checking

[Deleted]

I want to know what people's basic beliefs on gun control are on this forum. I don't want anything more than the basics because it's a heated issue at the moment and any difference in belief will probably spark an argument that can get rather ugly rather fast. For that reason, I'm locking this thread. For anyone who wants to go in depth about their thoughts on this topic, or who wants to call me an ignorant shithead for not letting you say your full thoughts on this thread, or whatever else, you can make your own thread and say what you want there. I am not responsible for what happens there.

I tried to list the most common ones, but on the off chance yours isn't up there, pick what's closest, please. You can pick up to two answers.

Results won't show until the poll is locked (1 week from today).

[Bannanachair]

I think that New Zealand has a pretty good gun control system, if anyone wants to look it up. Basically, anyone can apply for a gun license, but they require proper training with the safety procedures, they'll be vetted, they need a reason to own the gun (as a hobby is a good reason), close friends and family may be required to provide letters of recommendation or even interview as well, and when asked "Do you need the gun in order to feel safe in your home?" if the answer is "yes", the police will actually try to solve the bloody problem instead of just leaving you to your own devices with a gun. Once you get the license you can buy any gun of the type that you're licensed to wield: If you have a pistol license, you can own any pistol, but you can't buy a rifle, because that's a different class (that's not really what the classes are, but I know nothing about guns). You also, obviously, need to have a gun safe for each gun that you own, and ammunition is legally required to be stored outside of the gun.

It's a good middle-of-the-road option, in my opinion. People who like guns and are mentally sound individuals who just like hunting or going to the shooting range get what they want, and at the same time people who are likely to, say, shoot up a school are denied access to their gun. (Letting an unlicensed individual handle your guns is, obviously, a crime as well, just like letting an unlicensed driver drive your car is).

[Deleted]

That's great, but uh... tim, this thread was supposed to be locked.

At least pretend you can't post on it so it's fair to everyone else. Or convince me that it's a good idea to have it unlocked; whichever you choose, I guess.

[Bannanachair]

Feb 21, 2018 21:53:33 GMT -4 @nolongerthan20charas said:

That's great, but uh... tim, this thread was supposed to be locked.

At least pretend you can't post on it so it's fair to everyone else. Or convince me that it's a good idea to have it unlocked; whichever you choose, I guess.

There's more nuance to this than can be easily represented by a simple vote, and an open discussion on the topic would allow at least some of that nuance to come forth.

[Deleted]

I can unlock the thread for discussion once the poll is locked, but I can't predict how things would go from there. There's a tendency in online communities where as soon as something considered political is brought up, everything goes to shit, mostly because people don't quite know how to build a sound argument and avoid fallacies.

In this particular community, as it is now, people most likely won't be as bad in that regard, but it still has the potential to be bad enough that I'm not so sure I want to find out.

[Bannanachair]

Feb 21, 2018 22:52:04 GMT -4 @nolongerthan20charas said:

I can unlock the thread for discussion once the poll is locked, but I can't predict how things would go from there. There's a tendency in online communities where as soon as something considered political is brought up, everything goes to shit, mostly because people don't quite know how to build a sound argument and avoid fallacies.

In this particular community, as it is now, people most likely won't be as bad in that regard, but it still has the potential to be bad enough that I'm not so sure I want to find out.

If this gets out of hand then lock the thread and take appropriate actions. As it is, I like to think that this community is smarter than lots of other online communities, and that we can respectfully disagree about topics without hating eachother.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2018 23:15:52 GMT -4 Bannanachair said:

Feb 21, 2018 22:52:04 GMT -4 @nolongerthan20charas said:

I can unlock the thread for discussion once the poll is locked, but I can't predict how things would go from there. There's a tendency in online communities where as soon as something considered political is brought up, everything goes to shit, mostly because people don't quite know how to build a sound argument and avoid fallacies.

In this particular community, as it is now, people most likely won't be as bad in that regard, but it still has the potential to be bad enough that I'm not so sure I want to find out.

If this gets out of hand then lock the thread and take appropriate actions. As it is, I like to think that this community is smarter than lots of other online communities, and that we can respectfully disagree about topics without hating eachother.

Alright, it'll be opened in a week.

[Bannanachair]

Feb 22, 2018 0:51:49 GMT -4 @nolongerthan20charas said:

Feb 21, 2018 23:15:52 GMT -4 Bannanachair said:

If this gets out of hand then lock the thread and take appropriate actions. As it is, I like to think that this community is smarter than lots of other online communities, and that we can respectfully disagree about topics without hating eachother.

Alright, it'll be opened in a week.

That makes sense.

Also, I would like to add to my statement that, although I think somewhat stricter gun regulations would be helpful, I was in no way implying that guns are the only problem. They are a problem in some cases, but there are more factors than availability of guns contributing to the school shootings, otherwise, everyone with a gun would shoot up a school. That being said, I do think that an effort needs to be made to keep guns out of the hands of people who would do mass shootings, if for no other reasons than to prevent them from doing mass shootings. Like, if you're an otherwise law-abiding citizen who enjoys collecting guns as a hobby, then that's great, as long as you handle them safely and prevent your kids from getting them. If you're the type of person who romanticizes the guy who did Columbine, then you should not be allowed to have a gun.

I also think that America is too diverse a country for a single blanket solution, and that it should be handled more at a state level without the federal government coming in to stop states from legislating guns as they want to. Texas is larger than France.

[Deleted]

Woops, I'm a day late.

[Bannanachair]

So everyone voted on the same thing on the polls, but of course, there are different levels of restrictions: Anything from needing to show ID to buy a gun to needing to go through a licensing process akin to getting a driver's license to get a gun. (Which, by the way, let me just point out that it is really weird that it is easier to buy a gun than it is to buy an automobile: Sure, cars and whatnot can be dangerous, but guns were literally designed to kill people!)

[Benzo]

Easier in what sense, that they're cheaper? Buying anything that requires some sort of loan almost instantly becomes a long, pain in the ass process.

[Bannanachair]

Mar 1, 2018 19:59:00 GMT -4 Benzo said:

Easier in what sense, that they're cheaper? Buying anything that requires some sort of loan almost instantly becomes a long, pain in the ass process.

You need to go to the DMV and deal with all that crap to get a diver's license to get a car. I don't think that there's a gun equivalent for that in lots of states.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2018 19:15:44 GMT -4 Bannanachair said:

but guns were literally designed to kill people!)

I mean, depends on the gun (since some are designed for killing animals), but yeah.

[Benzo]

You actually don't have to have a license before buying a vehicle. It might just be a bit difficult to get it off the lot if you don't.