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Guns do not save or secure lives (ETSU student for gun control)
East Tennessean ^ | 3/26/2007 | Darren Seiber

Posted on 03/27/2007 5:59:29 PM PDT by Libertarianchick

Edited on 03/27/2007 6:32:00 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

It is often said that everything's bigger in Texas - and without the assistance of Academy Award worthy films such as "Debbie Does Dallas" - some may believe this saying to be nothing more than a myth. But for the Texans who don't quite measure up … there is always another way to compensate: own a gun. Because we all know how Texans love their guns, right?

However, the truth of the matter is, that Texas gun laws are no less lax than that of other states. It seems to be a love, hunger, thirst and desire for guns that has swept throughout the entire country - and with fatal results. An epidemic of intended crime prevention has proven to host a whole new genre of crime; one that's faster, easier and comes with a load of alibis. Now, now, a good American can never pass up a bargain.

Maybe that explains why 1,000 people die every day due to guns. Anti-gun control supporters will immediately attack that statement to say, and I only quote the ignorant, to not believe it, "Guns don't kill people. People kill people!" My, with such a mind set, every gun supporter should have a degree in philosophy. Maybe then they could articulate in such a way that the blame game just might work.

Sure, we can continue to blame guns for homicides, suicides, war deaths and freak accidents for as long as we like. But when other nations, such as Canada, reform gun laws only to see a 46 percent decrease in gun-related deaths, America might want to check its facts again. Not that our ego would ever allow any real admittance of having been in the wrong.

We are wrong because guns are wrong. They are deadly, unethical creations that do not save or secure any number of lives that could build a reliable statistic. Instead, there are mountains of statistics telling us otherwise.

Take, for instance, this statistic: for women, having a gun in the house increases the chances of being murdered by 172 percent. If that's not good enough, chew on this for a while: one study showed that people who attempt to use a gun in self-defense are four times as likely to die. Having a gun in the home does not make you safer. It is not an imaginary insurance policy.

I'm not sure any statistic could change the mind of someone set on owning a gun. No matter what is said in favor of gun control, it would seem that the Second Amendment has blinded us for too long. I suppose that 300 years ago, on the frontier, out in the West, and in the Appalachian Mountains, guns were necessary. Today, in 2007, with very few buffalo to eat, bears to fight or Native Americans left to slaughter … they seem a bit useless.

But never fear! Testosterone is here. He's the one behind it all, it would seem. America is fueled by the same male dominance that sees that laws regarding gun control are relaxed, if at all existent. No, there aren't any saloons full of dirty cowboys with spurs and iron belt buckles but the essence of masculinity still makes it smell like the Old West.

Of gun-related homicides, 90 percent occur amongst men. Every 30 hours in South Africa, a woman is shot to death by her partner. It's not hard to understand that if men make up the majority of gun owners, which they do, and men are far more impulsive and badly tempered than females, then deaths associated with guns is likely to be very evident. It's much easier to end an argument, unhappy life, child's crying, spousal cheating or a robbery with a simple click.

It's very rare that I insist that the government intervene in the lives of its citizens but in America, the leader of gun fatalities, something should have been done long ago. Our ambition, ego and greed have brought us this far. Undoubtedly, it will carry us to the end.

This paper will circulate for three short days. Each day, more people will die because of guns. By the time the next issue arrives, anywhere from three to four thousand more people will be dead. Not from heart attack, cancer or AIDS but from something that can be stopped but is instead ignored.

And for what reason? So that gun owners can feel more secure knowing that their families are safe, they may still enjoy the pointless sport of killing wild animals and their power is ensured.

The ultimate irony of this entire situation is that the United States currently tops the charts with $533 million made per year on gun exports, and the very people we go to war with are one in the same as those we helped arm in the first place.

Our stubborn ways will guide us in our growth. Yet, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. And when the time comes for that fall and America takes a bullet to the back of the skull, we'll wish that we had the luxury of a good old fashioned stabbing in the back. At least then we might have seen it coming.

