I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Same here, lassie11.  Have never seen a gun except for on a police officer. I haven't weighed in on the gun discussion, cuz I'm very anti-gun (not a popular stance among many of my fellow Americans : )

I am thinking that most people would probably have a hard time actually using a gun on a person.  I know I would.

It must be difficult to have 50 states and keep up with the laws that each has.  But now I know why there is a big billboard in one of the southern states we pass through on the way to Florida  Georgia?) warning people that semi automatics are illegal there. 

I copied the para below from Huffpo.

Arizona Republicans remain adamant that the shooting will not dissuade them from pushing their pro-gun agenda.

They want new laws allowing college and university faculty members to be able to carry concealed weapons on campus, an issue that gained attention after the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech University. Only Utah has a law allowing concealed weapons on college campuses while 24 states have bans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Guns:   We have been robbed twice.  Both times we were not home.  In most instances robbers will watch a house to make sure they do not run into the owners. I am a very good shot, but I would never shoot to kill. I would fire a weapon to protect my family but if it just me at home, I would rather die than be responsible for the death of another.

Health Care: The bill is up for repeal in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.  I just bumped my thread on the details of the bill.  Those interested it is posted under "Insurance and Other Financial Issues."  If one has an opinion one should call one's Congressional Representative.  If you do not know who your Congressman is here is a link.

http://www.house.gov/zip/ZIP2Rep.html

Stricter gun laws in AZ probably wouldn't have prevented the shooting.  Even with a more detailed and exhaustive background check, they still wouldn't have found anything on Loughner.  I do think the extended magazines should be outlawed as well as semi-automatic weapons.

Bren

I have never fired a gun, and have no intentions of learning.  I firmly believe that I would be one of those people who would shoot myself in the foot, or would have the gun taken away from me and used against myself.  To each his own.  However, I am pretty darned good with a baseball bat, a pitch fork or a lunge whip when defending myself. I have no problem with hunting rifles.  I just do not think that the average citizen has any reason to own assault weapons with capability of mass destruction.  Anyone see SNL the other night?  Our forefathers vision of the "right to bear arms" did not include what we have on the market today.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/update-constitutional-corner/1270098/

notself:  If you truly believe what you wrote that you would rather die than be responsible for the death of another person, I have no idea what you are doing owning a gun.  I don't know how to shoot or own a gun but I would think it would be fruitless to have one if you are not able or willing to take another life "if" circumstances put you in that position.    I think in the military one can be a "consiencious objector" but we regular folks when faced by a crimminal don't always have time to wave the red  or white flag and become pacifists at the last minute.  I saw "you" are putting yourself in more danger owning a gun no matter how great you can shoot it, if you truly believe what you posted.  The robber may not feel the same as you about taking "your" life to protect his own.  How is he to know you have no intention of using it on him?   I'm sure soldiers at war may not want to shoot the enemy but that's why those guys don't belong in the war and they put them someplace else. 

Floral .. I got a kick out of the Stewart link!  Loved his take on "Thou shalt not kill."

It was amazing that gun sales in AZ jumped 65% this week.  Unbelievable. 

IronJaw .. I watched the SNL clip.  Too true about if the founding fathers were here today!

Bren

Good point, Patmom, re: we need to enforce the laws we have now!

Guns. I shot marksman with a .38 when I was in the Air Force. Don't think I've touched a handgun since.

Intruders. We had to buy a 12 gauge shotgun after our last intruder broke in 3 times. He was about 300 pounds and furry. Knew how to break into the kitchen and steal the ice cream out of the fridge and peanut butter off the counter. Glad he didn't find the honey jar. And he didn't clean up after himself. It's the price way pay for living in the mountains. But a big bang and a butt full of rubber buckshot is pretty good bear deterent. He has since steered clear of us.

If any robbers came into my house, my kitty would scare him off.   She would run to him to get some chin scratches.

Medigal,

When my husband was in Vietnam, I had decided I would never use the gun unless a robber were to actually turn the door knob of my bedroom and then only to wound, not kill.  Was I at risk? In that neighborhood I was but the idea of point blank killing someone and living with that was more than I could imagine.  I no longer own the .45. 

There has never been a time since then that I considered using a gun for defense and I have lived in rougher neighborhoods than that.  I lived alone for two years when my husband and I had jobs in different cities.  I didn't even have a gun in my apartment. 

My husband received a handgun by will from his grandfather and that gun is under lock and key in a safe.  I have no intention of ever using a gun and neither does my husband.  He keeps it because of his memories of his grandfather. 

I agree with you that having a loaded gun around the house is a great danger.  That is why ours is locked up.  Of course being locked up and unloaded, it is more of a lump of steel than a weapon and that is fine with us.  Anyone who owns a gun should always have it locked up if there are children around.  If it is under lock and key, then what's the use of it?

I now leave the guns to "a well ordered militia", aka, the police.

Hey Rocky, I was thinking about you this morning and you showed up!

My ex bought most of his weapons at a pawn shop and through second party owners.  We had crates and crates of ammunition in the garage, along with a couple of illegal Mac-9's, various handguns, AK-47's, etc..  Who the hell needs all those weapons and ammo?  He was crazy in my opinion, but I guess he was just a collector.

Bren

Not so amicable .. ha!  I moved to another state, packed up the dogs and hightailed it out of there!  What's even worse is that crazy guy was a lawyer!

Bren