By opting out of owning guns, you're giving us a power monopoly.

Which has nothing to do with carrying a gun as being a choice.

 

Except that it is not a choice for some to freely engage in, but rather a necessity.

 

Thank you. I have empathy for people with disability because I am one of them.

American Culture does not value human life very much.

 

Nope. For any civilian, choosing to carry a gun is always a choice.

 

Sadly many people do not view life as sacred. Thus, loss of 572,000 people in USA 1999 -- 2016 is not a tragedy to them.

 

I actually support people having the choice to carry a gun. Some people don't feel safe going out in public without a gun on them so for those people, by all means carry all the guns you need to feel safe. For tens of millions of others we feel safe without a gun. To each his own, I say. Everyone has different comfort levels.

 

It is sad that too many people in USA see little value in human life. In a society where a persons worth is measured by their productivity, many people suffer.

 

Unfortunately, too many people use guns for murder and suicide.

Police need guns.

To many people with mental disorders guns are detrimental.

 

I don't believe in punishing the millions of lawful gun owners because of the relatively few who use guns to murder. Other objects are used to murder people, should those objects be banned too? Where does it end?

 

572,000 murders and suicides by guns in USA 1999 -- 2016. That is a megatragedy.

 

Of the 212,784 gun related murders for the time period you provided above, how many of those were done by illegal guns?
For the 336,336 gun related suicides, do you think all of those people would still be alive if there were no guns available?

 

Perhaps 60% of all victims would have been alive.

 

What factual evidence are you basing this on?

Also, you did not answer my first question. I'll ask again...Of the 212,784 gun related murders for the time period you provided above, how many of those were done by illegal guns?

 

Crime is a concern no matter where you live. You could be in the swankiest neighborhood, and crime can, and will, find it's way there. To not believe that it 'could happen to you', is the very mentality that allows it to happen.

Do you have band-aids in your home? It's not because you 'fear' being hurt, its to address the issue if it happens.

 

The US and Canada have very similar suicide rates in spite of having very different gun laws. If people want to end it, they will generally find a way.

 

Higher level of crime is a concern in some places while not a concern in other places. That was the point. Meaning, does the town you live in have as much potential for the level of gun related shootings as south Chicago has? I'm betting not. Some areas are worse than others when it comes to crime. The town I live in has never had a murder or rape. Which is very different from when I lived in Boston, which has had murders and rapes.
The issue was that Jestsayin mentioned his wife and daughter had particular concern about being raped. For someone to be particularly concerned about being raped, one either must live in an area where there is a higher level of rapes occurring or they are just paranoid about everything.

 

Yes, there may be fewer rough neighborhoods in Canada and Scandinavia but in an earlier Post, you said: "In reality no civilian needs them." when the reality in America is different than Canada and Scandinavia.

 

If someone never leaves the town they live in, which they judge to be safe, does not mean that some scum doesn't wander through. Nowadays, rare is it that people do not travel for work, shopping or other activities, to areas that they either don't know so well, or may have a higher rate of crime. To presume that there is no issue, is foolish.

I highly doubt people research where they are going, in relation to where the local precinct is, what the crime stats are for that area, or the influx of other non-residents are.

I live out in the county, where crime rates are low. That doesn't mean they don't happen, it's just very rare. I work in the City, where there are various crimes. While rape is low, there are assaults and robberies, higher in some areas than others. Prudence says you avoid the worst of it, when possible. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen elsewhere. I don't 'fear' it happening, but I am aware it could. There fore, I carry preventative measures.

 

Sorry, I'm late to respond but I added a few more wacko's to my ignore list. I live ia a large blue city where the vast amount of serious crime mostly gang bangers is located in a couple of square miles. The downtown area after dark is a no go zone but fortunately, the far left mayor in an effort to eliminate cars has eliminated all the parking so there is no reason to go there at all. Retail is all but gone.
There is a very high percentage of carry permits in our state but the associated problems with legal carriers are all but non-existant despite all the whiling from the lefties as the law was being signed by the governor. We also can open carry and I have never in 20 years seen one instance of that being done in public.

Yes, Our group offers free training to LBGTQ and it started after the Pulse Night Club shootings and the targets (excuse the choice of words) many of them have become. Personally, I have taught hundreds of women ages 21-80 how to safely handle a gun that was chosen by themselves after being allowed to try a large assortment of our RSO's personal firearms. We then make sure they come in to practice and if they can't afford ammo, a few of us will provide everything they need at no cost to them.
Followup training involves lasers in a $150,000 150° simulator and/or a six hour class using simunition where they learn how to possibly get out of a bad situation without firing a firearm. The last two classes we are required to charge the individual.
I carry a gun because it is my right to protect myself and my family. If it makes me feel better great, it has accomplished its mission. If you are a leftie and are afraid of guns, don't worry, if you don't attack me or my loved ones we will never have a problem.
Sorry for the long rant but I delight in what our municipal range has done for the community at large.

 

Good accurate observation.

Thats an accurate observation. The stance however of the pro gun owners is set in concrete. Most of their arguements dont include flex at all.

The "ban all guns" people dont see any purpose of the weapon at all.

Heard a relebant phrase on TV tonight

"Until man can X-ray a person soul, we will never be able to determine their intent". Paraphrasing. And so I suggest that those that claim mass murderers must have a mental illness to commit the action - not necessarily.

The easy to obtain a weapon is relevant. Pressure to make authorities enforce current laws would be a good start.

 

So basically, you want to blame the victims....... After all, if they go out in the wrong areas while female, it must be their fault.

Most people who have CCW permits are cautious people. They have fire extinguishers in their kitchen and trunk of their cars. They own first aid kits. They commit less violent crime per capita than do police officers.

 

Rape happens in every zip code.

 

Anybody that has to combine 17 years of data into a single figure is trying to pull the wool over his reader's eyes. Why that strange set of dates?

 

Let's set aside the fact that you have established an 'us and them' dynamic in the US. That you have used divisive language. I'll just respond directly and sincerely to the question you pose.

I, personally, am not afraid of one in every ten people I see or meet on the street. I am not in fear that someone will mow me down. I don't live in fear. Period.

I do, however, want to live in a country where it is not so easy for anyone with mental illness issues or anger management issues to purchase a gun. Or several guns.

I want to live in a country that doesn't hold the right to own a gun as more important than the lives of those children killed at Sandy Hook.

I want to live in a country where a gun lobby cannot set its hooks in those who make laws, having bought and paid for their compliance.

I want to live in a country that does more than offer thoughts and prayers for families who are grieving loss to gun violence.

I don't want to debate gun laws or 2A. You asked the question - I answered it.

 

If I fancied guns, I'd probably buy a gun. Years ago, I owned a Winchester 9422 I had been given as a gift, but never had any use for it, and decided my family would be safer without having it around.

Most folks who enjoy having guns aren't a problem, but there are many who should not be allowed to have them, and the American people have the right to protect themselves against those people.

Fox News Poll: 71 percent say gun violence a 'major problem' government should address
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-71-percent-say-gun-violence-a-major-problem-government-should-address​