The Stig Was Arrested!

[ishigakisensei]

I personally don't agree that you should be able defend yourself with guns and knives.

I find that view absolutely frightening and devoid of any realistic thinking.

 

[Peter3hg]

I personally don't agree that you should be able defend yourself with guns and knives.

I find that view absolutely frightening and devoid of any realistic thinking.

Why?
This country has a fairly low murder rate but people don't walk around with knives and guns. Surely that shows it is not needed.
I have nothing against guns and knives but only in the right place at the right time. Walking down the street is certainly not a good reason to have a gun.
I think it is a vicous circle having guns.
People get guns.
More guns so more gun crime so crime rates go up.
People scared so buy guns for protection.
More guns so more gun crime so crime rates go up.

And so on and so on.
Shooting someone who is, for example, robbing your house is no better than lynching. You are removing the judge and jury and making the decision about someone elses life on your own.
To me that is totally wrong and you should be put in prison for killing a burglar.
Just my opinion.

 

[wooflepoof]

Shooting someone who is, for example, robbing your house is no better than lynching. You are removing the judge and jury and making the decision about someone elses life on your own.

And the burglar whom is potentially making a decision about YOUR life. If i might be facing my own mortality im going to move the judicial system aside for a short while.

 

[un-dee]

Yeah but the thing is that a European burglar is unarmed and would not be able to shoot you (in most cases) and you wouldn't need a gun to stop him.

It's fine if you guys like killing each other, but it is just so simple and stupid thinking that it really annoys me.

Looking at the facts and numbers everyone should be able to tell who is right an who is wrong.

 

[thedguy]

Yeah but the thing is that a European burglar is unarmed and would not be able to shoot you (in most cases) and you wouldn't need a gun to stop him.

Unfortunately thats not the case here. Even if we put a ban on all guns (which thanks to the 2nd amendment we can't), the burglars and criminals would be the ones with guns, and law abiding citizens would be without.

I haven't bothered to look into it, but I've heard in Texas it's perfectly legal to carry a concealed weapon, and many people do. I've also heard Texas tends to have a lower crime rate than much of the US. This again is all hearsay, and I really don't care enough about the subject to confirm any of it.

 

[ishigakisensei]

Yeah but the thing is that a European burglar is unarmed and would not be able to shoot you (in most cases) and you wouldn't need a gun to stop him.

Fantasy. Tell that to the ladies facing a 300lb man with a hard-on.

It's fine if you guys like killing each other, but it is just so simple and stupid thinking that it really annoys me.

I do not apologize that my survival means more to me than your's does. It's not at all about "liking" having to do it and it is your simple and stupid thinking that really annoys me.

Looking at the facts and numbers everyone should be able to tell who is right and who is wrong.

Yeah, check the toe-tag number of the homeowner and tell me that guy
was wrong. Why are you Europeans so against one pretecting themselves?

 

[3Colin]

Europeans (and Canadians, among others) believe more in making a society where protecting oneself is not explicitly required. Much like Clarkson's points about the British countryside versus the American one, Europeans never want to be too far from civilisation, and civilisation includes people not killing each other.

Like the Swiss, for example. They all have guns (mandatory military service), but very rarely do they need to use them, and would just as well without them. While you can argue that it's a Mexican-standoff situation, it's more likely that the Swiss just don't want to kill each other.

 

[TC]

In America, only 13% of burglaries are done with the owners inside their homes. In the UK, 45% of burglaries are done with the owners inside the home. You see, Americans don't want to kill each other either, that's why we break into homes when they're empty.

 

[fbc]

Just my 2cents - I'd much prefer to live in a society with extremely tight controls on guns and knives, and where I don't feel the need to have a gun or knife for my protection. Lucky for me, I live in such a society.

 

[wooflepoof]

I haven't bothered to look into it, but I've heard in Texas it's perfectly legal to carry a concealed weapon, and many people do. I've also heard Texas tends to have a lower crime rate than much of the US. This again is all hearsay, and I really don't care enough about the subject to confirm any of it.

im not 100% sure either but my father once got into (and won) an argument with a police officer about a concealed gun in the van. i think you need a license but dont quote me on that. Texas, since it was its own country once and is the only state that joined the US by treaty and can leave whenever we want, has more flexibity in the way it governs itself. there alot of gun based heritage and history here.

perhaps ironically, Texas comes from the indian word for 'friend'. Actually, having been up in the northeast, i can testify there a much MUCH more relaxed and neighborly attitude here. Lotsa pride too, you an still buy "republic of Texas" shirts

 

[TC]

