[Amadeus]

I believe the general intent of skyhawk's sentiment is that he would take every action he could to avoid using a firearm on someone, but when other avenues were exhausted, he would prefer to have that option available to prevent someone from harming his family.

Although I do not own a handgun, I cannot say I disagree with the sentiment.

[supersloth]

maybe you should pony up then.

[Amadeus]

I would, but as mentioned, here in Canada it's only easy to get a handgun if you're a criminal Law abiding citizens have a hard time getting permits for them.

Also, I'm more of a kill you with my bare hands type of guy. And I drink...a lot. Somehow a handgun + me drinking probably ends in one dead <insert originator of annoying situation here>. I find a lot of things annoying

[supersloth]

whatever, have fun explaining to your wife and children you couldn't protect them because you were too busy 'obeying the law'. i'm sure they'll be fine with that excuse.

[Amadeus]

Pfffttt....my excuse will be 'I was drunk...couldn't shoot straight anyway'. Besides, the kid is two years old...time she was able to cowboy up and take care of herself.

[CheckersW]

Haha true that. Two year olds need to start fending for themselves these days.

Similarly to Amadeus, it's too hard for law-abiding citizens to get guns here in Australia. Registration, permits, licenses etc. discourage the general population immensely. As a result, where in America people have handguns in their homes for personal protection in the most dire of circumstances, Australians tend to just have knives. Wasn't like that 20 years ago though, when bank execs would take a Smith and Weston with them down to the bank every day...

[WolfCoder]

supersloth, on 23 Oct, 2009 - 07:42 PM, said:

whatever, have fun explaining to your wife and children you couldn't protect them because you were too busy 'obeying the law'. i'm sure they'll be fine with that excuse.

Or the opposite argument of that households with handguns are likely to have the handgun harming someone within the household than out.

It's not really easy for me to say anything. Am I safer with a gun, or without one? Am I protecting or endangering? Could I live with the thought that I've killed someone? I'm about as safe now as I ever was, never have even been near a gun in my life- as far as I could see. Criminals don't need permits, but an easily obtained gun can make a criminal. Is there really such a thing as people who turn into criminals once they own a gun? How do you prevent yourself from becoming as evil as the evil you face? How do you even know if you're really on the right side? If that's the living side, which one of you is really victorious? Does anyone actually ever win in a gunfight?

I like would stronger police force. Now any virtuous policeman/woman is a person I can respect. These are the people who actually do try their best to keep criminals away from me and my family. If you say the police can't always be there, then ask, can they still do their job? Why would it not be enough? Are you really afraid of there not being enough police, or of there being too many police and that you want control over things? What kind of thinking is that? Is it just, safe? What would be safer and why?



These questions are not easy and there's thousands more. That's why I can't really even say anything about gun control.

[KYA]

Then you could have a beer with them.

[supersloth]

and maybe some jokes.