Do you own a gun?

[Phrossack]

I wouldn’t describe it as means of power, but rather as an object which can produce the illusion of safety. The real power today still lies in owning means of production, having a platform with million followers, holding the office of the president, etc. We defend democracy by improving our institutions, by enfranchising more people. Owning a gun is just one of these dangerous hobbies, that can potentially spell more trouble than enjoyment.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the shooting range when I was in school, it seemed cool to shoot pistols I saw in the movies. Then I found a new hobby and moved on. No desire to own one now.

All power ultimately boils down to the will and ability to use violence. Any side unwilling or unable to use violence in extreme situations loses all power once the other side sticks guns in their faces and dares them to do something about it. Which is basically where the US is today - one side has guns trained on the other and is sneering at them to do something about it, while the unarmed side has realized - too late - that all firepower is in the hands of the right wing. There is no protection against groups like the Patriots Coalition or the Proud Boys because the police and the White House and the Senate and a lot of governors are enthusiastically on their side.

 

[H4run]

Stirct gun control, but I'm able to access one, but currently I think I can't afford it, but I can back then, but I chose not to because it's also pointless to use one for self-defense because the rule would be against me no matter what.

However strict gun control is much better than the lax one. I can't imagine if it's accessible for everyone and every bad intended people armed themselves with a gun, it would be a total chaos.

But I bought baseball bat even-though I cannot play baseball, judging by the news I read, those who resist are mostly got the better out-come than the one who succumb. I also own couples of pretty swords mostly for collection, the sheath made of wood and hand-crafted, broke one when I attempted to kill a rat with it, I smashed it on a concrete because I don't have a heart to kill the glued rat with it.

 

[zxcvbob]

I have dozens of guns. For a while, I had a federal firearms collector's license (FFL 03). I guess I still do have an expired license... If I apply for one again they'll give me the same number.

The laws in this state are neither strict nor minimal so I don't know how to vote, they are kind of in the middle (and some of them make no sense, like the Heritage "Rough Rider" single-action .22 cowboy revolver is banned as a "Saturday Night Special")

 

[AmazonQueen]

All power ultimately boils down to the will and ability to use violence. Any side unwilling or unable to use violence in extreme situations loses all power once the other side sticks guns in their faces and dares them to do something about it. Which is basically where the US is today - one side has guns trained on the other and is sneering at them to do something about it, while the unarmed side has realized - too late - that all firepower is in the hands of the right wing. There is no protection against groups like the Patriots Coalition or the Proud Boys because the police and the White House and the Senate and a lot of governors are enthusiastically on their side.

The will and ability is not the same as just owning all the guns.
There came a time in India and just about every colonial nation when having the firepower wasn't enough to keep control.

 

[Glassfan]

If I had my way, all guns except hunting rifles would be banned and destroyed.
I will never, ever own a death stick.

I know how you feel, I'm the same way about abortion.

What would I even want a gun for?

It's America, you can own virtually anything you want. Why would people want pit bulls, gas-guzzling cars, alcohol or cigarettes? Because they want to and they can. What right do we have to deny people what they want?

 

[AmazonQueen]

I know how you feel, I'm the same way about abortion.



It's America, you can own virtually anything you want. Why would people want pit bulls, gas-guzzling cars, alcohol or cigarettes? Because they want to and they can. What right do we have to deny people what they want?

Dunno, same reasoning you use to deny them the freedom to legally purchase certain drugs

 

[Glassfan]

Some of us are working hard to change that...

 

[MaryKB]

I know how you feel, I'm the same way about abortion.

I hope you're never in a position where you have to face that decision yourself.

 

[AmazonQueen]

Some of us are working hard to change that...

Even more insanity is always an option

 

[Glassfan]

I hope you're never in a position where you have to face that decision yourself.

Obviously not, I'm way past menopause. But my point - tolerance of things and people you hate. I'll let you kill your baby if you let me have my guns.

 

[uppi]

It's America, you can own virtually anything you want. Why would people want pit bulls, gas-guzzling cars, alcohol or cigarettes? Because they want to and they can. What right do we have to deny people what they want?

First, it's not America. Second, the question whether you own or want to own a gun, not whether others should be allowed to own guns.

 

[cardgame]

I never owned a gun but always heard that California has the strictest gun laws in the country. However, I recently watched one of my friends accumulate 2 9mms, a shotgun, and an AR-15 within a few weeks. So now I'm confused about why California is considered strict when even here it's apparently extremely easy to acquire an arsenal.

California has a law that butchers AR-15s so what your friend has is actually an abomination.

Pistols are also limited to 10 rounds and, AFAIK, must be pre-approved on a per-model basis to be sold in the state, which means you can't buy any new guns made past a certain year as California doesn't want you to have them, no matter how compliant they may be to Cali's gun laws. Similarly, you often cannot obtain a concealed carry license unless you are best friends with the county sherriff, because Cali does not want you to have it, regardless of qualification. To accomplish this they purposefully elect sherriffs that have a public policy of "shall-not-issue" which is basic obstructionism.

