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Nitrous

#9181 • 740 views

Posted: 2011-03-17 07:03:33

#6893

Gun/Weapon Regulation?

So, I've been thinking about this one a lot lately. I'll preface it by saying I am one of the most liberal people I know. But in that same line of thought, I believe we should have every right to possess knives, guns, brass knuckles, flamethrowers, throwing stars, maces and any other bizarre or unconventional potentially lethal objects.

I was born in Bermuda, for those people not familiar with it, it's that little dot that rarely shows up on a map. A whopping 20 square miles. The north point of the Bermuda Triangle (you know, that thing that's named after it.) But anyway, when I go back, I feel like a stranger in my own country. What does this have to do with weapon regulations, you ask? Any model or replica, including guns, knives, flares, martial-arts weapons, toys, slingshots, signals and yes, even lobsters are illegal. Lobsters?! I'm glad that there are no unreasonable lobster deaths or harm done to the animal, but why exactly are they considered a weapon? I could probably do more damage with a bottle-opener. To give you some perspective on their regulations, the last time I went to the island (less than a year ago) on my way back to the US, a Bermudian customs agent stopped me, and began rifling through my checked bag after it came out of a scanner. She didn't say what for, and ended up not finding anything, and dismissed it as a mistake. She closed up my bag and sent us on our way. When I got home, I realized what she was looking for. I had a brass knuckle belt buckle in my bag. It was quite large, but the fingerholes were blocked, and it was attached to a belt. I do have both Bermudian and US citizenship, so legally, though I don't currently reside in Bermuda I probably could have been jailed for ten years or more. All puns aside, I dodged a huge bullet.

I bet they have a low crime rate, you say. Well, not really.
If the government was effective at preventing smuggling of any kind, then yes, in theory, this wouldn't be a bad thing. But all that's really being done at this point is the laws are putting an average citizen or tourist at risk, because the people who do not have nefarious intentions are the ones who will be caught. If you try to enter the country with a small pocket knife for safety purposes, you're clearly not going out of your way to hide it, and customs will find it. However, if your organized crime ring is paying off a cruise line/importer to smuggle guns in, OBVIOUSLY you're tying to hide it and have a reason to, but your chances of being found out are virtually non-existent. The island is overrun with gangs at this point, this wasn't a problem ten or twenty years ago. And these aren't serious gangsters, to be fair. Most of those responsible for lower-level violence are just kids. But I still really don't like my odds as an unarmed, petite, white* female against some idiot with a gun who thinks I'm some tourist who won't recognize him. (*Being white, I am a minority in my country, and there still is widespread black on white racism, and vice-versa.)

Even scarier is that the shootings are generally completely at random. Randomly being shot in the head while driving down the road is more common than actual gang vs gang shootings. Actually, if you're involved in a gang and get involved in a shoot out, your chances of survival are better. Most of the people who have been injured in gang vs gang shootings are shot in the leg (as they are running away from each other) and therefore live (much to my dad's disappointment). If you're some random pedestrian/motorist, they know you don't have a gun. They'll aim for the head.

If that isn't quite terrifying enough, here are some facts:
1. About 90% of vehicles driven on the island are moped bikes. You don't even have a window to help slow down a bullet.
2. There aren't posted speed limits. Traffic generally travels at 25 to 30 MPH. Not very fast.
2. There are two main roads in Bermuda. Two.
3. The island is 20 square miles.
4. Getting from one end of the island to the other can take less than an hour, if you push it you can probably do it in 30 minutes.
5. There's one hospital on the island. It isn't exactly up to par.

I now reside in the US, and my thoughts don't just apply to Bermuda. I believe worldwide weapons should be legalized. That's not to say I don't think *everyone* should be allowed to walk into walmart and pick up a shotgun. Regulations on getting them need to be in place (tests, licensees, etc.), but I'm pretty firm believer that I should be able to have any means of defense I'd like.

Sorry for massive tl;dr.

