(11-09-2012, 04:48 AM)DeeBye Wrote: I don't disagree with any of this. I agree that people should be allowed to own shotguns and rifles. I just don't see where the 2nd amendment logically leads to the right to own military-grade weapons specifically designed to kill as many people as possible very quickly.
If someone breaks into my house and my shotgun is not enough firepower to defend my family, then owning an AK-47 probably wouldn't save me either.
Just as an aside, I've actually been in a situation like this when I was very young. The TL: DR version is that a man with a shotgun came to the front door of our house. He was looking to kill my father. We outsmarted him by running out the back door and called the police from a neighbour's house. They responded quickly and he was arrested.
I also agree there should be some right to defend yourself, but I still think guns are not the option.
I think in the Netherlands yearly probably 5 people are killed in their house during a burglary (max), most of those were special circumstances, none or 1 (average) involves a gun.
So a normal family that is attacked in their house by a burglar and of which one is killed, and this wouldn't have happened if they would own a gun would probably happen once every so many years.
For me changing the law which will flood the country with guns, greatly increasing deadly violence on streets, deadly accidents with guns, violence between neighbours, killing sprees by people who are layed off etc. is just not worth it.
and to add to that, something I mentioned before.
Whereas in the Netherlands less than 1 % of burglars are carrying a gun, when guns are legalized this will increase to 50% probably. Especially because there will always be some nut job that says it is Ok to kill someone who enters your house....and we all know what this leads to; I don't like a person, I invite him over for a beer, I kill him, and than I tell the police it was self defence.
introducing guns will increase the death toll under innocent people by 2,3 or 4 times, and will also increase the death toll under criminals ( a bit more maybe).
OOOORrr of course criminals will stop being criminal because there is the chance that they get shot. Let's ask our american friends here on the lounge; Is this true?
But as I said before I understand and respect they way you guys think about it. Because it is a very natural way of thinking. We saw it in say WW1 where people let themselves be slaughtered by the 10 thousands when they attacked the enemy lines; somehow most people think ***it is true death rate is 90% but i will for sure be among the 10% who survive****.
From a strictly personal persepctive it will be good (at least emotionally) to own a gun and have the idea you can defend yourself, but from a general perspective many more innocent people are killed.