Gun Control is Completely Useless.

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Democacy is the worst possible political system for the people although it's wonderful for the corrupt. What that has to do with long gun registry is baffling.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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There is no right to smoke dope above and beyond your right to do what you wish.

The possession of arms is an ancient right, recognized as such for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and enshrined in the English Bill of Rights.

In the hierarchy of rights (if there is such a thing) my right to be armed is WAY above your right to get high.

Doesn't make sense, sorry.

An older right does not automatically make the right more credible. Your logic forces you to accept slavery as a higher priority than possession of arms since that right existed long before possession of arms did.

You can either admit that your logic is flawed, or that you're a hypocrite, or that you now support slavery.

It's your choice.
 

Unforgiven

Force majeure
May 28, 2007
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The facts:

Canada Murder Rates.......

2000 1.59
2001 1.67
2002 1.67
REGISTRATION COMPLETE
2003 1.74
2004 1.95
2005 2.05
2006 1.86
2007 1.80
2008 1.83
2009 1.81

Kinda proves my point: if you think the above figures support the contention that the registry prevents murder....I suggest you quit "enjoying cannabis"....permanently.

List of countries by intentional homicide rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BTW, we didn't expect an immediate decrease in murder........we expected either an increase or no change. And we got an increase.

The registry is obviously useless.

How many are by firearms? Do you even know? If stabbings go up and gsw go down does that still mean it's not working? It doesn't prove your point at all. Show me where murders, accidents and suicides by firearms is going up and then we can discuss.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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How many are by firearms? Do you even know? If stabbings go up and gsw go down does that still mean it's not working? It doesn't prove your point at all. Show me where murders, accidents and suicides by firearms is going up and then we can discuss.

I've always heard that there is a pro-gun stats argument. I would be more inclined to be on board if I could see a direct correlation between the increase of freedom and less deaths caused by gun abuse. This would also have to be a pretty universal stat and not just something that relates to Canada - because it otherwise could just be a huge fluke.
 

DurkaDurka

Internet Lawyer
Mar 15, 2006
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Toronto
If gun crime is going down due to the registry, isn't it about time that we strip front line cops of their firearms? Far is fair, that's how it's done in Britain and they don't seem to be having cops slaughtered.
 

Unforgiven

Force majeure
May 28, 2007
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Any sane person would choose the latter. This is why, even if you are pro-gun, on the priority sequence of civil liberties, you should be pro-drugs first. Naturally, we should want to give freedom to pacifist liberties before dangerous liberties.

I will give Colpy the benefit of the doubt in that a civil liberty shouldn't be taken away without a valid rationale.

No one is saying they should be taken away. Only regulated so that only the trained responsible people can access guns.

No one has a huge problem with the government requiring cars to be registered. Drivers to be licensed, vehicles inspected. But if it's a gun then all the arguments start. When did the government come a take away all the cars?
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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If gun crime is going down due to the registry, isn't it about time that we strip front line cops of their firearms? Far is fair, that's how it's done in Britain and they don't seem to be having cops slaughtered.
Use of smuggled firearms in the UK has skyrocketed.
 

Unforgiven

Force majeure
May 28, 2007
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I've always heard that there is a pro-gun stats argument. I would be more inclined to be on board if I could see a direct correlation between the increase of freedom and less deaths caused by gun abuse. This would also have to be a pretty universal stat and not just something that relates to Canada - because it otherwise could just be a huge fluke.

Since 1995 violent crime involving long guns has dropped by half. Accidents and suicides also reduced.
Stats can be messaged to give a preferred appearance by for example saying "murders" instead of violent crime involving long guns. But when you dig for the truth and present that, some people get pissy about it.

If gun crime is going down due to the registry, isn't it about time that we strip front line cops of their firearms? Far is fair, that's how it's done in Britain and they don't seem to be having cops slaughtered.

Handguns are a different story. Preferred weapon of choice in Toronto is the 9mm, 40mm, 45mm, and then shot gun.
All freely available just south of the border.
 

Taxx

Conservative
Apr 10, 2011
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PEI
Handguns are a different story. Preferred weapon of choice in Toronto is the 9mm, 40mm, 45mm, and then shot gun.
All freely available just south of the border.

40mm ? 9mm & 45mm can both be pistol rounds but a 40mm in my knowledge is a grenade (or ammo for a grenade launcher). Or am I missing something here?
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
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Doesn't make sense, sorry.

An older right does not automatically make the right more credible. Your logic forces you to accept slavery as a higher priority than possession of arms since that right existed long before possession of arms did.

You can either admit that your logic is flawed, or that you're a hypocrite, or that you now support slavery.

It's your choice.

You should study a little political science.....

English Common Law is based exclusively on precedent...............the older a continuous precedent, the more powerful it is.

Ahhhh.....slavery is not a right, but a denial of right.......big difference.
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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You should study a little political science.....

English Common Law is based exclusively on precedent...............the older a continuous precedent, the more powerful it is.

Ahhhh.....slavery is not a right, but a denial of right.......big difference.

Yes, the slaves should have been given muskets.

Precedent can be broken. Assuming that a continued tradition definitively brings us closer to what is 'good' or 'true' or 'right' or even 'just' the longer it exists is just a silly way of thinking.

If that's your ethical framework for promoting gun use.. that's pretty sad. I'm sure you have other reasons to give the freedom to bear arms some weight, but please don't bother with the historical argument because that's pretty flimsy.
 

Colpy

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Yes, the slaves should have been given muskets.

