I know this post is old, but I had to reply to your comment. You saying that mass ownership of guns is one of the leading causes of terror and misery in our society made me want to give you another viewpoint. First, the cause of terror and misery is misguided people, not their tool of choice. Anyone that wises to terrorize will find a way to do it, guns or not (see Sept 11th).
Do you really think guns were created with the sole intent to kill other people? Is that the only purpose you think they serve? I grew up on a cattle farm in rural Virginia where the hospital and the police were easily an hour away from the farm, and there was no 911 service. I almost always carried a gun when I worked on the farm, especially when I had to go into the deep woods to repair the perimeter fence. Did I carry a gun to kill people or terrorize? Of course not! I carried it because there were many sightings of black bear and bobcats and even occasional coyotes, and being so far from help, I had to protect myself. We would also use guns to kill wild animals for food, such as squirrels, rabbits or deer. Also if we were harvesting one of our steers for food, we'd use a gun for that. Finally, being so far away from help, what if someone tries to break into your home to harm your family? It was a mile to the next neighbor's house so they weren't going to hear, and if you did get the number for the police looked up in the phone book (remember no 911 service), it was going to be an hour before someone got there to protect you. I certainly felt better knowing that in that situation, I could protect myself and my family with my gun, but having it as a means of self defense didn't mean that I ever used it to threaten or terrorize anybody.
Do I still own a gun? Yes, I do. Do I believe I should have the right to own a gun? Absolutely. I believe I should have the right to protect myself, and a gun ban at this point only takes guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens. Do I terrorize people because I own a gun? I've only ever used my gun for peaceful purposes and protection, I've never threatened anyone with it, nor do I carry it outside my home other than on the farm. No, I don't terrorize.
My point is that your statement, while it may have some truth in some cities, is not applicable across all of society as you imply. I challenge you to honestly consider that fact and to have a more open mind about gun owners in the future.
That's a dastardly accusation. I never said or implied that being ill makes you a bad person, nor do I believe that nonsense. In our society, however, mental illness (not those that are ill) is something that is bad that we want to cure. Given that, your previous message basically stated that religion is something bad that believers need curing of, and that's why I considered it an insult. I find it sad that you seem to have such a bias against "believers". I hope you evolve an open mind someday and can see belief in a higher power as something other than a mental illness, even if you don't agree with it.
A "species of mental illness"? I respect your right and opinion to not believe in a higher power and I'll even enjoy reading your arguments as to why you feel that way, but referring to some one as having a "mental illness" because they do is an unnecessary insult.
By the way, I believe in a higher power, and I also believe in evolution.
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I know this post is old, but I had to reply to your comment. You saying that mass ownership of guns is one of the leading causes of terror and misery in our society made me want to give you another viewpoint. First, the cause of terror and misery is misguided people, not their tool of choice. Anyone that wises to terrorize will find a way to do it, guns or not (see Sept 11th).
Do you really think guns were created with the sole intent to kill other people? Is that the only purpose you think they serve? I grew up on a cattle farm in rural Virginia where the hospital and the police were easily an hour away from the farm, and there was no 911 service. I almost always carried a gun when I worked on the farm, especially when I had to go into the deep woods to repair the perimeter fence. Did I carry a gun to kill people or terrorize? Of course not! I carried it because there were many sightings of black bear and bobcats and even occasional coyotes, and being so far from help, I had to protect myself. We would also use guns to kill wild animals for food, such as squirrels, rabbits or deer. Also if we were harvesting one of our steers for food, we'd use a gun for that. Finally, being so far away from help, what if someone tries to break into your home to harm your family? It was a mile to the next neighbor's house so they weren't going to hear, and if you did get the number for the police looked up in the phone book (remember no 911 service), it was going to be an hour before someone got there to protect you. I certainly felt better knowing that in that situation, I could protect myself and my family with my gun, but having it as a means of self defense didn't mean that I ever used it to threaten or terrorize anybody.
Do I still own a gun? Yes, I do. Do I believe I should have the right to own a gun? Absolutely. I believe I should have the right to protect myself, and a gun ban at this point only takes guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens. Do I terrorize people because I own a gun? I've only ever used my gun for peaceful purposes and protection, I've never threatened anyone with it, nor do I carry it outside my home other than on the farm. No, I don't terrorize.
My point is that your statement, while it may have some truth in some cities, is not applicable across all of society as you imply. I challenge you to honestly consider that fact and to have a more open mind about gun owners in the future.
That's a dastardly accusation. I never said or implied that being ill makes you a bad person, nor do I believe that nonsense. In our society, however, mental illness (not those that are ill) is something that is bad that we want to cure. Given that, your previous message basically stated that religion is something bad that believers need curing of, and that's why I considered it an insult. I find it sad that you seem to have such a bias against "believers". I hope you evolve an open mind someday and can see belief in a higher power as something other than a mental illness, even if you don't agree with it.
A "species of mental illness"? I respect your right and opinion to not believe in a higher power and I'll even enjoy reading your arguments as to why you feel that way, but referring to some one as having a "mental illness" because they do is an unnecessary insult. By the way, I believe in a higher power, and I also believe in evolution.