Is gun really the answer?

[n-dai che]

I don't believe there should be a gun inside one's house because if it falls under the wrong hands, it could be lethal.

I agree with you on this one. Owning a gun will not make you feel secure, rather will only create chaos and fear.

I observed it, too. Owning a gun somewhat makes the holder paranoid. Everybody can be an enemy for them.

[britt13]

Sometimes guns seem to be the only answer. In the violent world we live in today, it's hard to think of any other options to protect you and your family. I am, however, always open to other suggestions.

If we just keep fighting violence with more violence and more effective killing tools when does it end though? I am not saying that it is not a violent world, but someone always has to be the first to say no to a seemingly never-ending cycle.

[britt13]

Coming from a country where people don’t carry guns, I can’t imagine how carrying death in my handbag would make me feel safer. I don’t think I could kill, so the likelihood is that I’d be disarmed and shot with my own weapon.

I am right there with you on that. I know that for me it would just be a prop, and that is a dangerous thing to use in that way. My ex took me to a shooting range one time and had me shoot his rifle. I cried afterward because I was so upset that it was that easy to just release little killing deliveries (bullets) so quickly, and that was a rifle!

[britt13]

Is gun really the answer? Just think of it. If everyone packs a gun for protection, then the scenario will have a similacrum to life in the Wild, Wild West of long ago. There are good points, and there are bad ones. It all boils down to the particular situation at hand, on a particular location, on what we should say, a case-to-case basis.

I agree with the wild west feeling. I actually discussed this sort of idea with my husband the other day. The way I feel to argue against everyone having guns being the answer is about that. Similarly, duels represent this kind of thing. Just because you have a gun does not mean someone will not attack you, and then it just becomes a game of who is faster.

[britt13]

Somebody in one of the above posts mentioned martial arts, and how martial arts training comes with other skills, such as training on control, emotional awareness, etc. As a lifelong practitioner of martial arts, I can confirm that this is so.

Which brings up an interesting point when it comes to guns. There's very little training (not any) that goes into having a gun. At no point upon purchasing a gun is someone sat down and it's made clear to them that the item they just purchased could end someone's life and what that really means.

When you learn martial arts, especially if you started as a kid, as I did, you have it drilled into you that the things you're learning could be used to hurt someone. And that, above all things, the goal of knowing martial arts is so that you'll never have to use it, never have to hurt anyone. Conflict resolution and diffusion are stressed first and foremost.

There's none of that when someone purchases a gun, and guns are by far more deadly than even the most ruthless of martial arts (looking at you, Krav Maga!)

Something to think about

YES YES YES! I think the idea of everyone learning martial arts in schools would be great. I think it is something that everyone could use to better themselves and cut down on violent deaths. I have really been wanting to take classes. That being said, I am not sure how much help that would have been to most in the book since it was a crime of passion situation.

[britt13]

Part of the biggest problems in this world is having many guns in wrong hands. In our part of the continent, one writer said that majority of those licensed firearm holders have the following traits: They have fat wallets, fat egos, and empty heads.
That tells you where my stand on gun possession lies.

That is a wonderful quote! I think the fat egos is the most poignant one. Sometimes it seems that so many gun owners just want to be "right" in their right to have guns that they are unwilling to listen to facts about issues with them. I find it very disheartening, especially because I love to talk to people with different views and find out the "why" of what makes them tick. So many pro-gun are impossible to have a good conversation with about it though.

[britt13]

I think that our society is heading in a direction where guns are commonplace enough that everyone needs them. We aren’t there yet though. I believe cooler heads and better diplomacy still have a chance to allow us to ratchet down a few notches so we can be like our other first-world cousins who have better gun control and less gun violence.

What do you think is the sign that we are past hope? I am just curious, not really judging if you are right or wrong. I have to have faith that we can still fix it though to keep me sane. That being said, voting is an important component of my "faith" because we can not just expect things to fix themselves.

[britt13]

I am a strong proponent of the 2nd Ammendment, as with all the ammendment s I do not believe anyone should have additional regulations attached to any of our rights. How many would agree that the 4th Ammendment should have additional star laws attached to it? In case you forgot the 4th is "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
Could you or would you agree that the 4th could be changed by a state that says " the state can randomly search your house, auto, business to see if they could find evidence that you are involved in illegal activity without a warrant"
Or you have to have a background check and a 10 day waiting period to exercise your right to VOTE.
A gun is your RIGHT give it up at your peril. Remember the first thing Communist and Facist take away is your ability to defend your family.

I think it is a bit short-sighted to say that an Amendment should not be updated because another one should not. They are not all created equal. They deal with different issues. Society is fluid, especially with advancements. We have to keep our laws and "protections" up to date. I wish I could delve into the reason why I am so sick of seeing the "right to defend your family being taken away" but I feel like a totally broken record. It is just saddening to me that people think that banning one type of weapon takes away that right, and that keeping the gun is more important that thousands of innocent lives.

