Meh. I would say I’m pretty neutral but guns make it complicated. I have no desire to own guns so if it were most other things, I’d be fine with ignoring it but because of the ease and swiftness with which they can cause death, I think they should at least be subject to as strict regulation as cars are. And I don’t really bother with people who just chant 2nd amendment over and over when gun control comes up.
Mildly pro-gun: I support expanded background checks and stronger laws against “straw purchasing”.
Another bacon vote. I’m very pro-gun for myself, just not other people. That’s how I feel about a lot of things.
I like guns a lot, but I’m in favor of gun control.
OTOH, I don’t eat bacon. So I didn’t vote.
This is the only issue in which I’m totally ambivalent. I hear arguments from all sides, and I agree with them all. I believe that everyone has the right to defend themselves against violence, by whatever means necessary. But on the other hand, I’m totally turn off by “gun culture,” and putting 2nd amendment rights above all else.
“Pro-gun” and “anti-gun” are far too simplistic to cover most people’s worldviews, I think you’ll find.
I believe that most guns that are currently legal should continue to be, but that they ought to be regulated the same way cars are - all guns are registered to their owner, all sales/transfers recorded, owners should have to pass a test and get a license that can be revoked for reckless conduct.
So I voted bacon.
I’m strongly pro-gun, but to me, I think Canada and the UK have very reasonable gun laws. That probably makes me very anti-gun to most people.
But personally, I have no problem requiring people to register handguns, store guns in a proper way when not in use, and be subject to strict transportation laws as well. Magazine limits of no more than 6 or 7? Fine with me. Universal background checks? Absolutely a must and it’s sickening we don’t have this in the US.
I’m against a ban on “assault weapons” though, because it’s a pointless distraction from what would really keep us safe.
But I think everyone should own a gun, be trained properly on how to use it, and be allowed to carry it on their person in most locations (I’m fine with banning them from schools and other government buildings. Universities should allow carry if they want but the state shouldn’t mandate it either.)
I like the way a few others have already noted: treat them about the same as cars, and I think that’d be great.
I handed my collection of around 40 assorted rifles and shotguns over to the cops a few years back.
I’m by no means anti guns, I just don’t agree with having every man and his dog walking around armed unless you’re in a war zone.
I’m strongly pro gun for the same reason I’m strongly pro anything that is for sale. If I want it and I can afford it, I should be able to own it without jumping through a multitude of loops. If I own a gun it ain’t no one’s business but mine. I’m strongly anti gun registration.
Bacon.
I’m not anti-gun, I just think they need to be very very hard to buy background checks, waiting periods, mandatory safety classes for a license to own, etc) and they need to be re-registered every year or two.
Like cars, but harder.
This poll is nearly worthless, it requires much further clarification.
For example, how, exactly, is the bacon prepared?
mmm
I’m strongly “other.”
Personally, I don’t get the appeal of guns any more than I get people’s obsessions with cars or motorcycles or speedboats. I understand that we all have different interests - I just don’t see anything interesting about the things I mentioned. And I’m sure there are folks who don’t get my interest in gardening, knitting, and pottery, so fair’s fair.
I’m not anti-gun, but I am strongly in favor of mandatory education and limits of some sort with regard to them. After all, we have to pass tests in order to be able to drive, and I expect there are background checks to ensure someone who’s lost their license can’t go one state over and get a new one, and driving a vehicle isn’t in and of itself designed to kill. So why shouldn’t we have similar regulations for those who want to own items which exist to kill. Yeah, I know - target shooting, but I’m pretty sure that the guy who invented the gun didn’t think “This will be cool for blowing up watermelons!!”
Bottom line - I’m OK with people having guns as long as they’ve been educated regarding their safe use and storage. Sadly, I think that’s too much common sense for our legislators to accept.
None of those translucent ovals, but still with some flexibility. However, it must be purchased from a licensed vendor, and no private citizen can stockpile more that 18 lbs. I’m against mandated cholesterol screenings.
I’m pro-gun, in the sense that I want certain military and law enforcement personnel to be amply armed.
I’m anti-gun, in the sense that I find guns rather droll, after having shot everything from a .22 to an M-16. I have no desire to own a gun myself, and I seem to get through life just fine without one.
I’m OK with the 2nd ammendment and private ownership of firearms, but I think people take it way too far. I’m OK with hobbyists, I’m rather irritated by the activists.
I generally think that most gun-control proposals are silly and likely to be inneffective, but I think activists like to pretend that they’re bravely defending some kind of god-given right. I don’t agree with that characterization. I don’t think that opposing gun-control is a noble endeavor.
I think eligible citizens should be allowed to own firearms for protection. I’d also be OK with universal licensing and registration.
So I voted bacon.
Non of the above.
Anti-gun-control to the extent that the Feinsteins of the world would like to impose.
There should have been a falafel option.
I’m a gun owner and was raised in a very pro-gun household. I favor universal background checks, mandatory safety courses and registration, and believe the NRA to be a malignant force at the behest of gun manufacturers who secure their profit machine by spreading fear propaganda to paranoiacs and racists, deftly control politicians using a combination of bribery and political blackmail, and hide behind false notions of “liberty” and “preventing tyranny” while leaving thousands upon thousands of preventable deaths in their wake. So, fry up some bacon.
Apologies all, I really should have defined the choices more clearly, as follows:
[ul]
[li]strongly pro-gun: I believe that private ownership of firearms is a benefit to society and there should be the fewest practical restrictions on owning them[/li][li]mildly pro-gun: I am overall in favor of gun ownership but would accept restrictions that others might not[/li][li]neutral/ no opinion/ qualified answer/ other: what it says on the tin[/li][li]mildly anti-gun: I’m not in favor of banning all guns but there should be strong limits on what guns people can own[/li][li]strongly anti-gun: As an ideal, no one should possess firearms at all; barring that, the heaviest restrictions that can be enacted[/li][li]bacon: all polls must have ‘bacon’ as an option[/li][/ul]
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Mr. Turnip.
Lumpy, I still am confused how I should have voted in your poll. Regardless, I voted strongly pro gun. I think everyone should own one (in the sense that ‘everyone’ owns a car, ie, not literally everyone), they should be registered, licenses should be required, support magazine limits, transportation and storage laws, etc, etc, etc.
Does that make me anti-gun though, that I would like so many restrictions while still wanting everyone to have them and know how to use them (in the same sense that I want everyone to have access to a car and be licensed to drive it, registered to own it, and have to pass a competency test to be able to drive legally)?