Monday, May 18, 2009

So what do you think about gun control?


I recently asked a few of my friends what they thought about guns and gun control. I'm recently more curious about this topic since the gun in my upcoming directing project is like an additional character.
I gave them a few questions to get them started:
Do you own a gun? If so do you lock it up? Why or why not?
How do you feel about people owning hand guns?
Do you feel safer knowing that our policemen carry guns?
What colors your decision about how you feel about hand guns?

Below are a few of their responses. What do you think?

i do not own a gun. if i did, i would lock it up.
i don't think people should carry handguns, or automatic weapons. hunting, fine. anything else no way. given the amount of gun related crime, i think it's appropriate that police carry guns.


I do not own a gun, if I did, someone would take it and shoot me. Or worse, I would get drunk and shoot my dogs accidentally. No guns for me, thankyouverymuch.
I don't like the idea of housebound handguns, I think they cause more problems than they solve.I am alright with the police carrying guns, but that doesn't make me feel safer. I have no personal experience positive or negative with guns, all I know is the statistics of gun violence in this country, and the amount of guns in this country does not appear to solve any problems whatsoever.


I used to own a gun, but if you own one they are called "weapons" or "peices" or "firearms", no gun owner calls it a gun. Mine was a Walther PPK 9 mm semiautomatic (pistol). I did lock it up, in a drawer next to my bed. I no longer own it. I believed in guns when I lived in South Africa, but not now.
I am a libertarian and believe in constitutional rights, so I believe that people should be able to own as many guns as they want. I am also pro-life, but believe that people who are pro-choice have every right to an abortion. When you're a libertarian, the first priority is to individual freedoms, not personal politics.
I don't necessarily feel safer that our police officers carry guns, but I feel that it provides THEM certain safeties on the job that would not otherwise be possible. I don't believe in war either, but if we have to get into one, I want weapons involved.
What colors my decision is the fact that I grew up in a less stable social context than the one we enjoy in America and I believe that most people, if they were in a really dangerous situation, would kill to save their families, and should do so if that situation arose.

Don't have a ton of strong opinions here- but I DO think that people should be screened before owning any gun- it seems to me that most of the crazy people who have committed mass murders like at Virginia Tech; that Amish school- had signs of being unstable and shouldn't be allowed to own a gun legally. Now; that's not going to stop them if they are hell bent of blowing people away- there's always the black market and shit- but it might stop some people; ya know.

Do you own a gun?
I do not own a gun. Actually, I don't think I've ever held a real gun or seen a real gun fired. Never even been to a firing range.

How do you feel about people owning hand guns?
I don't like it. I wish that wasn't legal. But I understand it. I at least understand the argument for owning one hand gun. What I don't understand is owning 10 guns or automatic weapons or opposing waiting limits or any of the other processes that people try to put in place to limit the number of guns on the streets and who has them.

Do you feel safer knowing that our policemen carry guns?
Yes. If no one could own a gun, then maybe I'd feel differently. But with people able to buy guns, if policemen don't have them, we're just asking for them to be at a disadvantage in many violent confrontations.

What colors your decision about how you feel about hand guns?
The fact that they kill people. And I can't quite get my head around the fact that someone would want to own something that's purpose, at the end of the day, is to kill people.






3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Also, I always remember this... which might be a little simplistic and was from 2001, but still... it's from "The West Wing"...

"...if you combine the populations of Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Australia, you'll get a population roughly the size of the United States. We had 32,000 gun deaths last year, they had 112. Do you think it's because Americans are more homicidal by nature? Or do you think it's because those guys have gun control laws?"

Anonymous said...

I fully support the right to arm bears.

Anonymous said...

I own a pellet gun... it's not locked up... it's also not very dangerous.

I have a couple guns at my parents house in Wisconsin. A 12 gage shotgun and old time muzzle loader.

My sister dated a guy in high school who shot and killed himself with a hand gun. He was intent on taking his life it seems... though if the gun had been locked away he may not have shot himself. (the gun belonged to his dad)

I have mixed feelings about gun ownership. Hand guns I mean. I feel using guns for hunting is fine. I grew up in a hunting family and the meat that we ate and the family bonds that were made are great memories for me.

Handguns however... I get a little stuck. They scare me some. I wish they didn't exist... so people didn't have to fear being mugged with one. Or worse shot.

I have lots more feelings... about guns... that get into right to bear arms. Like why was that ever put on the books? Just in case the government turns totally evil and we have another revolution. Pretty far fetched... but hey... it's happened before... and .... it's happening now in other countries. We don't feel a need really to protect ourselves so much here in Portland, OR. But what if I lived in Columbia or some crazy place? I might feel safer with a gun. I know my wife recently felt unsafe jogging while away for 6 weeks. I sent her some pepper spray and then she felt safe jogging. hmmmm.

Still... I wish handguns didn't exist...