I own a gun, but only because I enjoy target shooting. The gun stays locked in it's case up in my closet. Arizona is a "Open Carry" State, which means I can carry it anywhere I want, outside of "Gun Free Zones" (schools, post offices, where-ever all the mass shootings occur), so long as the gun is openly visible. If I wanted to conceal it, I would need to get a permit and pass a few tests. I've lived in Southern California and Arizona all my life and have never even seen a regular person carry a gun in public, let alone threatening or shooting others with it. I definitely feel safe and secure without my sidearm.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_per_of_saf_wal_in_dar-crime-perception-safety-walking-dark

 

[dcl]

Just my 2cents - I'd much prefer to live in a society with extremely tight controls on guns and knives, and where I don't feel the need to have a gun or knife for my protection. Lucky for me, I live in such a society.

Completely agreed.

 

[thedguy]

perhaps ironically, Texas comes from the indian word for 'friend'. Actually, having been up in the northeast, i can testify there a much MUCH more relaxed and neighborly attitude here. Lotsa pride too, you an still buy "republic of Texas" shirts

Back home (SoCal) we all used to joke that the only people who think Texas is great are Texan's 8) Most people think home is the best place on earth though so...

Just my 2cents - I'd much prefer to live in a society with extremely tight controls on guns and knives, and where I don't feel the need to have a gun or knife for my protection. Lucky for me, I live in such a society.

I've never touched a gun in my life, and only had small pocket knives (for opening boxes mostly). I've grown up in some of the most violent cities in this country, and arguably the world. I've never worried about needing a weapon in my life, or worried about getting mugged, and I'm far from intimidating.

Europeans (and Canadians, among others) believe more in making a society where protecting oneself is not explicitly required. Much like Clarkson's points about the British countryside versus the American one, Europeans never want to be too far from civilisation, and civilisation includes people not killing each other.

Like the Swiss, for example. They all have guns (mandatory military service), but very rarely do they need to use them, and would just as well without them. While you can argue that it's a Mexican-standoff situation, it's more likely that the Swiss just don't want to kill each other.

American Society has grown to be more about the individual. Especially after WW2 and the cold War anything that might be even related in thought to Socialism/communism was bad, such as helping to advance society as a whole rather than just yourself was almost bad. All they wanted was to maintain the status quo, fuck anyone else.

 

[fbc]

Just my 2cents - I'd much prefer to live in a society with extremely tight controls on guns and knives, and where I don't feel the need to have a gun or knife for my protection. Lucky for me, I live in such a society.

I've never touched a gun in my life, and only had small pocket knives (for opening boxes mostly). I've grown up in some of the most violent cities in this country, and arguably the world. I've never worried about needing a weapon in my life, or worried about getting mugged, and I'm far from intimidating.

That's cool - I was more referring to the other posters justifying why they need guns to protect themselves.

 

[jetsetter]

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst some say.

 

[wooflepoof]

That's cool - I was more referring to the other posters justifying why they need guns to protect themselves.

Reagrdless of how tight the gun laws are, if someone is willing to kill for money or stuff then they have the will to go about finding a gun, my house and the restaurant have been robbed before, luckily while we werent there but here in America we DO live in a society where many, many people carry arm regardless of the law anyways WITH malicious intent in mind, like its been said before, the ones who follow the rules arent the problem, the laws are just keeping the honest people honest. Imagine if the laws tighen p HERE and the only people who have guns are the ones that have them illegally, which usually means they intend to use them in an illegal fashion, KNOWING that everyone else has no other means to protet themselves besides a bat and a pair of boxers. Thats the mindset of Alot of Americans here i'd love to walk downtown by myself with utter confidence but that just dosnt really happen...cept in providence since nobody lives there

 

[fbc]

That's cool - I was more referring to the other posters justifying why they need guns to protect themselves.

Reagrdless of how tight the gun laws are, if someone is willing to kill for money or stuff then they have the will to go about finding a gun, my house and the restaurant have been robbed before, luckily while we werent there but here in America we DO live in a society where many, many people carry arm regardless of the law anyways WITH malicious intent in mind, like its been said before, the ones who follow the rules arent the problem, the laws are just keeping the honest people honest. Imagine if the laws tighen p HERE and the only people who have guns are the ones that have them illegally, which usually means they intend to use them in an illegal fashion, KNOWING that everyone else has no other means to protet themselves besides a bat and a pair of boxers. Thats the mindset of Alot of Americans here i'd love to walk downtown by myself with utter confidence but that just dosnt really happen...cept in providence since nobody lives there

Thing is, if people feel they NEED to have a firearm to protect themselves, then something's very wrong with the society they live in (or their perception of their society is whacked).

