Who are you to support an industry that makes possible the violent deaths of thousands of Americans each year?
I also drink alcoholic beverages and drive an urban assault vehicle, both also make possible the violent deaths of thousands of Americans each year; should I quit? Should you or anyone else? I don't drink and drive, nor do I drive my Suburban like a maniac, nor do I use firearms in an irresponsible manner, and until I do any of these things I am considered innocent until proven otherwise.
By your logic get bear spray and a hunting knife, that's what I have here in the city for anyone stupid enough to try and enter my home with hostile intent. I was also taught for both hunting and self defence if you draw a weapon be prepared to shoot and if you shoot you shoot to kill, not even the police engage in shooting to maim, they aim for the center of the person they're targeting. And you think handguns don't kill innocent bystanders?
They call it "bear spray" for a reason, it is a repellant. Bears are either defending their young or their territory, (and may not be detered anyway), human assailants on the other hand are coming after
you for a reason, and may be very dedicated. An assailant on a mission of intent will not be stopped by a repellant whether it is a knife or bear spray, (police know how well pepper spray works, or not, against a dedicated agressor). You shoot to
incapacitate the agressor, two shots to the chest and one to the head may be required and are usually justified in the end. On average for law enforcement officers 1 shot out of five hits its intended target in a firefight, occasionally a bystander gets hit, but rarely does it inflict a fatal wound, (armed citizens average twice as good as law enforcement). A 12 Gauge shotgun loaded with SSG or 000 buck has between 7 - 12 pellets of similar diameter to a 9mm exiting the muzzle at approximately the same velocity of a 9mm pistol. Quite a bit more potential for collateral injury.
Handguns are easily transportable, now have very high capacity and with weapons like TEC-10s high rates of fire. The US gun industry likes to present their products as being for the home defence and sporting market and to an extent they are, but there is also a significant proportion of weapons sold every year that end up through straw purchases on the street, this is according to former executives and lobbyists from the gun industry. The industry also uses the NRA as a lobbying group.
Gee, last time I checked I had my arse planted firmly in Canada, sure we're talking about gun control, but mostly how it appllies here. All firearms are easily transported, rifles can be made easily concealable, semi autos can be made fully auto. So what? Because someone can use anything for a nefarious purpose shouldn't preclude anyone else from owning it for ligitimate purposes. But still, the firearms that have been relegated to the prohibited list have rarely been used in this country for criminal purposes.The bogey men are there but idiots are chasing their tools. I just cannot understand how condemning the hammer is going to control the hand that swings it.
I don't see anyone's rights being violated. I see people who want to be entrusted with items of interest to the public's safety refusing to be reasonably accountable for them. I see people who want me to give up my own right to security so they can have what they want. Nothing new here.
I can't see how you would be giving up your right to security by someone else expressing their own. Ahh, but you defer your security to the state, now I get it. You feel the state should provide you with security, it is your right. What shall you give up for that right? You can give up your liberty, but you have no right to make me give up mine. NEWSFLASH,
the state cannot guarantee your security.