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Originally Posted by Charlatan
I have come to understand the gun-advocate's point of view quite well (mostly from reading posts here). I still see no need for allowing handguns into the hands of people.
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these posts arent' the best source of information. The most informed people don't necessarily post here. You get a mixed quality of opinions and information/disinformation
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
The fact that I can go to a gun show and purchase a handgun, legally, in the parking lot without having to go through any paperwork (i.e. criminal check, etc.) is just wrong.
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Despite what some media commentators have claimed, existing gun laws apply just as much to gun shows as they do to any other place where guns are sold. Since 1938, persons selling firearms have been required to obtain a federal firearms license. If a dealer sells a gun from a storefront, from a room in his home or from a table at a gun show, the rules are exactly the same: he can get authorization from the FBI for the sale only after the FBI runs its "instant" background check (which often takes days to complete). As a result, firearms are the most severely regulated consumer product in the United States -- the only product for which FBI permission is required for every single sale.
Conversely, people who are not engaged in the business of selling firearms, but who sell firearms from time to time (such as a man who sells a hunting rifle to his brother-in-law), are not required to obtain the federal license required of gun dealers or to call the FBI before completing the sale. This is not exclusive to "gun shows."
The buzzword "gun show loophole" is a myth. If you have a problem with the private sale of firearms that's a different issue. But those who refer to "gun show loophole" only demonstrate that their sources of information need to be reconsidered.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
There is no way to defend the handgun as a tool. It's simple one use task is for killing other humans and the entry bar for attaining them and the punishment for using them is set WAY too low.
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I am neither a collector nor a hunter. And I do consider the gun as a tool - it is a tool I have trained to use to protect my life and the life of my family should that need arise. It's sad that you view someone like myself as a danger to society.
I have many friends in law enforcement and, believe it or not, the majority of LEOs I am aware of (and certainly ALL the LEOs I have known) support the private ownership of firearms for self protection. Furthermore they make it clear that the duty of police officers is not to prevent crime - and that if your house is being invaded they're unlikely to be around to save you.
I won't try to convince you that you'd be safer if you had a gun - but that's your decision, not mine.
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Originally Posted by Charlatan
Yes, there could be a drop in violent crimes if everyone had a gun. That's besides the point.
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I didn't say everyone should have a gun. But don't discount the power of knowing that citizen may be armed as a deterrent for criminal activity. Conversely, knowing that guns are explicitly illegal for citizens removes a level of uncertainty to the potential mugger/rapist/criminal. But I know I can't convince you of that - so let's just agree to disagree on this point.