I posted this in another thread and might as well post it here.

Why there should not be a ban on assault rifles.

According to the FBI, (source at the bottom), there were 12,253 murders in the US in 2013 where a weapon was used. You'll notice that 2013 is a typical year, so we'll just use that for our data.

In 8,454 of these murders the weapon was a fire arm. Further, 285 of these murders used a rifle. Now, if you pull out your handy-dandy calculator, you'll notice that this accounts for about 3.37% of murders where a fire arm was used, or about 2.33% of all murders where a weapon was used.

For the sake of argument, let's go ahead and say that every single rifle used was an "assault rifle". Let's also say that any assault weapons ban in the US is 100% effective, meaning all assault rifles disappear and it is impossible for any new ones to enter the country. Additionally, we have to assume that the murderers who used assault rifles are now incapable of murdering anyone due to their lack of an assault rifle.

If these conditions sound reasonable to you, then congratulations! Push for that ban and maybe, just maybe, after a long legal battle you'll be able to prevent 2.33% of murders where weapons were used.

Source: fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-i...9-2013.xls

taghash wrote It must suck living in Australia where the government has to tell you what weapons to own Haha. I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist closer to minarchists with my libertarian tendencies but still doesn't change the fact that all the dead children and all the dead nightclubers in the world won't trump my constitutional and self governing right to own any weapon I want. It's really refreshing to know that an rifle ban won't happen or really any other ban on gun types because at least some people have the knowledge of self responsibility.

It must suck living in a America with the world's highest spending on education per student, yet Americans have some of the worst literacy and numeracy rates in the world.

I still don't understand your argument. Why do you need a weapon? Obesity is more likely to kill an American than another American wielding a weapon, you need healthier fast food places instead.

Motivational wrote

taghash wrote It must suck living in Australia where the government has to tell you what weapons to own Haha. I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist closer to minarchists with my libertarian tendencies but still doesn't change the fact that all the dead children and all the dead nightclubers in the world won't trump my constitutional and self governing right to own any weapon I want. It's really refreshing to know that an rifle ban won't happen or really any other ban on gun types because at least some people have the knowledge of self responsibility.

It must suck living in a America with the world's highest spending on education per student, yet Americans have some of the worst literacy and numeracy rates in the world.

I still don't understand your argument. Why do you need a weapon? Obesity is more likely to kill an American than another American wielding a weapon, you need healthier fast food places instead.

all I hear is "why do you need his" "why do you need that" it's about rights not needs its about not telling people how to **** live their life I love the fact that I can eat my heart away with greasy food while clutching my semi automatic armalite rifle and saying what ever I want without government intervention, it is beautiful it's all about the freedom to do what you want. Are you gonna choose to eat at McDonald's or go to the gym that day and do skullcrushers, are you gonna assume self responsibility of your life, realize no one can protect you except yourself and get a concealed carry license or are you gonna choose not to because it's your right. I'm sorry your sh@t tier country is offended by fast food and inanimate objects.

taghash wrote It must suck living in Australia where the government has to tell you what weapons to own Haha. I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist closer to minarchists with my libertarian tendencies but still doesn't change the fact that all the dead children and all the dead nightclubers in the world won't trump my constitutional and self governing right to own any weapon I want. It's really refreshing to know that an rifle ban won't happen or really any other ban on gun types because at least some people have the knowledge of self responsibility.

There are currently guns you can't own, and there have been bans before. For example the 10 year federal assault weapons band in 1994. Nothing is stopping the US government from saying "hey, to own this gun you need a 4 year class only taught by us that costs 100k, a safe with at least 8" thick walls and the weapon must be locked in that safe at all times unless there is a threat of security, oh, and you need all these permits if you do pass our class and have a safe". They can make it possible, yet impossible to get.

Motivational wrote

taghash wrote It must suck living in Australia where the government has to tell you what weapons to own Haha. I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist closer to minarchists with my libertarian tendencies but still doesn't change the fact that all the dead children and all the dead nightclubers in the world won't trump my constitutional and self governing right to own any weapon I want. It's really refreshing to know that an rifle ban won't happen or really any other ban on gun types because at least some people have the knowledge of self responsibility.

It must suck living in a America with the world's highest spending on education per student, yet Americans have some of the worst literacy and numeracy rates in the world.

I still don't understand your argument. Why do you need a weapon? Obesity is more likely to kill an American than another American wielding a weapon, you need healthier fast food places instead.

Exactly, so why are we focusing on taking away guns?

I will go on the record and say that I am all for gun control, 100%

taghash wrote

Motivational wrote

taghash wrote It must suck living in Australia where the government has to tell you what weapons to own Haha. I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist closer to minarchists with my libertarian tendencies but still doesn't change the fact that all the dead children and all the dead nightclubers in the world won't trump my constitutional and self governing right to own any weapon I want. It's really refreshing to know that an rifle ban won't happen or really any other ban on gun types because at least some people have the knowledge of self responsibility.

It must suck living in a America with the world's highest spending on education per student, yet Americans have some of the worst literacy and numeracy rates in the world.

