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Originally posted by: ricarleite
First, I must also apologise if I've been rude or anything of the sort, it was not my intention. I also get carried away sometimes.
I understand and accept your point of view on guns, but I hope that this conversation will at least bring some wisdom on both of us... So, after all we discussed, I ask you to yes, keep the gun, it's your right if you want to, but please do be careful... Don't show it off to people, if you're going to transport it unload it first, if you have kids make sure they can't reach it/find it and if (or when) they are old enough, explain to them that what that is and they should never touch it or anything... And if you ever realize you'll actually need it, do think if you really need it, if you're merely fighting with someone, if the person is harming you but is clearly unnarmed, don't use it... And if you REALLY, have to use it, please try aiming for the leg or something, I mean, incapacitate someone should be your goal, you're not trying to get more kills as possible, right?
I'm pretty sure you're balanced enough not to do something dangerous with the weapon, and I'm confident that you'll never need to fire at anyone, at lease I that's what I hope for.
As for me, I'll avaliate this issue better and perhaps I might reconsider. I wouldn't buy a gun (if those were available), not only because of my point of view, but because I don't think I can shoot a gun... I'd probably shoot my own foot...
Dont get me wrong i am not for the manditory arming of all citizens, nor am i for easy availablity of weapons. I think that defeinate guidelines need to be put into place to do everything you can to keep guns out of the wrong people hands, including thorough background checks, registration(though there are aspects about types of registration that give me the heeby geebies), manditory classes/testing for gun owners, etc. Though i for the expiring of the assualt weapons ban because of the loopholes that were outlined initially.
If i ever guns my kids will be brought up understanding what guns are and be educated. I guess it may be a strange thought to many others here, but i can remember walking through my aunts home, which has rifles literally behind most of the doors, and never thinking about picking one up and playing with it.
As for handguns for self defence and selective mamings, hate to break it to you but neither are very effective, you best bet is to always aim for the chest, and to in the case of home invasion use a shot gun. In the heat of the moment you freak out and its truely takes a trained pro, to successfully aim and connect with a shot to the extremities. If some one is in my house i am shooting for the chest preferably with a 4 10. Again more people die in knife fights then they do in gun fights, its not as easy to point and shoot as it looks in the arcades or tv.
Moving on...
One point that i would bring up is what about guns for hobbiest? Maybe i am just a country boy, but i know tons of folks who love nothing more than disappearing into the woods for a couple of days and hunting. Personally i am not the type that kills much of anything, including insects, but hey if you want to legally go hunting more power to you. Further more, what about those that collect guns, again not my cup of tea, but i know people who love to buy and use firearms, including assault rifles. They have paid a ton of money, taken a ton of classes, and have been federally registerd in order to enjoy there hobby and they love to go to the range and unload some high powered rounds at the range.