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  3. Do you believe that the people should be able to have guns to protect themselves, or should the police have the sole authority to own and posess guns to protect the people?

Do you believe that the people should be able to have guns to protect themselves, or should the police have the sole authority to own and posess guns to protect the people?

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asklemmy
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  • D [email protected]

    (As a general concept of how a society should run, not intended as a US-specific question.)

    I sometimes see people on the internet saying that giving people easy access to guns is too risky and there should be stricter gun control, while simultaneously wanting to abolish the police? I'm just confused on what people really want?

    You cant both abolish the police and then also disarm the citizens, gotta pick one. So which is it, internet? Self-policing with guns? Or reform the police?

    [Please state what country you're in]

    ::: spoiler ---
    (Also its funny how the far-right of the US is both pro-gun and pro-police, I'm confused by that as well)
    :::

    Z This user is from outside of this forum
    Z This user is from outside of this forum
    [email protected]
    wrote last edited by
    #69

    Neither this nor that. Your options are too simplistic.

    Of course, police needs guns.

    Some civilians need guns, too. But not many. They should be able to get them, but they have to prove their need. It needs rules set up in advance to define what kind of needs qualify for getting guns. And then it needs laws against gun abuse.

    In addition, soldiers need guns. They even need weapons that are much stronger. So there must be boundaries between several kinds of weapons, and normal people cannot get all kinds. And there must be boundaries between what police can do and what soldiers can do. For example, soldiers must never go against civilians, and nobody has the right to order them so, and they can never get punished for denying such an order.

    L 1 Reply Last reply
    2
    • R [email protected]

      Civilians shouldn't be allowed to keep ranged weapons, period.

      So my bow should be illegal? What about a slingshot?

      viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
      viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote last edited by
      #70

      Bows/crossbows should be restricted to use in special clubs, just like guns or rifles, where they are stored on premise.

      Restricting slingshots would be hard to enforce, but I'd say carrying them in public should be just as illegal as carrying guns.

      Tbh I've never seen a use case that requires ownership of a slingshot, other than maybe feeding fishes in preparation of a long cast.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • deegeese@sopuli.xyzD [email protected]

        Guns should be available, but hard to get, and hard to keep.

        Z This user is from outside of this forum
        Z This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote last edited by
        #71

        available, but hard to get

        Then only the rich can have guns.

        No sure if that's what you had in mind?

        ultragigagigantic@lemmy.mlU sortekanin@feddit.dkS 2 Replies Last reply
        5
        • spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS [email protected]

          What about hunting?

          viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
          viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote last edited by
          #72

          Should be reserved to professional hunters/game keepers, who would be entitled to rifle ownership as part of their job description, just like police forces or the military.

          Privateers should not kill animals for sport.

          spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • B [email protected]

            I'm going throw something out there. Should people who own firearms be required to have some kind of insurance (like car or home owners) on case of accidents or theft? Also I'm in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

            Z This user is from outside of this forum
            Z This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote last edited by
            #73

            Should people who own firearms be required to have some kind of insurance

            Yes, if you

            1. allow poor people to have them, or

            2. if you allow stupid people to have them, or

            3. if you allow people who sometimes make mistakes to have them

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • viking@infosec.pubV [email protected]

              Should be reserved to professional hunters/game keepers, who would be entitled to rifle ownership as part of their job description, just like police forces or the military.

              Privateers should not kill animals for sport.

              spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS This user is from outside of this forum
              spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote last edited by [email protected]
              #74

              Most hunters in the US are shooting game to eat, ehoch is necessary since we killed off most of the predators that would otherwise keep the deer populations in check. Limiting it to only professionals would result in a lot of wasted kills.

              We have hunting licenses for a reason.

              viking@infosec.pubV 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS [email protected]

                Most hunters in the US are shooting game to eat, ehoch is necessary since we killed off most of the predators that would otherwise keep the deer populations in check. Limiting it to only professionals would result in a lot of wasted kills.

                We have hunting licenses for a reason.

                viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
                viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
                [email protected]
                wrote last edited by
                #75

                Doesn't mean I have to agree with the practice.

                spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Z [email protected]

                  Neither this nor that. Your options are too simplistic.

