Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Do Firearms Still Have a Place in American Society?
umkc.edu ^ | 10/25/2016 | Gilbert Randolph

Posted on 10/31/2016 7:08:21 AM PDT by rktman

Guns are an important part of American history, both from a legal and illegal standpoint. From the single action revolvers of the old West to mobsters with Thompson submachine guns, American culture and society have enshrined firearms into our national iconography. They are inherently complicated things, created with the latent potential to protect or to destroy. Beyond our national discussion of gun legislation, the possession of deadly weapons by regular citizens remains a more contested issue.

The far right and the far left are exaggerating and arbitrarily simplifying what is an extremely nuanced and philosophical question. I hope to reframe our current political discourse and put it into the historical, even global context of human violence. Instead of looking at statistics, which Mark Twain termed “damn lies,” we would do well to hypothesize for a moment. What place do firearms have in American society?

(Excerpt) Read more at info.umkc.edu ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2a; banglist; guncontrol; kansascity; liberalagenda; umkc; universityofmissouri
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last
To: Redwood71

It is done successfully on military bases and posts.
= = =

Remember Fort Hood


41 posted on 10/31/2016 7:40:06 AM PDT by Scrambler Bob ( LOTS of /s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: rktman

If all private gun ownership had been banned, say after Columbine, anybody care to guess how bad things would be for us, right now?

Armed citizens are the “line in the sand” that government dares not cross.

Freedom’s safest place, as the NRA ads put it.


42 posted on 10/31/2016 7:42:00 AM PDT by DNME (This is the tyranny that the Founders warned us about.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Pretty much more than ever


43 posted on 10/31/2016 7:44:40 AM PDT by clamper1797 (We are getting close to the last "box")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: heterosupremacist
Speaking of .357 revolvers, this is a must have. Taurus 608 8 round stainless. Beautifully built gun with the kick of a .22 due to it's superb venting. Very accurate. I own it and love it!


44 posted on 10/31/2016 7:50:57 AM PDT by Right Brother
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: BookmanTheJanitor
Now, more than ever.

Interestingly enough...that was Richard Nixon's campaign slogan.

45 posted on 10/31/2016 7:51:28 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Don't question faith. Don't answer lies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: rktman

This touches on a God-given right as enshrined in the Bill of Rights by The Founders.

In other words, it’s nobody’s f***ing business except the human being who posseses them.

“Writers,” bureaucrats, “officials,” professional scholars, government hacks, and others of that ilk, can keep their GD opinions to themselves.


46 posted on 10/31/2016 7:53:29 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

47 posted on 10/31/2016 7:54:57 AM PDT by Malone LaVeigh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

The implication of this question is that when government decides rights are no longer valid (or have no “place”), those rights can be denied. And the fallacy is that those rights originate from government. But the Declaration is clear: our rights derive from a divine Creator, and are ours by birthright.

So the discussion of whether guns have a “place” is irrelevant. We have the right to keep and bear arms regardless of whether they prove “useful” or “modern.” There is not — and cannot be — any utilitarian test applied.


48 posted on 10/31/2016 8:00:49 AM PDT by IronJack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: knighthawk
As long as there is a government that we cannot trust, yes!

But no human government can be trusted.

49 posted on 10/31/2016 8:01:58 AM PDT by NorthMountain (Hillary Clinton: Such a nasty woman ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rktman

I agree completely that guns have no place in America - in the hand of a Democrat.

None of the gangbangers who are killing each other and innocent bystanders in Chicago, for instance, have ever voted Republican - if they vote at all.


50 posted on 10/31/2016 8:08:28 AM PDT by angryoldfatman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Nothing freakin’ “Global” about it. Take your OWG garbage elsewhere.


51 posted on 10/31/2016 8:10:25 AM PDT by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion. 01-20-2017; I pray we make it that long.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Yes.

Next question.


52 posted on 10/31/2016 8:14:09 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ancient Man
As long as there are criminals who would steal my property and take my life for no reason whatsoever,


53 posted on 10/31/2016 8:37:39 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Break into my house and find out!


54 posted on 10/31/2016 8:39:01 AM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves. Socialism is governmental theft!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

Amen...and amen...


55 posted on 10/31/2016 8:55:58 AM PDT by elteemike (Light travels faster than sound...That's why so many people appear bright until you hear them speak)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: rktman

Anybody who misquotes Twain so baldly is a mis-educated fardel whose writings will be nearly incoherent.


56 posted on 10/31/2016 9:02:32 AM PDT by Valpal1 (If the police can t solve a problem with violence, they ll find a way to fix it with brute force)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

As long as there are bad guys out there that could hurt me or my family then the answer is yes.


57 posted on 10/31/2016 9:03:49 AM PDT by ops33
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

STUPID question. (no need to read article)

Now more than ever!

The second amendment wasn’t to guarantee your “hunting rights” it was to guarantee your ability to OVERTHROW a tyrannical federal government.

When, I ask you, has our federal government been closer to needing overthrowing?


58 posted on 10/31/2016 9:06:50 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

STUPID question. (no need to read article)

Now more than ever!

The second amendment wasn’t to guarantee your “hunting rights” it was to guarantee your ability to OVERTHROW a tyrannical federal government.

When, I ask you, has our federal government been closer to needing overthrowing?


59 posted on 10/31/2016 9:06:50 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts ,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rktman

That question says yes!


60 posted on 10/31/2016 9:19:46 AM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson