A little clause in the Constitution of the United States of America has made this country the laughing stock of the entire world, not to mention the country with one of the highest murder-by-gun rates worldwide, and one of the highest per capita prison populations anywhere. We seem to have forgotten that we are no longer in the 19th century. This is the 21st century; we have put a man on the moon already. We have found cures for just about every disease you can think of. We have invented technology that allows blind people to operate computers and even drive cars. We have been able to allow babies born with two heads to survive and thrive in society.
Two things we have failed at: 1) The complete and total elimination of any and all forms of religion from every facet of public life, and 2) The complete and total elimination of killing ourselves, our families, and our neighbors, not to mention perfect strangers, people we don't like, and people who just happen to get in our way. We are working diligently at accomplishing number 1), above. As to number 2) I wish to make the following suggestion:
Every resident of the United States, whether citizen or not, whether legal immigrant or not, when reaching the age of 16 be issued a handgun along with a lifetime supply of matching bullets. (A 'lifetime' supply may not cost very muuch.) Likewise to every immigrant over 16 as he/she crosses our borders.
Then each year on the 4th of July everyone is instructed, under penalty of death, to shoot as many other gun bearers as they possibly can. After a few such glorious holidays, the last wealthy, white, Christian male left standing is declared President of the United States of America.
Then the world will stop laughing at us. God bless America!
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Comments: 28
I would agree as long as the firearms are similar to those available when the constitution was adopted......................Single shot muzzle loaders.
People could still own guns quite legally but the supply might be reduced.
This can be done as revealed in Invisible Hand, published in its entirty right here on Gather.
Now if the first skier that reaches the gun could shoot at the other skiers, then by God, you've got yourself a real Olympic event. The TV ratings would be astronomical!
- David Letterman
30 shot magizines.
Concealed weapons have been legal in Idaho for years, as have visible weapons people can legally carry virtually anywhere they are not expressly prohibited. When was the last time a McDonald's worker was shot for getting an order wrong? One must apply a little common sense to such things. A hundred and fifty years ago, everyone carried a sidearm. That did not cause them to shoot indiscriminately with the weapon.
Sorry you won't be visiting Idaho either, but that is your loss!
Difficult to comment on your article as I don't know whether to comment on the satire or on the serious side of it! I believe that you have it wrong, America is the envy of most other nations. Canada is an exception as they have guns all over the place just like the US.
Seriously, I believe that the right to keep and bear arms is inherent in the freedom of America and that if we give it up we will encourage the promulgation of a police state. However, we need to move away from the idea of violence in any form! Whether it's a knife in you brisket or a bullet in your ribs, it is equally undesirable to me.
One thing to remember is that it is rather useless to lock the barn after the horse has escaped. A solid majority of people in this country want the right to own a weapon, whether for sport, defense or simply pride of ownership, they expect and demand that right.
Waiting times and background checks are reasonable and do not unnecessarily infringe on the rights of citizens as long as their basic right is not abrogated. Banning of machine guns without permits is also quite reasonable. The average citizen needs a nuclear weapon like a hole in the head!
No, there is nothing wrong with you! Many people have the same reaction to weapons because, in most cases, they have never been around them on a regular basis and that hate is an irrational reaction to something you have been taught, on some level, is an abhorrent thing. I was raised with guns and taught to use them safely, properly and legally for legitimate purposes.
As a kid, I was involved a little with competitive shooting but didn't have the money to pursue that. But through the years, I've hunted, target shot and carried a weapon for sporting purposes. I've never kept one for protection and those I have now would be worthless as I don't have ammunition in the house.
I've many times said that the biggest argument against guns is the very people who often carry and misuse them. I've heard someone say "boy, I wish I'd have had my 357 Magnum with me!" It scares the heck out of me. Obviously they came to no harm without it so what did they need it for.
Also, having a weapon will encourage some to remain in a position of risk when they would leave before it got bad had they no other recourse.
However, my sister and brother in law were in California when the hillside murder/rapist was going great. Kenny had never kept a loaded gun in his house. But the description of who the guy target was middle age blond women in upper middle class neighborhoods, who live in yellow houses. That fit my sister to a T and during that time Kenny kept a loaded pistol by his bed. I cannot blame him at all and I'd have done the same.
But no, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. We just happen to have differing opinions on this due to the difference in our experiences.
So many shows, people, etc. portray a gun as a evil thing which is lying in wait to kill someone, giving it a mind and life of its own. That is simply not the case, the evil lurks in the hearts and minds of the people who commit the crimes. The weapon is a tool and nothing more.
I also archery hunt, and that still entails certain risks, less than a firearm but still there. Most deer killed with archery could be saved by a boy scout with bandages. The true accident is rare, I heard of one where the arrow glanced off the back of a deer, went up the hill, and killed a man. A real fluke! But it does happen.
Do you have the same hatred for archery?
No, I don't hate archery; kids don't take bows and arrows to school hidden in their backpacks, nor do people carry them in their purses or hip pockets. Archery is just a waste of time and quite harmful to animals, especially deer.
I thoroughly understand what you are saying, I just don't agree! Man is a predator in the natural order of things. Predators eat meat. I don't like to eat my meat while it is still alive! There would be great difficulty in feeding the planet with no meat and still maintain a healthy and balanced diet. It is possible, I know, but few people really have the knowledge needed to insure the correct amino acids to ingest to get the good nutrition.
I firmly believe that the creator intended man to eat meat and to kill animals in order to do so. We do not "mature" out of what God intended, in my humble opinion.
Would you accept guns if handguns or easily concealable weapons were not there? Archery is only harmful to animals if the archer is a hunter, most are not. The really open the archery season on deer, etc. for the entertainment of the animals! The take by archers is so low that there is no statistical effect on the game populations due to archery hunting.
Have you ever eaten good venison? Or good elk meat? If the animal is properly cared for by the harvester, both of these are delicious meat. I think antelope are rather strong in taste but I've never killed one.
This is an area where we'll have to agree to disagree it seems. But in your previous post, you mention something being wrong with you and that is not so. You have, I'm sure, very good reasons for the mind set that you have. I have equally good reasons for mine. I can respect yours and hope that you can come to respect mine.
I'm quite satisfied with the issue! I detest anyone who kills and wastes the meat. And I won't hunt for something that I don't want to eat. To corral them in a game farm to make venison or elk available is another thing I consider wrong. I think they should be allowed to roam the forests until they are taken.
Since there is an all out effort being made to stop all hunting, (It ties into the gun control issue.) I will not object to the "trophy" hunter as long as he utilizes the meat. In actuality, he will pass up many opportunities to kill simply because it is not a sufficient trophy. His ethics on this are different than mine but I can accept them and respect them. The one who kills the animal, cuts off the head, and leaves it is not only unethical but in violation of the law in Idaho!
The hunter goes out and takes his game, not because he wants to see something die, far from it, but because he wants the game to use in some manner, and enjoys some part of the process such as the being out with my sons and seeking the game. Frankly, when you kill something the fun is over and the work has just begun, sometimes very hard work in getting the game out of where it was killed, and dressing it out and preparing it for the freezer.
I killed a deer one year at eight o'clock in the morning and it was four o'clock in the afternoon before we got the deer field dressed and out of there. I was as exhausted as I've ever been! However, if one is not willing to do whatever is necessary to use their game productively, they have no business hunting.
I have no quarrel with the non hunter, or with the vegetarian. To each his own!
What the hell are you talking about?