I guess the only thing we disagree with is the South's reason (slavery).
And who started it. But that is ok. It is just a debate about history...not a life or death issue.
I guess the only thing we disagree with is the South's reason (slavery).
Definitley. The south, at the time, was the worse of the two. But many think all blacks in the north were free...which they weren't.
Obviously, I'm glad the north won and that slavery was abolished.
And who started it. But that is ok. It is just a debate about history...not a life or death issue.
I apologize...but when you say to me "I've defended you"...but then to go and say that what I'm saying is BS...how am I supposed to respond?I just don't like the "stain" comment when talking about the one nation that has done more and sacrificed more for the cause of freedom for millions of human beings around the world than any nation in the history of the earth.
I tried to temper my remarks by pointing out I have stuck up for her when she was attacked pretty harshly (and unfairly in my opinion for her beliefs) and I got a snide "I don't need or care" response out her. I won't make that mistake again.
Ha. I was just thinking how funny it is to still be arguing over the Civil War 150 years later. I guess that sums up the whole debate though.
It's fine, but Canda is going to be pissed you think their flag has a stain on it and those bastards are not as forgiving as I am.I apologize...but when you say to me "I've defended you"...but then to go and say that what I'm saying is BS...how am I supposed to respond?
And...I've had relatives fight in every war this nation has fought...including the Revolutionary War...and the American flag means everything to me...but it most certainly has the stain of slavery attached to it as well. This country is not perfect...but I still believe it's the best country that has ever existed.
Can we e-hug and make up?
You mean like Chicago, that has some of the most harsh gun laws in the nation and also a completely out of control gun homicide rate? Those type of places?Or you could look at actual relevant information like places where they have made a major effort to eliminate gun violence. I imagine that no amount of statistical information or facts will change your mind on the issue though.
I'll bust those Canucks in the mouth!It's fine, but Canda is going to be pissed you think their flag has a stain on it and those bastards are not as forgiving as I am.
I agree with you. I've always felt because of the south's history we have been unfairly judged by the rest of the country. There have been some horrific atrocities committed against blacks by the south from slavery to Jim Crow. But on the other hand I've always felt that in most instances white southerners and black southerners have treated each other with kindness and respect because we actually have more in common with each other than we do with our northern counterparts.Thanks Lolly. I was just making the point that we can get rid of these few emblems of the Civil War (as we should have a LONG time ago)...and it will make some people feel better for a while. But...this issue is deep rooted in America...not just the south. There have been race riots all over this nation for decades (many up north and out west)...and the true stain of racism and slavery is bigger than just the south.
Yes those places, because criminals really give a rat's ass if they are breaking 4 laws instead of 3.You mean like Chicago, that has some of the most harsh gun laws in the nation and also a completely out of control gun homicide rate? Those type of places?
I agree with you 100%Yes those places, because criminals really give a rat's ass if they are breaking 4 laws instead of 3.
Unarmed victims make easy prey.
No I mean COUNTRIES that have made an effort to eliminate gun violence.You mean like Chicago, that has some of the most harsh gun laws in the nation and also a completely out of control gun homicide rate? Those type of places?
If someone wants to burn an American flag it's their right. I wouldn't be shocked it they get their teeth knocked out for doing it. If someone wants to fly a rebel flag in public it's their right. I wouldn't be shocked if they get their teeth knocked out for doing it.
I understand how southerners can see the rebel flag as non racial and a symbol of their current Southern heritage. I understand how blacks and northerners can see the rebel flag as purely racist.
It would be wrong to ban burning the American flag even though I detest the act and think it garners a world class beat down. It would also be wrong to ban flying the rebel flag in public even though I detest what iy stands for globally and I think it garners a world class beat down.
Living in a free society is going to come with some people who are far less than respectful. They will have to live or die with the consequences of their actions. In fact their actions are what we use to determine our desire to either interact with them or leave them be. As long as there is freedom there will be people who take advantage of it. I am not willing to begin the slippery slope of reactionary governance overriding foundational freedoms.
