America---where every idiot can have a gun.

[trumad]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zC5nh172Dt4#at=36

[Drale]

1. I would comment but I don't feel like getting attacked right now. /nt

[CTyankee]

2. Awww...so vewy, vewy sowwy...

[Electric Monk]

3. This needs popcorn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApQ0B5ER4VU

[jpak]

4. We need sensible and nation-wide enforcement of existing gun laws

and other sensible laws

banning high capacity magazines - make it a federal felony to use one in a crime

close the gun show loophole

make all private gun sales subject to background checks

make straw purchases a federal felony

monitor multiple gun sales nationwide to stop the Iron River to Mexican Drug Cartels

allow the ATF to keep a permanent data base on gun sales

etc.

yup

[stuckinarut]

10. Wouldn't the ATF keeping records

defeat the entire purpose of having a 2nd amendment?

Just saying.

There are many "liberals" who are pro-gun. Where I am from everybody owns a gun. There are idiots out there. Guns are not the issue.

[drpepper67]

17. Well...

"monitor multiple gun sales nationwide to stop the Iron River to Mexican Drug Cartels"

That one will kinda hard to do seeing how the ATF was the one suppling the guns....

[Ragnarok]

19. What effect would these laws have?

I won't even get into an argument over interpreting the second amendment as we obviously have different views on what it means, allows and protects.

banning high capacity magazines - make it a federal felony to use one in a crime
-What is a high capacity magazine and how does this stop crimes from being committed? Many firearms have a original equipment manufacturer designed standard capacity magazine of 15, 16 or even 30 rounds. Are you suggesting that we ban magazines that are in excess of the designed capacity of a standard magazine as produced by the original equipment manufacturer? Or do you have an arbitrary number in mind? This concept would appear to actually cause crime by creating new class of criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens, much like marijuana laws. Additionally, as for your second point, it's already an aggravating circumstance and a felony to use any gun, even an unloaded one or one that only holds a single bullet, to commit any crime - any crime.

close the gun show loophole
-what loophole? If you legally own a gun, it's your property. You can buy and sell private property that is legally yours to other people who may also legally own it. It's already illegal to sell items, including any firearm, to someone who may not own it.

make all private gun sales subject to background checks
-This is illegal as private citizens are not allowed access to the NCIS database. Are you proposing that we open this database up to anyone who owns a gun? I'd like access to it outside of work myself.

make straw purchases a federal felony
-Straw purchases are already a felony.

monitor multiple gun sales nationwide to stop the Iron River to Mexican Drug Cartels
-What is a multiple gun sale? You mean buying two or more guns at one time? They already do that. In fact, they already take it further than that and expand the scope to those who purchase more that one gun in 5 days.

allow the ATF to keep a permanent data base on gun sales
-They already do. All FFLs are subject to inspection of their records at any time. When a FFL dealer quits renewing this license, the books from his entire career are surrendered to the government. Any class 3 weapons like fully automatic weapons, short barreled shotguns, short barreled rifles and suppressed weapons are also catalogued, taxed and tracked by individual. Special forms must be filed in advance of transporting them out of state, let alone re-selling them.

Uninformed things like this are why 90% of my otherwise "normal" friends who own guns end up voting Republican. They fear irrational and/or ignorant people gaining power and imposing ineffectual and burdensome legislation. When that inevitably doesn't fix anything, we pass more laws, and more, and more... 20,000+ at last count. You drive people away from sensible social and economic policy with worthless legislation and irrational fears about things you don't understand.

[spin]

21. I actually agree with you on a couple of items for a change ...

I definitely like:

"make all private gun sales subject to background checks"

"make straw purchases a federal felony"

On the second one, it is ALREADY a federal felony. All you are asking is that the law be enforced and I agree.

In the United States, straw purchases are a felony violation of the Gun Control Act of 1968 for both the straw purchaser (who can also be charged with lying on Federal Form 4473) and the ultimate possessor. One of the questions on Form 4473 is “I am the buyer of this firearm” and the purchaser must answer honestly yes or no, by checking the appropriate box in ink. However, purchase of a firearm as a bona fide gift for someone who can legally own such a firearm is permitted.<1>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_purchase

"banning high capacity magazines - make it a federal felony to use one in a crime"

I'm not sure of your definition of a high capacity magazine as many people who promote draconian gun control often feel that magazines that hold more than ten rounds are high capacity. The standard magazine for a Glock 17 9mm holds 17 rounds. The extended magazine holds 33 rounds.

Attempting to ban and confiscate all magazines that hold above 10 rounds is politically impossible and since millions of such magazines are available merely stopping the manufacture or sale of future magazines that hold more than 10 rounds would accomplish little.

During the assault weapons ban there was never a shortage of magazines that held more than ten rounds. As long as they had been manufactured prior to a cut off date, they were legal. They were considerably more expensive.

