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Would you ever own a gun?

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No.

Don't get me wrong, I think guns are cool - there's a part of me that appreciates them and their design (especially slightly odd stuff like the P90's magazine).

But I have no reason to own one.
 
Nope and I never plan to own one if at all possible.
Mostly cause guns kill people and I'm more likely to shoot something I didn't mean to.
 
Rules of supply and demand mean every bullet you buy/fire adds to the incentive to produce more bullets, that can kill people.

I'll never own a gun, and I am glad i live in a country where it is hard to get one as a citizen.

And you know what, it is not the wild west here were citizens are in harms way due to criminals having all the guns. No, crime rates are low and people feel safe. The reasoning that you need guns because bad guys have them too only makes the problem bigger.

Hasn't Belgium had a couple mass shootings just in the last few years? Liege in 2011, and the Jewish Museum in Brussels in 2014? Also, didn't the Charlie Hebdo shooters obtain their guns in Belgium?
 
I live in a state that requires no permit to conceal carry. It's not the "wild west." Far from it. If a bad guy wants to get a gun, they can, no matter how strict the laws. I don't regularly carry, don't own my firearms out of any sort of fear, and don't worry about them becoming sentient and killing me in my own home. I keep them properly stored. I enjoy collecting them, the sporting aspect, and maintaining them.

A responsible gun owner is not someone you would ever really think twice about or need to worry about.

To counter your point; I'm glad I live in a country that doesn't make me rely solely on the state for protection.

First and foremost, I think you misinterpret my wild west comment. Reading some reactions here it is like because we are not allowed to have guns we are fair game for criminals (and even military and police), whil it is exactly the oposite. Due to the severe gun restrictions there are LESS gun deaths per capita then in the USA. Crime is low too. I did NOT say the USA is the wild west because everybody packs.


Yeah, bad guys can get guns anyway, so what? I think that is a stupid argument.

"Well, murderers will kill anyway, even if it is prohibited. So why not make killing legal?"

It's a hyperbole, but it's the same reasoning.

You know, you never thought that allowing guns just puts you in a never ending cycle of more guns and violence? A burglar here in Belgium usually doesn't have a gun here when he breaks in. He doesn't need to, because it is safe to assume he won't face a home owner with a gun. There would not be less break ins when people would be allowed a gun in there house. There would be more break ins with guns and more violence because of it. I'm a firm believer of that.


And sorry, but I believe it's the states job to offer protection to it's citizens. Why have police and military if you don't like the idea they are protecting you, or if you think you're better off protecting yourself?
 
Hasn't Belgium had a couple mass shootings just in the last few years? Liege in 2011, and the Jewish Museum in Brussels in 2014? Also, didn't the Charlie Hebdo shooters obtain their guns in Belgium?

Yes, gun violance can't be rooted out completely. We had some incidents, foremost by extremist individuals. And offcourse you have crimes where guns are involved (robberies and such). There is no way you can avoid it. (And idd, due to the Antwerp harbor Belgium is part of a smuggling route which makes it easier to get guns 'on the street'). Gun laws have gotten more severe after those incidents too btw.

But overall, crime is low and gun violence is extremely low, and apart from some shortlived mass panic after a terror attack (like Hebdo), people feel relatively safe here in my experience.
 
I've thought about it, but I don't want to get a shitty gun, and I don't know if I could justify spending $1000+ when I don't know how often I'd go to a range.
 
You know, you never thought that allowing guns just puts you in a never ending cycle of more guns and violence?

The majority of gun violence in the United States is contained within certain areas where all types of crime are common. A lot of it is gang related. I live in a very urban, average area and have never really felt scared or felt like I needed a firearm to defend myself. There's this misconception that the United States is awash in violence when that's pretty far from the truth. People who live in average or above areas are pretty safe. Given the rate of ownership, the resulting numbers are kind of surprising. Violent crime has also seen a major downturn starting in the early 90s.

