# Poll: Guns and Abortion **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 9, 2002, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976 "2002-11-09T03:00:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/41 "2002-11-10T00:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slainte \* > \*\* > > except you left off this part, **beagledave**. \*\* At the risk of sliding this into GD or Pit material further…the way I read the post is that those who chose C (or D) were **not** small minded, with the implication that those who chose other other choices (whether here **or** small town Pennsylvania) were. I’ve seen more than one opinion thread in IMHO (not just abortion related threads) turn in to an invitation to bash folks who hold opposing opinions. If I misread the meaning, then I retract my statement. ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/42 "2002-11-10T00:57:04Z")
Guns- C is the closest answer to what I want. Abortion-B is closest I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/43 "2002-11-10T01:03:45Z")
Thanks for pointing that out, **Beagledave**. [Left Out: A Haven for Progressive Pro-Lifers](http://prolife.liberals.com/) [Feminists for Life](http://www.feministsforlife.org/) ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/44 "2002-11-10T01:20:56Z")
C & C fewer restrictions would be even better ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/45 "2002-11-10T01:29:20Z")
Thanks, **Walloon**. Think you and I are the only ones who chose A and C, **Celyn** … ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/46 "2002-11-10T03:13:40Z")
B & A StG ---
**Author:** ![mdf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@mdf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdf)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/47 "2002-11-10T04:25:22Z")
C C (unless sqweels decides to add ‘D’ answers - I’m all over those) -mdf ---
**Author:** ![mdf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@mdf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdf)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/48 "2002-11-10T04:44:39Z")
C C (unless sqweels decides to add ‘D’ answers - I’m all over those) -mdf ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/49 "2002-11-10T05:13:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by False\_God \* > **We need to arm as many fetuses as possible, so that these young Americans may enjoy the Constitutuonally mandated right that is gun ownership.** [Nation Shocked By Pre-Natal Shooting](http://www.theonion.com/onion3613/prenatal_shooting.html) ---
**Author:** ![Blown\_Injected](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@Blown\_Injected](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blown_Injected)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/50 "2002-11-10T06:34:34Z")
D&C The first “B” is kinda inappropriate in as mush as “significance” is leading to a conclusive statement. _Like these types of laws really make a difference._ A lot of good all them laws have done us in Montgomery County Maryland! If all guns are banned - does anybody believe it will impact crime (or is it that ya just don’t like guns, and wish to impose your will?) Many drugs have been banned almost everywhere, and for a long time, but the availability certainly exists! As for abortion; has it been answered, when does human life begin? Until one is certain that a human is being murdered, let the choice be that of the woman. IMHO ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/51 "2002-11-10T10:41:31Z")
B and C. B because I believe everybody who choses to, should have the right to self defense, in a world where a one-on-one with someone carrying illegal arms is likely to kill you without such an option. Fingerprinting or similar registration laws would make it easier to identify the person who pulled the trigger, who could then offer the reasons for having done so, and be held liable if the reasons do not agree with the law. C because it’s my personal view that a woman should have the right to chose to have, or to not have, a child. ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/52 "2002-11-10T17:18:00Z")
D&B. I think I am the first with that one… ---
**Author:** ![Riboflavin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Riboflavin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riboflavin)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/53 "2002-11-10T20:07:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xash \* > Fingerprinting or similar registration laws would make it easier to identify the person who pulled the trigger, Any evidence to back that up, like statistics about how often existing registration (to say nothing of ‘ballistics fingerprinting’) systems actually are used to solve crimes? Then maybe a cost-benefit analysis on such systems (rather than the $83 million initially expected, Canada’s registration scheme has cost some $980 million so far)? And perhaps a study that shows that ballistic fingerprinting could even work, much less be cost effective? The only such study I’m aware of was conducted by the CA DOJ (hardly an NRA stronghold) and said ‘don’t waste your money’. Face it, resgistration laws don’t solve crimes, they simply facilitate confiscation. If you don’t support option A, why do you support expensive schemes like registration and ballistic fingerprinting - if you want to reduce crime, I would think having the police spend the money and man-hours investigating crimes rather than maintaining huge databases, so the only reason for registration is to ease eventual implementation of option A. And Ballistic Fingerprinting is just an attempt to implement a registration system while pretending to solve crime (not a single one from the BF systems in Maryland and NY so far). D-almost-E and D-almost-E for me by the way. Why is it that almost all of the surveys I see on gun laws don’t actually include