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Old 07-03-2004, 06:58 PM   #22 (permalink)
Scipio
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Location: College
I think your question is of questionable value. Things aren't really black and white, and I think you already know what point you're trying to make. If I were you, I'd just argue it.

That said:

I think you can put gun owners into three broad categories:

1. Recreational users, like hunters and target shooters

2. People who purchase guns for protection

3. Criminals who use guns for protection and intimidation (and for shooting people, though they're a minority; I assume most criminals prefer to get what they want without murdering people.)

I suspect that a sizeable majority supports gun ownership for the first category (or wouldn't take their guns away). I'd even guess that it's an 80-90% majority. I also suspect that nearly 100% of people would want the third group, criminals, to not have guns.

To me, the gray area is in the middle. People who just have guns laying around. People who don't really know how to use them. People who might not really need them. These are the people who have firearm accidents in their homes, who try to shoot criminals, but accidentally hit innocent bystanders or family members.

To me, gun ownership by these people ought to be discouraged. They have every right to own one, but they endanger themselves and others when they choose to buy one.

So that's me; keep guns away from criminals, let responsible people own them, promote education, and discourage people who don't really need guns from having them.
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