# Government taking your guns - really worth it for gun owners to die over? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 18, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788 "2019-02-18T20:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/41 "2019-02-20T06:12:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > All gun sales fill out a federal form. But you are right, difficulties. They are perfectly capable of getting “no knock” warrants for everyone the govt _thinks_ owns a gun, however. Background check for initial sale, only at dealers. Which gives you almost zero idea where it might be now. You’d need enough feds to raid and search 80 percent of homes in America to even make a dent by that method. It makes no sense to try. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/42 "2019-02-20T10:47:38Z")
I’m just blown away that several posters think there’s no fundamental difference between rights/laws that prohibit slavery (say), and rights/laws that regulate (or fail to regulate) owning bits of metal and powder. I honestly had no idea this was part of the conservative mindset, until I saw the correlation appear in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/43 "2019-02-20T11:08:52Z")
The political landscape would have to change so drastically in order for an attempt at this type of confiscation to take place that trying to guess what will happen is pointless. Several states would have been in open defiance of the federal government by this time, if not completely seceded. Incremental gun laws would have been passed along the way, perhaps limiting the manufacture and private sale of all powerful weapons. Black market manufacture of powerful weapons will result in powerful gun cartels that operate in defiance of the US govt. Basically, a hellscape will already exist. A shootout with the cops wouldn’t make the news. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/44 "2019-02-20T13:41:28Z")
True, but that’s a justification often actually, seriously presented (including by a Doper or three) for buying AR-15’s. Tell _them_. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/45 "2019-02-20T13:55:09Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > True, but that’s a justification often actually, seriously presented (including by a Doper or three) for buying AR-15’s. Tell _them_. It’s a hellscape, but one that is not impossible. I’m not against someone buying AR-15s, and if such political changes occurred, I may have to acquire some illicitly manufactured guns myself depending on my location at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/46 "2019-02-20T14:48:47Z")
Why go door to door? Just declare financial sanctions against gun owners who do not voluntarily turn them in. Size bank accounts, IRAs, Social Security benefits, tax refunds, revoke drivers licenses and car registrations. Make their life miserable until they comply. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/47 "2019-02-20T15:29:38Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why go door to door? Just declare financial sanctions against gun owners who do not voluntarily turn them in. Size bank accounts, IRAs, Social Security benefits, tax refunds, revoke drivers licenses and car registrations. Make their life miserable until they comply. Then gun owners would just turn in their legally-registered guns, while using 3D printers to manufacture un-registered and unknown guns at home, or buying un-traced guns from others who do use such 3D printers. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/48 "2019-02-20T15:37:31Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > It’s a hellscape, but one that is not impossible. Perhaps you could lay out for us a \*plausible \*chain of events that would lead to it. \*Any \*fantasy is “not impossible” if you use enough imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/49 "2019-02-20T15:38:37Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Then gun owners would just turn in their legally-registered guns, while using 3D printers to manufacture un-registered and unknown guns at home, or buying un-traced guns from others who do use such 3D printers. I’m good with that. Have you seen printed guns? Their mean time before failure is pretty low. If my plan reduced the number of gun owners by 50%, I would consider it a smashing success. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/50 "2019-02-20T16:09:21Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > It wouldn’t take long to get to the bottom of that one. Pun intended? > [@Velocity](#): > > Then gun owners would just turn in their legally-registered guns, while using 3D printers to manufacture un-registered and unknown guns at home, or buying un-traced guns from others who do use such 3D printers. Great, and if those guns ever come out in public, or if they are ever used, their owners can can go to jail. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/51 "2019-02-20T16:13:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > They raided quite a few places during Prohibition and smashed a lot of barrels and bottles. just a nitpick really…they didn’t raid individual homes looking for booze. During Prohibition it wasn’t illegal to own alcohol, it was illegal to sell it. So, if you had a bunch of booze from before Prohibition it was completely legal for you to drink it in your own home. If you tried to sell it, however, then you’d be in trouble. So, they would raid places where alcohol might be manufactured or being sold, not individual homes looking for booze. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/52 "2019-02-20T16:24:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why go door to door? Just declare financial sanctions against gun owners who do not voluntarily turn them in. Size bank accounts, IRAs, Social Security benefits, tax refunds, revoke drivers licenses and car registrations. Make their life miserable until they comply. How do you know which bank accounts to seize? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/53 "2019-02-20T21:16:17Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > But is that \*\*really \*\*what gun owners would do - open fire on cops coming to take their guns? There is everything to lose and nothing to gain in doing so. It’s not like the government will just leave you alone after you open fire and kill their agents; they’ll just redouble their efforts to come after you since you are now a marked FBI fugitive. I believe the theory is that resistance could work if it was a widespread movement. If a few dozen gun owners defend their guns by shooting at the authorities, they’ll be overwhelmed by superior force and numbers. But if millions of gun owners did it, then it would be the authorities who would be outnumbered. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/54 "2019-02-20T21:58:25Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > How do you know which bank accounts to seize? Or who has the guns? The first task that will need to be done is to hit every FFL dealer and get ther 4473 forms and bound books. That takes time and lots of national attention. “Yes, officer I bought a squirrel gun back in '06 from Joe’s Shoot 'n More. I sold it.” ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/55 "2019-02-20T22:38:36Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Why go door to door? Just declare financial sanctions against gun owners who do not voluntarily turn them in. Size bank accounts, IRAs, Social Security benefits, tax refunds, revoke drivers licenses and car registrations. Make their life miserable until they comply. So, in addition to getting rid of that pesky Second Amendment, we’ll also be ditching the Fifth Amendment (“nor be deprived of life, liberty, or _ **property** _, without due process of law”). ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/56 "2019-02-20T23:08:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I’m good with that. Have you seen printed guns? Their mean time before failure is pretty low. > > If my plan reduced the number of gun owners by 50%, I would consider it a smashing success. Ghost guns - made out of metal and plastic just like official serial numbered factory produced guns made by mechanically inclined pro or hobby gunsmiths. As I pointed out, give me machine tools and I can crank out ghost guns, with limited to Home Depot plumbing supplies and some ingenuity, I can crank out good quality zip guns. At this point in time, I would not go with either thermoplastic or sintered metal printed guns. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/57 "2019-02-20T23:20:30Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > … At this point in time, I would not go with either thermoplastic or sintered metal printed guns. +1. 3D printing gets all the attention because it’s trendy, but people have been “making” higher quality guns at home in their garages for decades. It’s not really been an issue. ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/58 "2019-02-20T23:29:33Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > +1. 3D printing gets all the attention because it’s trendy, but people have been “making” higher quality guns at home in their garages for decades. It’s not really been an issue. I’ll also mention that it is perfectly legal to make a gun at home as long as it is not sold to another party. Many seem to get real bent out of shape on that law. This whole “ghost gun” BS is nothing new. ---
**Author:** ![Littleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ccd318/32.png) [@Littleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Littleman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/59 "2019-02-20T23:31:16Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > +1. 3D printing gets all the attention because it’s trendy, but people have been “making” higher quality guns at home in their garages for decades. It’s not really been an issue. Despite it’s lack of ability in home machines to actually make useful durable parts for anything. My CNC machine on the other hand … ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788/60 "2019-02-21T13:31:38Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > So, in addition to getting rid of that pesky Second Amendment, we’ll also be ditching the Fifth Amendment (“nor be deprived of life, liberty, or _ **property** _, without due process of law”). Due process would be present. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/government-taking-your-guns-really-worth-it-for-gun-owners-to-die-over/829788.md?page=4)