You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.
Captain America
Thanks guys, I know the topic surrounding guns is like chalk and cheese between America and the UK, but, if you have the right to defend yourself with a gun, when was the last time you defended yourself with a gun? If they've sat in a cupboard under a blanket for umpteen years not used, why keep a gun?
Transgression slightly. I sent my 14 year old son into the supermarket to buy some plastic picnic cutlery. He came out empty handed because he's too young. You could slash your arm with a plastic picnic knife for 15 years and still not cause a scratch. He can't buy alcohol, party poppers, a razor to shave with, matches etc...
He can grab a beer from my fridge, pick up an 8" kitchen knife, use matches to light a fire in the fireplace and enjoy a Christmas by banging a few party poppers that don't have enough explosive power to knock the skin off a rice pudding.
Do you have stupid laws like this as well?
Legalize them? Not sure where you're going with this. If there is one theme you can take away from my posts, I'm about personal responsibility. I don't care if you kill yourself. Your choice. I care if it costs the rest of us. So. there are a whole bunch of problems with this question. Let's start with the money.
We've spent BILLIONS in our "war on drugs" and the best I can see is it's been wasted. Addicts are addicts. They're getting their stuff, period. And as long as there is a need, the supplier has business. It's the same as hiring illegals. You can't cut off just the tail and expect everything else to die. Used to be, you busted the dealer, not the user. BUt they bust the users now. Why? Money. After you get busted, pay for bail, pay your court costs, they send you to a class that costs you MORE money. And they do this to people that can't even afford their addictions, much less all that state-sponsored graft. The people that need help the most just get fined up the butt and no help.
In an equal world, I could care less. But we don't live in an equal world.
“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” Edumnd Burke
Very good question. Here's my answer.
For protection.
Case in point: In my younger days, I once got mad at my husband while we were out drinking with friends. I left the bar, on foot mind you, at night, and walked back to where my car was (he had picked me up after work from another joint on Richmond that he liked).
Anyway....on the way back to my car, which was several city blocks (in heels)....a car full of males drove up, slowed down and proceeded to verbally harass me...saying things like "come on, get in the car". At one point the car stopped and one of the guys started to get out of the car. Feeling menaced, I reached into my bag (that's all I had to do) and put my hand on my cute little 25. It looked something like this....
Small but still....protection.
Anyway....the guys suddenly decided that they didn't want to play any more and drove off. Result? No physical confrontation of any kind. And just the knowledge of having that gun (I have carried one since I was in my early 20s)....has no doubt warded off many other would-be muggers/attackers. It's the attitude you have that says..."don't mess with me" vs. the "I'm weak and easy pickins, come and get me".
Also, I drove a Trans Am for over a decade that broke down (it was a lemon) in every possible spot in Houston, and even twice in the same spots...lol. As an attractive (in my younger days) female.... broken down on the street or highway...supposedly helpless....it's the perfect victim scenario...
if not for that gun and the attitude that just having it gives you.
I now live in an area that has been Obama-ized and approximately half or more of the residents are blacks. So the crime rate (home burglaries and break-ins) has gone up, to put it mildly. And an elderly woman two houses down was mugged/robbed pulling into her garage, in fact.
So yeah.... I'll keep my protection. You're damned straight I will.....as our "illustrious leaders" continue to make things more and more unsafe for law-abiding citizens via their leftist policies.
Last edited by DLT; 09-16-2015 at 07:49 AM.
What if a couple of Muslim guys come near your home and try to chop off your head with a machete? You have to find a knife as well to defend yourself? Or find the car keys so you can run the bastards over?
It's bad enough that here in the US we have to worry about someone figuring out a way to get in a dirty bomb or nuke or similar. But shit, over there some need to be worried that someone simply doesn't smuggle in a gun!
“You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named "Bush", "Dick", and "Colin." Need I say more?” - Chris Rock
That's a logical fallacy. The question isn't logical.
Should I indulge?
Hrm...I haven't used my 'junk' to procreate for 14 years. I should go-ahead and castrate myself eh? Just sayin...
The point of gun ownership is three-fold:
1) Because a well-armed populace reduces crime
2) protects the fundamentals of liberty
3) Because i'm a grown-ass MAN who can decide what's best for myself and my family
“… the greatest detractor from high performance is fear: fear that you are not prepared, fear that you are in over your head, fear that you are not worthy, and ultimately, fear of failure. If you can eliminate that fear—not through arrogance or just wishing difficulties away, but through hard work and preparation—you will put yourself in an incredibly powerful position to take on the challenges you face" - Pete Carroll.
Northern Ireland's and the Republic of Ireland's Gun Laws are among the toughest in Europe. The North tends to follow the Gun laws in the South.. They are tougher than those in Great Britain, Scotland and Wales.
With the Disarming of the RUC and The IRA prior to the Easter Accords of 1998, Firearms deaths dropped but have since been rising as criminals get illegal handguns from other sources.
In Ireland you can't possess a Handgun that uses center-fire ammunition. You are limited to .22 short Rimfire.
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/cp/ireland
You know, the last time I was in Germany and saw a man standing above everybody else, we ended up disagreeing.
Captain America
I've defended my house with a gun for the past 16 years minimum. We are safe. We have a sign up that we are protected as such. Bastards will think 2x before coming into a house that advertises that they will shoot a scumbag that tries to burglarize or harm their family. Peace of mind, security - when you have a family it's worth MILLIONS. I would be scared to death if I had to safeguard my family with a steak knife.
“You know the world is going crazy when the best rapper is a white guy, the best golfer is a black guy, the tallest guy in the NBA is Chinese, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France is accusing the U.S. of arrogance, Germany doesn't want to go to war, and the three most powerful men in America are named "Bush", "Dick", and "Colin." Need I say more?” - Chris Rock