# Views on private gun ownership (4 categories) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176 "2019-11-08T16:23:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 8, 2019, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/1 "2019-11-08T16:23:12Z")
This would have been better suited to GD, but polling can’t be done there: AIUI there are four categories of people when it comes to the private ownership of guns in America; feel free to select as you see fit: [ol] [li]\*\*Guns are a positive good. \*\*Gun ownership, and gun rights, should remain as robust as they are, or even expanded all the more freely.[/li] [li]\*\*Guns are a necessary evil. \*\* This would describe everyone, for instance, who says “I don’t like guns, but the Constitution grants gun rights, so we have to abide by the 2nd Amendment and tolerate guns.” A good portion of the gun-control crowd would also fit in this category.[/li] [li]\*\*Guns are outright bad, period. \*\*This would describe people who want to significantly curtail guns or even ban their private ownership entirely.[/li] [li]\*\*Other: \*\* For all categories of people not included in the top three.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/2 "2019-11-08T16:25:52Z")
I voted #1 (no surprise there) ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/3 "2019-11-08T16:30:21Z")
I voted “other,” since I’m somewhere between 1 and 2. but not quite either. I don’t think they are a _necessary_ evil, and I don’t think gun right should remain as robust as they are (or even expanded). I think people should be able to own regular guns (hand guns, rifles and shotguns) for their homes, for sport (including hunting) and to make them feel more secure. I’d be fine with bans on “assault weapons.” ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/4 "2019-11-08T16:32:48Z")
I voted _ **other** _. In certain contexts, guns are necessary and useful. Outside of those contexts, guns cause more problems than they solve. I don’t think the language about good and evil adds much to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/5 "2019-11-08T16:38:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Guns are outright bad, period. This would describe people who want to significantly curtail guns or even ban their private ownership entirely. There’s a big difference between “I want to curtail private gun ownership” and “Guns are outright bad, period.” So I vote other. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/6 "2019-11-08T17:00:02Z")
Outright bad, but with exceptions. If you’re a rancher who might sometimes have to shoot a snake or a coyote, sure carry a pistol. If you’re an hour from a police station, maybe having a pistol or shotgun is necessary. If you’re hunting, sure you need a gun for that purpose. But if you think you should have assault weapons, then you lose me. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/7 "2019-11-08T17:05:27Z")
I would have phrased the poll as you did in the OP rather than as it was, but given the explanation, #1. Owning guns for target shooting or hunting is a positive good. Owning guns for defensive purposes is more of a necessary evil, but therefore gun ownership for the average citizen - i.e. not a felon nor adjudicated mentally ill - should be expanded and gun ownership for felons and the mentally ill should be restricted to the degree possible. By “a necessary evil” I mean it would be better if there were no violent crime, either where the criminal used a gun or where the strong preyed on the weak, but that is not going to happen anytime soon. FWIW. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/8 "2019-11-08T17:08:16Z")
Other. All 3 options seem comically and extremely simplified. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/9 "2019-11-08T17:11:18Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This would have been better suited to GD, but polling can’t be done there: > > AIUI there are four categories of people when it comes to the private ownership of guns in America; feel free to select as you see fit: > [ol] > [li]…[/li][li]\*\*Guns are a necessary evil. \*\* This would describe everyone, for instance, who says “I don’t like guns, but the Constitution grants gun rights, so we have to abide by the 2nd Amendment and tolerate guns.” A good portion of the gun-control crowd would also fit in this category.[/li] > [li]\*\*Guns are outright bad, period. \*\*This would describe people who want to significantly curtail guns[/li][/ol] There’s clearly a lot of overlap between #2 and #3, since the whole point of gun control is curtailing guns. Might want to ask a mod to close this poll down, and open up a new one with categories with more minimal overlap. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/10 "2019-11-08T17:11:21Z")
I’m in favor of gun control; in the sense that, if there is a gun around, I want to be the one in control of it. More seriously, **Shodan** has already said it better than I would have. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/11 "2019-11-08T17:14:54Z")
Other. Guns are tooled metal devices. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/12 "2019-11-08T17:33:56Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > I voted _ **other** _. In certain contexts, guns are necessary and useful. Outside of those contexts, guns cause more problems than they solve. > > I don’t think the language about good and evil adds much to the discussion. Seconding all parts of this. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/13 "2019-11-08T17:39:03Z")
