# Do privately owned firearms make communities safer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 31, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221 "2007-05-31T18:44:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/141 "2007-06-06T00:41:47Z")
As I’m a non-signatory to that there nuclear non-proliferation thingy I suggest you put the bazooka down, tiger. ---
**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, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/142 "2007-06-06T00:47:47Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] I have a right to drop by your house, steal your heirlooms and rape your wife because I say so. I don’t need to justify it. [/QUOTE] You can certainly claim that right. But you will pay a dear price for it. I claim I have a right to keep and bear arms. So far, I haven’t had to pay a price for it. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/143 "2007-06-06T01:10:52Z")
[QUOTE=Hubert Cumberdale] Ok, I should have clarified that my criticism is reserved for guns whose sole purpose is violence against people, not those for hunting or target shooting. [/QUOTE] I have a rifle in my gun safe right now that is generally suitable for: 1. Target shooting; 2. Hunting medium to medium-large North American game; 3. Killing any human being. I have a shotgun in my gun safe right now that is generally suitable for: 1. Target shooting (skeet/trap); 2. Hunting game fowl; 3. Killing any human being. I have a handgun in my gun safe right now that is generally suitable for: 1. Target shooting; 2. Hunting (mercy shots for wounded game); 3. Killing any human being. I’ll give you one guess: aside from being in my gun safe right now, what do they all have in common? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/144 "2007-06-06T01:12:44Z")
[QUOTE=CannyDan] Damn!! You mean I’m gonna have to get back my deposit on the bazooka? [/QUOTE] Yep. But you can keep the tank for 30 days, as long as you don’t mind paying the cleaning fee. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/145 "2007-06-06T03:42:49Z")
> [@](#): > > Do privately owned firearms make communities safer? I think so. Every burglar or carjacker that is shot and killed by a private citizen is one less criminal preying on the community. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/146 "2007-06-06T12:52:26Z")
[QUOTE=Crafter\_Man] You can certainly claim that right. But you will pay a dear price for it. I claim I have a right to keep and bear arms. So far, I haven’t had to pay a price for it. [/QUOTE] So what you’re saying is that might makes Right? ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221/147 "2007-06-06T13:35:16Z")
[QUOTE=ExTank] Yep. But you can keep the tank for 30 days, as long as you don’t mind paying the cleaning fee. [/QUOTE] Oh boy, oh boy!! Cut \*\*me \*\* off, will ya? Go ahead, slam on your brakes in front of **me** , buddy! Rush hour on I-95 has never been so appealing. Almost makes up for the sad state of my garage… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-privately-owned-firearms-make-communities-safer/406221.md?page=7)