GUN CONTROL

[commonsense]

And so nothing stops you from exercising your 2A rights to protect others. And you don’t need a uniform. Citizen arrest powers exist in just about every legal system.

So it comes down to this: do we want a society that condones killing or one that sanctions it?

It is fair to say that, no matter how compelling the arguments, one side will not convince the other to change sides. There’s something visceral about gun ownership v gun
control. Personal experience informs one’s position. Supporting argument follows.

I was surprised by an NVA soldier who suddenly appeared, just 3’ away from me on the ground in thick jungle. The fear I experienced felt like an explosion of adrenaline throughout my body. In about 1/10 sec, I emptied my ammo on him, putting 20 rounds into his body, 19 from the clip and 1 from the chamber.

It was then that I noticed he was unarmed.

My internal environment faded immediately to the worst nausea I had ever felt. I didn’t know that someone could be in a war, in the kill zone, without a weapon. He looked to be only 14 years old. I felt a choking sensation in my throat.

Whether someone has survived a home invasion by using a gun or has killed an unarmed kid, it’s our attachment to our experience with guns that creates our attitude toward guns.

[henry quirk]

"do we want a society that condones killing or one that sanctions it?"

What I want is to retain the capacity to defend myself. I want to retain the tool that, in part, makes that possible.

I don't think I'm bein' unreasonable.

[TimeSeeker]

So it comes down to this: do we want a society that condones killing or one that sanctions it?

Killing is amoral. Some times it's necessary, and it is always unfortunate. It is neither sanctioned nor condoned.

Murder is immoral. It is sanctioned.

It is fair to say that, no matter how compelling the arguments, one side will not convince the other to change sides. There’s something visceral about gun ownership v gun
control. Personal experience informs one’s position. Supporting argument follows.

I was surprised by an NVA soldier who suddenly appeared, just 3’ away from me on the ground in thick jungle. The fear I experienced felt like an explosion of adrenaline throughout my body. In about 1/10 sec, I emptied my ammo on him, putting 20 rounds into his body, 19 from the clip and 1 from the chamber.

It was then that I noticed he was unarmed.

My internal environment faded immediately to the worst nausea I had ever felt. I didn’t know that someone could be in a war, in the kill zone, without a weapon. He looked to be only 14 years old. I felt a choking sensation in my throat.

Whether someone has survived a home invasion by using a gun or has killed an unarmed kid, it’s our attachment to our experience with guns that creates our attitude toward guns.

As sorry as I am about your experience, you need to own the fact that you fucked up. Not the gun. You made a bad call. On the other hand - I don't for a second claim that I would've made a choice any different to the one you made in your circumstances.

I too have taken life. Justified. Unpleasant? Yes. Would I do it again under similar circumstances? Yes.

[commonsense]

So it comes down to this: do we want a society that condones killing or one that sanctions it?

Killing is amoral. Some times it's necessary. Murder is immoral.[/quote ]

Yes, but never moral.

It is fair to say that, no matter how compelling the arguments, one side will not convince the other to change sides. There’s something visceral about gun ownership v gun
control. Personal experience informs one’s position. Supporting argument follows.

I was surprised by an NVA soldier who suddenly appeared, just 3’ away from me on the ground in thick jungle. The fear I experienced felt like an explosion of adrenaline throughout my body. In about 1/10 sec, I emptied my ammo on him, putting 20 rounds into his body, 19 from the clip and 1 from the chamber.

It was then that I noticed he was unarmed.

My internal environment faded immediately to the worst nausea I had ever felt. I didn’t know that someone could be in a war, in the kill zone, without a weapon. He looked to be only 14 years old. I felt a choking sensation in my throat.

Whether someone has survived a home invasion by using a gun or has killed an unarmed kid, it’s our attachment to our experience with guns that creates our attitude toward guns.

As sorry as I am about your experience, you need to own the fact that you fucked up. Not the gun. You made a bad call. On the other hand - I don't for a second claim that I would've made a choice any different to the one you made in your circumstances.

I too have taken life. Justified. Unpleasant? Yes. Would I do it again under similar circumstances? Yes.

I really do own the fact that I erred. My M-16 functioned well. I worry that other good people will err as I did.

Would I do it again? No.

[henry quirk]

You kill (with gun, knife, fist, etc.) someone threatening your loved one, someone you're certain will kill your loved one if you don't act.

This, I think, is a moral act.

I think a body forsakes his claim to his own life when he moves to take another without provocation.

I think defending the undefended, up to and including taking life, is justified, moral.

[commonsense]

You kill (with gun, knife, fist, etc.) someone threatening your loved one, someone you're certain will kill your loved one if you don't act.

This, I think, is a moral act.

I think a body forsakes his claim to his own life when he moves to take another without provocation.

I think defending the undefended, up to and including taking life, is justified, moral.

Thanks. This helps.