Replies

Jambers

#32998 • 2011-03-23 20:23:46

#32998

I dont own a gun personaly, i cant right now i have 3 small chirldren, when they are old enough they will learn about the right kind of gun control. and i will have a gun, my dad tought me how to shoot when i was 5. he tought me about gun safty and i will be teaching my kids. On a side note, if we take away all the registered guns from people, what are they going to defend themselfs with? a loaf of bread? do you really believe that the people commiting thease crimes are registering there guns like good little citizions? basicly the way i see it the government is saying "ok lets take away all the guns from the good law abideing people so the crimnals wont have so much of a problem robbing them"

Steaks

#32956 • 2011-03-23 03:34:58

#32956

Lol Geist, this is kind of off-topic but I was reading a thread in FA Forums about "weird things you find on the ground" and someone [who lived like 45 yards from Juarez] said they found things like severed.. female body parts and a human heart and a baby with a broken leg. You couldn't PAY me to go there lmao

Carnivale's Side

#32937 • 2011-03-22 23:40:51

#32937

Geist already said what I would have, save for one thing. If guns are illegal to own by the common citizen, then you are turning over your right to protect yourself, and handing it over to willing criminals and the government. Do you think the -army- forces are never going to carry guns? I'm not saying I like war or conflict, I absolutely don't. But it is absolutely naive to think that taking guns away is going to solve anything. Think about the criminals who -will- have guns, who could come into your house any time they liked to steal your belongings,whoa there you, kill you, because if you try to defend yourself with household items, you'll get a bullet in the head. Just think if things went incredibly south and your government was fully corrupt, and wanted to force things on its people that called for revolution. What are you going to fight for your freedom with? Tasers? Sticks? Fireplace pokers? A country with no guns, is in an absolute stranglehold by its government and its criminal groups. If you don't want to own a gun, then don't purchase one. But don't take the choice away from all your countrymen. Also, it's utter bunk saying that "if you let people have guns, more people will die." No. If a person has a knife, there's much less risk you're going to sustain a mortal wound in a conflict, which will make people less cautious or avoidant of conflict. If they might have a gun on them, though, people are going to be much more wary and cautious to start fights, not to mention no one wants to go to prison for murder. Yes, a gun put in irresponsible hands can be dangerous, but do -not- punish every responsible gun owner and make them helpless just to deal with the minority.

GeistNoir

#32932 • 2011-03-22 22:48:06

#32932

Take away guns from the average citizen. Guns that remain hit the black market. These guns are unmarked (identification ground off) and untraceable. If guns are banned and you bought one, you already committed a serious crime. Why not a few more? Go hog wild! This is generally the case, and I've heard it over and over again from friends in countries where guns are illegal to own for the average citizen. Criminals have them, average civilians don't, and you can't really do much when some jerk in a ski mask with a gun breaks into your house besides hide in the shower and hope for the best. I don't belong to any particular party, but I lean hard to the left. I live on a nice six acre property, with equipment to maintain and quickly traverse such a property. I also am related to some unpleasant, grudge holding people. A cousin apparently wanted to burn or break into our house, but due to fear of having his legs blown off, instead set fire to the back of the property, which was quickly maintained- we have to burn it off every few years ourselves anyway to clear the forest ground of accumulated debris. Someone tried to siphon the gas repeatedly out of mowers, tractors, four-wheelers, and other vehicles, and god knows what else they might have tried to do if we hadn't walked out with very large and very visible firearms. They always had the safety on, and sometimes were even occasionally unloaded with ammunition in pockets. Someone parked in our second driveway, just sat there with their lights on inside for a while, then turned them off. And sat. I went outside with a flashlight and a revolver because someone had done something with the rifle/shotgun cabinet key and I couldn't find it. I walked into visible range, held up the unloaded gun in the light beam, and they peeled out. I'm pretty sure they were casing the place. They might have been someone with a bone to pick (feuds are fairly common 'round these parts) or someone looking to rob us blind. Who knows, they never came back, the gun I had was unloaded and I had no ammo on me. I wasn't out to shoot anyone- I was just out to scare them off. I also carry knives on my person. I do not ever, EVER want to have to use them. Knives are just as dangerous for the person carrying them, and it's an absolute last resort. But I would rather have the security of them on me than absolutely nothing at all. I'll probably invest in mace or a tazer at some point to replace them, or.. at least give me less dangerous options. I'd rather have conceal and carry, but I don't qualify for it. Rambling aside, I don't know what state we'd be in, my family and I personally, without the right to bear arms. Take that away and you might as well nail up "LOOTERS WELCOME" signs on the property. Goodness knows they've tried while we have guns. Also never, ever going to visit Bermuda.