The boy who killed those innocent people will face his judgement swiftly and rightfully so. That is the message we need to send. Symbols don't kill people, guns don't kill people, flags don't kill people, ..... sick easily manipulated disturbed people kill people. Let's identify the disturbed, get them help, and then maybe we will see less violence, murders, flags etc.
IMO the lack of proper parenting leads to the vast majority of crime. Let's start a war on broken homes, lack of self respect, and lack of common decencies.... see where that takes us. Dr King taught us that you can never gain another man's respect by tearing him down. If only we would all listen his words and simply see each other not by colors but by our deeds. Problem is many on all sides can't afford to be seen by their deeds.
I have no numbers to back up anything I'm about to say...just speculating...but I wonder how many of those handguns used in the U.S. murders were used by the actual owner of those handguns...
I have to imagine that a great percentage of those killed were through gang-related fights or robberies...and the guns are probably stolen.
Again...I'm speculating and I may be totally wrong.
But the question I have is this: is the cat already out of the bag in the U.S? If we start super high regulations and background checks...will that keep guns out of the hands of these people committing murders? Or will they find a way to keep stealing guns?
Serious question for the gun people on here. Why don't you want stricter gun laws? Most of you claim that you want guns for safety and protection reasons. Wouldn't stricter gun laws help with that? Does being able to buy an assault rifle at Walmart or buy a gun without a background check make anyone safer?
Do you agree or disagree with my statement and why? Seems pretty much every post in this thread is an editorial on personal moral beliefs outside of the history debate yet you choose to focus on me. I think you are infatuated with me and I find that both sad and hilarious.The self-appointed moral compass of the board chimes in..... How old are you again???
For those of you who want to lessen the amount of guns in the U.S....you have to ask yourself is there really a way to lessen the number of guns in the hands of criminals? Or does gun control only effect law-abiding citizens? Is gun-control just another "feel-good" solution for an element of society?
First, I don't oppose some stricter gun laws. The training for a concealed carry permit is insufficient in my opinion - there were people in the class I took that IMO shouldn't be carrying without going through significantly more training. Please note that I'm talking about carrying in public here, not owning a weapon for home protection. The right to keep and bear arms is protected by the 2nd Amendment. Carrying that weapon outside your own property (I would include your vehicle as property in this case) should be considered a privilege that must be earned by demonstrating some level of competency.
Background checks are a good idea. I would add some kind of reporting requirement for mental health professionals for this, as mental illness has a hell of a lot more to do with the problem than the availability of guns. You get into some tricky areas with HIPPA laws, but the safety of the majority should win out over the privacy rights of those who might cause harm to others.
Finally I would add civil liability for anyone who does not do their due diligence in selling a firearm, particularly in private sales. Background checks are easy to perform online now, and cost anywhere from $10 to $35 depending on how in-depth you go. If you sell your gun to some random guy you don't know who later shoots up a church or theater AND you didn't perform a background check, you should be held liable for your negligence.
Now, I'd like you to answer a question. How do you define "assault rifles" as you mentioned them in this post? Because most people have no clue what they are talking about when they throw out that term.
I agree with all of your points. Those seem like pretty obvious steps to put in place. In fact, 90% of this country thinks that similar gun laws should be enacted yet nothing happens. The NRA and their lobby have way too much power.
As far as the assault weapons go, I'd guess that your question probably centers around the AR-15 which I do believe to be an assault rifle. I realize that it is semiautomatic but I don't think that you should be able to stroll into Walmart and buy an AR-15. I don't think there is any good reason for anyone to own an AR-15.
So where do you draw the line on which guns make people less safe? There is no question that we are far less safe than the rest of the civilized world when it comes to gun violence.What is it about the AR-15 that makes it more dangerous than say a Ruger 10/22? The bullet isn't that much bigger, and the capacity is similar. I enjoy target shooting with mine - it has much less recoil than my deer rifle, for instance. That's my reason for owning one. It adds to my pursuit of happiness, and doesn't make you or anyone else less safe.
So where do you draw the line on which guns make people less safe? There is no question that we are far less safe than the rest of the civilized world when it comes to gun violence.
