Reply #117: Interesting points. [View All]

[eqfan592]

First, I'm assuming you are speaking in reference to the inexpensive firearms that some manufacturers have produced, and which are popular among many criminals. Part of the problem, though, is that for many poor individuals looking for a defensive firearm, these firearms are their only options.

And I'm not in favor of suing firearms manufacturers unless a firearm they make has an honest to god defect that harms somebody. It just, in my book, doesn't make sense to hold a manufacturer responsible for the illegal usage of their product by a criminal, unless it can be proven that the manufacturer in question went out of their way to place that firearm in the criminals hand.

I also don't believe any such campaign to promote the "personal dangers of owning a handgun" would be effective, mainly because there are too many people out there right now who already know better. The dangers have not been underplayed, but rather have been inflated. This inflation is, in part, what has created the recent backlash against the gun control community.

And while I'll never be a supporter of vigilantism, I think too often people label clear cut self defense situations as "vigilantly justice." And terms like "handgun worship" ring very hollow among those who are or know your average handgun owner. Oh yes, I don't deny that some are obsessive about their firearms, but this is a very small minority, but such minorities exist in every group out there. Most others either see it as a means of protection, or are an enthusiast, similar to any other enthusiast.

But one thing we can agree on is attacking the root causes of crime.

EDIT: And just for the record, even though I obviously disagree with many of your points, I don't think you're a bad or horrible person or an idiot or anything like that for thinking that way. I was just laying out what my thoughts are, and to some degree why I thought that way. :)

EDIT2: Just to be clear, even though I do believe the dangers of firearms in the home has been inflated, I do think we need to continue to expand education programs so that if somebody DOES decide to keep a firearm in the home and/or on their person (CCW) that they know how to do so safely.