All statistical information used in this article can be found at http://www.iansa.org.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: banglist; clueless; college; giuliani; guncontrol; guns; liberalassclwn; libtard; shortbus; tennessee
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To: Libertarianchick
I knew there seemed to be a bunch of good kids up there, when I was doing some work on campus a few years ago. I am glad to seem you survived the NASCAR invasion last week, I was through there on my way to Erwin Thursday and they were already arriving
61 posted on 03/27/2007 6:43:41 PM PDT by sticker
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To: Billthedrill
The author is young, arrogant, misinformed and rather stupid. He will get older.

And if he is liberal, he will get more stupid.

62 posted on 03/27/2007 6:44:16 PM PDT by South40 (Amnesty for ILLEGALS Is A Slap In The Face To The USBP!!)
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To: Libertarianchick


...that's nice, now if you look at the Constitution it says people have a right to own a gun - have a nice day.


63 posted on 03/27/2007 6:45:11 PM PDT by Tzimisce (How Would Mohammed Vote? Hillary for President! www.dndorks.com)
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To: Libertarianchick
Hey Darren? When you are alone and someone is breaking into your home, or when you are in danger and need to protect yourself and your family, when some crazed fool is intent on hurting or even killing you or a loved one or simply a stranger and you are there, and you have a weapon, you will be glad that you did...but if you don't?

Why don't you try reading your little essay to the soon-to-be killer and tell them how guns are bad. I know what you're thinking, that'll never happen to me, right?

Okay, then how about telling the scared woman who is hearing the crazed, jealous ex, intent on killing her and her child that she doesn't need that gun she's holding, that the restraining order will protect her and keep him from beating her to death.

Darren, you are naive and your ignorance is almost as dangerous as the murdering sob's who respect the sound of a pump shot gun or semi-automatic pistol chambering a round. You see, guns do kill people. They are often used by law abiding citizens to kill the evil, murdering bastard who deserves to be shot dead while committing a violent act. Seriously, sometimes it is kill or be killed.

64 posted on 03/27/2007 6:47:22 PM PDT by GBA (God Bless America!)
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To: Libertarianchick

"We are wrong because guns are wrong. They are deadly, unethical creations that do not save or secure any number of lives that could build a reliable statistic. Instead, there are mountains of statistics telling us otherwise."

Are pillows unethical? How about football? Or maybe doctors?

They all kill people too.


65 posted on 03/27/2007 6:49:14 PM PDT by driftdiver
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To: Libertarianchick

Darren, you are obviously the product of a liberal household where guns were hated and feared objects. Here is a clue, if you don't like them, don't own any and leave the rest of us alone. But of course, in your fevered little brain full of liberal mush, that isn't enough. Cowards like you seek to control that which they fear through laws and armed thugs.

I'll bet is just sent you into a frothing tizzy when the Dc Appeals Court correctly ruled that the 2nd Amendment is a PERSONAL RIGHT and exists outside of the Constitution. TOO BAD!

Also, one of the most anti gun presidents we have ver had convened a committee to study firearms usage and obstensibly come up with good, jusicy anti-gun data. However, after months of exhaustive searching, they found that guns are used DEFENSIVELY between 750,000 and 2.5 MILLION times each year just in the US. What was that I just heard? Oh, it was your infantile claim that "guns do not save or secure lives". here is another stat, unarmed women are 25 times more likely to be raped than armed women. Here is anther, the elderly without guns are more likely to be badly injured in a home invasion robbery than armed elderly.

I'll bet you cheered when the mayor of New Orleans ILLEGALLY and UNCONSTITUTIONALLY confiscated firearms form LAW ABIDING people. How in hell did that "reduce crime"? All it did was guarantee that the armed looters would have no opposition as they looted and destroyed.

Grow up, dummy. No matter how you might wish it, you cannot un-invent guns and making up "gun control" laws that do nothing to deter crime.

It is not about guns. It is about control and an armed man is a hell of a lot harder to herd into the cattle cars for the gas chambers than an unarmed man.


66 posted on 03/27/2007 6:49:21 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: Libertarianchick

I would like to see some facts to back up some assertions made in this article. 1000 people shot to death every day?!? That is a steaming load.


67 posted on 03/27/2007 6:50:09 PM PDT by EricT. (I will support and defend the Constitution ...against all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC)
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To: Centurion2000

I think the not so smart author was using some UN figure for the whole world for "that" number. Unless he's really out of touch.IMHO he is any way!