Miss Paradox

#32914 • 2011-03-22 11:20:17

#32914

I live in Australia were the gun and weapon laws are completely different to America . . . thankfully ; ) I have been competing with pistols since I was what 14? I had to go through six months worth of training, regular police checks, sit tests you name it. I love guns, I have a great time competing with them and think its a fantastic sport. I do not however believe that giving people guns to protect themselves against gun fire really is the way to go. Unfortunately I don't have any statistics at the top of my head so I wont say much. However Australia is a relatively safe place to live, regardless of were abouts. I couldn't imagine how legalizing guns and weapons would make it any safer. *Edit It is easier to obtain a weapon illegally than it is legally, I can not imagine how putting in place things to check backgrounds and sit tests will prevent those who shouldn't have guns from owning them.

Last edited:2011-03-22 01:23:16

Tiger

#32741 • 2011-03-20 19:06:10

#32741

I own guns, inherited most of them, 1 was given to me when I turned 13. If they made me register them i would be happy to, if they tried to take them away they would have a fight on their hands.

Steaks

#32662 • 2011-03-20 02:48:08

#32662

"As cliche as it sounds, in a society where guns are illegal...only criminals still have guns." Omg that's so true. I never thought about that before.

Nitrous

#32470 • 2011-03-18 03:10:47

#32470

I agree completely Nat. And Clay, I did mention in my post that the bans are actually *not* bringing down crime rates, they are going up. This is a country where PEPPER SPRAY is considered a lethal weapon and has serious jail time involved for anyone caught with it. Pepper spray! There are reports of shots fired multiple times a week.

Last edited:2011-03-17 17:12:06

jive

#32458 • 2011-03-18 01:27:16

#32458

I believe that because weapons are regulated, people deal with their problems in court,cops and talking things out. I believe if everybody had a weapon, that is how they would deal with problems. That's not true at all. People just resort to other forms of violence or - more commonly - crimes often go unreported. I lived for years in an area where almost every household owned at least 2-3 guns. There was very little crime because...who wants to break into a home where the owner is armed? I would much rather see a society with guns than without. At least then the innocent people can defend themselves from those who want to misuse the weapons they do have. As cliche as it sounds, in a society where guns are illegal...only criminals still have guns. Edit to add: that having been said, I think there should be a required background check for violent crimes or abusive tendencies before a gun can be sold. No other information is required, and I don't want to make it impossible to purchase weapons...but if you were just released from a jail sentence for, say, assault...you should not have a gun. Pretty common sense.

Last edited:2011-03-17 15:28:59

Steaks

#32417 • 2011-03-17 17:17:28

#32417

Mmmm idk. I believe that because weapons are regulated, people deal with their problems in court,cops and talking things out. I believe if everybody had a weapon, that is how they would deal with problems. Though sometimes, bans on importing weapons DON'T stop crimes. My friend lives in Scotland, where people don't really have guns to fight with... so instead they all just stab eachother. BUT... there is a ban on importing knives, tazers, switchblades, etc... that doesn't stop them though, they just use kitchen knives, so stores can only sell kitchen knives to 18+.. kinda weird huh? Regardless, if people in Scotland were allowed to possess guns, tazers, knives, etc, there would be a lot more deaths as it's harder to kill someone with a knife then with a gun.

Last edited:2011-03-17 07:18:08

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Gun/Weapon Regulation?

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