Beats me, I’m not a gun person. I just remember that when I tried to get a library card I was told I needed two forms of ID, but at that time you only needed one to buy a gun.

I guess the pen really is mightier than the sword, if we’re going by state licensing requirements.

I live in one of the "freest" states with regards to gun control and I needed two forms of ID

All power ultimately boils down to the will and ability to use violence. Any side unwilling or unable to use violence in extreme situations loses all power once the other side sticks guns in their faces and dares them to do something about it. Which is basically where the US is today - one side has guns trained on the other and is sneering at them to do something about it, while the unarmed side has realized - too late - that all firepower is in the hands of the right wing. There is no protection against groups like the Patriots Coalition or the Proud Boys because the police and the White House and the Senate and a lot of governors are enthusiastically on their side.

For a bunch of civ players, a lot of this forum doesn't know history.

"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."

 

[Phrossack]

The will and ability is not the same as just owning all the guns.
There came a time in India and just about every colonial nation when having the firepower wasn't enough to keep control.

It's not about everyone who isn't a Republican having guns in order to overthrow the government. It's about having some means of defense against white supremacist militias, since the police, being sympathizers or even members of those militias, sure aren't going to help reliably.

Decolonization was a very messy affair, and far from bloodless. The British Empire didn't lose its holdings because the people asked nicely. And in any case it's very different from America's situation. The right wing isn't just occupying America, but actually living here. They can't simply withdraw or decolonize. We're all stuck here together, and they have made it clear that they see themselves as holy warriors in a crusade against the godless Marxist radical anti-fascist left in a fight were no holds are barred and only victory matters. Their living here means they can't leave; their ideology means they can't compromise or accept defeat. And that's a recipe for violence.

 

[Manfred Belheim]

I know how you feel, I'm the same way about abortion.

What's the equivalent of "except hunting rifles" in this comparison?

 

[Joij21]

What's the equivalent of "except hunting rifles" in this comparison?

Uhh, I can't exactly speak for Glassfan but I would assume rape.

 

[Lexicus]

What right do we have to deny people what they want?

Yeah I want child slaves! You have no right to deny me what I want!

 

[Ajidica]

Don't own any guns and no desire to own any. If I were to own any, it would be some sort of historic rifle or something, probably a Great War bolt action.
I live in an apartment complex so if I were ever in a position to think using a gun for self defense is my only reasonable option, I'd stand a good chance of severely injuring someone else due to my terrible hand eye coordination. At Boy Scout camp, the running joke was that if a deer was standing in front of me, it had nothing to worry about!
Plus, at close range I might as well just break out my chef's knife or sword for armed self defense.

As far as Minnesota's gun laws, I have no idea how they work in practice. From my friends who enjoy hunting, I gather they are reasonable on hunting weapons but get rather strict when it comes to concealed/open carry.

 

[Moriarte]

All power ultimately boils down to the will and ability to use violence. Any side unwilling or unable to use violence in extreme situations loses all power once the other side sticks guns in their faces and dares them to do something about it. Which is basically where the US is today - one side has guns trained on the other and is sneering at them to do something about it, while the unarmed side has realized - too late - that all firepower is in the hands of the right wing. There is no protection against groups like the Patriots Coalition or the Proud Boys because the police and the White House and the Senate and a lot of governors are enthusiastically on their side.

Are you saying that when the US army, the most advanced and fearsome military complex in the world, with drones and space recon, with 700 billion dollar annual budget is going to steamroll through pockets of instability inside the US, you are going to be holding them off with your grandfather’s colt 1911? Or, when a band of few dozen of right-wing supporters are going to stop by your house, armed to the teeth, and demand surrendering ammunition and weapons to help the Cause, because they’ve read on the forums about you boasting ownership of a gun. Are you going to scare them off with anti-aircraft gun fire from the attic? Or something else will happen?

 

[cardgame]

Are you saying that when the US army, the most advanced and fearsome military complex in the world, with drones and space recon, with 700 billion dollar annual budget is going to steamroll through pockets of instability inside the US, you are going to be holding them off with your grandfather’s colt 1911? Or, when a band of few dozen of right-wing supporters are going to stop by your house, armed to the teeth, and demand surrendering ammunition and weapons to help the Cause, because they’ve read on the forums about you boasting ownership of a gun. Are you going to scare them off with anti-aircraft gun fire from the attic? Or something else will happen?

Who won the Vietnam war again?

 

[H4run]

Are you saying that when the US army, the most advanced and fearsome military complex in the world, with drones and space recon, with 700 billion dollar annual budget is going to steamroll through pockets of instability inside the US, you are going to be holding them off with your grandfather’s colt 1911? Or, when a band of few dozen of right-wing supporters are going to stop by your house, armed to the teeth, and demand surrendering ammunition and weapons to help the Cause, because they’ve read on the forums about you boasting ownership of a gun. Are you going to scare them off with anti-aircraft gun fire from the attic? Or something else will happen?

And yet the mighty US and friends that armed themselves with weapon of mass-destruction unable to neutralized poorly armed tribesman in Tora Bora. Don't underestimated the power of armed militia.