# Why do you need a gun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 11, 2013, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873 "2013-01-11T17:22:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/201 "2013-01-13T23:35:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I don’t want to confiscate any guns that are currently legal for unrestricted private ownership. That sounds like a politician answer. I’d like to hear you answer like someone who has nothing to hide. I think you said you would like semi-auto rifles banned. If that were to happen, do you think it would be a good thing if they were then confiscated? Also I’m still waiting to hear if you think semi-auto shotguns, or if handguns should be legal or not. Just your honest opinion, is all I ask. Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/202 "2013-01-13T23:40:13Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I think you said you would like semi-auto rifles banned. For the record, I never said this. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/203 "2013-01-13T23:44:21Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > For the record, I never said this. Banned in the same way that full-machine guns are banned right? ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/204 "2013-01-13T23:48:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > For the record, I never said this. How about you just explain your position instead of baiting us so that you can reject our guesses? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/205 "2013-01-13T23:48:19Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Banned in the same way that full-machine guns are banned right? I never said that. Quote me, or retract this statement. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/206 "2013-01-13T23:48:51Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > The trouble with that rather specious reply is that the Second Amendment as originally written is still in effect, while the franchise in the U.S. (I assume the general wellspring of “white landowning male” arguments) has been repeatedly modified and extended via various Amendments, including the 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th and 26th. It _always_ amuses me to see a Canadian kick the shit out of an American on a US Constitution issue. You rock, **Bryan**! [sub]FTR, I’m a dual citizen. I kinda love/hate _both_ sides of the border.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/207 "2013-01-13T23:50:44Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I never said that. Quote me, or retract this statement. OK, I’ll look for it. In the meantime you could answer my questions instead of arguing about what you said or not. Seems you are bending over backwards to avoid saying what you think. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/208 "2013-01-13T23:53:06Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > OK, I’ll look for it. In the meantime you could answer my questions instead of arguing about what you said or not. Seems you are bending over backwards to avoid saying what you think. Why is that? I have stated what I think. I feel no obligation to meet your demands. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/209 "2013-01-14T00:01:04Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I never said that. Quote me, or retract this statement. You said: “I think we should ban unrestricted private ownership of full automatic rifles.” Whoops, we did. From your cold dead hands. So the 2nd is not absolute, and we are simply negotiating the details." Later: “We, as in America. America bans guns, under federal law.” And then: “Well, excuse me. If we can just have the same regulations on semi-automatic rifles as we do on automatic rifles, do you really think the gun fetishists would agree that is not a ban?” ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/210 "2013-01-14T00:04:59Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > I have stated what I think. I feel no obligation to meet your demands. Do you think handguns should be banned? Do you think semi-auto shotguns should be banned? ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/211 "2013-01-14T00:06:51Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > spurious connection. you claimed gun registration leads to confiscation, and failed to prove your case. this was not registration. Chicago first required registration of handguns, then a year or so later, when it passed a law banning handgun ownership, used the registration list to confiscate those handguns. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/212 "2013-01-14T00:14:40Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > iartemis was arguing that all people suggesting registration have a hidden agenda toward a complete ban of all firearms, I’m saying there’s absolutely no proof of that. be as paranoid as you want though, that seems to be a common gun owner refrain. No, I was arguing that SOME people arguing for registration have a more-comprehensive agenda in mind (which can hardly be called hidden as in the past they have openly admitted that bans were their goal). Since registration clearly makes later confiscation easier, gun owners are therefore rightfully wary of it. It’s not paranoia when there really ARE people out to get you. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/213 "2013-01-14T00:16:11Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > I think you said you would like semi-auto rifles banned. > [@Kable](#): > > You said: > > “I think we should ban unrestricted private ownership of full automatic rifles.” > > Whoops, we did. From your cold dead hands. So the 2nd is not absolute, and we are simply negotiating the details." > > Later: > > “We, as in America. America bans guns, under federal law.” > > And then: > > “Well, excuse me. If we can just have the same regulations on semi-automatic rifles as we do on automatic rifles, do you really think the gun fetishists would agree that is not a ban?” Now that you realize I never said I would like semi-auto rifles banned, do you retract that claim? ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/214 "2013-01-14T00:21:22Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > Maybe responsible gun owners need to realize that national registration is in their own best interest, instead of painting everyone that supports gun control as nut cases. Oh, really. In that case, you can tell me how registration benefits me. Please, tell me how that works. _How_ do I benefit? Enlighten me. How does it benefit me that there will now be a record of my cobweb covered shotgun? I’m not seeing any point, here. Perhaps _you_ have one you can present. Present it. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/215 "2013-01-14T00:24:01Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Now that you realize I never said I would like semi-auto rifles banned, do you retract that claim? For fuck’s sake! He could certainly be excused for inferring that from your statements. Why are you wasting everyone’s time with this shit when you could just explain whatever your point is more clearly? ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/216 "2013-01-14T00:26:04Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Now that you realize I never said I would like semi-auto rifles banned, do you retract that claim? Nope, I can tell exactly what you mean. I would be happy to hear you clarify if you think misunderstand you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/217 "2013-01-14T00:27:50Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > For fuck’s sake! He could certainly be excused for inferring that from your statements. Why are you wasting everyone’s time with this shit when you could just explain whatever your point is more clearly? Because it would not satisfy those who want to believe that everyone in favor of changing gun laws wants to confiscate all their guns. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/218 "2013-01-14T00:31:45Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > For fuck’s sake! He could certainly be excused for inferring that from your statements. Why are you wasting everyone’s time with this shit when you could just explain whatever your point is more clearly? I think he does not want gun rights advocates to know, what they already strongly suspect, which is that pretty much all the so called “reasonable restriction” guys really want eventual confiscation. They want to maintain that the slippery slope argument is irrational, when in fact it’s all according to their plans/wishes. Right Fear Itself? Right Boblibdem? Right Czarcasm? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/219 "2013-01-14T00:34:00Z")
> [@Kable](#): > > Right Fear Itself? Right Boblibdem? Right Czarcasm? The reason no one wants to answer you is you seem to insist on holding down both sides of the conversation. Proceed. ---
**Author:** ![Kable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kable)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2013, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873/220 "2013-01-14T00:34:42Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Because it would not satisfy those who want to believe that everyone in favor of changing gun laws wants to confiscate all their guns. Squirm, squirm, squirm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-you-need-a-gun/646873.md?page=12)