Did your views on guns change?

[Haute_Coffee]

I will tell a little personal story about gun ownership in the US. It's not about me but about a very good friend of mine who is a leader in our community and very good person. She recently had to make a heartbreaking decision to leave her husband of 15 years as he had developed a drinking problem and was refusing to do anything about it. After he started driving drunk with their children and lost his job, she decided to take the kids and leave, and he harassed her constantly and slashed her tires, etc. Eventually got himself arrested and had his personal gun taken off of him and had his gun license revoked. However. He had more guns at home. All he had to do was lie to his parole officer. They were not registered so that was it. No one checks. LUCKILY through other events, he was ratted out and police confiscated his hidden weapons. But it took several weeks and my poor friend was living in terror that she or her kids would be killed in a drunken rampage. She was constantly calling the police saying he was breaking the restraining order and that she knew he had more guns. The police kept saying THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. This idiot had guns stashed away for weeks before he got caught.

On the flip side, I recently chatted with someone in another forum who is from Australia. Her husband was getting a gun license for... something. Hunting maybe?? Or just for going to shoot targets at the range, something like that. Anyway she said everyone in the house was interviewed and she was told privately by police or whoever does it that with a gun in the home, she was much more likely to be killed in a domestic violence dispute, and if there were any anger problems or issues in the marriage, she could tell them secretly and they would deny his gun license and not tell him that she was the reason.

As an American I was soooooo impressed with that kind of personal attention and why couldn't my poor friend who literally had a restraining order not get the police to take a gun off her aggressive and angry husband??? Why does every other country have better gun laws than we do?

I know not everyone will agree with my opinion on gun control... but this was just eye-opening to me, the difference between two experiences from different countries.

[P0tt3ry]

I haven't finished reading completely. At about the 80% mark, it isn't going to change my view on guns. They are tools with specific uses that need to be used properly. Gun controls need to be in place that discourage improper use. I'd like to see gun licenses issued in a way that would require renewal, with the accompanying background check, every 5-10 years. Innovation and technology advances should be made taking into consideration the impact on society.

[GabbiV]

I guess technically my views have changed from moderately anti-gun to very anti-gun. Like other countries, I feel that the United States should erect substantially more technical tests (like the driver test)/classes/psych tests. I also believe we should ban the purchase of semi-automatic guns.

But don't get me wrong, I understand the need to be able to defend yourself (and property)/family from people who wish to do harm.

[kfwilson6]

I mostly agreed with Fleisher when I started the book. I thought he made some very valid points and clearly indicated more guns does not equal a safer society. I completely agree and thought he drove it home at the end. There is no perfect answer for the balance between access to guns for those who truly can manage them safely, and strict enough regulations to prevent those who shouldn't have them from buying them. There are too many "black markets" and those who really want a gun for malevolent purposes will get one.

[Freddie Bliss]

Right from the unset, my views on gun control remains.. I see no reason why youths/teenagers of any race, tribe or clan would want to own a gun. A country like the United States of America today through her irrational law of free gun purchase by anyone, has attracted so many chaos and bloodshed to the innocent. I believe it's time the Congress kicked against unscrupulous freedom of arms purchase

[literarycat]

Absolutely. The author spoke my mind except how to control use and ownership. Modernisation has brought the good and the bad, the need for self defence and the need to attack for selfish reasons. For, instance, how can the underground manufacturers be stopped? It's similar to the unending fight against narcotics. I'm really perplexed and at my wits end on what to do. In developing countries, the law enforcement agents have been known to lease guns and ammunition to robbers! So you see, the dilemma is upon us all.

I completely agree with this statement. There is no way we can stop the underground manufacturers or "black market." I am pro-gun even though I do not own one, but have been around them and have taken classes in them as a child (my father owned hunting weapons and wanted us to learn how to properly respect the weapon). There is always two sides to the coin like you said, there are families who use guns for self defense for food while there are people out there who use it for evil. I think DIck's Sporting Good's statement said it all they went through all the proper legal channels when selling a gun, while the FL shooter didn't specifically use the gun they sold, he still had it. Reputable establishments have no real way of knowing how someone without a previous record is going to use the gun. So how do we stop it, and I don't think there is an answer. Just like there is no answer to stopping the narcotic epidemic.

[LivreAmour217]

My views on gun ownership did not change. There should be laws in place to prevent the wrong people from getting firearms, but sadly the US government has a woeful track record on this kind of thing. Any time our government tries to impose restrictions, the issue becomes worse (such as the "war on drugs")

Like many others, I agree with AbbyGNelson. Having the ability to do something doesn't mean that you should just go ahead and do it! The long term effects should always be considered.

[McKenzieRyan]

My opinions on gun ownership have not changed from what I have read in this book. While my opinions are usually unpopular, I don't believe guns are bad. I own guns and have been around them my entire life. When I was young I was taught the dangers of guns, responsible handling, and they are not toys to be played with. By no means do I think everyone should have access to guns. I believe that background checks, licensing, and waiting periods are certainly important in making sure guns do not fall into the wrong hands. I appreciate the view of the author and completely agree that gun violence has gotten out of control. I don't, however, believe that law-abiding citizens and people that use guns to hunt and feed their families shouldn't be allowed to own guns.

