that I haven't and won't hurt any innocent person with, looks scary to people with two braincells fighting for third place.

 

[FancyMancy]

As a veteran who's also worked in private security for several years, I firmly believe everyone who is good minded should be armed and trained on their weapon. At least a pistol. Congratulations on your newfound wisdom on the matter. We need more like you. There was a robbery at a gas station in Kentucky once, guy was shot by everyone in the store. The best deterrent for gun crime is more good people with guns. Have you heard of an attack at a gun show yet? You likely won't, because everyone there is armed.

I should point out that I am actually from the UK. We being armed like this would be a bad idea for a while yet. We'd be so embarrassingly, pathetically bad and immature, I would expect. I would, however, like to be surprised and wrong in my opinion, and be corrected.

Another thing people seem to enjoy ignoring is the fact that getting rid of guns won't get rid of violence.

I realise. If you ban guns, bad people will still get hold of them somehow. Banning does not equal preventing. It just means sheep will bleat along with (((TPTB))) and be led to the slaughter...

The knife attacks for instance, some with more deaths than attacks with guns.

As a quick exercise, we should consider all things that are banned/illegal. Those things still happen regardless, so getting rid of guns for self-defence is a very bad idea - and I don't doubt, then, that the (((authourities))) would then be able to overpower anyone they please arbitrarily and you wouldn't be able to do a thing about it... except for be murdered - and not avenged. The corruption would skyrocket, I expect, as would the crime.

Humans are the best at killing shit and finding ways to do it. Half the ingredients for black powder are literally in your back yard. Take the guns away and they'll use explosives, knives, gas, this can go all the way down to running around with a brick and hitting people on the head with it.

I don't want what happened to other countries where civilians were disarmed to happen to my damn home just because my AR, that I haven't and won't hurt any innocent person with, looks scary to people with two braincells fighting for third place.

As I understand it, it is enshrined in the US Constitution, so... as I understand it... it cannot not be. I love the word "inalienable" - not able to be given away and not able to be taken away. We here can have some items, i.e. I used to know someone who went on demonstrations with a musket. I would presume it was decommissioned, and he needed a license for it still. As you say, though, people can get hold of any object and use it as a weapon, even a plank of wood with a nail on the end of it, a golf club, anything. We might be able to defend ourselves, or we might... not.

Part of the point I refer to is being able to defend oneself. We have to rely on ourself, stand on our own two feet, be proud, have self-worth, have self-esteem. I make these points, in different ways, a lot. Being well-trained and sane in self-defence goes along with it.

 

[Naithedan]

You are correct, it is in our constitution though the judicial system thinks they have workarounds and we're constantly fighting them and the ATF on such matters. If I had any suggestion to UK leaders if they wanted to introduce firearms to the people would be start with only allowing soldiers, veterans and law enforcement to own them for a while and let them teach civilians. Slowly work into it perse. Mandatory training courses too.

The key to self defense my friend, and it sounds like you're aware of it, is to be better at violence and have more at your disposal than your assailant.

 

[FancyMancy]

If I had any suggestion to UK leaders if they wanted to introduce firearms to the people

Yeah, well, that would surely not happen any time soon. There would have to be big movements for that to happen, and I doubt I'd be alive to see the day it... even begin to be implemented.

would be start with only allowing soldiers, veterans and law enforcement to own them for a while and let them teach civilians. Slowly work into it perse. Mandatory training courses too.

Years ago, there were TA (Territorial Army) open days. I went to one once, and I fired an actual... don't ask me which... rifle at a card target. Of course, it was rested on a bunch of other targets because it was too heavy for me! One could learn martial arts to defend themselves against knife-wielding attackers, but that won't help you against bullets. (((TPTB))) Decide we have to rely on the police to defend us - post-encounter - which means we're not "allowed" to defend ourselves. On TV years ago on a programme, which might still be being repeated, a police officer said something like that we might not like the police but he guarantees that we'd call on them when we need to. My reaction was because we're not "allowed" to defend ourselves.

The key to self defense my friend, and it sounds like you're aware of it, is to be better at violence and have more at your disposal than your assailant.

There is an important question, which has been posted about on here before - "Does might make right?". I suppose, just like everything else, it depends. It is not a black-and-white answer, no one-size-fits-all answer. "Balance of power" might be important to make note of, but stupid people could still misuse tools.