                  Of course, police needs guns.

                  Some civilians need guns, too. But not many. They should be able to get them, but they have to prove their need. It needs rules set up in advance to define what kind of needs qualify for getting guns. And then it needs laws against gun abuse.

                  In addition, soldiers need guns. They even need weapons that are much stronger. So there must be boundaries between several kinds of weapons, and normal people cannot get all kinds. And there must be boundaries between what police can do and what soldiers can do. For example, soldiers must never go against civilians, and nobody has the right to order them so, and they can never get punished for denying such an order.

                  L This user is from outside of this forum
                  L This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote last edited by
                  #76

                  but they have to prove their need

                  No. They should have to prove their competency. Need is too easy to dispute. We dont get to dictate why someone needs a gun any more than why they need a car. If they want one, have the means, and demonstrate compliance with safety guidelines, then they shouldn't be denied. Canada handles this fairly well.

                  School shootings demonstrate why some people should absolutely be denied access to guns.

                  The current US political situation demonstrates why more people should arm themselves.

                  C Z 2 Replies Last reply
                  3
                  • L [email protected]

                    but they have to prove their need

                    No. They should have to prove their competency. Need is too easy to dispute. We dont get to dictate why someone needs a gun any more than why they need a car. If they want one, have the means, and demonstrate compliance with safety guidelines, then they shouldn't be denied. Canada handles this fairly well.

                    School shootings demonstrate why some people should absolutely be denied access to guns.

                    The current US political situation demonstrates why more people should arm themselves.

                    C This user is from outside of this forum
                    C This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote last edited by
                    #77

                    Need is too easy to dispute.

                    Because it needs to be disputed. You want a gun, you make a case for it.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    3
                    • D [email protected]

                      (As a general concept of how a society should run, not intended as a US-specific question.)

                      I sometimes see people on the internet saying that giving people easy access to guns is too risky and there should be stricter gun control, while simultaneously wanting to abolish the police? I'm just confused on what people really want?

                      You cant both abolish the police and then also disarm the citizens, gotta pick one. So which is it, internet? Self-policing with guns? Or reform the police?

                      [Please state what country you're in]

                      ::: spoiler ---
                      (Also its funny how the far-right of the US is both pro-gun and pro-police, I'm confused by that as well)
                      :::

                      C This user is from outside of this forum
                      C This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote last edited by
                      #78

                      Former infantry. You fucking cosplayers are a danger to yourself and others.

                      Um, I mean, you should be able to get hand grenades. One each. And go camping with whiskey.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      10
                      • L [email protected]

                        but they have to prove their need

                        No. They should have to prove their competency. Need is too easy to dispute. We dont get to dictate why someone needs a gun any more than why they need a car. If they want one, have the means, and demonstrate compliance with safety guidelines, then they shouldn't be denied. Canada handles this fairly well.

                        School shootings demonstrate why some people should absolutely be denied access to guns.

                        The current US political situation demonstrates why more people should arm themselves.

                        Z This user is from outside of this forum
                        Z This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote last edited by
                        #79

                        prove their competency.

                        That's a good thing, but comes after the need.

                        current US political situation demonstrates why more people should arm themselves.

                        If it's about bringing down a bad government, it can be done with pitchforks as well.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • B [email protected]

                          Exactly. A gun is not a car; it has no other purpose other than to kill. The “tool” argument is disingenuous at best.

                          A This user is from outside of this forum
                          A This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote last edited by
                          #80

                          Tbf, a hammer is also a tool with only one use, sometimes a job needs a specific tool. "Killing" just so happens to include self defense, if you happen to need to defend yourself it helps to have the best tool for the job instead of hammering a nail with your wrench.

                          B 1 Reply Last reply
                          2
                          • D [email protected]

                            (As a general concept of how a society should run, not intended as a US-specific question.)

                            I sometimes see people on the internet saying that giving people easy access to guns is too risky and there should be stricter gun control, while simultaneously wanting to abolish the police? I'm just confused on what people really want?

                            You cant both abolish the police and then also disarm the citizens, gotta pick one. So which is it, internet? Self-policing with guns? Or reform the police?