Guns need to be highly regulated. Right now, automobiles and the right to drive them are significantly more regulated than guns and gun ownership, and there is something very wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/14 "2019-11-08T17:51:52Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Right now, automobiles and the right to drive them are significantly more regulated than guns and gun ownership Are you sure about that? Can you expand on this and give examples? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/15 "2019-11-08T18:01:12Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Guns need to be highly regulated. Right now, automobiles and the right to drive them are significantly more regulated than guns and gun ownership, and there is something very wrong with that. I’m not sure that first part of your second sentence is even true. Yes, rules vary by state, but all across the country, convicted felons can own automobiles, but not guns. Same goes for those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes or those who have a restraining order issued against them. An 18-year-old can buy a car from a dealership but not a pistol from an FFL. And those are just some of the federal regulations. Some states, like Illinois, are MUCH more restrictive of gun ownership. But even if you were correct, why is “something very wrong with that”? The right of the people to keep and bear arms is listed in the Bill of Right. It says nothing about automobiles. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/16 "2019-11-08T18:09:18Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > But even if you were correct, why is “something very wrong with that”? The right of the people to keep and bear arms is listed in the Bill of Right. It says nothing about automobiles. Automobiles are a necessity in America as it presently exists: if all motor vehicles in the nation magically disappeared tomorrow, we’d be screwed. If the same thing happened to guns, we’d be much better off. The Constitution may say what it says, but if it doesn’t fit well with the reality we live in, that’s a real problem. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/17 "2019-11-08T18:15:41Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > I voted _ **other** _. In certain contexts, guns are necessary and useful. Outside of those contexts, guns cause more problems than they solve. > > I don’t think the language about good and evil adds much to the discussion. > [@snfaulkner](#): > > Other. All 3 options seem comically and extremely simplified. Pretty much these two. It’s not really a useful poll in that respect. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m not sure that first part of your second sentence is even true. Yes, rules vary by state, but all across the country, convicted felons can own automobiles, but not guns. Same goes for those convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes or those who have a restraining order issued against them. An 18-year-old can buy a car from a dealership but not a pistol from an FFL. And those are just some of the federal regulations. Some states, like Illinois, are MUCH more restrictive of gun ownership. Conversely you need to pass both theory and practical examinations in order to operate a car and (AFAIK in all states) must renew that operator’s license regularly, which is not the case with guns. Cars must be registered with the state if you want to be able to use them and must meet stringent safety standards as verified by regular inspections (requirements vary by state), which is not the case with guns. You are required to purchase third party liability insurance in most if not all states to mitigate any damage, injury or death caused by the improper use of cars, which is not the case with guns. Use of a car while intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated is illegal, even if no detriment occurs or other laws are broken - I’m not aware of any similar laws for guns. And that’s just off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/18 "2019-11-08T18:33:23Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Other. All 3 options seem comically and extremely simplified. Also Other. Guns are tools. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/19 "2019-11-08T19:06:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > … Use of a car while intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated is illegal, even if no detriment occurs or other laws are broken - I’m not aware of any similar laws for guns. … At least on this point, you are mis/uninformed. > [@](#): > > We found three types of laws in 26 states that restrict firearm use by intoxicated people: sales or transfers are restricted in six states, carrying of concealed weapons is restricted in four states, and possession or discharge of a firearm while intoxicated is restricted in 20 states. [source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2925003/) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176/20 "2019-11-08T19:17:54Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > At least on this point, you are mis/uninformed. > > [source](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2925003/) Except his point was that cars are _more_ regulated. 50 states is _more_ than 20 or 26. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/views-on-private-gun-ownership-4-categories/843176.md?page=2)