Guns, who should be able to own them? Options

[*NatiMarie*]

We all know that guns can cause harm, they're everywhere darnit!

Primarily, who can own them? Who shouldn't own them?

[ComradeRed]

I see what you're saying, that we have the power to choose the ppl in the government.. but people are easily swayed by false claims as well.. and taking this topic back to guns..

Minda, what do you mean by arbitrary criteria?

Arbitrary Criteria = Criteria that a group of beaucrats decide on without due process of law, for example "competency" to use guns.

Fact: Civilian gun ownership is the BEST proven deterrent to foreign invasion, and also to oppressive government.

The Nazis overran every country in Northern Mainland Europe during WWII, except Switzerland. Why? Because of guns. (also because of Swiss foreign policy, but mainly guns) Every Swiss household had guns. Swiss youths were taught to shoot at 300 yards, while Germans were taught to shoot at 100 yards. Hitler learned from the fact that the Red Army suffered massive casulaties trying to inavde tiny little Finland, and Switzerland was spared Nazi invasion.

Guns should only be held by law enforcement and military. Yes, I know that getting rid of guns would not get rid of violence all together, but it would lessen the amount of violence.

John Locke said: "Whenever the legislators endeavour to take away or destroy the property of the people, and reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, it puts itself at a STATE OF WAR with the people, who are henceforth release from any further obligation to obedience and left to the common refuge that God has provided for all men against force and fraud (revolution)."

For those of you who don't know John Locke, he is the person who inspired the democratic Enlightenment. Our own Declaration of Independence and to some extent our Constitution reflect his ideas.

Clearly, our Congress takes away our property all the time, and you could argue that measures such as the draft reduce the people to slavery under governemnt power. The Social Contract sees that the Government, whenever possible, will ALWAYS try to break the law, i.e. the Constitution.

Long story short, in a Republic, we ARE the law enforcement. We, the citizen body, must do our best to ENFORCE THE LAWS UPON THE GOVERNMENT, and defend the Constitution. To do so, sometimes, the ballot box isn't enough. We need guns.