# 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:** 4
**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 6, 2022, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/63 "2022-06-06T11:34:59Z")
May I ask what year (or decade) you were born? I ask because I am learning that in 1996 there was a mass shouting in Australia and in the years prior there were regular shootings, but after 1996 new laws were passed and since then Gun violence has largely been a thing of the past. Is that true? ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/64 "2022-06-06T11:38:31Z")
I’m an old bastard, born in the 60’s, grew up in the bush with a mini arsenal of guns. Own very few now, sold most and surrended some. In 1996 the Port Arthur massacre happened and the federal government at the time managed to get all the states to agree to a new uniform set of gun laws with bans on rapid fire weapons, registration and licencing. We already had serious restrictions on handguns and still have. ---
**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 6, 2022, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/65 "2022-06-06T11:39:11Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > As a gun owner, can you see my point that I find gun carriers like you to be incredible cowards? You need guns to do things I regularly do without guns. How do you react to my assertion that your irrational fears and cowardice have created the violent nightmare scenario of life in America? Has it occurred to you to examine the source of your fear? What you call irrational fear, I call preparedness and an acceptance of reality. I guess that you have never been a victim of violent crime, is that correct? I have not, and I hope never to be, but a gun is one way to help ensure that to remain true. ---
**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 6, 2022, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/66 "2022-06-06T11:44:39Z")
@madmonk28 I used to think like you. You may have missed the fact that I never owned a gun until some 15 years after my military service, and I served for 13 years. But sadly, violent crime is a reality. Not just in the USA but in almost every other country as well. I wish we lived in a world where violent crimes do not occur. But unfortunately they do and I choose to be prepared to defend myself more capably then my fighting skills without a gun allow. I hope I never ever have to use my gun. I hope I never even have to draw my gun ---
**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 6, 2022, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/67 "2022-06-06T11:49:02Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > I’m an old bastard, born in the 60’s, grew up in the bush with a mini arsenal of guns. Own very few now, sold most and surrended some. > > In 1996 the Port Arthur massacre happened and the federal government at the time managed to get all the states to agree to a new uniform set of gun laws with bans on rapid fire weapons, registration and licencing. > > We already had serious restrictions on handguns and still have. Hello, old bastard. I did not grow up with guns and I never fired a gun until I was 19 in boot camp. Can you point me to a (hopefully brief) description of AUS’s gun laws / restrictions? Signed, Another old bastard born in the 60s 🙂 ETA I’m reading about Port Arthur 1996 and I just found this so I may be set. Thank you. > **[Gun laws of Australia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_of_Australia)** > > Gun laws in Australia are predominantly within the jurisdiction of Australian states and territories, with the importation of guns regulated by the federal government. In the last two decades of the 20th century, following several high-profile killing sprees, the federal government coordinated more restrictive firearms legislation with all state governments. > Gun laws were largely aligned in 1996 by the National Firearms Agreement. In two federally funded gun buybacks and voluntary surrenders ... ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/68 "2022-06-06T11:53:07Z")
But it is irrational fear. Owning a gun makes it more likely that you will die by gunshot. What you believe is the opposite of what is true. This emotional irrational fear that runs your life is causing the violent crime that feeds into your fear, creating an irrational cycle of cowardice in a minority of Americans who own most of the guns and who drive our policy. Why are you so scared? What can we do to help you conquer this fear? ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/69 "2022-06-06T11:58:28Z")
😁 G’Day mate. This isn’t too brief but it’s reasonably accurate. [Gun laws of Australia - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_of_Australia) Summary: Compulsory licence and registration and waiting periods for first purchase. Rapid fire longarms banned. That includes semi automatic, pump action and lever action Magazine capacity restrictions Handguns, Nope. Limited to Police, security and gun club members with serious restrictions. Where I live you aren’t even allowed to carry a fkn pocket knife let alone a handgun. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/70 "2022-06-06T12:07:17Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > It’s not only the 4-legged critters that I may need to protect myself against. More accurately, it is _only_ humans you may need to protect yourself against. Virtually always, a man, often, with a gun. Vanishingly rare that you would ever need a gun to defend yourself against an animal. Being alert and not stupid will save you from almost any dangerous encounter you might have with a wild animal, particularly outside Alaska. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/71 "2022-06-06T12:09:22Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > Where I live you aren’t even allowed to carry a fkn pocket knife let alone a handgun. you live on an airplane? ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/72 "2022-06-06T12:16:55Z")
😆 No, Victoria Australia, AKA the Nanny state. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/73 "2022-06-06T12:24:43Z")
I am Zimbabwean, a country that, when I was born, was under another name and awash with military weapons due to there being a civil war. It is trivial to obtain military weapons in Zimbabwe, even now, 22 years after the war. AKs are built to last. I have camped in the beautiful national parks, admist lions, leopards, elephant, rhino and possibly most scary, hyenas (as scavengers they enter campsites, the rest avoid them) I have never felt the need to arm myself. I am not an idiot, I know what danger is, in this respect, and how to avoid it. Granted, on game walks within a national park, an armed National Parks employee is often present - armed with a large bore, bolt action rifle to protect against rhinos, elephants, buffalo etc. The reason you do not need more than 5 rounds in that situation is that if you do not drop the animal on the first or second round, it is too late. Better to live for another day than die with 28 rounds in your 30 round capacity weapon. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/74 "2022-06-06T12:25:04Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I want to hear from gun owners, and hear what they will support. I’m a gun owner, but am definitely in the minority here. I do not support additional restrictions on a person’s ability to keep and bear arms & ammo. ---