"close the gun show loophole"

If you "make all private gun sales subject to background checks" you have closed the "gun show loophole."

"monitor multiple gun sales nationwide to stop the Iron River to Mexican Drug Cartels"

"allow the ATF to keep a permanent data base on gun sales"

It might help if the ATF was a legitimate law enforcement agency that hadn't recently allowed the sale of 3000 firearms to people they knew were straw purchasers and who intended to smuggle the firearms to the drug cartels in Mexico and Honduras.

Amazingly you have never expressed any concern at this scandal nor have you mentioned that you favor any investigation of it. Instead you have dismissed it as NRA/GOP propaganda. Such a view is extremely hypocritical for a person who wants stronger regulation on the sale of firearms in our nation. No matter what side of the gun control issue you are on, you should be infuriated that agencies in our government delivered firearms into the hands of criminals and possibly financed the purchase of these weapons. Rest assured, some of them will result in murder on American streets and many murders in Mexico and Honduras. They will leave a long trail of blood behind.

[Jack Sprat]

5. One more thing I'd point out.

Dogs don't bite people. People bite people.

[bluerum]

6. ... and so can the rest of us.

[ManiacJoe]

7. At least he was honest about it.

In the slow-mo you can see him pull the trigger as the gun clears the holster.

[Aerows]

8. I'm of the mind

that at this point, we are so far gone into third world status in attitudes, that we probably all need one. That backfires on those who don't generally like violence. When people are forced to violence, then chaos erupts. That's not to say that everyone should be violent; quite the contrary. We become a violent society when there is no other social path to social ascendancy than violence.

Our movies tell us that story, our military defines it by the use of our military might, and our addiction to treating the non-violent criminals among us (drug offenders) as though they are on the same level as rapists, murderers and attempted murderers finishes the tale.

[msongs]

9. second amendment has no requirements as to mental capabilities, the OP is techincally correct nt

[Upton]

11. Just keep in mind..

We have a little thing called the 2nd Amendment..it's a constitutionally guaranteed civil liberty. The fact that this dude is an idiot..doesn't render the RKBA void for the rest of us..

[Rex]

12. And a car and some kids.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

13. Technically, only idiots who are citizens, of-age, and not felons.

[joeybee12]

14. The second Amendment is a relic of colonial days, it has no relevance today, and the founding father

did not intend for it to have relevance today...anyone who thinks the second amendment gives private gun owners the right to have any and all guns is an idiot, as Scalia and his gang of buffoons have proven.

[spin]

16. The Supreme Court disagrees with you...

and these quotes from the founding fathers prove that they held far different views than yours.

"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788

"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …"
Richard Henry Lee
writing in Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republic, Letter XVIII, May, 1788.

"The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full posession of them."
Zachariah Johnson
Elliot's Debates, vol. 3 "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution."

"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …"
Samuel Adams
quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, August 20, 1789, "Propositions submitted to the Convention of this State"

[spin]

15. That's why you clear your weapon and place it on the bench or holster it ...

before you check your target.

It also helps if you have the commonsense to follow gun safety rules.

1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.

This is the primary rule of gun safety. A safe direction means that the gun is pointed so that even if it were to go off it would not cause injury or damage. The key to this rule is to control where the muzzle or front end of the barrel is pointed at all times. Common sense dictates the safest direction, depending on different circumstances.

2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

When holding a gun, rest your finger on the trigger guard or along the side of the gun. Until you are actually ready to fire, do not touch the trigger.

3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

Whenever you pick up a gun, immediately engage the safety device if possible, and, if the gun has a magazine, remove it before opening the action and looking into the chamber(s) which should be clear of ammunition. If you do not know how to open the action or inspect the chamber(s), leave the gun alone and get help from someone who does.
http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

I've shot and handled handguns on a regular basis for over forty years and haven't had an accidental discharge yet. I am well aware that if I allow my confidence in my experience to override my respect for the weapon, I could have an accident. Hopefully if I ever do, I will have at least remembered to have the muzzle of the weapon pointed in a safe direction.

I have often heard that there a are two types of shooters. Those who have had an accidental discharge and those who will.

[Morning Dew]

18. Tex Grebner explains his negligence here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYvAxLX6OzE&feature=related

[ThomWV]

20. Actually just any Idiot can't get a gun here. Some Idiots are banned from buying them.

An Ex-fellon comes immediately to mind. Wife-beaters can't get guns either, at least they aren't supposed to be able to. Let's see, drug addicts and drunks can't legally buy them, and I don't believe minors can either, not that I'm saying that minors are idiots.

Granted any idiot that wants one can find a way to buy a gun in this country, but in fact there are laws against some of them doing it legitimately.

[ZombieHorde]

22. Every idiot gets a vote.

Which has done more damage; stupid gun owners or stupid voters?