It's a little late to entertain hypothetical arguments. There are as many guns as there are people in the United States, if not more. It's fun to wonder what it'd be like if those all disappeared overnight but that's not a realistic argument.

And sorry, but I believe it's the states job to offer protection to it's citizens. Why have police and military if you don't like the idea they are protecting you, or if you think you're better off protecting yourself?

Police just arrive to clean up the mess. Just how it is. Nobody expects to use their firearms in self defense. It's not like your average American is super paranoid about being a victim of crime. Most everybody just gets on with their day like every other country. There's a small subset of whackos that believe the government is out to get them, but that's nothing new.
 
I own a Glock 17.

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I used to own an AK-47 and a Mossberg 500, but I sold those.

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I live in the UK. The only reason I'd need to own a gun is to kill or hurt another human which is something I find deplorable so no. I would never own a gun.
 
Aussie here.

Have an A + B licence, which means I can own pretty much any kind of bolt gun or break open shotgun. We can't own any of the cool stuff America, Canada or New Zealand get haha.

I'd like a .308 savage for a deer rifle though.
 
I'm from the UK living in Canada.

I would never own a gun, and i think the Americana gun culture is disgusting, toxic and an incredible negative towards society. It fucking baffles me.
 
yes, the only reasons to own a gun

I live in the middle of a town. That is quite literally the only reason why I'd ever need to own a gun. I don't need to go and hunt for my own food and I find the idea of hunting as a sport sickening. You're killing innocent animals for your own sick amusement and that's wrong.

I don't live in a place where a bear could come and maul me and unless you live in somewhere like the middle of a forest it's very unlikely that you'll ever encounter a bear or get in a situation where you need to defend yourself from a wild animal. Guns have no place in modern society.
 
I live in the middle of a town. That is quite literally the only reason why I'd ever need to own a gun. I don't need to go and hunt for my own food and I find the idea of hunting as a sport sickening. You're killing innocent animals for your own sick amusement and that's wrong.

I don't live in a place where a bear could come and maul me and unless you live in somewhere like the middle of a forest it's very unlikely that you'll ever encounter a bear or get in a situation where you need to defend yourself from a wild animal. Guns have no place in modern society.

...and what about recreation?
 
...and what about recreation?

Then you should be able to get a gun at the venue and leave it there. I'm sorry, but I see no reason why any human should have to have a gun in their home. All it does is make criminals more likely to harm people as they take their own guns in order to protect themselves. It also makes them more willing to fire in a world where everyone is armed.
 
Nope. I enjoy firing guns in video games as much as anyone, but I have no desire to even be around them in real life, much less own one.
 
I don't need to go and hunt for my own food and I find the idea of hunting as a sport sickening. You're killing innocent animals for your own sick amusement and that's wrong.

Are you familiar with the process that puts food on your table? It's far less graceful than hunting. And hunters often eat what they kill. Money raised by selling tags and licenses often helps conserve endangered species and keep overpopulated species in check.

Nope. I enjoy firing guns in video games as much as anyone, but I have no desire to even be around them in real life, much less own one.

You'd enjoy it in real life too. No reason to be irrationally afraid of firearms.
 
I'm a sport shooter, and own several guns for that purpose. I currently own a .22 Sako Quad and a .308 Remington 700 with AICS stock.

I live in Holland, where the only legal way to own a gun is for sport or hunting. Guns are relatively rare here, and most people associate them with crime and look down on gun owners.
 
No.

Never.

You'd enjoy it in real life too. No reason to be irrationally afraid of firearms.
I enjoy them in games but not in real life either. It's not about irrational fear, its about rational thinking why you would own one. I do not have desire to shoot cans for fun nor desire to murder my fellow man because he stood a little close to me in the bus line and I was "standing my ground". I am okay with most gun owners here in Sweden because they at least have to go through a bloody damn long process to have one.
 
You'd enjoy it in real life too.

