# if only firefighters carried guns **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 24, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021 "2012-12-24T16:37:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/41 "2012-12-24T19:34:47Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Murder is illegal but people still kill. Therefore we should decriminalize murder, amirite? I don’t know if that was directed at my post but if it was I never said anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/42 "2012-12-24T19:37:48Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I don’t know that you can make a useful comparison between the War on Drugs (or Prohibition, before that) to gun control. It takes sophisticated machinery and specialized talent to make a gun. Most drugs can be fairly easily cooked up in a simple kitchen lab or closet grow set up. If there were no legitimate gun market, the legitimate gun manufacturers (aside from a few kept alive by government contracts) would close their door, or turn to some other kind of manufacturing, and it seems highly unlikely that they’d be replaced by some sort of illicit gun factories. There’s still the issue of all the millions of guns that are already out there, but it’s still a finite number - with the stream of new guns shut off (or at least greatly reduced - smuggling would still be an issue) eventually, the supply of existing guns will dry up. I disagree. I think prohibition is a good comparison. Guns are way too important to criminals for the problem to just dry up. IMHO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/43 "2012-12-24T19:39:21Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > I don’t know if that was directed at my post but if it was I never said anything like that. Anyone who says “criminals will get their guns anyway so any attempts at gun control is pointless” are saying exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/44 "2012-12-24T20:09:50Z")
They were shot because there is a feminized, mamby-pamby culture of menstrual fail among first responders. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/45 "2012-12-24T20:17:36Z")
Why do we even bother fighting fires, anyway? Fires happen every day; it’s impossible to put them all out. Do firefighters think that because they have put out a fire today, nobody will ever be able to start another fire? Even if a building can’t burn, it could be destroyed just as easily some other way, like by a tornado. Or do firefighters think they can stop tornadoes, too? Fighting fires will not solve the problem. When fires are fought, only arsonists will have fire. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/46 "2012-12-24T20:25:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Uhm, no. > No again. > That’s a hat trick no. > No, I didn’t. > > See above. > > Care to guess some more? I’m guessing you need a hobby. Posting here all day long does not count. ---
**Author:** ![Werekoala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/47 "2012-12-24T20:34:56Z")
[Oh, hai - if only convicted murderers weren’t set free after 17 years, and oh by the way he can’t have legally owned those guns anyway.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/24/william-spengler-identified-webster-shooter_n_2360280.html?1356379075) See, thing is - this guy should have been executed years ago - or not let out of prison at all. But no, he got out, got guns, and decided to engage in murder again. But I’m certain he was completely mentally stable, and it was the soothing voices of the blue-steel beasties whispering to him at night that really made him do it. So let’s jump on the “no moar gunz!!1111!” bandwagon again since it’s trendy to do so lately, but spend exactly zero words on the person who actually did the shooting. Typical. As people are so fond of pointing out, the U.S. is only about 5% of the world’s population or something like that - so I’d say if you’re so damn scared of all of these guns levitating around and shooting themselves at people, you go somewhere that already has taken care of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/48 "2012-12-24T20:36:37Z")
> [@Docta\_G](#): > > I’m guessing you need a hobby. Posting here all day long does not count. He’s still got his collection of _Dexter_ memorabilia and fan fiction. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/49 "2012-12-24T20:38:06Z")
> [@bot3](#): > > Please, don’t quote me that old bit about Socrates complaining about the youth way back then. That’s old and worn-out, and is not the same. Yes, it’s old and worn-out. And it’s exactly the same. Most kids are great. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/50 "2012-12-24T20:38:19Z")
> [@Werekoala](#): > > As people are so fond of pointing out, the U.S. is only about 5% of the world’s population or something like that - so I’d say if you’re so damn scared of all of these guns levitating around and shooting themselves at people, you go somewhere that already has taken care of the problem. I think folks are more afraid of belligerent assholes like you having easy access to semi-autos with 30 round clips. ---