I still don't understand your argument. Why do you need a weapon? Obesity is more likely to kill an American than another American wielding a weapon, you need healthier fast food places instead.

all I hear is "why do you need his" "why do you need that" it's about rights not needs its about not telling people how to **** live their life I love the fact that I can eat my heart away with greasy food while clutching my semi automatic armalite rifle and saying what ever I want without government intervention, it is beautiful it's all about the freedom to do what you want. Are you gonna choose to eat at McDonald's or go to the gym that day and do skullcrushers, are you gonna assume self responsibility of your life, realize no one can protect you except yourself and get a concealed carry license or are you gonna choose not to because it's your right. I'm sorry your sh@t tier country is offended by fast food and inanimate objects.

What's with the horrible language? Most people here are writing intelligent posts and you're ruining this thread.

Also, you can think you can say what you want, but say the word "bomb" in an airport. Go ahead, I dare you. Yell to your friend in an airport, "DUDE, you da bomb". See where you end up.

Let's try to get back on track here to make everyone happy. It seems the biggest question here from people from other countries is "why do you need guns?" My argument before about how we need to protect ourselves from a tyranical government (remember this was put in place by the founding fathers, not Joe on the conspiracy forum) is relevant, yet people don't fully understand it, so I'll put it in another term. Guns make us happy, and / or feel safe. Eating vegan, or driving a prius make a person feel good inside, but we aren't taking away their rights because 0.0003% of their communities are morons. We all have a different life style, and if my guns make you feel uncomfortable, I'm sorry. My advise to you is, get one yourself and get trained how to use it. That way you'll feel safer.

I used to work for an older lady (probably in her 70's), great lady, her and I had differing opinions on a lot of things but it was never "you're an idiot", it was always, "I feel differently, but if that makes you happy, so be it". She HATED guns, 100% take them away. I explained to her my position on guns, and still she didn't like them. Last month or so I helped her install a couple things in her house and I was amazed to see a pistol on the counter. I said "I thought you hated guns?". What she said was the coolest thing. She said something like "I do, but people own guns and that makes me scared so I bought one myself and I feel safe".

I also love this article:
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taghash wrote

Motivational wrote

taghash wrote It must suck living in Australia where the government has to tell you what weapons to own Haha. I'm an Anarcho-Capitalist closer to minarchists with my libertarian tendencies but still doesn't change the fact that all the dead children and all the dead nightclubers in the world won't trump my constitutional and self governing right to own any weapon I want. It's really refreshing to know that an rifle ban won't happen or really any other ban on gun types because at least some people have the knowledge of self responsibility.

It must suck living in a America with the world's highest spending on education per student, yet Americans have some of the worst literacy and numeracy rates in the world.

I still don't understand your argument. Why do you need a weapon? Obesity is more likely to kill an American than another American wielding a weapon, you need healthier fast food places instead.

all I hear is "why do you need his" "why do you need that" it's about rights not needs its about not telling people how to **** live their life I love the fact that I can eat my heart away with greasy food while clutching my semi automatic armalite rifle and saying what ever I want without government intervention, it is beautiful it's all about the freedom to do what you want. Are you gonna choose to eat at McDonald's or go to the gym that day and do skullcrushers, are you gonna assume self responsibility of your life, realize no one can protect you except yourself and get a concealed carry license or are you gonna choose not to because it's your right. I'm sorry your sh@t tier country is offended by fast food and inanimate objects.

I understand the importance of personal freedom. It is one of the best things about living in a free and democratic society.
However, personal autonomy must have a limit. It's the 'Your right to throw your fist ends where my nose begins' adage.
You have a right to own firearms for various reasons but gun control is a very unique situation. There are people being killed by guns which are bought legally. There are a number of different ways to combat this, and one of them is to simply make it more difficult to buy guns, or if you don't like that phrasing, to make it harder for criminals to get their hands on guns.

If it comes down to your right to own a firearm and the right to life of a civilian then I will choose the right to life of a civilian every single time and I would hope that you would too.

But that is a non-point because the people making sense on this issue don't want to take away your right to own a firearm. If you are a law abiding citizen and go through the proper procedures to buy your firearm, train with it often, and keep it in a safe place then those are very small prices to pay for the overall safety that more restrictions would bring.

In my opinion, increasing the restrictions on gun sales would only be one small part of solving the problem because, by definition, criminals don't abide by the law.

Sorry but I am of the younger generation (18) in America and I am not scared to walk down the street. I own many firearms I bought up a lot of ammo as well am I a redneck? no am I a huge gun right activist? no I am a regular american you wouldnt think I own a gun and I wouldnt tell you face to face because well no one needs to know one owns a firearm. They are there for the soul purpose of protection of my self in case I need it. Yes I love to shoot firearms, I am going to the military as well. I have also been raised around firearms shooting since I was 7 and practicing safety since then as well. Our second amendment will not be infringed upon and any who try always fail

You're absolutely right man. We should also take away cars from sober people to stop drunk driving.