Well, I knew it would happen.
On another thread, the issue of gun control raised its ugly head. This was a completely understandable reaction to the Dawson College shootings, and I thought it desrved its own thread.
So here we go.
BTW, I'm an unapologetic gun nut. I own every type of weapon I can legally, from .22 target pistols to (gasp) military "assault" rifles (prohibited, but grandfathered to me)
I have been arguing this subject for 30 plus years, and the argument has never changed, except that I have given some ground.
I would ask of the folks who would toughen gun control just one thing: don't use the word "compromise". I've been "compromised" so much I .......never mind.
Macho said
Okay, let's take them one by one:
1. I use a .22 rifle for rabbits, a .223 Rem for coyotes, a scoped 7mm Mauser for white-tailed deer, unless I'm in thick bush, then I use my grandpappy's Win. 94 .30-30 (circa 1922), and I borrowed a .30-06 for moose hunting. Let's see, that's 5 rifles.
I also use a 20 gauge for grouse hunting, a 12 guage for duck hunting...........that's seven guns.
Then I use a .22 pistol for target shooting, and a .357 Magnum revolver to keep my skills sharp for my job..............that's nine guns.
Then I have my father's guns, which have value to me as he was also a real hardcore shooter, and loved them. Then I have a couple of collector's items............well over 120 years old.
Last time I counted I had something like 21 guns......and I could justify the ownership of each one.
2. Do you REALLY think I paid $1,500 for a rifle and scope to leave it at a rifle club?
Are they going to have facilities for cleaning firearms? The rifle club I used to belong to had 70 members, and consisted of a large gravel pit. Exactly where would we store them? And a building itself is not sufficient..........you would need round the clock armed security, or you are just going to have ALL the guns stolen at once.......silliest idea I've heard of in years.
Let me say this.............I work with guns, I used to be president of the above mentioned gun club, my friends are hunters, my family always kept firearms. I know a lot of people, and among that group and their immediate families the guns owned would outnumber the people with ease. More guns than people.
When I was a VERY young man (18 years old) and a minor criminal (to be blunt), an acquaintance was shot dead in a drug deal. That is well over 30 years ago, and he was deeply involved in criminal activity, and was killed by a major drug dealer.
Outside of that case, I don't know ANYBODY among the literally hundreds of folks that has been wounded or killed with a firearm. No injuries, no deaths.
Think about that.
On another thread, the issue of gun control raised its ugly head. This was a completely understandable reaction to the Dawson College shootings, and I thought it desrved its own thread.
So here we go.
BTW, I'm an unapologetic gun nut. I own every type of weapon I can legally, from .22 target pistols to (gasp) military "assault" rifles (prohibited, but grandfathered to me)
I have been arguing this subject for 30 plus years, and the argument has never changed, except that I have given some ground.
I would ask of the folks who would toughen gun control just one thing: don't use the word "compromise". I've been "compromised" so much I .......never mind.
Macho said
Good point about the gun.
I can really see only a few situations in which a person should be allowed to carry arms:
1. A hunter who relies on a rifle for subsistence. Then all he needs is a hunting rifle.
2. A member of a rifle club, in which case there's no reason for him to take the rifle away from the club's premises.
3. Law enforcement.
4. Military.
5. Anyone else? I really can't think of any other valid reason beyond those four above, but you can go ahead and give it a try.
Okay, let's take them one by one:
1. I use a .22 rifle for rabbits, a .223 Rem for coyotes, a scoped 7mm Mauser for white-tailed deer, unless I'm in thick bush, then I use my grandpappy's Win. 94 .30-30 (circa 1922), and I borrowed a .30-06 for moose hunting. Let's see, that's 5 rifles.
I also use a 20 gauge for grouse hunting, a 12 guage for duck hunting...........that's seven guns.
Then I use a .22 pistol for target shooting, and a .357 Magnum revolver to keep my skills sharp for my job..............that's nine guns.
Then I have my father's guns, which have value to me as he was also a real hardcore shooter, and loved them. Then I have a couple of collector's items............well over 120 years old.
Last time I counted I had something like 21 guns......and I could justify the ownership of each one.
2. Do you REALLY think I paid $1,500 for a rifle and scope to leave it at a rifle club?
Are they going to have facilities for cleaning firearms? The rifle club I used to belong to had 70 members, and consisted of a large gravel pit. Exactly where would we store them? And a building itself is not sufficient..........you would need round the clock armed security, or you are just going to have ALL the guns stolen at once.......silliest idea I've heard of in years.
Let me say this.............I work with guns, I used to be president of the above mentioned gun club, my friends are hunters, my family always kept firearms. I know a lot of people, and among that group and their immediate families the guns owned would outnumber the people with ease. More guns than people.
When I was a VERY young man (18 years old) and a minor criminal (to be blunt), an acquaintance was shot dead in a drug deal. That is well over 30 years ago, and he was deeply involved in criminal activity, and was killed by a major drug dealer.
Outside of that case, I don't know ANYBODY among the literally hundreds of folks that has been wounded or killed with a firearm. No injuries, no deaths.
Think about that.