What It's Like To Own Guns...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ooh Matron!!!

I feel somewhat relieved that I have missed that pop culture reference.

 

[Information Analyst]

I feel somewhat relieved that I have missed that pop culture reference.

'Ere, stop mucking about!

 

[The Atheist]

How do you keep a gun safe from improper use and ready for instant use?

It cannot be done.

That's the point I was trying to make: having guns stored correctly means they are unavailable for defence purposes.

 

[Cl1mh4224rd]

ETA: Actually, now that I think about it, I this might be the distinguishing characteristic, between Americans and our Commonwealth Cousins. We still believe, to a much greater degree, that self defense is a personal responsibility and a personal choice, and that we have a right to the tools for the job if we want them.

That's the product of Americans' intense individualism; it's the same reason we reject universal healthcare: "why I should I be responsible for anyone else?"

And you've just now realized this?

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It cannot be done.

That's the point I was trying to make: having guns stored correctly means they are unavailable for defence purposes.

I was agreeing. I used to use a shower scenario but. bathing confused my cousins.

 

[Ron_Tomkins]

Guns don't kill people. Bullets do.


Unless it's a laser gun, in which case, it's laser rays that kills people.

 

[tsig]

"Self-defense" is code for "I want my guns."

Esp.since a gun is not a defense.

 

[tsig]

You're just getting out of the shower. A guy walks in with a gun and points it at you. Is your gun ready for instant action?

Nah, we like a little foreplay.

 

[Cl1mh4224rd]

Esp.since a gun is not a defense.

Heh. "The best defense is a good offense!"

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Heh. "The best defense is a good offense!"

Thank you for pointing you have no defense, just counter-offense. I hope the distinction doesn't escape anyone.

 

[welshdean]

Thank you for pointing you have no defense, just counter-offense. I hope the distinction doesn't escape anyone.

Didn't escape me.


I've often wondered how the value of a human life V's the 50" plasma is weighed up in the average USians life.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Didn't escape me.


I've often wondered how the value of a human life V's the 50" plasma is weighed up in the average USians life.

I've heard you can shoot someone in the back for doing that.

 

[welshdean]

I've heard you can shoot someone in the back for doing that.

Prison term, guaranteed here.

 

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Prison term, guaranteed here.

I have relatives who have killed people simply for being in their house. No charges filed.

 

[welshdean]

I have relatives who have killed people simply for being in their house. No charges filed.

Yeee haaaa!

 

[BobTheCoward]

I would love to hear to explain how and why.

Unless someone is a complete consequentialist, we all have lines on things we won't allow a society to do to an individual regardless of the alleged benefits. We might share. My list just so happens to include this one other thing.

 

[devnull]

Didn't escape me.


I've often wondered how the value of a human life V's the 50" plasma is weighed up in the average USians life.

My brother was recently in the US and gun control came up as a topic.

The people he was with just literally could not comprehend that he wouldnt shoot someone for stealing his vinyl collection from his house..... that "things" were not worth taking a human life.

"What would you do if you caught someone stealing your stuff from your house?"

"I dunno.... hold the door for them before calling insurance?"

"..."

 

[Cl1mh4224rd]

Thank you for pointing you have no defense, just counter-offense. I hope the distinction doesn't escape anyone.

Yep.

I've often wondered how the value of a human life V's the 50" plasma is weighed up in the average USians life.

I think people view their property as extensions of themselves. Therefore, that television is worth, say, $700 + the value of your own life. Obviously this is going to be much greater than the value of the thief's life, so... bang bang.

 

[P.J. Denyer]

I feel somewhat relieved that I have missed that pop culture reference.

I don't know if it's 'pop' any more, but it was a huge part of the development of Modern British humour.

 

[jimbob]

Depends on circumstances. You may think that those on the other side of the pond are somehow lesser than you for not clamouring for gun use and 'taking personal responsiblility' for our own safety.

We on this side of the pond might consider that 'taking responsibility' for our own safety is about as sensible as taking responsibility for our own sewage or our own roads (or our own healthcare). Society causes specialisation. Heck, socialisation causes specialisation and those organisms that are more social tend to be more successful.

Perhaps we give up some responsibility for our safety into the hands of others, but it would seem that this method does end up with a better result for society (perhaps not for some individuals, however) and we seem to be happy with that.

We might call our method civilised and yours barbaric and anachronistic.

You might call our method passive and lacking in responsibility and yours responsible and good citizenry.


I think these attitudes are ingrained in us all, both sides of the pond, from a very young age and it's quite difficult to step outside of that and try to comprehend the opposing view.

I prefer the label enslaved.

Speaking personally, if I was banned from access to guns, but other demographics were allowed full access, then that could be a tool of enslavement. If I have no access to handguns, and nor does anyone else except a small number of people with very good reason, then it doesn't look much like enslavement.

Collectively, the people in the UK have overwhelmingly decided that we would prefer to not have access to handguns if it means that others are not going to have them either. As the vast majority of the population are not interested in handguns, it barely even rates as any price to pay for having a very low risk of being threatened with being shot, any more than I feel restricted by the fact that I would not be allowed to own a Snow Leopard.

I have a very low fear of crime and the lack of handgun availability is one reason.

It is not "trading increased security for freedom" and "finding that we have lost both". If the situation changed, the UK population could decide that they wanted access to handguns, and could change the law. Slaves couldn't do that. I struggle to think of situations that might effect such a change in UK opinion, but a zombie plague might do it. The same goes for many other rich countries.