Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

The Right to Bear Arms ... on Campus

I like the right to bear arms.  I will grudgingly agree that some places, such as bars, are places where guns probably shouldn't be.  This bill proposes allowing guns on college campuses.  I think that's a great idea.  It would make school shootings briefer, because one of the armed students or teachers might manage to take out the shooter.  And it might help discourage rape, too.
Tags: education, news, politics
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  • 118 comments
marina_bonomi

marina_bonomi

March 17 2011, 19:31:21 UTC 10 years ago Edited:  March 17 2011, 19:34:59 UTC

I admit that I don't understand why in a country that isn't in a serious crisis (disaster, civil war or the like), an average citizen would have the need to carry a gun to feel safe...

On LJ and elsewhere I've often see the risk of rape mentioned as a reason for a lot of different things (from being pro-choice to taking self-defence courses or carrying weapons), do you know where I could find data about the incidence of rape in the U.S.? I wonder at the difference of 'perception of average risk' I notice between here and there
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

March 17 2011, 19:39:28 UTC 10 years ago

>> I admit that I don't understand why in a country that isn't in a serious crisis (disaster, civil war or the like), an average citizen would ave te need to carry a gun to feel safe...<<

If you have a gun, you can use it to defend yourself against home robbery, mugging, carjacking, rape, and other violent crimes. These are commonly cited as reasons why individuals choose to carry a gun. The campus shooter is a more recent addition.

While America is not currently embroiled in civil war, it is considerably below my standards for a safe/sane/functional society. I can easily understand why people feel threatened and wish to go armed for personal protection.

>> do you know where I could find data about the incidence of rape in the U.S.? I wonder at the difference of 'perception of average risk' I notice between here and there <<

America has a relatively high rate of rape and other sexual crimes, especially for a developed nation. Furthermore, campus environments are among the most prone to this type of crime. Some statistics may be found at:
http://www.rainn.org/statistics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_statistics
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
http://www.paralumun.com/issuesrapestats.htm
fayanora

Re: Well...

fayanora

March 17 2011, 20:56:17 UTC 10 years ago

More likely what's gonna happen is a gun is gonna piss off the rapist/mugger and he snatches it out of your hand and shoots you just because you angered him. Guns are not magic wands you wave around to get what you want.
marina_bonomi

Re: Well...

marina_bonomi

March 17 2011, 21:14:09 UTC 10 years ago

Yes, that's the scenario that comes to mind.
I'm really not that sure that 'gun in the house' equals more safety.
fayanora

Re: Well...

fayanora

March 17 2011, 21:18:13 UTC 10 years ago

Indeed. Guns are not safe. Having a gun is not safe. I don't care how good one is at it, how much training one has had. Guns should not be in the hands of private citizens. We don't have these kinds of discussions about bombs; private citizens are not allowed to own or make bombs. So why do we allow them to own guns?
terrycloth

Re: Well...

terrycloth

March 17 2011, 22:41:47 UTC 10 years ago

So that they can shoot the politicians when they get too evil.

No, that's the real reason. n.n
rhodielady_47

Re: Well...

rhodielady_47

March 17 2011, 21:53:39 UTC 10 years ago

"America has a relatively high rate of rape and other sexual crimes, especially for a developed nation."
Chances are they are only going by the numbers of REPORTED sex crimes. Just remember that in many countries women still hide the fact that they have been the victim of sexual assault.
:[
my_partner_doug

Re: Well...

my_partner_doug

March 18 2011, 17:58:20 UTC 10 years ago

"Chances are they are only going by the numbers of REPORTED sex crimes. "

That applies to the U.S. as well as elsewhere; both the F.B.I. and the Justice Department estimate that far less than half of all rapes are reported to the police.
msstacy13

msstacy13

March 17 2011, 21:16:08 UTC 10 years ago

Although the idea behind it is that the government ~knowing~ everyone has a gun
will be less oppressive.
I'm not sure it actually works that way.
fayanora

fayanora

March 17 2011, 21:21:58 UTC 10 years ago

*Raucous laughter*

*Wipes a tear from her eye caused by laughter* Oh, that's awesome. Like a military with tanks, machine guns, and nuclear bombs is going to give a shit about a few puny guns in the hands of its citizens. Might as well take the military on with pea shooters.
msstacy13

msstacy13

March 17 2011, 21:46:49 UTC 10 years ago

Do keep in mind that the US constitition was written in the late 18th century;
neither the rifle nor mass production had yet been invented.
At that time, any group of farmers could shoulder their muskets
and give an army a run for its money.
It was precisely that which gave rise to the US constitution, in fact.
fayanora

fayanora

March 18 2011, 00:05:39 UTC 10 years ago

Yes. And now the 2nd amendment is obsolete and needs to be repealed.
msstacy13

msstacy13

March 18 2011, 00:17:05 UTC 10 years ago

If I thought that might happen,
I'd probably buy a gun and close ranks with the other loonies.
rhodielady_47

A history lesson for you...

rhodielady_47

March 17 2011, 22:03:23 UTC 10 years ago

Practically the first thing Hitler did when he was voted into office was bann the ownership of guns through a series of ever-tightening laws.
By the time the police started rounding up and loading onto cattle cars bound for the concentration camps the jews, gypsies, mentally/physically handicapped, and etc. the general public in Germany had no guns of any sort left to protect themselves with.
Think about it: Would you let yourself be forcibly herded onto a cattle car, leaving all your belongings behind never to be seen or heard from ever again?
fayanora

Re: A history lesson for you...

fayanora

March 18 2011, 00:07:29 UTC 10 years ago

The moment you bring Hitler into the conversation, you lose all credibility. It's a moot point, anyway, as Britain has strict anti-gun laws, too, yet is not a racist tyrannical empire. Strict anti-gun laws do not equal OMG EVIL.
rhodielady_47

The history lesson Continues...

rhodielady_47

10 years ago

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fayanora

Re: The history lesson Continues...

fayanora

10 years ago

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ravan

Re: The history lesson Continues...

ravan

10 years ago

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fayanora

Re: The history lesson Continues...

fayanora

10 years ago

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ysabetwordsmith

Re: The history lesson Continues...

ysabetwordsmith

10 years ago

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