                            [Please state what country you're in]

                            ::: spoiler ---
                            (Also its funny how the far-right of the US is both pro-gun and pro-police, I'm confused by that as well)
                            :::

                            B This user is from outside of this forum
                            B This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote last edited by
                            #81

                            Americans tend to forget that very few countries have outright banned guns. What we have is gun control, which means that you have to qualify for owning a gun, but as soon as you do that, you can own a gun.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            28
                            • C [email protected]

                              In some European countries, most police are unarmed. It seems to work okay. Here in Canada, they all carry guns, but it's serious paperwork if they ever have to unholster it.

                              B This user is from outside of this forum
                              B This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote last edited by
                              #82

                              Those "some European countries" would be UK and Ireland for historical reasons. It is not really a widespread thing anywhere else.

                              L C 2 Replies Last reply
                              1
                              • viking@infosec.pubV [email protected]

                                I'm strictly anti-gun, as I believe are most Europeans. Civilians shouldn't be allowed to keep ranged weapons, period.

                                B This user is from outside of this forum
                                B This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote last edited by
                                #83

                                But it is legal to do that in all European countries though. You just need to qualify for a license. And that process seems to mostly do the job, especially compared to the US.

                                viking@infosec.pubV 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • D [email protected]

                                  I mean... in Non-North-American Western Countries, that's already a thing, right?

                                  Edit:

                                  Australia + Many countries in Europe requires permits and that requires a "good reason". From what I heard, the police is usally much less shitty than the US counterpart.

                                  char_stats@discuss.tchncs.deC This user is from outside of this forum
                                  char_stats@discuss.tchncs.deC This user is from outside of this forum
                                  [email protected]
                                  wrote last edited by [email protected]
                                  #84

                                  I might be wrong, but I believe ONE OF the reasons why American police is so shitty is because every citizen might be—and often is—carrying a gun. This causes stress in the police force, higher chances of casualties among them as compared to other countries, so it builds feelings of fear and "acting first, asking later" in most situations.

                                  Sure, many of them are also power-tripping assholes on top of that.

                                  spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS C 2 Replies Last reply
                                  3
                                  • D [email protected]

                                    (As a general concept of how a society should run, not intended as a US-specific question.)

                                    I sometimes see people on the internet saying that giving people easy access to guns is too risky and there should be stricter gun control, while simultaneously wanting to abolish the police? I'm just confused on what people really want?

                                    You cant both abolish the police and then also disarm the citizens, gotta pick one. So which is it, internet? Self-policing with guns? Or reform the police?

                                    [Please state what country you're in]

                                    ::: spoiler ---
                                    (Also its funny how the far-right of the US is both pro-gun and pro-police, I'm confused by that as well)
                                    :::

                                    R This user is from outside of this forum
                                    R This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #85

                                    Hell no, as few people as possible should have guns. Regular police don't even need them.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    30
                                    • spankmonkey@lemmy.worldS [email protected]

                                      What about hunting?

                                      T This user is from outside of this forum
                                      T This user is from outside of this forum
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                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #86

                                      Hunting should be banned.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • M [email protected]

                                        but they're the only thing that equalizes everyone when force comes into play.

                                        This is fucking idiotic.

                                        Are you not aware that the government has bigger, better, and more autonomous guns than you do?

                                        S This user is from outside of this forum
                                        S This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #87

                                        Tell that to the people of Vietnam/Iraq/Afghanistan...those bigger guns cannot patrol a street corner. Occupation requires soldiers.

                                        You know how you change the people who support you into rebels? Bomb the house right next to theirs and kill a few of them as well as the rebels.

                                        M 1 Reply Last reply
                                        2
                                        • B [email protected]

                                          But it is legal to do that in all European countries though. You just need to qualify for a license. And that process seems to mostly do the job, especially compared to the US.

                                          viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
                                          viking@infosec.pubV This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote last edited by [email protected]
                                          #88

                                          Yeah I still don't approve of it, that was the question. I'm all for stricter gun laws worldwide. The US obviously need to catch up most urgently, but that doesn't mean I have to like the status quo elsewhere.

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