Are handguns pointless?

[Sidhe]

Oh and for the record, thanks for the thought, but I do my own killin'.

OK but you have my number, it's in whacko mercenary monthly if you ever need a hired gun, look for bored nut with a twitch in his arm that wont stop for love nor money

 

[Erik Mesoy]

OK but you have my number, it's in whacko mercenary monthly if you ever need a hired gun, look for bored nut with a twitch in his arm that wont stop for love nor money

Actually, this is almost never how a proper mercenary works.

When (or if) I hire mercenaries, I want them bought, not twitching. I've paid them to do a job, they will do it, and they'll be discreet about it. They should stop, or atleast ask for a bonus, if a problem arises. I don't want them bored, because then they can get sloppy, and I certainly don't want the sort that advertise in magazines, because those are likely to be thrillseekers. The mercenaries that I hire are discreet, private and somewhat like hired thugs, only far more intelligent and probably with less of a gang mentality. It's good if they've worked together before, though, or are part of an outfit, because that reduces the chance that unexpected problems between the different ones I've hired will crop up.

Yes, Sidhe, I know that you were being jocular, but I find it humorous how I'd never, ever hire a mercenary like that.

 

[CaptainF]

You can't stab someone with a gun.

 

[IglooDame]

You can't stab someone with a gun.

Particularly in California and a few other states, where military-style rifles that have bayonet lugs are banned (but if you remove the bayonet lugs, you're okay).

 

[Perfection]

True it's nowhere near as high as 43:1, but looking at the numbers in your link it's still 12:9 unintentional deaths to self defense homicides. Not very conclusive given the small numbers involved, but I'm still less than convinced the guns are actually beneficial.

As a mere curiosity, I wonder how many of those accidents occured because of the gun being used in a protection role rather than a sporting role.

 

[bgast1]

I voted that handguns are not pointless. I believe in the right to bear arms. I also believe in responsibility when it comes to firearm ownership. Accidents are always going to happen, and criminal will always exist. Is that a reason to legislate against honest, law-abiding, mostly responsible citizens?

 

[bhsup]

Say you're out hiking or camping or whatever deep in the woods. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a crazed rabid beaver comes boring down on you. Do you...

1) unshoulder the awkward rifle you've been lugging around and shoot the crazed beaver, hoping beyond hope that you don't get the sling all tangled up in your frantic attempt to deal with such an awkward situation.

2) Run like the wind and pray you don't trip over anything in this unfamiliar terrain whilst trying to escape the crazed beaver.

3) Calmly and rapidly unholster the easily accessible and yet non-cumbersome pistol you are carrying at your hip and blow away the crazed beaver long before it gets up on you.

Beavers, more dangerous than you know!

 

[Atlas14]

Handguns aren't pointless, they're easily accessible, meaning in case of someone breaking into your house, you could easily use it quickly.

If hiking, they are much more lightweight than a rifle/shotgun and so you won't get tired as easily, and if you get lost you have something to help you kill your dinner.

I hunt squirrels on occasion with rugers (type of handgun); they are really easy to use and I like them a lot.

For those whining and complaining about accidents, well you can have accidents with anything where a moron is operating something meant to inflict damage or pierce flesh/something. For those of us who are responsible, they are great tools and great fun.

 

[Nobody]

I voted no they are not pointless. Although i think this thread had a lack of options. I think hand guns should be illegal (self defense is not justification- call the police) because hand guns are made to kill people. And i prefer that people killing items are kept to a minimum.

Now your gonna say "But the killers can just use knifes or rifles or a big rock" But rifles are for hunting, knifes are for cuting bread and try and out law rocks. Pistols are for killing people because you don't need to hide your gun from a deer pistols are for keeping under your jacket until you can sneak up on the dairy owner and then BLAM!

All that said its not guns, rocks, knifes that kill its people. Parents should teach there kids not to be criminals to hurt other people to stop murderers, parents should listen to their kids to stop suicide and parents should put the knifes, uzis, rocks in a child safe area to stop accidents. It wont stop all the deaths but it will stop more than outlawing pistols, rocks, shot guns and steak knifes. And of course some pyscho ****s will still kill, but they will do it anyway.

So yeah... better parenting and reasonable fun restrictions will save more lives than outlawing pistols. But might as well outlaw them anyway..... of course we need to keep some for cow boys and soliders.

 

[Atlas14]

I voted no they are not pointless. Although i think this thread had a lack of options. I think hand guns should be illegal (self defense is not justification- call the police) because hand guns are made to kill people. And i prefer that people killing items are kept to a minimum.

Time it takes for criminal to fire gun at you and your family: 4 seconds tops

Time it takes for police to come rolling into driveway, locate the criminal, and assess the situation: heck of a lot more than 4 seconds

 

[Nobody]

Time it takes for criminal to fire gun at you and your family: 4 seconds tops

If we out law hand guns then whats this criminal going to shoot you with?

 

[Stylesjl]

If we out law hand guns then whats this criminal going to shoot you with?

An illegal hand gun

 

[Elrohir]

Handguns are no more pointless than rifles or knives or any other sort of tool. Good in the right hands, bad in the wrong hands.

 

[Leonel]

If we out law hand guns then whats this criminal going to shoot you with?

A hunting knife.

 

[CaptainF]

If we out law hand guns then whats this criminal going to shoot you with?

If this criminal is a ninja your screwed no matter how much boomstick you hold.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

They have a multitude of uses - self defence, recreational shooting, hunting, and a useful back up if you are stalking wild pigs.

 

[Perfection]

And how can you pistol-whip someone without a handgun?

 

[MobBoss]

If handguns were pointless, they wouldnt be so popular.

If this criminal is a ninja your screwed no matter how much boomstick you hold.

Thats only in the movies. In real life, Ninjas get blown away just like anyone else...there are no "Neo" types that can dodge bullets....thats only in the movies.

 

[GoldEagle]

I personally have a 12 Gauge Shotgun...but I guess a handgun will work.

 

[Eukaryote]

I personally have a 12 Gauge Shotgun...but I guess a handgun will work.

Hey, with a handgun you can miss and the criminal will shoot back and kill you, but with a 12 Gauge, you're good to go.