I don't think I would. A gun in a video game is a bunch of pixels on a screen. A real firearm is something I have no business interacting with. It's a thing made for killing, and I'd be messing with it for what, my own amusement? Nah, that's not for me.

No judgement on others.
 
I don't think I would. A gun in a video game is a bunch of pixels on a screen. A real firearm is something I have no business interacting with. It's a thing made for killing, and I'd be messing with it for what, my own amusement? Nah, that's not for me.

A target rifle or pistol is made for killing? Shooting is an Olympic sport. Go to a reputable range, rent a firearm, get the full safety briefing and explain how apprehensive you are to a range officer if you want. Take a class. It might just change your perspective. If not, at least you can say you've been.

Far too many people associate malice with the object and not the person pulling the trigger. It takes a human being to make firearms dangerous.
 
An Ak5 for about 8 months. Ok the Swedish army owned the gun but they gave it to me and i could not get rid of it :(.

Anyway, No you should not get a gun because you dont have a good reason for it and you are immature. A gun is not a toy and its not making you cool besides if you get a real gun you wont hang it on the wall you keep that locked away.
 
A target rifle or pistol is made for killing? Shooting is an Olympic sport. Go to a reputable range, rent a firearm, get the full safety briefing and explain how apprehensive you are to a range officer if you want. Take a class. It might just change your perspective. If not, at least you can say you've been.

Far too many people associate malice with the object and not the person pulling the trigger. It takes a human being to make firearms dangerous.

In the context of a sport I'd be less apprehensive. I've done some archery with friends, and that never really bothered me.

The idea of handling actual guns though; the kind people use to shoot other people every day? That isn't something I'd feel right doing. You're right of course that people rather than guns are ultimately responsible for gun-related deaths, but that doesn't change the very real and very deadly role the guns play in the equation.

I apologise if this sounds like me getting on my high horse, I don't mean to imply anything about anyone. This is just my feelings on the matter, irrational or foolish as they may be.
 
The idea of handling actual guns though; the kind people use to shoot other people every day? That isn't something I'd feel right doing. You're right of course that people rather than guns are ultimately responsible for gun-related deaths, but that doesn't change the very real and very deadly role the guns play in the equation.

I know what you mean. When I grab a kitchen knife to slice some bread, I get all uncomfortable because I know people out there have used similar kitchen knives to kill people.

Then you should be able to get a gun at the venue and leave it there. I'm sorry, but I see no reason why any human should have to have a gun in their home. All it does is make criminals more likely to harm people as they take their own guns in order to protect themselves. It also makes them more willing to fire in a world where everyone is armed.

If I were a criminal, I'd avoid the homes where I knew the home owner had a gun. Why the shit would I WANT to go into a home where said owner had a gun? To get shot? lol no
 
I know what you mean. When I grab a kitchen knife to slice some bread, I get all uncomfortable because I know people out there have used similar kitchen knives to kill people.

that's why I sit in an empty, windowless room all day. I do feel kinda conflicted though, sometimes, since buildings have collapsed before
 
I know what you mean. When I grab a kitchen knife to slice some bread, I get all uncomfortable because I know people out there have used similar kitchen knives to kill people.

Knives have dozens of uses.

It's a similar deal to the old alcohol/cigarettes argument, where people will call you a hypocrite for denouncing the latter but not the former. Alcohol can terrible when abused, but it can also be used well. Cigarettes just kill you.

that's why I sit in an empty, windowless room all day. I do feel kinda conflicted though, sometimes, since buildings have collapsed before

I know you're just being silly, but the idea isn't that I'm bothered by dangerous things or things that can hurt. It's that I'm bothered by the idea of frivolously handling a thing that exists only to hurt. I mean, unless people are legitimately opening bottles and changing the channel on their TVs like Homer on the Simpsons.
 
No, definitley not. I am 32 at the moment and have never held a gun. I hope to keep this record up for the rest of my life. I just don't understand the fascination with guns, it is mostly a cultural think I guess (I'm English).
 
In the context of a sport I'd be less apprehensive. I've done some archery with friends, and that never really bothered me.

