by Coppermine » Mon Oct 02, 2006 3:36 pm
Yeah, ok, so I think a reasonable assessment is that the constitution clearly states that citizens have a right to bear arms... within a well-organized militia of course (the amendment was created before police were). In any case, i firmly believe in holding the principles outlined in the bill of rights and I am NOT a fan of changing the constitution every five minutes to fit the idealogical principles of politicians.
The gun thing is a problem in America. We're gun crazy. We love 'em. "Out of my cold, dead fingers" right? Well yeah, and I support the right to bear arms but I am concerned that too many people are just too dumb and/or irresponsible to have something which such amazing killing potential. This Amish school shooting was perpetrated by an adult truck driver who obviously just went nuts and used his "right" to bear arms as a means for killing people with seemingly no rhyme or reason.
So how do we control this? I don't know. This country is screwy. For instance, why not just get a security system? Well, ironically, people who live in the most affluent neighborhoods with the least crimes are the only ones who can reasonably afford security systems. Here in rural PA, people love their guns. I fully support the right of having firearms for the purpose of hunting; it is a major sport here. Schools are closed the first day of hunting season. But people need to take it a step further and have a bunch of hand guns in case of an "intruder." That seems unlikely to me.
I hate handguns. I absolutely HATE them. I won't touch them, go near them, or otherwise be in the company of them. I don't feel any "less safe." If i lived somewhere that I was afraid of being shot every five minutes, I'd move. But then, i'd only be afraid of being shot because of other people's irresponsible right to have those guns in the first place.
We're obsessed with violence, that's the problem. As I've said, people are way more concerned about bad words and naked boobies then they are about people getting shot in the face because they looked at you funny. What's up with that? Didn't Anne Coulter say that people should have to take an IQ test before they're allowed to vote? Well screw that, you should have to take an IQ test before you get a gun. But aren't serial killers always the smart ones?
You know what the real solution is? Nothing. Just hope you don't get shot, that's all. If I have a gun in my pants, and some guy walks up to me on the street and shoots me in the face, then I'm screwed anyway. And having teachers carry guns? Yeah, great idea... don't these kids who get guns get them from their parents or someone they know who has one? Let's say Mr. Smith has a gun in his drawer and little Billy is a sociopath... yeah, that's a great situation.
If you're a battery, you're either working or you're dead....
