2nd Amendment Supporters

That's certainly a valid argument. James Madison stated "the real deterrent to governmental abuse is an armed population". Patrick Henry said "the great object is that every man be armed…..everyone who is able may have a gun". Alexander Hamilton had this to say: "If the representatives of the people betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self-defense, which is paramount to all positive forms of government".

Besides that, once the Soviet Union collapsed and we got access to their files, it was found that the Soviets had explored the possibility of an invasion of the United States mainland. It was dismissed as impossible, with one of the major reasons being the widespread private ownership of firearms.

I'm sure this isn't news to you, but your brother-in-law is crazy.

 

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Interesting post but you lost me with the above. I was in the Army for the years '66 - '68 and didn't see what you describe.

OTOH, the rest of your story rings true. I've worked with immigrants from just about everywhere and have been much impressed with how they see opportunities where we natives imagine obstacles.

 

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A book entitled "On Killing : The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" explains it all.

During WWII, only 10-15 percent of combat soldiers who served in the front lines actually fired their weapons (M1-Garand) at the enemy. In Korean War, the figure rose to 50 percent. In Vietnam, it was 90%.

Over the years, the desensitization technique became, for a lack of better word, "better." For example, years ago recruits learned marksmanship skills by shooting at traditional "bull's eye" target. Army pyschologists determined that it would be easier for soldiers to kill in actual combat if recruits learned to shoot at targets in the shape of a human silhouette. Nowadays, target range at military posts are highly sophisticated. They have “pop-ups” in the shape of a Russian soldier holding an AK-47. (But maybe they should change the shape to a bearded taliban.) The good news is that our soldiers are more efficient killers. I know this is not a politically correct statement. But hey, we win wars by killing the enemy.

The bad news is that the media replicated the military’s desensitization techniques. And it is out of control.. Anyway, parents who allow their children to play violent games (Medal of Honor, Duke Nukem, Rainbow Six, etc..) or watch violent shows are actually contributing to their child’s mental reconditioning. Scary stuff..

 

very interesting thread. I agree with all the pro-gun posters but still think their reasoning is not getting to the essence of the problem. If you read John Locke and theories of "natural rights", which are what was called "inalienable rights" by the founding fathers, they are rights that we have just for existing. Now whether you believe in Natural Right or a Benthemite Utilitarian it all comes down to property rights and the highest of those is the right to self-preservation, which is nothing more than the right to defend one's self from violence (this could be with your hands, a club, an egg beater, a knife, a gun, or a nuke). If EACH individual does not have the right to defend ourself from violence there would be no society because no one would want to be around another for fear of violence from which they could not retaliate or fend off.

On the absurd side in prehistoric days were there anti-club laws? in the middle ages were there anti-sword and bow and arrow laws? in the future will there be anti-laser laws, and after that anti-violent telepathy laws?

A gun is nothing different that any other weapon. the bullet is a projectile powered by gun powder, a fist is a projectile powered by muscle, a club is a projectile powered by musche, a knife is a projectile powered by muscle, an arrow is a projective powered by a bow, a laser is a projectile powered by some energy source.

So to get rid of guns would stop nothing, people would go to other forms of violence...knives, clubs, baseball bats, rope for strangling, teeth for biting, hands for punching and strangling, and last but not least...the human minds for getting other people to do our violence for them....(this is what we often do with governments...no?)

 

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Yeah, we were given the same or similar figures early in our training. I mulled that over and reaized it was easy to hide in the large-scale engagements of WWII and progressively more difficult to avoid combat in successive wars of small unit/squad unit battle.