Should firearms be legal?

Italia · 30-04-2011 03:25PM

It is not common for Military units to use handguns....well, the Officers do, but then they are not REAL army

I'm not 100% sure it is still the case, but pistol (a handgun) target shooting was an olympic sport

Thrill wrote: »

I was just curious as I thought that handguns were only used be special Garda units and the defense forces.

jive · 30-04-2011 03:26PM

k_mac wrote: »

A criminal caught with a gun can get a prison sentence without having committed any other crime and can be stopped from hurting someone in this way. If they were legal you have to wait until they actually shoot someone before you can arrest them. Simples.

That's all well and good but if a criminal breaks into my house and has a gun and I don't it doesn't take a genius to determine the outcome.

I'd rather have a gun in my own home to protect what is mine. I'd imagine that in the majority of cases people with illegal guns only get caught after armed robbery or a shooting. Guards finding guns through the random searching or through the searching of a property by search warrant are minimal.

If they have a gun they obviously intend on using it. They're not walking around town caressing the gun as an object of sexual desire. They have it for a reason, don't be so naive.

MagicSean · 30-04-2011 03:29PM

jive wrote: »

That's all well and good but if a criminal breaks into my house and has a gun and I don't it doesn't take a genius to determine the outcome.

I'd rather have a gun in my own home to protect what is mine.

You would probably end up with a bullet in you.

jive wrote: »

I'd imagine that in the majority of cases people with illegal guns only get caught after armed robbery or a shooting. Guards finding guns through the random searching or through the searching of a property by search warrant are minimal.

That is incorrect.

jive wrote: »

If they have a gun they obviously intend on using it. They're not walking around town caressing the gun as an object of sexual desire. They have it for a reason, don't be so naive.

I don't see your point here. I said this is why it should be illegal, so you can take it off them before they use it.

Wolflikeme · 30-04-2011 03:31PM

The only difference I can envisage is as many people getting shot as there are getting stabbed these day.

People from lower class areas shouldn't be allowed firearms. The rest of us, maybe and the rich can do what they like!

Italia · 30-04-2011 03:32PM

Wrong. Been there, done that...and I'm still here. He isn't.
Do you want to tell me that you will have NO hesitation is using a firearm against a human?
Sorry, but unless you've been there (and I have, more times than I care to remember), you DON'T know how you react.
Most people freeze /hesitate when they have to pull the trigger. That is when things go pear shaped.

Do yourself a favour - get a nice wooden 2x4, the approx size of a baseball bat. Believe me, when the time comes, you won't hesitate and you will do a **** load more damage.

jive wrote: »

That's all well and good but if a criminal breaks into my house and has a gun and I don't it doesn't take a genius to determine the outcome.
I'd rather have a gun in my own home to protect what is mine. .

Kensworld · 30-04-2011 03:33PM

No, I think a home is the last place that a weapon of death should be in and that's what they are

Wolflikeme · 30-04-2011 03:34PM

jive wrote: »

I'd rather have a gun in my own home to protect what is mine.

Seriously, I believe you're more likely to be shot if you too are brandishing a gun. The thief's not going to take a chance on being shot and would put a bullet in you first in a heartbeat.

Having said that. I'd trust myself as the smarter of the two and would rather a gun!!

PeakOutput · 30-04-2011 03:34PM

Kensworld wrote: »

No, I think a home is the last place that a weapon of death should be in and that's what they are

love the informed opinions on the weapons of death

opinion guy · 30-04-2011 03:36PM

Just before I clicked onto this thread I had jsut read this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9470238.stm

So my thoughts. Handguns should be super-illegal.

Raze_them_all · 30-04-2011 03:36PM

Kensworld wrote: »

No, I think a home is the last place that a weapon of death should be in and that's what they are

What do you cut your food with?

PeakOutput · 30-04-2011 03:38PM

opinion guy wrote: »

Just before I clicked onto this thread I had jsut read this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9470238.stm

So my thoughts. Handguns should be super-illegal.

You realise we have had a spate of families being murdered over the last few years (think the last one was in wexford) by parents / relations and iirc none of them used a gun

MeerKat17 · 30-04-2011 03:38PM

Fremen wrote: »

Should it be legal to own a licensed handgun in your own home in Ireland?

I think not, but I'd be interested to hear the opinions of the cretinous, knuckle-dragging denizens of After Hours. Post your thoughts if you can manage to cobble together a coherent sentence.

No way should it be legal. Its legal in America and they now have a crazy gun culture over there, kids bringing guns to school and all that. Bad idea.

PeakOutput · 30-04-2011 03:40PM

MeerKat17 wrote: »

No way should it be legal. Its legal in America and they now have a carzy gun culture over there, kids bringing guns to school and all that. Bad idea.

First of all they are legal here the only thing at issue is the amount of regulation

second of all they are as easily available in canada as they are in america and canada does not have anything like the gun crime problem america has. its the society that is the problem not the inanimate objects that people love blaming

landsleaving · 30-04-2011 03:40PM

Raze_them_all wrote: »

What do you cut your food with?

Handgun.

Dyr · 30-04-2011 03:42PM

Legal? They should be mandatory

!MAVERICK! · 30-04-2011 03:43PM

yes

jive · 30-04-2011 03:43PM

k_mac wrote: »

You would probably end up with a bullet in you.

That is incorrect.

I don't see your point here. I said this is why it should be illegal, so you can take it off them before they use it.

If I didn't have a gun I would definitely end up with a bullet in me.
+1 for guns being legal

Prove it's incorrect - I don't know the statistics because I don't read all that much about the pros and cons of gun legality. I do know that gun crime is rising and those with the guns have the upper hand. If they are legalised it is a level playing field and they can't use their gun as leverage and are aware that they can't.

How can you not see my point? It's pretty obvious. People who need a gun for criminal activities will get a gun because they don't abide by the law. Those who abide by the law will not have a gun and thus are at the mercy of criminals with a gun. It's pretty simple.

Also to people saying I won't shoot someone or whatever. I'm not saying I'm some kind of hero I just said I'd rather have a gun in my home to protect what is mine. If someone enters my home with a gun then he can do whatever he wants. If I have a gun at least I have the choice.

edit: Also there would be gun regulation. A lot of criminals in the States, for example, obtain guns illegally anyway so they can still take it off many of them before they use it.

MeerKat17 · 30-04-2011 03:44PM

PeakOutput wrote: »

First of all they are legal here the only thing at issue is the amount of regulation

second of all they are as easily available in canada as they are in america and canada does not have anything like the gun crime problem america has. its the society that is the problem not the inanimate objects that people love blaming

Well whats to stop Ireland from ending up with a gun culture like America? I very much doubt our government would be any better at regulating them then the Americans.

opinion guy · 30-04-2011 03:44PM

PeakOutput wrote: »

You realise we have had a spate of families being murdered over the last few years (think the last one was in wexford) by parents / relations and iirc none of them used a gun

No point in making it easier for them by making concealable, silenceable handguns legal now is there ?

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 30-04-2011 03:49PM

Thatnastyboy wrote: »

:cool:

Sport shooting is not a practical use. And I'm totally opposed to stag hunting. So I'm sorry but I remain unconvinced.

PeakOutput · 30-04-2011 03:51PM

MeerKat17 wrote: »

Well whats to stop Ireland from ending up with a gun culture like America? I very much doubt our government would be any better at regulating them then the Americans.

No matter what we like to think we are not the same as america their society, in many ways that ireland is not, is rotten to its core. That is what would prevent us from having the same problem as the americans.

If you were to overnight get rid of every gun in america the murder rate would only drop marginally. The main actant in a murder is the murderer not the tool they use to commit the murder.

If you were to overnight introduce the same gun laws here as in america there would not be a significant increase in murders either

No point in making it easier for them by making concealable, silenceable handguns legal now is there ?

Dosn't really make a difference to the victims or to society does it? The victims are just as dead, the murderer just as in the wrong and the society just as outraged. The only difference it makes is to law abiding citizens like you and me.

Now if I really wanted a gun I could get one legally, I know this, but it would also be a bit of a pain in the ass and it would take months I think the process should be more efficient and I should have a wider range of options for what I want to buy.

PeakOutput · 30-04-2011 03:52PM

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Sport shooting is not a practical use. And I'm totally opposed to stag hunting. So I'm sorry but I remain unconvinced.

it dosn't matter what sort of hunting you are talking about pistols have a practical application during hunting, pest control, farming and veterinary services.

KeithAFC · 30-04-2011 03:54PM

If its a conflict. Yes.

Raze_them_all · 30-04-2011 03:55PM

MeerKat17 wrote: »

Well whats to stop Ireland from ending up with a gun culture like America? I very much doubt our government would be any better at regulating them then the Americans.

Switzerland says hi.

landsleaving · 30-04-2011 03:58PM

Raze_them_all wrote: »

Switzerland says hi.

So, we should get guns that pop out of knives?

Or chocolate guns?

Raze_them_all · 30-04-2011 03:59PM

landsleaving wrote: »

So, we should get guns that pop out of knives?

Or chocolate guns?

Or failed attempts at humor.

Daniel S · 30-04-2011 03:59PM

I love Swizerland, my favourite country.

I think we should have a Swiss party, where they just copy everything Switzerland does and adapts it to fit us.

landsleaving · 30-04-2011 04:00PM

Raze_them_all wrote: »

Or failed attempts at humor.

I'm good at those.

opinion guy · 30-04-2011 04:03PM

PeakOutput wrote: »

Dosn't really make a difference to the victims or to society does it? The victims are just as dead, the murderer just as in the wrong and the society just as outraged. The only difference it makes is to law abiding citizens like you and me.

I think you should read the story in more detail. This guy shot his wife and four kids in bed at night with a silenced handgun. Two of the kids were adults. The ONLY way he could pull this off was with a silenced handgun. If he had tried to do it any other way it would have been much more risky to him personally since the family members would have had some capacity to defend themsevles. Odds are that this coward would not have attempted this crime without access to a handgun and silencer.

The only reason to carry handgun over rifle or a shotgun is concealbility. I don't have a problem with people legally owning shotguns, I'm dubious on rifles, but I see absolutely no legitimate reason for anyone outside a trained police officer having access to a handgun.

Raze_them_all · 30-04-2011 04:04PM

opinion guy wrote: »

I think you should read the story in more detail. This guy shot his wife and four kids in bed at night with a silenced handgun. Two of the kids were adults. The ONLY way he could pull this off was with a silenced handgun. If he had tried to do it any other way it would have been much more risky to him personally since the family members would have had some capacity to defend themsevles. Odds are that this coward would not have attempted this crime without access to a handgun and supressor.

The only reason to carry handgun over rifle or a shotgun is concealbility. I don't have a problem with people legally owning shotguns, I'm dubious on rifles, but I see absolutely no legitimate reason for anyone outside a trained police officer having access to a handgun.

He would of and would eaily of done it with any gun.

Should firearms be legal?

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