a ‘fewer restrictions’ option? ---
**Author:** ![AntaresJB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c2a13f/32.png) [@AntaresJB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AntaresJB)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/54 "2002-11-10T20:37:17Z")
been on the road for a bit and haven’t been able to check back to this… **beagledave** - my meaning was most definitely NOT to imply that anyone who chose a or b was small-minded, and I’m sorry if you took it that way. Unfortunately, I have been confronted with so many people in the two towns I live in (tiny hometown and tiny college town) that bash me for my views and treat me like evil incarnate for what I believe. I’m pretty darn new to the boards, so I was just pleasantly surprised to see so many people of the same mind as me, as the issue is one I feel very strongly about. I have plenty of friends who are anti-abortioners and we get along great, because they respect my right to my views, as I respect theirs. I apologize if you took offense to my comment, as that was not my meaning. I completely respect your right to believe what you do and would never bash you for it. I really don’t want to start fights this early in my SDMB time. Forgive me? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/55 "2002-11-10T20:54:11Z")
being european and pro-choice, i’m afraid i’m one of the guns for no-one, abortion for all, type people. so, A&C i think. seriously, i know gun law reform won’t work in the US, but i like knowing that i’m highly unlikely to get shot in ireland, ever. i don’t like the fact that irish women have to travel for abortions. i REALLy think it’s between a woman and her conscience what she chooses to do, and that it’s no-one else’s business. i really hate irish hypocrisy on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![kitarak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kitarak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitarak)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/56 "2002-11-10T20:58:07Z")
B on guns, C on abortion. I fully support people’s right to own guns, but I’m sufficiently paranoid that I’d like a couple barriers in place to prevent people going on a killing spree. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/57 "2002-11-10T21:40:43Z")
Yeah, perhaps I should have included a ‘D’ category for Fewer Restrictions, but I wanted to keep the number of possibe combinations to a minimum and didn’t see a significant ideological distiction between supporters of no more anf fewer restrictions. OYOH, those who would stick with C when given a D choice would be illuminating, so we’ll add a D choice. Anyone want to change either vote to a D? Anyone want to _keep_ their C choice? ( **Riboflavin** , what would E stand for? Regulations to _induce_ gun ownership or abortions?) Oh, and it would be B and D for me if I had my absolute druthers, but along the lines of **HPL** ’s remark, if it were possible to make a deal with the Right–trade’ya guns for abortion–I would go for C and C. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/58 "2002-11-10T21:43:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AntaresJB \* > \*\* I apologize if you took offense to my comment, as that was not my meaning. I completely respect your right to believe what you do and would never bash you for it. I really don’t want to start fights this early in my SDMB time. Forgive me? 🙂 \*\* No need to forgive…I misunderstood the meaning of your post, so I retract my statement…and say welcome to the boards! ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/59 "2002-11-10T21:58:31Z")
ok, i change my gun vote to d, less restrictions irishgirl, on what planet would i find this “ireland” that you speak of? by the way, when you come to confiscate my guns they will have been magically “stolen” the night before (nothing to confiscate here, move along now). unclviny ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976/60 "2002-11-10T22:39:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Riboflavin \* > \*\* > > Any evidence to back that up, like statistics about how often existing registration (to say nothing of ‘ballistics fingerprinting’) systems actually are used to solve crimes? Then maybe a cost-benefit analysis on such systems (rather than the $83 million initially expected, Canada’s registration scheme has cost some $980 million so far)? And perhaps a study that shows that ballistic fingerprinting could even work, much less be cost effective? The only such study I’m aware of was conducted by the CA DOJ (hardly an NRA stronghold) and said ‘don’t waste your money’. > > Face it, resgistration laws don’t solve crimes, they simply facilitate confiscation. If you don’t support option A, why do you support expensive schemes like registration and ballistic fingerprinting - if you want to reduce crime, I would think having the police spend the money and man-hours investigating crimes rather than maintaining huge databases, so the only reason for registration is to ease eventual implementation of option A. And Ballistic Fingerprinting is just an attempt to implement a registration system while pretending to solve crime (not a single one from the BF systems in Maryland and NY so far).\*\* No, I have no evidence to back it up. It is merely what I thought would help in solving, and maybe even preventing, crime. I have no idea of the practicalities involved in getting such a system to work, but I assume it would be akin to similar automobile laws. If your car is involved in an accident/criminal case/etc. you could be tracked down through your registration data and that can lead to further evidence that may aid the authorities in solving the crime. I don’t see why a similar registration system for guns won’t work, but I am open to arguements to the contrary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-guns-and-abortion/135976.md?page=4)