# As a responsible gun owner, we as a country need to fix this gun violence problem! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 5, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697 "2022-06-05T14:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/21 "2022-06-05T14:53:06Z")
I approve of the OP’s proposal but what about assault weapons, I fail to see their purpose on recreationally or for hunting. Ban them. Do I need to be a gun enthusiast to carry one for protection. I think guns are ugly but I often feel carrying one for protection say as a lone female traveler on a long road trip or in the wilderness would make me feel safer. Not so much from animal predators but from male predators. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/22 "2022-06-05T14:56:29Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > The gun is for if the animal decides to attack us. There is about 1 black bear attack per year in the U.S. > Black bears have killed 67 people across North America since 1900… My chances of being killed by a domestic dog, bees, or lightning are vastly greater. My chances of being murdered are 60,000 times greater. One of the safest places a person can be is in the woods. [Bear Attacks | Wise About Bears](https://wiseaboutbears.org/about-us/bear-attacks-2/) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/23 "2022-06-05T14:56:43Z")
I am still researching how “assault weapon” is defined, but in general I agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/24 "2022-06-05T14:57:32Z")
And your point is what, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/25 "2022-06-05T14:58:10Z")
Guys I am heading out to church soon. Will return to this… ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/26 "2022-06-05T14:59:47Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > And your point is what, exactly? My point is that “responsible gun ownership” should mean that only people with a compelling and genuine need to carry a gun should be armed. > [@Bullitt](#): > > Some mischievous people, if they wanted to mess with us, they could have tried it. It’s a possible scenario. And my biggest worry living in the U.S. is that “mischievous people” have such easy access to guns. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/27 "2022-06-05T15:04:40Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > You’re not in grizzly country, so what dangers do you imagine you’re facing? Only someone marinated in U.S. gun culture would think it fits the description “responsible” to carry totally unnecessary weapons when out camping. The OP has proposed 3 very common-sense gun control measures that are almost universally opposed by gun nuts. These would change things, save lives. He took a risk, conceded some ground. Yet you choose to ignore all of that and attack him for wanting to carry in a certain situation where he feels vulnerable (for whatever reason). If anyone wonders why gun owners are seldom in a mood to compromise even on the tiniest common-sense restriction, look at the maximalist puritanism on display here. There’s your cause. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/28 "2022-06-05T15:05:02Z")
While i don’t think a pair of campers in the wilderness in the US are significantly safer with a gun (and suspect they are less safe) i don’t see any significant systemic problems with campers in remote areas carrying guns. Not enough that I’d want to outlaw it, or even seriously discourage someone from carrying a gun in that situation. I would limit magazines to 5 rounds, not 10. But agree that limiting magazines would be helpful, minimally interfere with legitimate uses of guns, and honestly, i think it addresses the “assault weapon” issue, as well. In addition to background checks and minimum age for gun ownership (which i support) I’d also like to register every gun. Otherwise, i think it’s too hard to enforce any other limits. I’d also like a mandatory waiting period, at least for the purchase of a first gun, and some safety licensing. We lose an awful lot of people to gun suicides and gun accidents. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/29 "2022-06-05T15:05:45Z")
I would say many responsible gun owners do have a compelling and genuine need to carry. It’s up to the individual to determine that do you agree? @Riemann Cool down or waiting periods are needed too. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/31 "2022-06-05T15:10:04Z")
What is a need, anyway? Hunting and target shooting are not needs, but they are activities that give people joy, and i believe both can be accommodated without great risk to the rest of us. I would like to regulate guns more to reduce deaths, but i think we can do that without outlawing those activities. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/32 "2022-06-05T15:12:10Z")
**Modding** , this thread appears to have been hijacked almost immediately. The extra details in the OP seem to invite the hijack, so I’m not modnoted or warning anyone. @Bullitt, when you return please let me know if you want this moved to either IMHO, The Pit or if I should leave this closed. Though I’m trying to determine why the heart of your OP couldn’t just be posted in > [@Minmaxing gun laws](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/minmaxing-gun-laws/965515): > > [As suggested by What Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-need-another-gun-thread/965314/24), I’m hoping to have a focused discussion of gun laws. To wit: what policy measures could be passed that would minimize the deleterious effects on gun owners, while maximizing the protection to human life? I’m leaving the “min” side deliberately ambiguous. A policy of knocking down doors, confiscating all guns, and shooting any resistors clearly doesn’t minimize the deleterious effects, whereas one that merely adds an extra apostrophe to the background check form probab… ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/34 "2022-06-05T15:13:39Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/35 "2022-06-05T23:09:05Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/36 "2022-06-05T23:09:35Z")
Reopened in IMHO after speaking with **Bullitt**. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/37 "2022-06-05T23:11:45Z")