In 2012, for every criminal killed with a gun in self defense, 34 innocent people died from guns. There are TWICE as many accidental gun deaths every year than there are "justifiable" gun homicides.Like I said above. Fully automatic weapons should be illegal, and they are. There is no legitimate reason to single out semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 as more dangerous than others. Why would you want to draw some arbitrary line anyway? If you want to make certain weapons illegal, it should be due to the function of the gun in question and not the appearance.
Guns make people less safe when they are in the wrong hands, and more safe when they are in the right ones.
Part of the reason politics and religion shouldn't be discussed on a sports message board. It always devolves into more and more rhetoric with no one solving anything in the end.So a thread about the Confederate flag and Ole Miss turned into a personal rant about gun control. Par for this board
In 2012, for every criminal killed with a gun in self defense, 34 innocent people died from guns. There are TWICE as many accidental gun deaths every year than there are "justifiable" gun homicides.
The facts are the facts.
I think it is clear that we are not capable of keeping the guns out of the wrong hands. That is undeniable. Gun violence is a massive problem in this country and if making some progress means upsetting some people that think it is fun to go shoot shit in the backyard or at the shooting range then so be it. You know what else is upsetting? A bunch of people getting shot all the time. If stricter gun laws keep guns out of the hands of 500 "bad" people is that not worth a small amount of inconvenience to you? The rest of the world is shocked and appalled at the level of gun violence in this country and our apparent lack of interest in doing anything about it.
Things we know about guns:
Places with more guns have more homicides.
Suicide is more common in places with more guns.
Living in a house with a gun increases your odds of death.
Guns contribute to domestic violence.
A very tiny percentage of gun violence is committed by mentally ill.
In mass shooting over the past 35 years, the guns were obtained LEGALLY almost 90% of the time.
States with stricter gun control have fewer gun deaths.
I don't think anyone is coming to a message board with the expectation of solving the gun violence in this country. However, I would say that this dicussion/debate has been one of the most civil I've been a part of on this board. Considering the topics discussed in this thread, I have to say I'm impressed.Part of the reason politics and religion shouldn't be discussed on a sports message board. It always devolves into more and more rhetoric with no one solving anything in the end.
In 2012, for every criminal killed with a gun in self defense, 34 innocent people died from guns. There are TWICE as many accidental gun deaths every year than there are "justifiable" gun homicides.
The facts are the facts.
I think it is clear that we are not capable of keeping the guns out of the wrong hands. That is undeniable. Gun violence is a massive problem in this country and if making some progress means upsetting some people that think it is fun to go shoot shit in the backyard or at the shooting range then so be it. You know what else is upsetting? A bunch of people getting shot all the time. If stricter gun laws keep guns out of the hands of 500 "bad" people is that not worth a small amount of inconvenience to you? The rest of the world is shocked and appalled at the level of gun violence in this country and our apparent lack of interest in doing anything about it.
Things we know about guns:
Places with more guns have more homicides.
Suicide is more common in places with more guns.
Living in a house with a gun increases your odds of death.
Guns contribute to domestic violence.
A very tiny percentage of gun violence is committed by mentally ill.
In mass shooting over the past 35 years, the guns were obtained LEGALLY almost 90% of the time.
States with stricter gun control have fewer gun deaths.
So, who are these people that are committing all of these gun crimes? Is it the people who love to shoot shit as you claim? Let's break down the geographical gun homicide rates, the gender gun homicide rates, and the racial gun homicide rates. You want to use mass shootings as your point of rage when they are but a tiny percentage of gun homicide. View the gun crime rates per capita of Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, and LA then view the gun crime rates per capita of Mountain Home, Flippin, Stuttgart, Prescott, and Hamburg.
Then also compare median house hold income of those locations as well as gun ownership % per households.
What you will find is lower income rates in the Arkansas towns, much higher gun ownership rates and VASTLY lower (almost non existent) gun crime rates.... but how can this be? You say more guns = more murders and crime?
No, more guns don't = more gun crime. More guns in the hands of criminals leads to more gun crimes.
One would imagine more guns per hone in the Arkansas tiwns I listed than almost any other part of the country. But shock of all shocks.... some of the lowest gun crime rates in the country as well.