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Guns? Naah - crutches!
By Arthur Webster of Ask Old Coot
Who on Earth NEEDS a gun nowadays? What is this lunatic love affair with a killing machine that the vast majority of owners neither respect nor know how to use properly? One of the first things that is claimed is that many hand guns are for self protection. Really? If that is the case, why doesn't every person who owns a hand gun for self protection also have a licence for carrying a deadly weapon - either openly or covertly? After some training I can hold my hands up and say, honestly, that a hand gun should never be entrusted to me because, even in ideal conditions, I couldn't hit the side of a barn. How much worse would I be if I was being threatened? What sort of training do the owners of hand guns have to enable them to differentiate between an irate wordsmith and a violent character out to do serious harm? I've seen both and would not like to trust my judgement of the degree of lethality of any implied threat. Long guns seem to be popular but, again, judging from the number of accidents and multiple shots necessary for some kills, those using them should receive some basic training. The desire to kill seems to be endemic in many people while many others shy away from the idea of denying life to any of God's creatures. I can see that hunting for the pot would produce an inner glow of pride but hunting for a trophy - what's that all about? A gun is a very simple machine. No special skills are needed to use one and yet they have about them an aura of power. This power - the power of life and death - does not remain when the gun is no longer at the scene. While the world is seeing more and more species threatened with extinction and more and more instances of the abuse of the power granted by these simple machines, isn't it time that they were brought under control. I can assure you that, unless you have no feelings at all, aiming a gun at a human being and pulling the trigger is not as easy as it sounds. It is probably slightly easier to aim at a small creature or a large animal. I pity the person who proudly declares - "I killed that!" Targets don't feel pain and can be as animated as any living cretaure - what a pity more people don't use them.
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Contributor's Note
A telephone, external hard drive, dictionary, thesaurus and router - how much more power does a man need?
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Six of the most powerful weapons.
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
Ask Old Coot
An open invitation to ask questions.
www.askoldcoot.info
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Americans have this thing about this "inalienable right to bear arms." And no amount of killing sprees carried out by disillusioned kids at schools or by adults in crimes will put a stop to that. Over here in the UK the guy up in the north of England, Raoul Moat, came out of prison and within a couple of days had hold of several guns which he used to commit murder. But, at least we do try to control gun use. In the US it's become a part of everyday life that shootings will take place. But, hey as long as they can keep their 'liberty' to carry weapons they're happy.
 | | odls Jul 24, 2010 05:20 | |
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
I didn't realise, nor do I accept, that 'arms' is a synonym for 'guns'. Apparently carrying a sword is an offence in many states. Odd, that! As for Mr. Moat, I hope that the full force of some form of professional competence investigation is aimed at the people who refused him the psychiatric assistance that (at least) he knew that he needed.
I'm unimpressed with how many maniacs get a license to drive, never mind being granted a license to own a gun!
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
I suppose the licence is restricted to how the car should be used - it does not imply, for example, that a licenced driver can deliberately point his car at anyone and run them down. Maybe there should be a new law which licences people for carrying blunt objects - I'm sure it could be worded so that all mechanical forms of personal transport were included. Those that choose to use guns and vehicles illegally will, of course, continue to ignore any licencing requirements.
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