should gays arm them selves (US)

[TommyinKY]

Granted statistics can be used to support any argument I'm willing to admit that. Digging up any information on the increase in the number of firearms in possessed in DC over the period may be harder to do since we don't keep lists of owners except in the case of Concealed Weapons Permits.

I'm also willing to concede that not everyone going to like guns or want to be armed that's a personal choice. What works for you may not work for me and your mileage may vary. What I ask is don't be so quick to judge all of us gun owners by the actions of criminals.

Many gun owners are quick to defend their right to own one for the simple reason that they feel that it deprives them of the ability to protect their lives. I know I do. Because to me my freedom and life are sacred to me. I won't lose them to someone because someone else hates who I am.

[dfiant]

Granted statistics can be used to support any argument I'm willing to admit that. Digging up any information on the increase in the number of firearms in possessed in DC over the period may be harder to do since we don't keep lists of owners except in the case of Concealed Weapons Permits.

I'm also willing to concede that not everyone going to like guns or want to be armed that's a personal choice. What works for you may not work for me and your mileage may vary. What I ask is don't be so quick to judge all of us gun owners by the actions of criminals.

Many gun owners are quick to defend their right to own one for the simple reason that they feel that it deprives them of the ability to protect their lives. I know I do. Because to me my freedom and life are sacred to me. I won't lose them to someone because someone else hates who I am.

You are getting too defensive, no one is aying that honest and law abiding citizen should be deprived of their legal rights.

What is being said is that LAX laws are, not could be, ARE abused, and in the eyes of the world the USA has some of the most lax gun laws in the developed world, and that there is the problem that (pardon the pun) is putting us ALL in the firing line.

[TommyinKY]

Sorry if I seem to be getting defensive. That wasn't my intent. I will admit it is hard to not sound that way when it is so personal an issue to me. Please rest assured I don't put venom into my words or any anger. Maybe my explanations and methods are a bit lacking but I will have to stand by them now that I've said them.

[dfiant]

Another point that is trying to be made is there should be no need to own a gun, but the culture around owning guns has created the desire to own a gun for self defense.

[TommyinKY]

As others have said. That is not going to happen in America and in many other parts of the world. In the end those who want to do harm and use firearms for that purpose will eventually get them. Very much like drugs, alcohol, and sex. Illegality will not make it go away it could make it harder but they would still be there. If they can't get them they will still want them but will make due with what they can get and be just as irresponsible with what they get, as with what they desire to have.

The best hope to curve violence isn't to eliminate guns but to solve the mystery of violence itself. If you can do that then the guns may go away themselves or what I believe is best people using them just for sport and recreational shooting rather than violence.

[dfiant]

Laws make nothing go away, lack of opportunity makes something go away

[TommyinKY]

Lack of opportunity only shift the method. People find ways around everything.

[Blue]

Just because some gun owners are conservative hate mongers doesn't mean you should paint all gun owners as conservative hate mongers.

I don't...but I do know that alot of the ones who aren't hateful have no problem supporting the ones who are.

Personally I have more respect for the hateul ones. At least you know where they stand. The worst for me is when gay people vote for people they KNOW are going to discriminate against gay people and even worse than that...make excuses for them.

There you are right, and I know I'm going to get flamed big time here but I am a lifetime NRA member. While I am not conservative and do not in any way agree with the NRA's stance on gays and gay rights I Do feel they are the best supporters of US gun rights, and I feel strongly enough about that part of what they do to support and be a member of the NRA solely for their support of American gun rights.

I'm not the only LGBT NRA member, and yes I do send them letters informing them of my displeasure every time they fly their anti gay side but, in this country you don't get a lot of support and don't have the political clout needed to make a real difference if you are conservative on one issue and liberal on another.

If there was enough support for it, I'd love to see an official LGBT branch of the NRA, but that isn't happening in this country.

[East]

There you are right, and I know I'm going to get flamed big time here but I am a lifetime NRA member. While I am not conservative and do not in any way agree with the NRA's stance on gays and gay rights I Do feel they are the best supporters of US gun rights, and I feel strongly enough about that part of what they do to support and be a member of the NRA solely for their support of American gun rights.

I'm not the only LGBT NRA member, and yes I do send them letters informing them of my displeasure every time they fly their anti gay side but, in this country you don't get a lot of support and don't have the political clout needed to make a real difference if you are conservative on one issue and liberal on another.

If there was enough support for it, I'd love to see an official LGBT branch of the NRA, but that isn't happening in this country.

I am not going to flame you because you are honest about it...I dislike people saying that they aren't anti gay when clearly the ORGANIZATION is anti gay. For me..the gun "culture" is more of a problem than the actual guns. IF I chose to have a gun it would be to protect myself from them!

Seriously...in my own district the guy running for Congressmen made a "joke" about killing enough liberals in his district so he could get elected. The worst part were the people who supported him and made their comments about shooting liberals for fun.....not a few...lots of them...(thousands on one page)

I am glad you protest...that is worthy of respect.

[Buffylo]

I support most of what the NRA stands for... but a few of their specific stances (their LGBT opinion being one of them) and the fact they are nothing more than a political machine anymore prevents them from getting my support.