Guns Guns Guns

[Beto]

So where does everyone stand on the "right to bear arms" issue? I'd like to hear the pros and cons. I'm kinda divided right now, between the ideal and the realistic positions.

[McCulloch]

So where does everyone stand on the "right to bear arms" issue? I'd like to hear the pros and cons. I'm kinda divided right now, between the ideal and the realistic positions.

Since this is a site dedicated to debating Christianity, the Christian view should be expressed.

[Jesus said,] "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'
"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
"If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. "

In context of Christ's very plain teaching, it is difficult for me to understand a Christian advocating the right to bear arms.

The right to bare arms on the other hand ...

[Homicidal_Cherry53]

I am fully for the right to bear arms, as it simply isn't the government's place to intervene. It is a constitutional right, and there is no real reason for it to be taken away. The government exists to protect our rights, not serve as a nanny.

[McCulloch]

I am fully for the right to bear arms, as it simply isn't the government's place to intervene. It is a constitutional right, and there is no real reason for it to be taken away. The government exists to protect our rights, not serve as a nanny.

You're begging the question a bit. It is a constitutional right in the USA, but not elsewhere necessarily. But, should it be a constitutional right and why? Shouldn't the government have the right to regulate personal weapons as they do other dangerous items? Where do you draw the line? Should everyone have the right to bear whatever arms we choose, or is there a limit? Can I have a pistol but not a bazooka in downtown New York? Constitutionally, is it any different?
I may have the right to drive a car, but I still must be licensed to use it. If I misuse that right, I fully expect that the state will remove that right. Why not the same for weapons?

[Homicidal_Cherry53]

Governments are responsible from protecting their people, but this protection does not extend to protecting them from themselves. If they wish to protect us from being killed by guns, the way to do it is not to ban guns themselves, but punish those who use them for murder, and try to keep guns out of their hands in the first place. The government is not a parent who has the right to take away something for our own good (they still do unfortunately). Doing so will only cause those who should not have them to find another way to get them, one that the government cannot oversee.

While I don't consider the right to bear arms to be some sacred right on the level of freedom of speech, I feel it should be a forgone conclusion in any country that advertises itself as free.

[McCulloch]

Governments are responsible from protecting their people, but this protection does not extend to protecting them from themselves.

Go and purchase some heroin and let me know which government tries to protect you from yourself.

[Furrowed Brow]

Watched the BBC News this lunchtime and they do a piece on the US. They interviewed some factory workers in Ohio. A woman said she would vote Obama except for two issues, one being late abortions and the other being the right to a gun. Then they showed a row of houses with neat kept front lawns….and I thought to myself why on earth would these people want to carry a gun? To protect themselves from other people who carry guns? It all seems self defeating. And be under no illusion yes guns are part of the criminal culture in the UK, there are daily reports of people being shot, but there is no debate regarding the need of the populace to bear arms……zero. What we want are more police on the streets much like the numbers of police you get in New York.

Then I guess there is the argument about unjust government. But if the government is that unjust then you are not going to ask their permission for the right to bear arms.
However I do see that maybe genie is out of the bottle in the US.

[realthinker]

I own two guns, a small game rifle and a big game rifle. I own them for two reasons. First should be obvious from the description. I do hunt, but mostly it is because I believe that hunting is a skill one should have.

The need for that skill is quite related to my second reason. I do not feel secure in the notion that the US economy is secure and invulnerable. Severe problems of oil availability will quite quickly find our smaller communities quite isolated. Large cities will be found full of starving, ignorant suburbanites with no skills or real resources to help themselves. I may never have the need to rely upon hunting as a skill, but it's something I feel I should be somewhat proficient at, even if for no other reason than to ensure that my children have that and necessary related skills.

I guess a third reason is that should we be faced with a need to support ourselves independently, I anticipate needing to defend resources from those who would rather take than earn.

I am not by any means an alarmist. I don't foretell the melt down of the US economy, but recent events and other facts suggest that it's something to be aware of and something for which I'd rather be somewhat prepared.

[Homicidal_Cherry53]

Governments are responsible from protecting their people, but this protection does not extend to protecting them from themselves.

Go and purchase some heroin and let me know which government tries to protect you from yourself.

The fact that the government is currently "protecting" me from myself doesn't mean that they should.

[onefaith]

I think it should be ok for a person to own a gun for recreational purposes. I don't think people should be able to carry them in public. But if a person owns a gun it would be difficult to keep them from doing that. So I'm kind of torn. I love shooting for recreational purposes, but I'm opposed to gun violence.