# 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:** 4
**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, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/61 "2012-12-24T21:47:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yup. Democrats, take note. It’s the only answer. You have to. It’s your duty, really, when you think about it. Republicans, too, please. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/62 "2012-12-24T21:57:15Z")
John Mace, I take it that you were not aware of one of the two dead volunteer firefighters was a very experienced police officer. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/63 "2012-12-24T22:14:13Z")
> [@Werekoala](#): > > [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) Yeah, but the NRA was doing its level best to get full gun rights restored to people like him all over America. And of course, since there’s no gun registration requirement (also thanks to the NRA), there’s no way to track sales of guns between private owners, so it’s not like it’s hard for a guy like this to find someone to buy guns from. So yeah, I agree that he should never have been let out of prison, but given that he was, America’s primary pro-gun outfit was happy to remove any barriers between him and his guns, and minimize them where they couldn’t remove them. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/64 "2012-12-24T22:15:12Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Absent the ‘trying to minimize them’ part, of course. Well, we do try to minimize them. We have laws that say that felons can’t get guns, the insane can’t get guns, etc, for that very reason. Whether the laws do a good job or not is a different question, but there is a concern that guns stay out of the hands of people considered dangerous > [@](#): > > Put me in the “that’s crazy talk” camp. And whether or not it’s a short-term reaction to Sandy Hook that will fade away in a few weeks, I doubt that there’s such a national belief right now. It historically has been the belief, at least. Whether these shootings have changed things or not, we’re going to have to see. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/65 "2012-12-24T22:18:17Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Yup. Democrats, take note. It’s the only answer. You have to. It’s your duty, really, when you think about it. What’s your alternative? All I hear from the pro-gun crowd is that A, B, C, … , X, Y, Z, AA, BB, … won’t work. If none of the “let’s preserve a basic right to gun ownership but let’s do a bunch of other stuff to restrict the use and firepower of guns” stuff will work, then let’s just make 'em all illegal, other than the ones held by military and police, and drive the traffic in guns way underground, so that if you don’t already have a gun, it’ll be really really hard to get one. ---
**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, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/66 "2012-12-24T22:26:52Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > John Mace, I take it that you were not aware of one of the two dead volunteer firefighters was a very experienced police officer. So? The OP is scoffing at the idea of firefighters having access to weapons. I don’t see it as a problem either way. Might be a good idea for some, might not be for others. Further, the OP assumes that it “Makes just about as much sense as doing it in schools”. Not really. Schools are often a place where a lot of people gather and have to interact with each other on a regular basis. Security is always going to be a concern, or should be, in such a situation. As I said in one of the bazillion gun threads, my HS had about 2,000 people. Makes sense to have armed security in such a place, if you ask me. If it’s a small elementary school, probably not. The two situations are not comparable. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/67 "2012-12-24T23:13:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > It does in many other countries, notably Japan and the UK. Don’t try and use other countries as any sort of excuse for your own. If you rely on that, then you’ve lost the argument. ---
**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, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/68 "2012-12-24T23:22:45Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Don’t try and use other countries as any sort of excuse for your own. If you rely on that, then you’ve lost the argument. I am not; I am using them as examples to be followed or to learn from. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/69 "2012-12-24T23:23:40Z")
Just for the folks who haven’t looked at the link, > [@bot3](#): > > … Today’s youth have no respect for convention, law or order. … > [@](#): > > … The shooter has been identified as William Spengler, 62, … Fuckin’ kids these days with their hippy hoppy music and their FaceTube and their arthritis ointment. :rolleyes: CMC ---
**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, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/70 "2012-12-24T23:24:07Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > John Mace, I take it that you were not aware of one of the two dead volunteer firefighters was a very experienced police officer. Apparently, his experience never taught him to come armed to a fire. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/71 "2012-12-24T23:39:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Apparently, his experience never taught him to come armed to a fire. Jusht like a cop to bring water to a firefight. ---
**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 25, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/72 "2012-12-25T00:33:52Z")
I guess if there is a rash of unwanted pregnancies, the answer (according to some) is obvious: More fucking. ---
**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 25, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/73 "2012-12-25T01:06:55Z")
I thought you were going to suggest that we begin arming obstetricians. ---
**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 25, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/74 "2012-12-25T01:08:29Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Apparently, his experience never taught him to come armed to a fire. Yeah, there’s a reason we call them _firearms_. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/75 "2012-12-25T01:27:33Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Meh. Firefighters can have guns on their trucks if need be. Wouldn’t bother me. They’ve got plenty of time to practice. This, folks, is what’s known as an ignorant comment. Firefighers don’t have plenty of time to practice shooting firearms. They’re already practicing firefighting. That’s a tad more important to their function than some macho/rambo stunt to appease those who think firefighters are layabouts. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/76 "2012-12-25T02:39:50Z")
Steady up, there, hoss. **John** don’t do a lot in the way of veiled insinuations, I think you might be unpacking more than he put in there… ---
**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 25, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/77 "2012-12-25T02:55:46Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > This, folks, is what’s known as an ignorant comment. Firefighers don’t have plenty of time to practice shooting firearms. They’re already practicing firefighting. It takes very little time, per week, to practice range shooting. > [@](#): > > That’s a tad more important to their function than some macho/rambo stunt to appease those who think firefighters are layabouts. That, folks, is what’s known as a strawman. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/78 "2012-12-25T02:56:39Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > It takes sophisticated machinery and specialized talent to make a gun. [Apparently not.](http://waronyou.com/forums/index.php?topic=1180.0) This is the first hit when I Googled “how to build a gun”, and there were lots more. I don’t know enough about it to know if these directions would actually create a working gun, but it does look like making guns doesn’t need “sophisticated machinery and specialized talent”. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/79 "2012-12-25T03:13:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > That, folks, is what’s known as a strawman. Bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021/80 "2012-12-25T04:30:57Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I guess if there is a rash of unwanted pregnancies, the answer (according to some) is obvious: > > More fucking. Well, yes, but that’s the best answer to everything, isn’t it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-only-firefighters-carried-guns/645021.md?page=5)