At the risk of getting my unwanted nose chewed off again. PeterN's point looked good to me. Correct me if i'm wrong Peter but it looked like you were trying to say America should stop trying to butt into other countries business like Syria for example. Don't like the government there? Treat it like a nail and hit it with your big military machine (the hammer).

Now this one is a particularly good example of Uncle Sam sticking his nose where is doesn't belong. Instead of launching all out war on Syria, uncle Sam gave weapons to, funded and trained the rebels to overthrow the government, who once they had plenty of cash and guns, went on to become Islamic state and a problem for everyone.
Then Uncle Sam pretended to care but took minimal action as they felt that the toppling of the regime was still the primary goal and it took the Russians to stand up and with the blessing of the current legal government of Syria and start obliterating the shit out of IS. There are many examples over the years but as a general rule, if US soldiers are standing on sand, mostly they probably should not be.

I just wanted to know some logical steps to prevent people from breaking into my house, and securing my house. I mention guns one time and look what happens.

I have 6 IP cams around my house, and 2 on the street. Activated my alarm. Leave my flood lights on all the time.

I agree with Simoneales on how the world views America, and how we stick our noses in where it doesn't belong. We were created as a republic, but unfortunately we run in a democratic society. I don't care if it's the Democrats or the Republicans in charge, the problem is systemic and both parties are at fault. Lobbyists and career politicians are largely to blame. The system is rigged so that the people only have two choices for a political agenda. Then people are fixated on smaller issues (i.e. gay marriage, abortions, guns, drugs, scandals, etc) to keep the divide between the people so they don't look at the larger picture and actually vote for true change.

The potential steps I see to fixing America are, fixing the tax code, mandatory term limits in ALL public offices, end lobbying, remove ourselves from the United Nations, stop sending our money to other countries for a while, stop borrowing money, pay down our debt, penalize companies for sending jobs overseas, taking care of our veterans, fixing mental health, investing in education, doing something to focus on shrinking our prison population and making appropriate jail time sentences. Now I'm not saying all of this is feasible, or that it will work. Hell, some of those ideas might not be good but some of them sure are. But at least I'm talking about it.

This thread seriously got derailed...

Get a big dog

This is almost as inflammatory as Mario asking what was good for breakfast.

FYI I had leftover pizza yesterday, pepperoni and jalapenos. I think I might just go straight for lunch today, chicken tacos. :)

I view guns as a tool. There is a time and place for every tool. I once used a subcontractor who purchased a Sawzall and couldn't wait to use it because it gave him an incredible sense of power. Finally, that day arrived and he blasted that interfering member away. Unfortunately, it was a structural member and we had to re-frame a complex folding double door. And, that was the last bit of business I gave to that sub.

I worry about ready access to a gun "tool". If everyone is carrying a gun, it is too easy for a situation to degenerate into a classic western gunfight as everyone whips out the "tool" that they have been carrying around for so long, yearning for an excuse to use it. I once had a fellow in my store reach for an item on a shelf, and a .38 slipped out from under his coat, crashing to the floor. He explained that he was a sheriff and had a permit, but I was not comforted or amused.

This is different from having a secured gun at home. The "secured" aspect requires a little thought before the tool is whipped out and discharged. I'm not against owning guns and certainly, if a gang is working its way down the street, shooting, terrorizing, and pilfering, go for the gun.

Growing up I knew where the (unsecured) gun was kept and I knew where the (unsecured) ammunition was kept. I had no desire to play with the thing, but I worried about my brother who would pull the thing out from time to time -- especially because he was aggressive and had a temper. He could be a NRA poster boy and pass any screening for gun ownership, but I don't think that he should have guns at home.

I think that the 2nd amendment was envisioned as a hedge against invasion by a foreign army, not as an excuse to carry a "tool" to be used in order to settle petty spats. Certainly, at the time of passage, guns could commonly be used for food hunting.

Let me guess, American education?

Yet 11.1 million people now have concealed carry permits, and so far there have been no run of gunfights in the streets. Your fear is as irrational as my own fear of leaving things sitting on a stove. My wife comes in from the grocery store and sets the bags on the counter. Usually there's not enough counter space and she places a couple bags on the stove. I can't stand this because part of me worries that someone may walk through and just turn the stove on for the heck of it or the stove may malfunction and turn itself on. I know it won't happen, but I still have this fear of it.

As for the sheriff dropping his weapon, obviously he didn't have it retained properly. That would make me question his competence at his entire job.



If a fire breaks out in your kitchen, do you want to have to put some thought in getting the fire extinguisher out? or do you want to do it as quickly and simply as possible?



This is really where each parent must determine what their children are capable of. But personally, I do think if a gun is in the house, the children should be taught how it works, shown the damage it can do (melons are good) and taught how to fire the weapon and experience firing it. That for one takes the mystery away and rids the glamour. And I do think firearms should be stored securely when I'm not home. even if my kids are raised around guns and I know I can trust them to follow the rule that they don't touch a gun without me, I have no idea about what their friends are taught or capable of. However, currently my kids are not old enough to be left alone, so it's not something I have to worry about too much.



Actually, it was a hedge to keep our own government in check. Remember what Jefferson wrote about when a government becomes tyrannical, it's the duty of the people to do something about it. When the BOR was written, some argued the 2nd amendment should be listed first because it protects the other rights (currently I can't remember who. I would have to look it up again). Invading foreign forces was a secondary concern.

So, your guns gonna save ya from the evil government? Riiiiight!

The 2nd amenment was written when we had f-ing muzzle loading guns, not automatic weapons. Times have changed.

I said why it was included. Gave no opinion on how it would work now. Stop trolling

and it took the Russians to stand up and with the blessing of the current legal government of Syria and start obliterating the shit out of IS.

I love when you make posts that clearly show you have no fugging idea what your talking bout. Thanks for proving it once again.

EXTRA EXTRA! Russians goal is to get rid of ISIS and they are doing it! (according to simon).

Wow. Really? You are THAT clueless?????

Speaking from the UK, whenever I see these threads derail into the infamous gun debate all I see is how all your paranoia and fear has built up.

Do you all believe that one day you will need to rise against the government and army when you feel they have taken over?

Are you all that scared that a biker gang is going to storm down your road blast into your houses and rob and kill you?

Well, we did it once. Maybe they left that out of your history books

Please enlighten us to the real reason Putin has jumped into the Syria fray

My friend, with a title like the one that heads this thread, it was always going to turn into what it has. You've been here a long time and know the mix of people here with strong opinions on guns. You only need mention the word and that's plenty.