*sigh* reading through this thread, i see a lot of anti-gun people whining about the people who do own guns. and they all want to know WHY we have/want/need guns. Answer? well, there's too MANY answers to list. but let's see if i can sum up a few:
Keeping the government in check. That's one of the big reasons us Americans have the 2nd ammendment. What's to stoping the president of the united states from declaring himself emperor? Not the military if he plans it right (he is in charge of the whole damn thing after all). But the idea that all of his citizens could possibly be armed, and might not like the idea of an emporer might make him think twice. Is this something likely to happen? No, it's not. But who's to say it's not likely BECAUSE we're allowed to own guns...
Personal defense. I have every right to defend myself, my family, and my home. It is simply easier to do so with a shotgun as opposed to a baseball bat or threats of lawsuits. Pretty straight forward.
Hunting. Do i really need to go into this more?
Competition/recreation. Shooting is an Olympic sport. There are competitive leagues all over the nation. And it's just plain fun to blast things into smaller things. Some people just like to collect them for the sake of having a collection. People collect baseball cards and bottle caps, why not guns?
Yes, there are criminals use them for crime. Just like they used knives/swords for crime before there was guns. Criminals are always gonna commit crime. It's what they do. So why not ban guns you ask? Well, it won't matter, they'll still get them. They banned cocaine, herion, and all the other drugs (in the US at least), but somehow people can still get drugs. Same would happen with guns, and all you have done is disarmed the LAW ABIDING people. Where ever there is a demand, there WILL be a supply.
"Well, why not ban assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles?" Please. You're joking, right? An AR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14 fire the same cartridge, and are just as lethal. Yet one's "scarier" than the other and should be banned. That's a freakin joke. I hate to break the bad new for you, but .50 BMG rifles aren't so scary either. I sincerely doubt that a terrorist can hit a plane moving 300 MPH from a mile and a half away. Let alone hit it in a spot critical enough to blow it up or make it crash (this is why they PREFER to use things like Stingers). I REALLY doubt drug dealers are gonna try using a 30lbs, 5-shot rifle for a drive by. Simple fact, more people murdered with vaccum cleaners than .50 BMG rifles...
Get over it people. Guns are here, we might as well have them. And remember, 99% of american gun owners didn't shoot anyone today...
Keeping the government in check. That's one of the big reasons us Americans have the 2nd ammendment. What's to stoping the president of the united states from declaring himself emperor? Not the military if he plans it right (he is in charge of the whole damn thing after all). But the idea that all of his citizens could possibly be armed, and might not like the idea of an emporer might make him think twice. Is this something likely to happen? No, it's not. But who's to say it's not likely BECAUSE we're allowed to own guns...
Personal defense. I have every right to defend myself, my family, and my home. It is simply easier to do so with a shotgun as opposed to a baseball bat or threats of lawsuits. Pretty straight forward.
Hunting. Do i really need to go into this more?
Competition/recreation. Shooting is an Olympic sport. There are competitive leagues all over the nation. And it's just plain fun to blast things into smaller things. Some people just like to collect them for the sake of having a collection. People collect baseball cards and bottle caps, why not guns?
Yes, there are criminals use them for crime. Just like they used knives/swords for crime before there was guns. Criminals are always gonna commit crime. It's what they do. So why not ban guns you ask? Well, it won't matter, they'll still get them. They banned cocaine, herion, and all the other drugs (in the US at least), but somehow people can still get drugs. Same would happen with guns, and all you have done is disarmed the LAW ABIDING people. Where ever there is a demand, there WILL be a supply.
"Well, why not ban assault weapons and .50 BMG rifles?" Please. You're joking, right? An AR-15 and a Ruger Mini-14 fire the same cartridge, and are just as lethal. Yet one's "scarier" than the other and should be banned. That's a freakin joke. I hate to break the bad new for you, but .50 BMG rifles aren't so scary either. I sincerely doubt that a terrorist can hit a plane moving 300 MPH from a mile and a half away. Let alone hit it in a spot critical enough to blow it up or make it crash (this is why they PREFER to use things like Stingers). I REALLY doubt drug dealers are gonna try using a 30lbs, 5-shot rifle for a drive by. Simple fact, more people murdered with vaccum cleaners than .50 BMG rifles...
Get over it people. Guns are here, we might as well have them. And remember, 99% of american gun owners didn't shoot anyone today...