[britt13]

Is gun really the answer? Definitely not. Gun will never be the answer.

For I know God will protect and deliver me from all kinds of evil. I may be defenseless, but God is my greatest defender and protector.

Therefore, who shall I fear? No one.

Yeah, our God is our protector so nothing to be afraid of. God can shut down all the weapons in the world.

While I do believe in God, I think what you just said is a dangerous rhetoric. God gave free will, and with that we have violence. That does not mean that having faith will make sure that weapons will not be a problem anymore. It takes action, voting, protesting etc.

[n-dai che]

Sometimes guns seem to be the only answer. In the violent world we live in today, it's hard to think of any other options to protect you and your family. I am, however, always open to other suggestions.

If we just keep fighting violence with more violence and more effective killing tools when does it end though? I am not saying that it is not a violent world, but someone always has to be the first to say no to a seemingly never-ending cycle.

No ending since then from the beginning of the world. Violence arises. People still use tools for defense like guns.

[n-dai che]

Is gun really the answer? Definitely not. Gun will never be the answer.

For I know God will protect and deliver me from all kinds of evil. I may be defenseless, but God is my greatest defender and protector.

Therefore, who shall I fear? No one.

Yeah, our God is our protector so nothing to be afraid of. God can shut down all the weapons in the world.

While I do believe in God, I think what you just said is a dangerous rhetoric. God gave free will, and with that we have violence. That does not mean that having faith will make sure that weapons will not be a problem anymore. It takes action, voting, protesting etc.

I got your point. We experienced it here in our country when the religious leader leads the group for prayer against the president with all their weapons.

[britt13]

Sometimes guns seem to be the only answer. In the violent world we live in today, it's hard to think of any other options to protect you and your family. I am, however, always open to other suggestions.

If we just keep fighting violence with more violence and more effective killing tools when does it end though? I am not saying that it is not a violent world, but someone always has to be the first to say no to a seemingly never-ending cycle.

No ending since then from the beginning of the world. Violence arises. People still use tools for defense like guns.

I mean yes, violence is something that naturally occurs, but I was trying to say does it make sense to use fatal force? I think we have much better options than that, we are a crafty people. Please only respond if you have something to add to the conversation.

[n-dai che]

Part of the biggest problems in this world is having many guns in wrong hands. In our part of the continent, one writer said that majority of those licensed firearm holders have the following traits: They have fat wallets, fat egos, and empty heads.
That tells you where my stand on gun possession lies.

That is a wonderful quote! I think the fat egos is the most poignant one. Sometimes it seems that so many gun owners just want to be "right" in their right to have guns that they are unwilling to listen to facts about issues with them. I find it very disheartening, especially because I love to talk to people with different views and find out the "why" of what makes them tick. So many pro-gun are impossible to have a good conversation with about it though.

I got your point. Gun is not the only answer for violence, but if it is your last resort for defense on behalf of many people, I'd rather shoot one than giving the time for the killer to shoot many lives.

[britt13]

Part of the biggest problems in this world is having many guns in wrong hands. In our part of the continent, one writer said that majority of those licensed firearm holders have the following traits: They have fat wallets, fat egos, and empty heads.
That tells you where my stand on gun possession lies.

That is a wonderful quote! I think the fat egos is the most poignant one. Sometimes it seems that so many gun owners just want to be "right" in their right to have guns that they are unwilling to listen to facts about issues with them. I find it very disheartening, especially because I love to talk to people with different views and find out the "why" of what makes them tick. So many pro-gun are impossible to have a good conversation with about it though.

I got your point. Gun is not the only answer for violence, but if it is your last resort for defense on behalf of many people, I'd rather shoot one than giving the time for the killer to shoot many lives.

I would rather their just not be an option for the "shooter" to be shooting. I get that people are using the self-defense thing, and while I personally would not use a gun I understand why others would be lead to. I have trouble following your thought process though N Dai Che because you seem to agree with guns sometimes and then not on other posts. Then you talk about how God will provide but now you are saying you would use a gun to kill. I guess I will just refrain from posting on your comments going forward because I think I am just letting myself get frustrated with how you seem to just want to agree with a post for the sake of posting. I was really enjoying talking to people on here, so I posted a lot. Then it got to where I was at the top and I was excited I was going to win a gift card as a bonus to the good conversation. Then you just started posting one sentence responses to everything racking up the posts to clearly just win. Seems like it kind of took away from the fun-natured challenge to actually discuss the book and maybe win a gift card at the end.

[n-dai che]

"I mean yes, violence is something that naturally occurs, but I was trying to say does it make sense to use fatal force? I think we have much better options than that, we are a crafty people. Please only respond if you have something to add to the conversation." @britt

To me, Using a fatal force is the sad part of life because you know that many people will be killed, but you fight against terrorism, why not?