Precedent can be broken. Assuming that a continued tradition definitively brings us closer to what is 'good' or 'true' or 'right' or even 'just' the longer it exists is just a silly way of thinking.

If that's your ethical framework for promoting gun use.. that's pretty sad. I'm sure you have other reasons to give the freedom to bear arms some weight, but please don't bother with the historical argument because that's pretty flimsy.

Yep. That's right....because free men bear arms. Slaves do not.

But I can't believe this.............

Historical argument is FLIMSY!!!!!! OMG!

That is completely outrageous. The thought that the knowledge and wisdom of generations, the experience, the evidence of past events and their ultimate consequences are not worthy of consideration in your opinion is simply beyond comprehension.

History is the study of human relationships on a grand scale.

History is the ONLY argument that trumps all others.

Man oh man oh man oh man..........how OLD are you?????????

Only a child could have the arrogance to believe all of human history is insignificant to the present.......
 

mentalfloss

Prickly Curmudgeon Smiter
Jun 28, 2010
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What I meant is that simply saying that 'we've done it for ages' is not a convincing argument. That's what I mean by a 'historical argument.'

You need to go the extra step to show WHY it was used for ages. And how that now applies to our present conditions so you can ultimately prove WHY that freedom is still important now.

You stop at, 'well it's been around for ages.' That's pretty flimsy because I can list a bunch of principles that were around for ages but aren't widely adopted in western culture anymore. Like slavery, for instance.

What's worse is that you gave up so easily and revert to ad hominem attacks now. I'm actually giving you the benefit of the doubt by letting you sell this to me.

I know you can do better than that ad hominem attacks.
 

Colpy

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 5, 2005
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What I meant is that simply saying that 'we've done it for ages' is not a convincing argument. That's what I mean by a 'historical argument.'

You need to go the extra step to show WHY it was used for ages. And how that now applies to our present conditions so you can ultimately prove WHY that freedom is still important now.

You stop at, 'well it's been around for ages.' That's pretty flimsy because I can list a bunch of principles that were around for ages but aren't widely adopted in western culture anymore. Like slavery, for instance.

What's worse is that you gave up so easily and revert to ad hominem attacks now. I'm actually giving you the benefit of the doubt by letting you sell this to me.

I know you can do better than that ad hominem attacks.

I saw no attack in that, except to reflect on the possibility of your youth.............I only wish I was still young, ignorant and arrogant. :)

Now you are getting a history lesson.

There are two technical developments that were essential elements in the emancipation of western civilization after the Middle Ages. The first of these was the printing press. Ideas could no longer easily be suppressed, once it became relatively quick, easy and cheap to print a pamphlet and give it wide-spread circulation. Martin Luther was the first manifestation of this........there had been hundreds of "heretics". largely ignored, preaching whatever variation they pleased....But Luther....his ideas caught fire....because they were printed, and distributed.......giving birth to the Reformation......Other ideas could not easily be suppressed either.....

That the press is so important in the spread of ideas, and was so important in the developments of the last 600 years, is why we have freedom of speech in general, and freedom of the press specifically.

Because it is essential to our freedom.

The other essential technical development was the firearm. Throughout the Middle Ages and the early modern period there were peasant uprisings by the score..........always bloodily suppressed. Why? Because the profession of arms belonged to the elite. To become proficient with edged weapons required much training and regular practice. To become proficient with the long bow required hours daily. Horses and armor were completely out of reach of the peasant. Thus the Lord, with his men at arms, possessed such an advantage over the masses that they could put down any revolt with little risk to themselves. But then along came gunpowder......good-bye elitist advantage against the people. The Japanese samurii recognized the danger, and banned gunpowder for 300 years. The people of the west slowly became armed, the firearm is easy to learn and use, and its smashing power negates the advantage of armor and horse, exposing the gentry to peril.......it is no coincidence that the first battle of the first successful modern war for freedom was fought when British troops set out into the countryside to seize arms.....and had their asses kicked by farmers with rifles.

That is why we have a right to keep and bear arms.

because it is essential to our freedom.

That is the lesson of history.
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Location, Location
...the first battle of the first successful modern war for freedom was fought when British troops set out into the countryside to seize arms.....and had their asses kicked by farmers with rifles.

That is why we have a right to keep and bear arms.

because it is essential to our freedom.

That is the lesson of history.

That's a lovely story. Tell me, where do you live again? Oh, right. The Loyalist City. That's where all the British went after they got their asses kicked.

So what, exactly, does your story have to do with us? Was I asleep, and we had a revolution and formed our own country? Did I miss the midnight ride of the Colpy?
 

Colpy

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Nov 5, 2005
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That's a lovely story. Tell me, where do you live again? Oh, right. The Loyalist City. That's where all the British went after they got their asses kicked.

So what, exactly, does your story have to do with us? Was I asleep, and we had a revolution and formed our own country? Did I miss the midnight ride of the Colpy?

Yep, and my ancestors on both sides were refugees from that little fight....I could put UEL after my name :)

It has lots to do with us. The Second Amendment of the US Constitution sprang directly from the 7th clause of the English Bill of Rights of 1689......that Parliament forced the new monarchs to sign before they took the throne. it is part and parcel of our heritage as well.

BTW, back when I was in university, my history adviser wanted me to do a Master's thesis on the cultural effect of the UEL on the culture of Canada.......because they were, despite having backed the losing side, American in their dedication to the ideals of individual rights....and that includes the right to keep and bear arms.

Their determination in this country was to build a better society than that down south.....