The idea of handling actual guns though; the kind people use to shoot other people every day? That isn't something I'd feel right doing. You're right of course that people rather than guns are ultimately responsible for gun-related deaths, but that doesn't change the very real and very deadly role the guns play in the equation.

I apologise if this sounds like me getting on my high horse, I don't mean to imply anything about anyone. This is just my feelings on the matter, irrational or foolish as they may be.

Stay on that high horse, in fact, get a table and put that horse a little higher. It is a needed attitude. People should not be comfortable around guns, they should be feared for what they are. My father is a hunter and former Swedish Special Forces (Kustjägare to be specific) so I've lived the majority of my life around guns and I put them in two categories where they should be, hunting tools and armed forces weaponry.

People can own weapons, but they need to be heavily regulated and there needs to be a social culture around them that doesn't praise weaponry like a right to own but more a privelige.
 
Stay on that high horse, in fact, get a table and put that horse a little higher. It is a needed attitude. People should not be comfortable around guns, they should be feared for what they are. My father is a hunter and former Swedish Special Forces (Kustjägare to be specific) so I've lived the majority of my life around guns and I put them in two categories where they should be, hunting tools and armed forces weaponry.

People can own weapons, but they need to be heavily regulated and there needs to be a social culture around them that doesn't praise weaponry like a right to own but more a privelige.

Do you fear swords too?
 
No, never.

I have no desire to shoot for 'sport' - I'd rather go to the local archery-club and learn something about a bow vs. firing a gun into nothing - nor do I see the point in getting a gun for hunting; there's plenty of food and I don't see murdering animals for one's own entertainment as something particularly noble.

Getting one for 'self-defense' is not really a factor since I live in The Netherlands, where the majority of the few gun-related incidents every year occur within the criminal circuit, i.e. criminals shooting other criminals, and since I am not a criminal myself, the chance of encountering a 'bad guy with a gun' who would want to hurt me specifically are infinitely small.

Aside from that, I also have no current plans to murder anyone nor the desire to shoot any potential intruder on sight, so I'd say there is zero reason for me to get a gun.

I'll just stick to my FPS games.
 
Nope

Do you fear swords too?

Swords are much weaker as a killing weapon than a speeding bullet. It will have a hard time killing someone in their car, it needs to be close, it can be dodged easier than a bullet, and much more. Swords are not as scary. Try hunting with a sword for example. Bullets are serious business.
 
Nope. nope. Never. Even if I trust myself absolutely to never do something dumb (I don't) I can't guarantee that people in my house will never be stupid enough to possibly kill someone through improper behavior around the explosions machine.

Self-defense doesn't wash with me either. It only defends you against an attacker, which is a flatly low occurrence for most people most places. It does nothing to defend you against a number of probabilities - Accidents, suicide, theft, disarmament - and makes them all markedly worse.
 
Maybe if i have the money or the license, i'll buy Mateba Autorevolver.

Just don't buy bullet if you want is as decoration? Or maybe buy a model gun, since it's safer.
 
I'm not sure what you're suggesting here. Do you not think that swords should be treated as deadly weapons? I mean, are they not?

The guy I quoted was saying guns should be feared as they were made for killing. Bow/arrow & swords were made for the same purpose. Hunting or not. That's why I asked.
 
I live in a state that requires no permit to conceal carry. It's not the "wild west." Far from it. If a bad guy wants to get a gun, they can, no matter how strict the laws. I don't regularly carry, don't own my firearms out of any sort of fear, and don't worry about them becoming sentient and killing me in my own home. I keep them properly stored. I enjoy collecting them, the sporting aspect, and maintaining them.

A responsible gun owner is not someone you would ever really think twice about or need to worry about.

To counter your point; I'm glad I live in a country that doesn't make me rely solely on the state for protection.

Lol, this is hardly reassuring. Not when every single legal gun owner self-identifies as "responsible", but the data clearly says otherwise.
 
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