<p>Automobiles in the hands of the stupid or irresponsible spells nothing but trouble, and there is no propoganda in that.</p>
<p>I agree. Ban them.</p>
<p>Last I checked, automobiles were not weapons (even though yes, they can cause bodily harm, but that isn’t their purpose).</p>
<p>Good try there P2N!</p>
<p>Well, just trying to illustrate some factors to consider in this discussion:</p>
<ol>
<li> Operating a car lawfully on public streets and highways is a privilege, not a right.</li>
<li> Thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) more are killed and hurt in auto accidents than by the lawful and even unlawful use of firearms every year, but we accept the risk of death in the car every day as normal.</li>
<li> Owning and using firearms by citizens in the US is a right, not a privilege.</li>
<li> The basic purpose of this right is the ability of the public to resist tyrannical government and ensure self preservation.</li>
<li> It’s a loser issue for Democrats every time they try and curtail it.</li>
<li> There are far more serious issues to address than firearms.</li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>take out the word “gun”, insert “CAR”…same opinion???</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you didn’t lock it, left the key in the ignition, or didn’t take other precautions to have it stolen, then “yes.” Absolutely. You acted irresponsibly, and someone was hurt.</p>
<p>laxmom:</p>
<p>Guns are weapons. That’s their main purpose. They have no other purpose other than to practice with a weapon. Cars are for transportation. In the wrong hands, they become weapons, but that is not their primary function.</p>
<p>Having said that, if you, personally, were driving a car while on a cell phone, and you failed to see a child in front of you because you were distracted, and you kill that child, my way of looking at it as that you were so self-absorbed that your own minor convenience was put in front of others’ safety. I’d say that makes you very dangerous to others, so I would wholly support a very long prison term for you. </p>
<p>It’s all about personal responsibility, and so few seem to think they’re responsible for anything, anymore.</p>
<p>“If you didn’t lock it or take other precautions to have it stolen, then “yes.” Absolutely. You acted irresponsibly, and someone was hurt.”</p>
<p>The rules are similar for other tempting, but dangerous objects, like swimming pools. If you have a pool in a city neighborhood, you have to fence it to keep kids out. Kids like to go and drown in other peope’s pools in the middle of the night. Yes, it’s their own fault too, but the law is pretty realistic about this kind of thing. The law can’t keep kids out of unfenced pools, but it can get people to put up fences, and that has the same effect of preventing drownings.</p>
<p>Wait a minute. Its my car or gun. I left it where I figured it would be safe and a criminal steals it by whatever means and I am responsible for its misuse? Something very wrong with that rationale. Now parents need to take caution when storing firearms with young or irresponsible children. Education is the key. </p>
<p>Once I had a competition handgun I was working on and I left laying on the kitchen table, unloaded. The neighbors kid came in and said wow and grabbed it. I chewed his butt and then went over to his mom. She was the anti-gun type who wouldnt even let her kids see a gun. Her husband had a pistol but she got mad if the kids ever even saw it. I told her that parents like her are what gets kids killed. I asked her to let me take him out and teach him about guns. I took both boys with mine and taught them safety and let them shoot. Once they shoot a real gun they usually gain allot of respect for them. I told them if they ever saw a gun they wanted to pick up they were to ask me first and then after properly checking to make sure it was clear they could look at it safely. It takes away the curiosity. I firmly believe we need some type of training in the schools at an early age. The NRA has tried to implement this in schools but in most get turned away, that evil group trying to demonize our children with guns. In reality it would interfere in the anti-gun mindset the liberal educators are trying to create so they dont allow it. This puts kids at more risk just to achieve their goal. So who are the evil ones here? </p>
<p>There is misuse of both guns and cars by the stupid and irresponsible. Doesnt mean we should all be held responsible for those acts of others. </p>
<p>And I dont live in fear. Quite the contrary.</p>
<p>chuck:</p>
<p>If you leave a gun “lying” around and someone kills someone else with it, then the person who did the killing is by far the most responsible (assuming this person isn’t a child). But you’re responsible too, and should go to jail, in my book.</p>
<p>I’m a gun owner. I see it as a great responsibility. I see driving as a great responsibility. I see ANYTHING I do or don’t do that can injure or kill others as being a great responsibility. Others drive while drinking, while talking on cell phones, while putting on makeup, while eating, and while doing a host of other things that make them dangers to others. If that danger turns into harm to others, I believe those who were irresponsible should face stiff penalites.</p>
<p>Gun ownership and car ownership and ownership of a bunch of other things carries a responsibility to others to use those things wisely. If you don’t, I don’t believe you’re fit to interract with decent people.</p>
<p>I sincerely hope no children are maimed or killed because of your carelessness.</p>
<p>I am not careless. I consider consequences with every move. Being sure a gun is unloaded when i lay it down is not being careless. Carrying a gun in public with no round in the chamber is not being careless. My police friends think I am taking a risk on myself for doing that. Popular belief is if an attacker with a knife can get to you before you can draw if he is closer than 7 yards. I had to do this once and had time to rack the slide just in time to stop him with my weak hand. If I didnt have the gun I wouldnt be here writing this. Unarmed people are slaughtered every day by these scum. A whole family in Tennessee was slaughtered by a group of gothic teens at a rest area. If one of the family had been armed chances are they would be living today. It happens every day and scenes like this are stopped everyday by armed citizens. I dont think its living in fear but rather its being realistic and prepared. </p>
<p>The guy who came after me told me had the knife and was coming towards me. Luckily he didnt get to it and I didnt have to shoot him. He had the knife when arrested. Thats was in 2000. They let him go on terroristic threatening and shoplifting charges after 6 months in jail. Last month I was watching the news and another local store owner wrestled a robber to the ground getting cut by the robbers knife. Then they showed this guys picture, same guy. This guy gets out and he has a record a mile long but you let a gun owner get a gun stolen and they want to string him up because his stolen gun was misused. Lets start stringing up the real criminals first!!!</p>
<p>
I’m sure that’s true for most of us…but not all. 
LOL. I often have a rifle (and in the warm/hot months a shotgun) with me in the truck. It is a tool. I also have fence pliers and baling wire and …</p>
<p>But , yes, I know my situation is different than most.</p>
<p>chuck:</p>
<p>I have no problem with people owning guns or using them for self defense. What I have a problem with is irresponsibility. Own as many guns as you like. But if I had my way, if you screwed up and someone innocent was killed or maimed because you screwed up, you’d be subject to a heavy criminal sentence.</p>
<p>Just be responsible. Don’t screw up with something so important.</p>
<p>curmudgeon:</p>
<p>Thanks. You caught an oversight on my part. Someone who carries a gun into the back country to kill threatening critters is using it as a tool. I suppose that someone who is hunting is also using it as a tool. But it’s a weapon-tool, nevertheless.</p>
<p>Now, if you’re using that rifle to dig post holes …</p>
<p>" if you’re using that rifle to dig post holes …"</p>
<p>Now that would be expensive. LOL. Nope. I don’t hunt. But that’s just a choice not a political position. I see nothing wrong with it and recognize the neccessity of it to keep our wildlife healthy. OTOH, I kill things that threaten my animals after I do my best by non-lethal means. I don’t enjoy it. Well, most of the time I don’t anyway. There have been times I’ve celebrated.;)</p>