I need to be safe and secure. And a gun, responsibly owned and handled, can help to keep me safe and secure. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/38 "2022-06-05T23:13:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’d also like a mandatory waiting period, at least for the purchase of a first gun, and some safety licensing. We lose an awful lot of people to gun suicides and gun accidents. I support that. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/39 "2022-06-05T23:18:19Z")
Your picture looks a lot like places we’ve camped over the years (dozens and dozens of trips). We never camped in organized campgrounds. And never felt unsafe or in need of anything to “protect” ourselves. The only time I felt a little weird was at the Saline Valley hot springs. The lower springs people were semi-permanent and sketchy. We avoided them and stayed aound the upper springs. I guess everybody has a different concept of what makes them feel safe. All I know is that if you were camping very near us and let us know you had a gun, I’d feel more comfortable camping elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/40 "2022-06-06T00:03:19Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Hunting and target shooting are not needs, I would quibble over this, hunting is a primary tool that Fish and Game uses to maintain healthy herd sizes for deer, at the very least. Pecarries and other wild swine are invasive and spreading throught the country, hunting is a primary tool for controlling (well trying to anyway). So yes hunting is more than just a recreational or “putting food on the table” activity. I live sort of in the area (southwest ID instead of southern OR but the that first pic could be just south of my house a mile or two) and, while it isn’t common to have to worry about predators (of whatever leg count) invading your campsite in this part of the country, it’s not unheard of either. There are some…people with unsocial proclivities…around, plus the coyotes, who can sometimes be bold. I don’t carry my guns camping, I don’t feel like I need them, but I don’t begrudge the OP carrying his either. I agree with his proposed gun control measures, along with puzzlegal’s registration proposal, hand guns, long guns, artillery piece, whatever, I think all the guns should be registered, heck, titled even. We already know how to do it, we do it with cars all the time, register the title with the state and with every change of ownership ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/41 "2022-06-06T00:36:42Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > ● Universal background check for every gun sale or ownership transfer in America. > ● Minimum age of 21. > ● Limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. Gun owner and competitive handgun shooter here. I have zero problem with these measures > [@chela](#): > > I approve of the OP’s proposal but what about assault weapons, I fail to see their purpose on recreationally or for hunting. Ban them. There are dozens of models of rifles that are functionally identical that nobody ever mentions to ban as they dont have the military cosmetic styling. Is this an assault rifle? > **[Ruger® Mini-14® Ranch Rifle Autoloading Rifle Models](https://ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html)** How about this? > **[BAR - Semi-Auto Centerfire Rifles - Browning](https://www.browning.com/products/firearms/rifles/bar.html)** > > Few hunting rifles in history have achieved the status of the Browning BAR. And no other semi-auto rifles have even come close. These two examples fire the exact same cartridge, same muzzle velocity, same powder, optional high capacity magazines, same rate of fire. IMHO much of the panic is that some people dont seem to understand that all center-fire rifles are significantly more powerful than handguns. An AR-15 is actually on the lower end for raw power compared to other rifles. There is nothing magically super powered about them. There are whole competition circuits built around them, there are hundreds of companies that make accessories designed to work with them. I know several guys who hunt with AR-15’s. They are perfectly valid rifles for recreational or hunting use. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/42 "2022-06-06T00:41:28Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > ● Universal background check for every gun sale or ownership transfer in America. > > > > > ● Minimum age of 21. > > > ● Limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. > > Gun owner and competitive handgun shooter here. I have zero problem with these measures I would be fine with a 20 round limit, or a ten round limit on detachable magazines for rifles. However, the police use the Glock 17, and they prefer it, so that has a 17 round mag. There are a few exclusions for the background check, such as a sale to a authorized gun dealer or sales to a police department or officer, but yes, I have pushed for background checks on all guns sales for quite sometime. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697.md?page=3)