**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 6, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/75 "2022-06-06T12:25:16Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Why would you limit it to 5 Because that seems to be a common limit in countries that have magazine limits, and i assume they’ve thought about how many bullets are actually between reloading for legitimate uses of firearms. And fewer is better is there’s someone trying to murder a lot of people. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Are you aware that it’s not illegal for a licensed person to carry a loaded & concealed handgun in _most_ states? (And in 13 states no license is required.) If your goal is to make the carrying of a CCW illegal in most states, then… good luck with that. My understanding is that in this thread we are discussing what we think good gun laws would, not what we think we can’t achieve. And yes, i think it would be good to outlaw concealed carry. I see no legitimate need for that. ---
**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 6, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/76 "2022-06-06T12:35:38Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > But it is irrational fear. Owning a gun makes it more likely that you will die by gunshot. What you believe is the opposite of what is true. This emotional irrational fear that runs your life is causing the violent crime that feeds into your fear, creating an irrational cycle of cowardice in a minority of Americans who own most of the guns and who drive our policy. > > Why are you so scared? What can we do to help you conquer this fear? Let’s have a conversation, shall we? To me this includes: you ask a question, and I answer; and I ask a question, and you answer. You have not answered this: I guess that you have never been a victim of violent crime, is that correct? Shall we have a conversation? ---
**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 6, 2022, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/77 "2022-06-06T12:38:02Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > [@Bullitt](#): > > > > I want to hear from gun owners, and hear what they will support. > > I’m a gun owner, but am definitely in the minority here. I do not support additional restrictions on a person’s ability to keep and bear arms & ammo. Thank you. Can we discuss? I don’t want to try and change your mind, okay? I want to start with this: Do you think we have a gun violence problem in America? And if so then what do you propose we do about it? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/78 "2022-06-06T12:43:32Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Why would you limit it to 5 5 rounds is the territory of funsies, massacres, and uncontrolled fear based shooting. It’s kind of like “nothing good happens at the strip club after 3am”, there’s no civilian situation where you already fired 5 times and the ability to fire another 5-10 times without reloading is a good thing, not even for the person holding the gun. Nothing good is happening after that 5th shot. ---
**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 6, 2022, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/79 "2022-06-06T12:44:37Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > > [@Magiver](#): > > > > Why would you limit it to 5 > > Because that seems to be a common limit in countries that have magazine limits, and i assume they’ve thought about how many bullets are actually between reloading for legitimate uses of firearms. > > And fewer is better is there’s someone trying to murder a lot of people. > > > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > > Are you aware that it’s not illegal for a licensed person to carry a loaded & concealed handgun in _most_ states? (And in 13 states no license is required.) If your goal is to make the carrying of a CCW illegal in most states, then… good luck with that. > > My understanding is that in this thread we are discussing what we think good gun laws would, not what we think we can’t achieve. And yes, i think it would be good to outlaw concealed carry. I see no legitimate need for that. One of my friends is a retired ATF agent of 27 years. I met him for coffee just this past weekend because I wanted to talk about gun control (a term I’m not fond of, but we, the collective we, generally know what this means) and a 5 round cap limit on magazines is something he advocates. Also, he shared with me that he tends to vote Republican, and he’s a conservative, but he’s had it with these shootings. He sees the ultra right wing republicans as being one of the root causes of this problem and he is now going to vote Dems across the board. Because of gun violence. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/80 "2022-06-06T12:59:07Z")
I have been the victim of crime. I’ve been assaulted in the US and I’ve been shot at in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve also been near IEDs going off, had IEDs planted on my dwelling and been in an office when our compound came under sniper fire, hitting the guard in front of my office, who was pulled inside to be treated. ETA also been in a mortar barrage. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/81 "2022-06-06T13:00:54Z")
Here’s a link to an info sheet on the regs in Canada regarding magazine size. ---
**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 6, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/as-a-responsible-gun-owner-we-as-a-country-need-to-fix-this-gun-violence-problem/965697/82 "2022-06-06T13:37:42Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > But it is irrational fear. Owning a gun makes it more likely that you will die by gunshot. What you believe is the opposite of what is true. This emotional irrational fear that runs your life is causing the violent crime that feeds into your fear, creating an irrational cycle of cowardice in a minority of Americans who own most of the guns and who drive our policy. > > Why are you so scared? What can we do to help you conquer this fear? > [@madmonk28](#): > > I have been the victim of crime. I’ve been assaulted in the US and I’ve been shot at in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve also been near IEDs going off, had IEDs planted on my dwelling and been in an office when our compound came under sniper fire, hitting the guard in front of my office, who was pulled inside to be treated. > > ETA also been in a mortar barrage. Thanks for that and I hope you came through it alright. I served during Dessert Shield / Dessert Storm and I was fortunate and never saw combat. I do not think my fear of violent crime is irrational, in part because of your experience. But when you were assaulted in the US, did you participate in the instigation of that assault by, for example, by mouthing off or flipping someone off or making lewd suggestive motions to his girl? Yes I will accept that owning a gun makes me more likely to die by gunshot, but I argue that owning a gun and being unsafe makes one more likely to die by gunshot. Further, your definition of being a victim sounds like it includes war or military service in a hostile environment. I don’t consider that to being a victim of violent crime. [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=3) [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=5)