**Author:** ![Werekoala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/51 "2012-12-24T20:40:37Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I think folks are more afraid of belligerent assholes like you having easy access to semi-autos with 30 round clips. If I had either of those, you might have a point. Wait, no you wouldn’t. Still, awesome response to the topic and the details of the perp that I posted. Enlightenment, thy name is intarwebz. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/52 "2012-12-24T20:45:02Z")
[http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/12/24/1375651/career-criminal-set-a-trap-for-murdered-firefights-say-police/](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/12/24/1375651/career-criminal-set-a-trap-for-murdered-firefights-say-police/) An update from your good friends at _ThinkProgress_… Not good news, I fear. **Longtime Criminal Set A Trap To Murder Firefighters, Say Police** ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/53 "2012-12-24T20:47:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > You think having guns available on a firetruck would magically prevent firefighters from being shot when they arrive on scene? If I had said that you might have a point. But I didn’t and so you don’t. > [@](#): > > You’re simply a bonehead? I’m not the one who keeps making things up. You can go fuck a cactus for all I care. Merry Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/54 "2012-12-24T20:49:54Z")
> [@Werekoala](#): > > As people are so fond of pointing out, the U.S. is only about 5% of the world’s population or something like that - so I’d say if you’re so damn scared of all of these guns levitating around and shooting themselves at people, you go somewhere that already has taken care of the problem. Yeah, you pussies: if you don’t like preposterously lax gun laws, move to another country! Sane people know those are the only possible options! ---
**Author:** ![Werekoala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7993a0/32.png) [@Werekoala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Werekoala)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/55 "2012-12-24T20:58:33Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yeah, you pussies: if you don’t like preposterously lax gun laws, move to another country! Sane people know those are the only possible options! The laws are not preposterously lax, but they only apply to people who abide by them. Let’s see - guy who ambushed the firefighters? Felon, not allowed to own a firearm. Also a murderer. Kid who shot up the school? Killed his mother and took her legally owned guns (or in other words, stole them - after murdering his mother). Guy at the mall in Oregon? Stolen gun from a friend. These are just the most recent examples - no doubt you can come up with some that used legally purchased guns (like the Colorado lunatic, for example). Pray, tell me what laws you would see enacted that WOULD have stopped those shootings? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/56 "2012-12-24T21:00:12Z")
> [@Werekoala](#): > > As people are so fond of pointing out, the U.S. is only about 5% of the world’s population or something like that - so I’d say if you’re so damn scared of all of these guns levitating around and shooting themselves at people, you go somewhere that already has taken care of the problem. Is it your contention that the US has more mentally ill people than all the other countries in the world, and that’s why they have less gun violence? Or are you possibly bemoaning the fact that the US has poorer healthcare options for mentally ill people than other civilized countries? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/57 "2012-12-24T21:00:43Z")
> [@Werekoala](#): > > The laws are not preposterously lax, but they only apply to people who abide by them. Yes, we know the NRA fake-anarchist song and dance: some people won’t follow the laws, so don’t even bother trying to come up with any. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/58 "2012-12-24T21:22:10Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > I really don’t want to live in a place where everyone has a gun and at any time, I could be expected to engage in a firefight against some bad guy. The NRA seems to think that society in Mad Max movies or other fictitious post-apocalyptic worlds is the ideal. Worse, they seem to think it is actually traditional. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/59 "2012-12-24T21:28:34Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I think folks are more afraid of belligerent assholes like you having easy access to semi-autos with 30 round clips. > [@Werekoala](#): > > If I had either of those . . . But, you do. **Access,** that is. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/60 "2012-12-24T21:39:44Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > With 300 million guns floating around out there, there is just no way to keep guns out of the hands of lunatics (or legally sane sociopaths, for that matter). And there is no way to guard everyone in every potentially vulnerable situation. Because the past ten days have demonstrated that there is no safe place, in a world of gun owners. > > Confiscation is really the only answer, isn’t it? I’ve never even thought that before, but I just don’t see any other answer. Yup. Democrats, take note. It’s the only answer. You have to. It’s your duty, really, when you think about it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021.md?page=4)