Gun control

[JungleMan]

70% of all illegal guns sold in the US are obtained thru robbery of gun shops and private citizens.

Where did you find that? Just wondering. Not that I doubt it or anything, as robbing is the easiest way to illegally obtain a gun, I don't see any reason why a criminal would jump through any other hoops to obtain one.

[jimzinsocal]

http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=041907D

[TMack409]

I hope background check means.....if you use psychotropic drugs or are under the care of a shrink for psycho-related issues - no guns!
There's just an undeniable link to depression, drugs and wacked behavior.

yeah, I agree this is an invasion of privacy...........but.......

[Orangutan]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/com...rss_topstories

Plate: Let's lay down our right to bear arms
POSTED: 11:25 a.m. EDT, April 20, 2007



Editor's note: Tom Plate, former editor of the editorial pages of the Los Angeles Times, is a professor of communication and policy studies at UCLA. He is author of a new book, "Confessions of an American Media Man."

...

The use of guns is often the American technique of choice for all kinds of conflict resolution. Our famous Constitution, about which many of us are generally so proud, enshrines -- along with the right to freedom of speech, press, religion and assembly -- the right to own guns. That's an apples and oranges list if there ever was one.

Not all of us are so proud and triumphant about the gun-guarantee clause. The right to free speech, press, religion and assembly and so on seem to be working well, but the gun part, not so much...

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/19/com...rss_topstories

Nugent: Gun-free zones are recipe for disaster
POSTED: 11:25 a.m. EDT, April 20, 2007



Editor's note: Rock guitarist Ted Nugent has sold more than 30 million albums. He's also a gun rights activist and serves on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association. His program, "Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild," can be seen on the Outdoor Channel.

...

Who has the audacity to demand unarmed helplessness? Who likes dead good guys?

I'll tell you who. People who tramp on the Second Amendment, that's who. People who refuse to accept the self-evident truth that free people have the God-given right to keep and bear arms, to defend themselves and their loved ones. People who are so desperate in their drive to control others, so mindless in their denial that they pretend access to gas causes arson, Ryder trucks and fertilizer cause terrorism, water causes drowning, forks and spoons cause obesity, dialing 911 will somehow save your life, and that their greedy clamoring to "feel good" is more important than admitting that armed citizens are much better equipped to stop evil than unarmed, helpless ones.

Pray for the families of victims everywhere, America. Study the methodology of evil. It has a profile, a system, a preferred environment where victims cannot fight back. Embrace the facts, demand upgrade and be certain that your children's school has a better plan than Virginia Tech or Columbine. Eliminate the insanity of gun-free zones, which will never, ever be gun-free zones. They will only be good guy gun-free zones, and that is a recipe for disaster written in blood on the altar of denial. I, for one, refuse to genuflect there.

[Nate]

^^A piece of Michigan died when that guy moved to Texas. First CD I ever bought was Uncle Teds.

[RatboyX]

I hope background check means.....if you use psychotropic drugs or are under the care of a shrink for psycho-related issues - no guns!
There's just an undeniable link to depression, drugs and wacked behavior.

yeah, I agree this is an invasion of privacy...........but.......

Oh I think we should add… If you have a medical prescription for Marijuana

Okay we all know this is flame bait aimed at one specific individual..

Come on it’s only a joke, so relax.

[tucker]

I think it’s interesting why the founders chose free speech as the 1st amendment and the right to bear arms as the 2nd amendment. Do you suppose it was by chance or perhaps in order of importance or maybe something else?

First amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


Second Amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

[PaternityTest]

when you apply to purchase you have to state you are of sound mind and not addicted to illegal drugs. Again proactively testing to filter out the bad weeds is unconstitutional. ITs a right until you commit a felony or are institutionalized for a mental disorder.

[AMDScooter]

I think it’s interesting why the founders chose free speech as the 1st amendment and the right to bear arms as the 2nd amendment. Do you suppose it was by chance or perhaps in order of importance or maybe something else?

I saw a senator last night on the toobe pimping the idea that the guard and reserves were an armed militia and that citizens need not be armed.

The idea that most of these types miss completely is that an armed populace keeps government from running astray from it's citizens. Our founding fathers knew this lesson well, which is why it is the Second Amendment IMHO. Checks and balances.

[PaternityTest]

I think it’s interesting why the founders chose free speech as the 1st amendment and the right to bear arms as the 2nd amendment. Do you suppose it was by chance or perhaps in order of importance or maybe something else?

I think that free speech is the goal... the great ideal. And thats why it is first. And immediately following is the right to the tool to ensure it.

[tucker]

I think that free speech is the goal... the great ideal. And thats why it is first. And immediately following is the right to the tool to ensure it.

That's my take on it too...

[Orangutan]

Not necessarily about the past few posts, but I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in particular. Amendments IX and X are perhaps even more important in elucidating our rights than I and II. Take a look:

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

These two clarify earlier portions of the Constitution and its intent: namely that the federal government has very few powers. There was quite a debate about whether or not the Bill of Rights should even exist. One side argued that it was necessary for the protection of the people while the other argued that it was unnecessary because the federal government had only those powers specifically delegated to it by the Constitution and therefore could not restrict things like speech or religion. One of the famous quotes from this debate is the loaf of bread:

Half a loaf is better than no bread. If we cannot secure all our rights, let us secure what we can.

It's Wiki so just use it as a background source:

United_States_Bill_of_Rights

[kbohip]

I'm curious as to why you haven't voted in your own poll Orang.

[Orangutan]

I'm curious as to why you haven't voted in your own poll Orang.

Because I can't reconcile my own opinions and reach a suitable answer.

[AMDScooter]

I did not vote either. If there was a response that combined these two... or the ability to choose multiple responses.

There should be basic background checks and waiting periods for anyone who wishes to purchase guns.

All adult citizens, save felons, should be allowed to purchase guns

These two come the closest to representing my feelings.