[KasieMiehlke]

I want to start by saying that I personally own guns. That being stated my opinion on guns have not changed at all. I do believe that there needs to be a change in gun control, such as what guns civilians can purchase and who can purchase a gun. I understand that some people may disagree with this, but it is my right to own a gun, however I don't think I should have the right to own a gun that our military personal use in protecting our nation. I, as well as others, know that any hunting firearm, be it a shotgun, rifle, etc., will deter a person just as quickly as an assult rifle. That's my personal opinion.

[Emmanae]

My views haven't changed. I'm still fairly anti gun, but I still only push for tighter regulations. I don't think it would be fair to people living in rural areas to push for no guns, as they can have safety merit on a farm etc, but I don't know that the average homeowner in a city needs a firearm.

[literarycat]

I want to start by saying that I personally own guns. That being stated my opinion on guns have not changed at all. I do believe that there needs to be a change in gun control, such as what guns civilians can purchase and who can purchase a gun. I understand that some people may disagree with this, but it is my right to own a gun, however I don't think I should have the right to own a gun that our military personal use in protecting our nation. I, as well as others, know that any hunting firearm, be it a shotgun, rifle, etc., will deter a person just as quickly as an assult rifle. That's my personal opinion.

I agree with you Kasie, I think there should be more restrictions on what civilians can purchase there is no need for the average civilian to own something like an assault rifle or as you said something our military would get issued. I think retailers should think about that kind of thing, and I think Dick's is one that is re-evaluating the type of guns they offer for sport. But at the same time restricting the guns civilians can obtain from the genuine retailers like Dicks and Walmart, how would that effect online retailers. I think government officials who are considering gun control needs to think of every option available and look at it from every angle rather than making what seems to be rash decisions in the heat of a tragedy.

[VictoriaMcMillen]

As I understand the book is Fiction, but is touching on very real topics. I do not have time to fact check the author's claims, and am only relating them to the media accounts I witness. I try very much not to pay attention to the media a.k.a. "news" as too much of it irritates me. I believe my understanding of what is happening widened, if things are true as they are written, in regards to how guns are being sold.

Prior to reading I had casual thoughts about guns, no real extreme qualms about them, other than be safe. I grew up around guns and hunt now that I am an adult. Firing rifles as a child showed me the power of those machines, then watching them on TV and what they could do hardened an understanding that I would never kill anyone.

My view of gun control changed from not really caring to wanting to learn about the states that do have regulations in place and what they are. I would like to see a draft created from the states' examples for a Federal Mandate on gun control with reasonable controls. The right to bear arms was intended to protect yourself and to hunt, if you cannot do either, you should not have a gun. Those that cannot hunt or protect themselves should be top priority of families and states to make sure they are provided that safety and sustenance. In ending, we have a self-elected government controlling our Armed Forces with plenty of AR-15s and AK-47s to protect America- citizens DO NOT NEED these guns, at all. Maybe the people concerned about having these guns can make sure there is a clause in there that the military will furnish citizens with them in case of imminent threat. Always have to plan for anything- especially when your rights are at stake as they worry so much about. I have to say I worry about that too sometimes.

[NeonKay]

My views about guns did not change. Although owning one is for good purpose, risks are still unavoidable. Restrictions and law-abiding laws about owning one is a good emphasis that guns are not for display. Consequences of it can ruin anybody's life especially when it's found by anyone who is not responsible enough to handle it.

[ostercl]

My views on guns are changing in regards to how we as a society are marketing them. Yes, individuals should be able to purchase weapons in order to protect themselves (I do not think they should be able to purchase automatic weapons.) However, seeing that how strong the media presence can be in our current society, I don't think that it is appropriate for companies to push gun ownership on society. People are easily swayed by the bias in advertisements enough as it is (which still blows me away.) If someone is so easily swayed by an advertisement on the TV, the last thing we want is for that person to be armed. We are glorifying gun ownership, instead of instructing potential buyers on the seriousness and responsibility that comes with it. Once it is shown that you can make a profit off of an item, all common sense seems to be thrown out the window. Our media escalates the problem far too often -

[Farmgurl1]

I'm not sure if my view changed because I am still equally confused about how I feel is the best way to curb these mass shootings, but the book most definitely made me think more about gun control. First it made me think about the gun control laws and how ineffective they are at preventing the people that shouldn't have guns from getting them. The book also really focuses on the way to decrease gun violence is not to give more people guns, but to take guns away from more people. The book really sheds a new light on the NRA for me. I never really thought about the power they hold over the current politicians, but I do believe it to be true. Money means power and influence and the NRA has money. Certainly a thought provoking book that makes you think about America's obsession with guns, and that what we are currently doing to solve the problem is really not working.