Due to some recent awful events, we have been in a position where others with the mindset you describe would have gone out and bought a firearm and carried it with them. But do I want to do that? Would I feel safer after those events if I had a gun? No way - in fact I would feel even more unsafe as it would mean the society in which I live has reached the point where I feel the need to have a firearm for my protection - and when that happens I move a long long way away.

Note - I know that not all Americans have this mindset, and that you don't need a gun for your protection over there, I'm just discussing the mindset that drives people to feel they need to have a gun for their protection.

 

[hokiethang]

I own a gun, but only because I enjoy target shooting. The gun stays locked in it's case up in my closet. Arizona is a "Open Carry" State, which means I can carry it anywhere I want, outside of "Gun Free Zones" (schools, post offices, where-ever all the mass shootings occur), so long as the gun is openly visible. If I wanted to conceal it, I would need to get a permit and pass a few tests. I've lived in Southern California and Arizona all my life and have never even seen a regular person carry a gun in public, let alone threatening or shooting others with it. I definitely feel safe and secure without my sidearm.

My state is also an Open Carry state, and concealed weapons permits are also available (my dad has one). I personally grew up in a family that has owned guns (my grandfather and dad were in the military and enjoyed hunting) so I have grown up around them. My guns are actually locked in a safe about 70 miles from here, which will change when I get a gun safe in my townhouse. I do like having the right to have a gun, but rarely have I felt that my life was in imminent danger (because I stay out of those parts of town). I have seen people carrying guns in public, but only in Texas , definitely not around here.

 

[martineb72]

I personally don't agree that you should be able defend yourself with guns and knives.

I find that view absolutely frightening and devoid of any realistic thinking.

Why?
This country has a fairly low murder rate but people don't walk around with knives and guns. Surely that shows it is not needed.
I have nothing against guns and knives but only in the right place at the right time. Walking down the street is certainly not a good reason to have a gun.
I think it is a vicous circle having guns.
People get guns.
More guns so more gun crime so crime rates go up.
People scared so buy guns for protection.
More guns so more gun crime so crime rates go up..

But that isn't true. In fact the amount of crime in the US is lower than in the UK. True murder rate is higher, but if you stayed out of the really bad parts of town then the murder rate is only fractionly more than in the UK. Because most murders outside of bad parts of towns are domestic violence that happens more often with a blunt object than anything else. Are you suggesting we should ban all blunt objects?

And so on and so on.
Shooting someone who is, for example, robbing your house is no better than lynching. You are removing the judge and jury and making the decision about someone elses life on your own.
To me that is totally wrong and you should be put in prison for killing a burglar.
Just my opinion.

Shooting someone in your home isn't lynching, it is defending yourself. You don't generally have the luxury of waiting around to find out what the intruder plans to do. If they came to kill or rape, it is your right and duty to protect yourself. And don't think it requires an intruder to have a gun to come kill or rape someone, it could be carried out just as easily with a kitchen knife.

Martin

 

[fbc]

And so on and so on.
Shooting someone who is, for example, robbing your house is no better than lynching. You are removing the judge and jury and making the decision about someone elses life on your own.
To me that is totally wrong and you should be put in prison for killing a burglar.
Just my opinion.

Shooting someone in your home isn't lynching, it is defending yourself. You don't generally have the luxury of waiting around to find out what the intruder plans to do. If they came to kill or rape, it is your right and duty to protect yourself. And don't think it requires an intruder to have a gun to come kill or rape someone, it could be carried out just as easily with a kitchen knife.

Martin

Do you honestly believe it's okay to kill someone just because they've broken into your house and may in fact no pose a threat to you at all? You can use reasonable force to defend yourself, shooting someone dead because they've got your VCR in their hands isn't reasonable. If however they're coming at you with a weapon that's a different matter.

You said it yourself:

If they came to kill or rape, it is your right and duty to protect yourself

But...

You don't generally have the luxury of waiting around to find out what the intruder plans to do

So if you don't have the luxury of waiting to find out what their intentions are, what you supposed to do? Shoot them and hope your assumption was correct and that you haven't just shot dead some guy who wanted your tv? And if they were just after your tv, do you believe you should be punished for your actions? I mean after all, the intruder wasn't there to kill or rape, so there goes your "right and duty to protect yourself". And in a blink of an eye, you've ruined two lives.

As for killing someone as easily with a knife or a blunt object - no, it's much much easier and quicker to kill someone with a gun, which is part of the problem. With a gun you have much less of a chance to think about your actions.