Gun Control

[Cane Pole]

That is incorrect in a couple of ways. Automobile accidents do kill more Americans every year than guns do, but the drunk drivers do not. Actually deaths due to drunk driving have decreased by over 50% since the early 80's. There were actually more gun homocides in 2010 than fatalities due to drunk driving with homocide only being about 1/3 of all gun deaths..

Drunk Driving Fatalities - National Statistics | Century Council
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence

We have made dramatic progress in reducing total deaths due to drunk driving, not just on a statistical level, as a nation, although though not enough.

We have another problem in that statistics about gun deaths are all over the place depending on who is publishing them.

These are a good place to start (and about as likely to be objective as any):
FASTSTATS - Injuries
FASTSTATS - Homicide

This is a good background cite:
FBI — Uniform Crime Reports

One thing that stands out is that adolescents and young adults both commit most of the gun crimes and are the most common victims. They have been responsible for most all of the mass shootings as well. Perhaps that is where we need to start, sorta like managing the age for legal drinking.

Here are the real murderers. Close to a million per year. CDC report. Somewhat ok. Coat hangers responsible for more mass murders than guns.
Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2009


Murder Chart

How many abortions are performed at each stage of pregnancy?

The following table lists both the percentage of abortions performed during various stages of pregnancy, along with the total yearly abortions at each stage, based on a total of 1.2 million abortions per year.

Gestational Age	Percentage	Yearly Total
Less than 9 weeks	61.8%	749,232
9-10 weeks	17.1%	207,312
11-12 weeks	9.1%	110,324
13-15 weeks	6.6%	80,015
16-20 weeks	3.8%	46,069
21+ weeks	1.5%	18,185

Source: Guttmacher Institute, 2011, August. Facts on Induced Abortion in the United States. [PDF]




Definition of HOMICIDE

1
: a person who kills another

2
: a killing of one human being by another


"By all the criteria of modern molecular biology, life is present from the moment of conception." Dr. Hymie Gordon, Chairman, Department of Genetics at the Mayo Clinic

[Crappie 1]

Then I want a nuclear weapon or biological weapons, but only for "self defense". Tell me WHY I SHOULDN`T be allowed to own them, especially if i live next door to you. If there is NO logical "upper limit' as to YOUR potential fire power then there should be NONE on me either. And I WANT more firepower than you...but ONLY so I feel "safer" than you...bad enough the world`s nations are having arms races, but I guess we can bring it down to a NEIGHBORHOOD level.

Lot of difference having a gun for self protection or home protection or self defense. How did you go from armed citizen to nuclear weapons?

[Cane Pole]

I got a tater gun and a water balloon gun. Tater gun will put a hurt on you. No Nukes yet.

[HLLeonard]

Lot of difference having a gun for self protection or home protection or self defense. How did you go from armed citizen to nuclear weapons?

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Haven't read anything about why folks like to keep guns but I doubt protecting ones self from another person who wishes to do him harm is the major reason we keep firearms, I would suspect the number one reason is we simply like them, that seems to me the only reason anybody would have an assault weapon or a nuke, I personally don't see the reason why anybody would have a use for either.

[fishingpox]

I think one needs to read on what classifies a gun as an assault weapon.

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Haven't read anything about why folks like to keep guns but I doubt protecting ones self from another person who wishes to do him harm is the major reason we keep firearms, I would suspect the number one reason is we simply like them, that seems to me the only reason anybody would have an assault weapon or a nuke, I personally don't see the reason why anybody would have a use for either.

[Crappie 1]

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Haven't read anything about why folks like to keep guns but I doubt protecting ones self from another person who wishes to do him harm is the major reason we keep firearms, I would suspect the number one reason is we simply like them, that seems to me the only reason anybody would have an assault weapon or a nuke, I personally don't see the reason why anybody would have a use for either.

I don't hunt anymore, don't know or care about assault weapons. I do carry a .32 Beretta Tom Cat for personal protection. My wife and I spend a good share of time in and around the Natl. Forests, and remote lakes by ourselves. A guy tried to drown 2 people a couple years back at one of the boat launches.. I took the CCW class and started caring for our protection outside and inside the home. I'm 67 years old and I feel like it gives me an option and peace of mind when were out and about. Protecting my wife and I is the only reason I carry.

[jeepguyjames]

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Haven't read anything about why folks like to keep guns but I doubt protecting ones self from another person who wishes to do him harm is the major reason we keep firearms, I would suspect the number one reason is we simply like them, that seems to me the only reason anybody would have an assault weapon or a nuke, I personally don't see the reason why anybody would have a use for either.

judging by your post my guess is you have never fired a nice so called "assault rifle" IE an AR-15.........an AR is an extreemly fun firearm to target shoot with, reasonalbe as far as ammo cost to shoot, zero recoil, an extreemly accurate.......has nothing to do with anything other than the fun factor for the vast majority of folks who own them........much like a 1911 Kimber, or a Colt python, if you havent fired one you wouldnt understand

[kycreek]

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Haven't read anything about why folks like to keep guns but I doubt protecting ones self from another person who wishes to do him harm is the major reason we keep firearms, I would suspect the number one reason is we simply like them, that seems to me the only reason anybody would have an assault weapon or a nuke, I personally don't see the reason why anybody would have a use for either.

And that's you're choice. But don't tell me how to make mine.

[Cane Pole]

I don't hunt anymore, don't know or care about assault weapons. I do carry a .32 Beretta Tom Cat for personal protection. My wife and I spend a good share of time in and around the Natl. Forests, and remote lakes by ourselves. A guy tried to drown 2 people a couple years back at one of the boat launches.. I took the CCW class and started caring for our protection outside and inside the home. I'm 67 years old and I feel like it gives me an option and peace of mind when were out and about. Protecting my wife and I is the only reason I carry.

Same reasons here. However, I do own a "long distance" calling card for big game.

[gijimbo]

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Haven't read anything about why folks like to keep guns but I doubt protecting ones self from another person who wishes to do him harm is the major reason we keep firearms, I would suspect the number one reason is we simply like them, that seems to me the only reason anybody would have an assault weapon or a nuke, I personally don't see the reason why anybody would have a use for either.

I use to have have multiple handguns when I was younger and lived in a much rougher area. It's amazing how kids can snap you out of the invincible mode to the over protective mother and father. I sold my handguns when my son came along because I didn't want an accident involving my son and any of my handguns. I kept my 22 and 12 ga for sporting and self defense use. The 12 ga has the 18 1/2 barrel for close range spread of 00 buck shot kept close at hand.

Have I had to use either in a self defense situation...No. But then again I have never needed to use life insurance either and I still have it.

I understand your opinion and I do respect it. I just don't agree with it (that's my opinion).