The Daily News

[Blademaster]

^The difference is that your average, law-abiding citizen doesn't have a clue how to work a gun. I can guarantee that at least half the time, a citizen with a gun is either gonna freak out or get pissed off, and invariably accidentally or even intentionally kill some poor shmuck who's armed with his index finger. I don't condone criminal behavior, obviously, but that guy with the pantyhose mask who wants the 4 dollars in your wallet doesn't deserve to have three bullets emptied into his torso and drown in his own blood. People don't know how to work guns well enough to all deserve them.

[mr_pikachu]

^The difference is that your average, law-abiding citizen doesn't have a clue how to work a gun.

1. Cock hammer.
2. Pull trigger.
3. Repeat as necessary.

[Roy Karrde]

but that guy with the pantyhose mask who wants the 4 dollars in your wallet doesn't deserve to have three bullets emptied into his torso and drown in his own blood. People don't know how to work guns well enough to all deserve them.

Well for one if you are going to get a gun you obviously going to take training to recieve that, thus why we have gun permits.

As for the guy in the pantyhose mask, yeah he deserves to get three bullets into him, as does the guy that enters your house. Those people at that point have gotten to a point in their mind where they are willing to go to extremes to get what they want. They forfit their lives when they decided to come up and attack you. And at that point you have to realize that, and take the most drastic measure to make sure they do not harm you, or others around you.

[The Blue Avenger]

As for the guy in the pantyhose mask, yeah he deserves to get three bullets into him, as does the guy that enters your house.

They deserve to get punished, but they do not deserve to die. I can think of very few things that warrant death, and petty robbery is not one of them.

[Roy Karrde]

They deserve to get punished, but they do not deserve to die. I can think of very few things that warrant death, and petty robbery is not one of them.

Can you be sure they wont kill you? When that man points the gun at you and says hand over the money, can you be sure he wont kill you? What if your sister or brother was with you? Can you be sure he wont kill you? I am not talking about gunning down a man in cold blood. I am saying you either take action and kill him, or you gamble your life, and the lives of others.

[MToolen]

Can you be sure they wont kill you? When that man points the gun at you and says hand over the money, can you be sure he wont kill you? What if your sister or brother was with you? Can you be sure he wont kill you? I am not talking about gunning down a man in cold blood. I am saying you either take action and kill him, or you gamble your life, and the lives of others.

Yes, and we all know how bad Vash the Stampede was hurt trying not to kill people. I feel very blessed to live in a neighborhood free of most immediate danger, so I'm not too sure how I'd react. While I know taking life shouldn't be in my hands, I don't know if that knowledge will matter with a gun pointed at me.

About the operating handguns issue, there are very many things that could go wrong with shooting one, especially with today's gangsta culture promoting firing sideways and angled; due to Newton's third law of motion, the reaction to the bullet could propel the gun out of one's hand. Just one example.

Y'know, this argument is reminiscent of the US Electoral College. It sucks, we know, but what feasible alternatives do we have?

[mr_pikachu]

They deserve to get punished, but they do not deserve to die. I can think of very few things that warrant death, and petty robbery is not one of them.

Here's the problem. Maybe they don't deserve to die, but are you supposed to be punished for it? Ideally you could take non-lethal action, but most people haven't received training that would allow them to precisely attack and subdue an armed enemy without killing them (or getting killed). If you fight and yet hold back, you're as good as dead. Basic rule of combat. The majority is thus left with a simple choice: either completely surrender or go all-out to defend themselves.

Again, this is not the ideal solution. But we have to be realistic about the world in which we live and move beyond dreaming of utopia.


EDIT: Roy's point is valid as well. Whoever holds the gun is in control. And when the guy in control is the one holding up people for their cash, the balance of power needs to be shifted anyway. Most people, I think, would rather not place their lives in the hands of a mugger.

[Blademaster]

Well for one if you are going to get a gun you obviously going to take training to recieve that, thus why we have gun permits.

Shooting at paper targets =/= taking the life of another human being.

As for the guy in the pantyhose mask, yeah he deserves to get three bullets into him, as does the guy that enters your house. Those people at that point have gotten to a point in their mind where they are willing to go to extremes to get what they want. They forfit their lives when they decided to come up and attack you. And at that point you have to realize that, and take the most drastic measure to make sure they do not harm you, or others around you.

It's that kind of overzealous disregard for human life that proves my point exactly.

[Roy Karrde]

Shooting at paper targets =/= taking the life of another human being.

It still provides you with the training you need.

It's that kind of overzealous disregard for human life that proves my point exactly.

When that man walked up to you and pointed a weapon to threaten your life and the lives of those around you, they lost any claim they have to their human life.

[Blademaster]

It still provides you with the training you need.

My mentality would change greatly if I were switching my gun away from a sheet of paper and towards a living being. The training would be useless at that point.

When that man walked up to you and pointed a weapon to threaten your life and the lives of those around you, they lost any claim they have to their human life.

A claim to one's life is something that can never be lost. To think otherwise is barbaric: Shooting the guy in the knee or the arm holding the gun should be sufficient. Overpowering and subduing him should be a responsible gun-owner's top priority, not mercilessly gunning him down in cold blood.