I don't know why he took classes--maybe you should address the person who took them.

I also don't live in a crime free area (Southern California, BTW) but I still haven't ever had to shoot someone from 21 feet away and I suspected that you never had to either.

Of course, I concede that you feel you may need to someday and I haven't ever stated on this board that guns should be banned.

In all fairness to Smooth,

No, he has never stated that guns should be banned.

So for infering that, I appologize.

I would appreciate it if Smooth WOULD state his position on guns and gun control, as I have not been able to find it.

In the most general terms I am for *sensible gun control that attempts to balance public safety (in terms of both criminals ability to acquire guns and limiting accidental shootings) against our perceptions, rightly or wrongly, of what constitutes government encroachment into our private lives. I attempt to examine the needs of our society (to be free from harmful actions by both criminals and negligent citizens) along with the desires and fears of the general public. I am mindful that that gun registries could lead to confiscation, for example, and explore methods that would limit that possibility.

In more specific terms, while I am mindful of the beliefs that such measures might infringe on our personal liberties, I support utilizing technology to minimize risks. I am supportive of nanochip devices or biotechnology that preclude unauthorized firearm use, ballistics fingerprinting, and look forward to other innovative techniques on the horizon.

*What constitutes sensible ought to be defined by democratic debate. Polarization, appeals to fear, and ignorance do not allow people to focus on either the root causes of crime as well as alternative means of crime control.

Well, damn.


That sounds rather level...

I lived in SE DC, S Arlington, VA, Alexandria, VA, and now Harrisburg, PA. None of which are great cities but your right, I have never had to use my martial art. Then again, I can't think of a need to have a gun either. If someone breaks in your house, the only way that gun is going to help you is if its loaded and by your bed. If it is loaded and by your bed and your kid in a sleepy state stumbles in banging against your bedroom door, what happens then?

I am sure you have a great answer and really until that happens neither of us would know. I would choose being robbed over shooting my child, as I am sure you would too. I also would choose not to put my self in that situation.

I am not against people owning guns like I said before. It is your right. Living where I do I have seen some of the people that own guns though and it is down right scary. I just think it needs to be a bit harder to get one.

The number one thing you're supposed to do before firing any weapon is recognize your target.

Shooting your kid would be your own fuck up and damn near everyone would label you as a retard for assuming a midget in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Pajamas broke into your house and banged his head on a door frame.

I believe, and correct me if I err, that the point about having a pistol on the nightstand and having a small child bump into said nightstand was that the weapon might discharge by either falling off the nightstand or, having the toddler grab the weapon by mistake (or just because it's daddy's/mommy's) thus firing the weapon. There are all too many deaths every year due to stupid weapon owners who leave their fire arms where small hands can find them.

This may have been the point you mis-addressed.

2Wolves

Well then you're equally as stupid for having a loaded firearm on your nightstand. With a child in the house to boot, that's one of the stupidest things anyone can do.

been away for a few days and didn't notice the large interest in this thread which i started! thanks for ur replies, its opened my eyes a bit and given me a better view of why etc...on the comments about london being dangerous, i really have to disagree. I live in london pretty much most of the year and have never been witness to a mugging/shooting/stabbing. Yes i have been around when fights have started and have been involved in fights, and in those cases extremely grateful that a gun wasn't around! But then again, maybe if concealed weapons where legal then maybe i'd avoid situations like the plague.
As far as i know the in london are still not using guns...they've tried bringing in non lethal weapons and sprays etc...its only the armed response unit and SAS etc who carry lethal arms in england.
thanks for the enlightenment!

oh yeah, i originally posted this in the general discussion, it then was moved to tilted arms and now to politics!