Guns, are they good or bad?

You can kill people with forks and baseball bats but those aren't banned any where. Its all in your intentions and how you use it, it can either be a tool or a weapon. I'm a hunter, so my rifle is a tool. But if you go out and buy a shotgun and cut it down really short so that it is easier to move around tight corners and stuff then you are intending to use it as a weapon and that is when it starts getting bad.

Even though it's fun to use them as a hobby, I believe it's just obvious that they are bad. Anything that is made to kill people is bad.

So you are saying that the reason for a creation of a tool is what makes it good/bad?


According to what you said, knives are usually made to cut food, but could be used to cut people, but since its made to cut food than it's ok.

The gun is made to kill so it's bad.

Forks and baseball bats aren't made to kill or hurt people, guns are, that's a big difference. I'm not saying I'm against guns since humans always find something to hurt each other with and we need to protect ourselves and our loved ones but saying that guns are not bad is a bit weird imo.

Yes, but forks and baseballs are still used to hurt people... maybe I'm just missing your point... I seem to be good at that

If something is made with bad intentions that makes it a bad thing
Also what good things can you do with guns, honestly?

Hunt animals for food, entertain...

I personally think guns are an avoidable evil.

Yes, guns can be used for hunting, but there are many other ways to hunt. Nets, bows, knives,...etc. I don't believe in hunting either. There are plenty of ways to obtain food, other than hunting now-a-days(if you don't live in a third world country), but that isn't the issue being discussed.

Guns just lead to problems. I mean just look at the statistics(tried to post a link, but not authorized to...google ftw).

I think guns should be outlawed worldwide. Yes, it would take a huge amount of work and time to get rid of almost all the guns in the world (there's always gonna be someone that can make them, and will make them), but I think it's something that should be implemented. Start on it NOW, so we can be safer tomorrow.

Here's a little story about something that happened to me recently:

I was driving down the road with my friend and I saw a person with their gas tank left open. When we came to a red light I told my friend I was going to get out really quick and let the person know. Before I was able to my friend said, "NO, don't get out of your car and walk up to their window. I've heard stories of people getting shot for walking up to someone's car window."

That fear of being shot, even though I didn't fully believe I would be shot, for walking up to the person's car to tell them their gas tank was open, or even shutting it really quickly for them, stopped me from doing so.

Sterweber- It isn't the guns fault that people use it to kill other people. Like they say: Guns don't kill people, people kill people. A gun can't pull its own trigger is what I'm getting at. In the right hands a gun is a tool, kind of like vice grips or a pocket knife. And a pocket knife can kill people too, accidentally or on purpose, its all in how its being used and what the person's intentions are. I think if we regulate it and make it so that violent criminals cannot get guns, and make the penalty harsh if they ever do, then we can find a good middle ground.

I agree with kc0tma... stricter laws wouldn't stop criminals from being criminals and abusing guns, but the punishment would have them think twice (if it's harsh enough) before actually abusing the guns.

Also, people are wrong to think that if there were no guns then there would be world peace or something to that effect. Think about it... most people died from arrows and broadswords then from guns.

Look at the statistics

The only modern thing that I recognize there is the World War 2 and that's because of the Atom Bomb and the Jews.

So someone who obtains a gun illegally with the intent of causing harm, would be more worried that they might get a stronger slap on the wrist for possessing a gun... versus committing homicide with said weapon? Negative. Besides, at least here int he states 'punishment' is defined differently throughout the republic. Each state defines what the transgressor will receive as punishment.

Gun laws do nothing but keep guns out of the hands of the individuals who rightfully and lawfully desire to possess them. If I want a 'drop gun' I can get one on any city street for a hundred bucks. Even those countries which have draconian gun laws, it's quite simple to obtain them if you know where to go.

If a person's intent is to do harm, then they will do harm regardless of the tools available at one's disposal.

Thats exactly the point I was getting at.

I find it ironically amusing that the Percussion Cap was invented by a preacher. (considering the good versus evil debate)
http://www.silcom.com/~vikman/isles/scr ... ssion.html

(SB will probably find it interesting that he was from his home town).

Guns are neither god nor bad on their own. Depends upon their usage. If you use them to protect yourself, they're good but if you use them to kill innocent people, that's bad obviously.

I like shooting, I think it's a cool sport. But the problem is that 90% of the people I know I wouldn't trust with a firearm. People manage to hurt themselves in all sorts of weird ways with kitchen knives and pliers and doors and screwdrivers. And I think that more people get hurt from friendly fire (accidents, clumsiness) than from someone actually trying to attack them with a gun on purpose. People, sadly, are dumb. For that reason I'd say it's fine to shoot guns in a controlled environment, such as firing a few rounds off into a target at the shooting range, but walking around with a gun or having one in your home where your kid can get at it and maim themselves or a friend for life is just asking for trouble.

Just a few days ago we had a story in the paper where a kid had got hold of his dad's gun and was showing off to his friend and fumbled with the thing and shot the friend through the chest. The kid may yet survive, but jeez.

Also having a gun doesn't mean you're an awesome shot - the scenario where a maniac goes crazy and starts shooting people and then a random passer-by shoots the maniac's gun straight out of his hand and saves the day is sort of Die Hard material. In real life the guy trying to be a hero would be just as likely to hurt three other innocent people while trying to take down the mad gunman.