Summations Only

Don't you mean that handguns do not serve a useful purpose that YOU see?

They obviously have a useful purpose when regulated and controlled properly.The issue seems to be that guns are not regulated and controlled in a sensible way in the USA. This is a view held by your president and the rest of the developed world.The fact that it isn't obvious to you and the NRA is impressive.

It is also impressive that you seem totally incapable of reading what I post.I have said repeatedly that the issue is a matter of misuse, of a lack of education and a disrespect for regulations in the US.But regulations mean nothing when they are generally ignored and in the US, ignoring regulations is rampant.

How about you actually back up statements with actual examples or ideas?What gun regulations are ignored? How would these supposed regulations help with the current gun issues without requiring more legal control of guns?If you want to to actually discuss the topic you need to do that. If instead you want to continue to derail then continue as you are.ABE You say the same thing to a lot of people. Maybe the problem is not people's comprehension? Maybe it is your cryptic, nonsensical way of writing and posting? A little self awareness goes a long way.Edited by Theodoric, : More thoughts

I cannot help peoples inability to actually read what it written. That is NMP. I have outlined most of the problems but will gladly attempt yet again.In the US we currently have no way to track who should be prevented from buying a gun. We do not track mental disorders or physical limitations. We do not educate people on gun safety just as we do not educate people about safe driving (a much larger problem).We need to track such information. Hell, it would likely be a good idea if the US actually had a list of who is a citizen.I would support making concealed handguns illegal and requiring open carry. Let the public see that gun owners are just like everyone else and really a far smaller threat than the average driver.I would support mandatory gun training and annual certification (but only if we also required it to drive a vehicle; folks with guns don't scare me but all them drivers out there do).I would support recognizing that there are NO accidental discharge incidents, if a modern handgun goes off when it was not intended then it is negligence, not accident.I would support far stricter enforcement of existing gun laws (but also vehicular infractions).I have never said I opposed all legal restrictions on guns, just the really stupid ones I've seen suggested.

Hi Jar, I do not know what regs are ignored but I do know that absolute ignorance and stupidity is rampant in the US in regards to guns.For example: Almost every day I hear about a child getting his/her hands on gun and shooting either themselves or other.
Why? Ignorance and stupidity on the part of the parents or gun owner.The guy who shot all those children at the Sandyhook elementary school . He was severely mentally disturbed and his mom buys and keeps high capacity assault rifles and handguns in the house where he can get his hands on them. Ignorant and stupid.James Holmes blows away people in a movie theater in Co. Again
mentally disturbed asshole getting his hands on firearms to kill innocent people. wtf?We can not un-invent the wheel, guns are here to stay. Even if there was a massive crackdown on them, even if another gun was never manufactured in this country zillions of guns exist and other zillions would be imported. Limiting ammo again would only deter the easily deterred.What we need is a cultural revolution in regards to guns. Guns are a fascination for us Americans. We simply love our guns, so much so we are willing to suffer the consequences of the gun related deaths brought about from a ignorant/stupid armed society.

This has been the message the Democrats have been trying to push forth, but frankly, they have done a dismal job of it. The main issue is the gun culture, as you are alluding to. This fixation on guns as if they are some sacrosanct totem that must be worshipped is really bizarre in my eyes. It almost reminds me of how Samurai's and warriors of old used to imbue their swords as having some mystical quality.Incidentally, for those on this thread, there was a documentary on Frontline PBS recently called 'Gunned Down'. Really interesting and I would recommend checking it out. It takes a focus on the NRA and actually demonstrates how that organization, which actually started on a well to do gun safety mandate was completely usurped by a few unscrupulous people that transformed it into one of the most feared lobbying engines this country has ever seen.

More not answering questions posed to you. Do you really think you addressed my questions? Most of your proposals are new stricter regulations. And again you are attempting to hijack the thread with your continuing rants about non-analogous car driving.

It is ironic that the mindset about why one carrys or owns a guns is sometimes a self fulfilling prophecy. I am sure no one wakes up and says today my kid will accidentally blow his head off with my loaded fire arm that I purchased to protect him with.If one owns a gun then they carry the responsibility of having a device that can cause instantaneous death. It does not matter what, where, who, or when or why. That gun can and will kill if it is employed on target either on purpose or not.Perhaps that is part of the allure of gun ownership. It makes the owner instantly powerful. But one does not need a gun to kill.It was William Burroughs that said, " No one owns life, but anyone who can pick up a frying pan owns death."Im going to watch that PBS special you mentioned. Regards.

Could be. I may just be so limited in my understanding that apart from target practising I do not come up with anything even remotely positive.

Jar, whilst there is a right to keep and bear arms, there is no adequate regulation and control of guns in the USA. The inconsistent rules limiting that right are merely a side salad, regularly discarded. To make any sensible change, that amendment needs amending.

Thanks for admitting that you'd prefer to just deny me one of my rights.I reject your offer.

Think about why practically every cop on duty carries a handgun.They're the best weapon you can have.

Agreed. Sadly, as we have seen in many cases, there is no idiot test in this country and the end result is guns are often not handled correctly or find their way into the hands of those that should never have one. Very true. I studied copious martial arts in my lifetime and I am fully aware of the types of strikes or moves I can perform that could be fatal. But one thing that I have to say that I don't approve of regarding our gun culture here is we have adopted a 'shoot first, ask questions later' methodology. Things like the stand your ground laws basically encourage people to escalate a situation as opposed to trying to calm things down. What ever happened to trying to maintain our composure and resolve a matter civilly before we decide to 'pop a cap' in someone.We had a case in my state of Florida where a retired police officer in a movie theater used his gun to kill another person because that guy threw popcorn at him after an argument about his cellphone. And this is a former cop for crying out loud!One other thing (and I have said this before), the one argument that drives me beyond nuts when I speak to other gun owners is this fixation they have on needing to be armed because they might need to overthrow a tyrannical government. I am sorry, but that is the most moronic statement I have ever heard. The most staunch Ayn Rand acolyte could go into Gander Mountain and buy ever gun they sell and it wouldn't mean a hill of beans the moment the government showed up with ten M1A1 tanks. The soldiers inside would be playing cards laughing their asses off as you emptied every clip you had only to watch it bounce off the tank's armor.We as a society have already consciously acknowledged that the military is ALWAYS going to be better armed that its citizenry. So far as I know, Bill Gates can't buy a fleet of tanks, jets and missiles. And in my mind, that is a good thing. So we need to drop this anachronistic notion of being armed to the teeth to keep our government in check. I think we carry far more power in our votes than we do in our home ordinance.

And if only I wasn't a police officer myself...A sad necessity does not make the guns any more welcome or desirable.