in response to heathen:
You have a valid point heathen, and you are correct,
if nobody had them, then nobody would need them.
That, unfortunately perhaps, is just a pipe dream. Do you really think
that ALL the guns in the United States could be made to magically
disappear? Of course not. The problem with gun confiscation programs
is that they only serve to disarm the law-abiding public. Do you think
that criminals are going to turn in their guns just because they are
illegal? Most criminals that have guns have them illegally already!
They don't give a shit about them being legal or not. What do you think
would happen if only the criminal element had guns? Look at Washington D.C.
the "Murder Capital of America." Handguns are all but banned there and
concealed carry is completely illegal. Badguys run rampant and kill as
they please because only the police have the guns. In Kennesaw, Georgia,
it is the law that each homeowner must also own a gun. Guess what?
Armed, violent crime is virtually non-existant in Kennesaw.
You are also correct that many of our constitutional rights are being
usurped by the government. The war on drugs is nothing more than a breach
of the constitutional right to be secure in your person and property.
The constitution is strictly against illegal search and siezure. What
do you think these "no-knock" drug raids are? If six guys dressed in black
came crashing into my house in the middle of the night, I certainly
wouldn't think that they were police. I don't understand why they don't
crack down on the violent drug gangs that kill and maim for fun.
The police surely don't need to be busting some guy for having a joint
when there are crackheads gunning down old ladies for their social security checks.
If you think about what you said about the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
not being part of the Constitution, perhaps you should think again. Imagine
how much further they could have taken the war on drugs if there were no
Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The government could basically declare war
on the poor, inner-city dwellers and arrest/execute them en masse.
The first thing that the Nazis did when they took power was to disarm
the Jews. What happened next?
If you say that our government isn't
capable of killing people indescriminately, you are being naive. The war
on drugs has served to villify drug users and make it kinda OK when a
hispanic grandfather is accidentally killed in a no-knock raid on his
house because his grandson bought some pot. The same thing is now happening
to gun-owners. We are being villified by the government, the press, religion,
big business, etc. You and I are apparently birds of a feather, we should
support each other.
I would like to see the day when you could go into wal-mart and buy a
gun and a bag of pot. I think most drugs should be legalized and
regulated. And I've never even tried drugs, but most people I have known
that have used drugs (pot, acid, 'ludes) were peace-loving, non-violent
folks just like me. The bottom line in both of these arguements is that
people need to take responsibility for their actions. All actions, be it
driving, shooting, drinking, smoking, talking, etc.
You are right again that at least it is legal to possess a firearm.
Unfortunately, where I live I cannot carry a concealed pistol to protect
myself against criminals with guns. The problem is mostly with people's
perceptions of gun owners. Sarah Brady, Handgun Control Inc.,
Violence Policy Center, and others are trying to take away
a constitutionally guaranteed natural right of self-defense. Why should
my right to defend myself and my family end at my front door? If you're
not trying to hurt me or mine, I'm not going to try and hurt you. If someone
is trying to hurt you, perhaps with a gun to even the odds, I could
save your life. You will certainly be safer when criminals start thinking
that "maybe" you "could be" carrying a gun.
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