68 posted on 03/27/2007 6:50:45 PM PDT by gbs
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To: basil
Formatting is your friend.

It's not worth formatting. Leave it as it is and save people from reading it.

69 posted on 03/27/2007 6:53:42 PM PDT by Gorzaloon (Global Warming: A New Kind Of Scientology for the Rest Of Us.)
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To: Libertarianchick
Absolutely not! This kid is very much an abberation, which makes this article puzzling. Our school has a great Marksmanship club and range, and is adding an advanced marksmanship class. Our next school paper should be filled with letters denouncing this. The controversy is already buzzing. I just thought FR would like a laugh as well.

After the public ridicule and multiple ass-whippin's he's about to get, he's gonna wish he had a gun.

70 posted on 03/27/2007 6:57:54 PM PDT by EricT. (I will support and defend the Constitution ...against all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC)
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To: texson66
Never trust any government that says that Gun Control is for the public safety...

Fixed it. Governments don't do anything for your benefit.

71 posted on 03/27/2007 7:01:08 PM PDT by magslinger (Submission? That's a bit of a problem!)
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To: NY Attitude

He'd have a great future in journalism, if there was any future in the dinosaur media.


72 posted on 03/27/2007 7:05:20 PM PDT by magslinger (Submission? That's a bit of a problem!)
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To: GBA

To back up your point, GBA.............

The bottom line is that you cannot control the actions of unstable people. Our prisons are a testimony to that fact. They still kill/maim with weapons that are "banned" in the institution.

I've lived by the gun my entire life. It's always present and prayed for not to ever use. I've drawn down on someone twice in my life. Both times were to stop breakins from druggies. I feel that I did what I had to do to protect my family.

Yelling at them to stop and threats of calling the police did nothing to stop one of them. When he saw the handgun it changed his mind and he froze solid. He stayed like that until the police showed up minutes later. Without a weapon the dynamics of the situation could have been much more dangerous. I thanked the Lord for the resolve to use deadly force if needed but the providence to not have to resort to it.

Oh, call me crazy since I'm both a Texan and an American Soldier. Guns rule! ;-)


73 posted on 03/27/2007 7:06:42 PM PDT by veeceeque (Proudly fighting for the greatest nation on Earth! God Bless the USA.)
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To: magslinger

Must be the "Better living through chemistry" classes that he obviously attends. Where pretty colors fill and float around the room in modulated beauty.


74 posted on 03/27/2007 7:08:33 PM PDT by NY Attitude (You are responsible for your safety until the arrival of Law Enforcement Officers!)
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To: Billthedrill
The author is young, arrogant, misinformed and rather stupid. He will get older.

That's tagline material!

75 posted on 03/27/2007 7:12:47 PM PDT by jdm
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To: Libertarianchick
Liberals are afraid of guns. That's funny coming from the folks who promote the Culture Of Death. Just don't expect them to take a consistent Respect-For-Life Ethic.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

76 posted on 03/27/2007 7:13:26 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Libertarianchick

ETSU. A friend of mine was once teaching there as an adjunct professor - he told me that his students were so dense that they were even bending the light rays in their vicinity.


77 posted on 03/27/2007 7:14:39 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: Dr.Deth
His picture is titled "Don't Panic".

I assume that is a literary reference to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams. For decades this has been a Campus hit. Mr. Adams gave use terms like "babble fish". Young liberal snobs delight in reading ONLY British SF, yet they won't read James Hogan or A.C. Clark, let alone any American Author or Ayn Rand.

This kid is just another Campus Elitist {read as "Know Nothing"}.
78 posted on 03/27/2007 7:16:37 PM PDT by PizzaDriver (an heinleinian/libertarian)
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Comment #79 Removed by Moderator

To: Libertarianchick
Pretty normal for the replies intended for the author fo this ill-informed and mindless screed to be addressed to you as the poster.

Relax. We know your views. Do not take replies to the author personally.

The author of the diatribe, on the other hand, is a mindless idiot comparing South African domestic violence to the USA in general. Just another hoplophobe. Otherwise known on a predator hunt as 'bait'.

80 posted on 03/27/2007 7:18:47 PM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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