Why Gun is Civilization...

[msbae]

Please forgive the grammatical errors in the title. I didn't name this blog. I just thought it was interesting...

http://munchkinwrangler.blogspot.com/2007/03/why-gun-is-civilization.html

When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation...and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

Can't argue with that...

 

[RJDiogenes]

Of course I can argue with it, since it's as ridiculous as it is juvenile. He unwittingly tells the truth right here:

I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid.

In other words, yeah, he lives in fear.

Carrying a gun today is no more civilized than it was in the Old West. I don't need a gun, and neither does anyone else.

 

[The Master of Tarquin Hill]

The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded.

Another fallacy. Having the power to kill another in no way imparts free will or rationality.

 

[Amaris]

Of course I can argue with it, since it's as ridiculous as it is juvenile. He unwittingly tells the truth right here:

I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid.

In other words, yeah, he lives in fear.

Carrying a gun today is no more civilized than it was in the Old West. I don't need a gun, and neither does anyone else.

Agreed. If wearing a gun makes him unafraid, then he's a foolish person. False bravado is going to get him shot.

J.

 

[msbae]

I don't need a gun, and neither does anyone else.

Who said anything about a need, RJ. This guy probably thinks he needs one for himself. I would just like to have one on me for the fun of it all. Besides, Cops can't be everywhere and I like the idea of being able to carry my .45 with me in almost any area.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

The blog also perpetuates the myth that the gun is the great equalizer, that young and old, healthy and infirm, skilled and unskilled, lightly and heavily armed can all be on a level playing field simply by carrying a gun, period, despite the huge amount of historical precedent to the contrary. With the exception of perhaps Mutually Assured Destruction by nukes (which has worked so far), people have never really tended to shy away from conflict completely simply because the other guy has weapons too. They just try and get more/better weapons, more skilled users, more armed people, or the element of surprise. They rarely just throw in the towel and say "well, that guy's got a gun too, so I guess it's a stalemate."

 

[JNG]

Carrying a gun today is no more civilized than it was in the Old West. I don't need a gun, and neither does anyone else.

Why wouldn't I need to protect myself? Why should I put a burden on someone else to do it?

 

[JonathonWally]

I would just like to have one on me for the fun of it all.

And that's exactly the reason you shouldn't be allowed to carry yours. People who are responsible, maybe. But it's not a toy for you to have "fun" with.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

People are going to look at the controversial topics thread and start new topics based on the list there, aren't they?

[Mr. Burns] Excellent [/Mr. Burns]

 

[Gepard]

People are going to look at the controversial topics thread and start new topics based on the list there, aren't they?

So I can do one based around spanking an aborted baby in the nuBSG forum while JJ Abrams looks on? Sweet.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

People are going to look at the controversial topics thread and start new topics based on the list there, aren't they?

So I can do one based around spanking an aborted baby in the nuBSG forum while JJ Abrams looks on? Sweet.

Only if you include a line about maxing out all your credit cards at the same time.

 

[Gepard]

Only if you include a line about maxing out all your credit cards at the same time.

Excellent. By the way, I think your avatar takes the cake for "Stupidest fucking thing I've seen in a long time."

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Coming from a guy whose avatar is a cheetah wearing a sombrero adorned with Christmas lights and fuzzy dice, that's quite an achievement.

 

[Gepard]

I try, but I just can't hold a candle to you.

 

[captcalhoun]

ooo, SNAP!

 

[Augustus]

I am all about the right to own a gun. Ironic, considering I have never owned one, and shot one on only a handful of occasions...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Carrying a gun today is no more civilized than it was in the Old West. I don't need a gun, and neither does anyone else.

Why wouldn't I need to protect myself? Why should I put a burden on someone else to do it?

Because only a licensed, legal organization with authority to do so, can ever be trusted to keep the peace and prevent disorder.

What you would call putting a burden on someone else to protect you, I call taking the burden OFF the common citizenry. None of us should be expected to be continuously armed just so we won't be killed.

 

[JNG]

Because only a licensed, legal organization with authority to do so, can ever be trusted to keep the peace and prevent disorder.

What you would call putting a burden on someone else to protect you, I call taking the burden OFF the common citizenry. None of us should be expected to be continuously armed just so we won't be killed.

It is not an expectation, but a right. Why should anyone be denied the right to attain a permit to carry and thus become a "licensed, legal [...] authority" to protect himself? (To clarify, I don't think any permits at all should be required, like in Vermont, but such is life.)

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Why should anyone be denied the right to attain a permit to carry and thus become a "licensed, legal [...] authority" to protect himself?

I agree. Anyone who has the ability and can pass the test should be able to become a police officer.

 

[warriorsfan]

Agreed. If wearing a gun makes him unafraid, then he's a foolish person. False bravado is going to get him shot.

J.

How so? 99.9% people who go through the process to LEGALLY carry a gun will go through their entire lives and never have a problem with it.