The right to bare arms

[JVides]

Dave, I think you and I are on the same wavelength here.  I agree that the right to own firearms is one that will never go away, and I'm not sure that it should.  I'm not the most conversant guy in the world when it comes to gun control, but, as I understand it (and correct me if I'm wrong) only original weapons buyers (from a retail perspective) are registered as purchasing a weapon and subject to waiting periods, background checks, etc...  Once the original buyer has it, he/she may sell the weapon (say, at a gun show) and not have to go through the checks and waiting periods on the next buyer.  Now, I have to let the DMV know when I sell my car (transfer of title); why not when I sell a weapon? 

[MaineDolFan]

The thing is about transferring the sale of a firearm - say that you sell your weapon to someone.  It is then used in a crime.  The original registration of that weapon will lead to your door.  So the question will be asked: did you do your proper due diligence when selling that firearm?  Did you collect personal information (name / address) of the person you sold it to? 

[JVides]

The thing is about transferring the sale of a firearm - say that you sell your weapon to someone.  It is then used in a crime.  The original registration of that weapon will lead to your door.  So the question will be asked: did you do your proper due diligence when selling that firearm?  Did you collect personal information (name / address) of the person you sold it to? 

What if the answer is "got cash for it at a gun show, here's the bill of sale, can't read the name"?  Now a murder has happened, and you (the seller) get slapped with a misdemeanor charge and fine while the murderer's got himslef a "clean" gun.  I think this is an easy control to exercise.  Maybe each gun show has a registration area, where you must register with Law Enforcement if/when you do buy a gun.  Would this make a dent?  Anyone know?

[MaineDolFan]

Personally I think there is a massive flaw in the system in regards to purchase.  The original purchase from a licensed dealer / store is really hard.  There are a lot of checks and balances to get through.  Just like a vehicle can not be driven without registered, I believe the private sale of a hand gun shouldn't be allowed.  You can only sell it to an authorized dealer, they can process the re-sale.  But that's just me.

[SCFinfan]

Does anyone here think that even if there was no second amendment, the individual ownership of guns would be protected under the 1st amendment? It's possible, I think. I suppose you could say ownership of guns is some sort of valuable expression, worthy of protection by the 1st amendment...

thoughts?

[Sunstroke]

As long as they don't make me register my edged weapons, I don't really care about the gun laws...

[fyo]

Your arguing semantics fyo. That's like saying if I bash gays its ok because they choose to be gay. I can choose another religion just like they can choose not to participate in gay acticvities.

As I repeatedly stated, my feelings towards a person is based solely on their ACTIONS. However, unlike skin color, BELIEFS does have an impact on someone's actions. There is a CAUSAL relationship between BELIEF and ACTIONS. There is no such CAUSAL relationship between RACE and ACTIONS.

That's a HUGE difference.

Now, with respect to sexual preference, the CAUSAL relationship would seem to be limited to one specific area (sexual preference). Now, a lot of people have a huge problem with homosexuality (personally, I couldn't give a damn what people do, in any facet of their life, as long as they don't try to shove their belief/morality/sexuality or anything else down my throat), mostly religious people, I might add, but I don't see a reason why there would be a CAUSAL relationship between sexual preference and any other ACTIONS.

Should we always reserve judgment and base our opinions on ACTIONS alone? Yes. Realistically, however, if your religion or belief system results in you wearing a pointy white hat and tattooing swastikas on your arms, well, I'm probably going to judge you based on your beliefs.

Hate crimes lumps everyone together... and should IMHO.  

I'm tempted to say that all crimes are hate crimes, but this is a completely different discussion in my opinion and we're already getting too far off topic (the right to bear (or bare) arms).

[Phishfan]

  Now, I have to let the DMV know when I sell my car (transfer of title); why not when I sell a weapon? 

Simple answer for Florida residents. It is against state law for the state to compile a list of gun owners.

[run_to_win]

I'm tempted to say that all crimes are hate crimes, but this is a completely different discussion in my opinion and we're already getting too far off topic (the right to bear (or bare) arms).

Yes, the topic of this form of state sanctioned special treatment/racism/other-ism should be left for another thread.

Everyone in reasonable shape should have the right to bare arms.  I especially encourage young ladies with well toned muscles to bare their arms.

On the other hand, Raider fans who bought their Raider t-shirts 100 lbs ago and promptly ripped the sleeves off should not have the right to bare their arms.  They also should not have the right to bare their facial hair.  (Male Raiders fans should have the right to bare facial hair as it's part of the image.) 

[run_to_win]

The gun issue is one I'm kinda conflicted about.  I hate guns.  I don't want to own one, and I am not comfortable with them.  I don't want to be around them.  In a perfect world, or country, citizens would not carry them.

However, this is not a perfect world, and I don't pretend that it is.  For a culture so rooted in personal gun ownership, it's too difficult to retract that right.  It is also equally entrenched into the criminal world, so a gun ban would most likely only strengthen the effectiveness of criminals.

A very logical and realistic point of view.

[Dave Gray]

Wow, I think I've gotten 2 Run2Win applauses in the last 7 days.  Ready your fallout shelters.  The end is near.

[MaineDolFan]

I'm waiting for the Earth to crack and the locust to come.

[Sunstroke]

I'm waiting for the Earth to crack and the locust to come.

No, no, no...the propecy clearly states that the earthquakes and locusts come when Joe Tex achieves true happiness. We're safe for now.

[run_to_win]

Wow, I think I've gotten 2 Run2Win applauses in the last 7 days.  Ready your fallout shelters.  The end is near.

Yeah, keep this up and might have to start calling you "Grasshopper" and tell you how proud I am of you.   

[GUATARICCAN]

I found it funny that when I moved here to Texas I bought an AR15 at a gun show and after the background check and paying I just walked right out with it. I know there's no longer the law of the waiting period but even in Florida when I bought a 1984 yugo SKS,  they made me wait 5 days before the pick up. Also when I bought a 10/22 at Bass Pro Shops in Florida they did the same thing. My point is that even though it wasn't required by law to hold it they did it anyways. Now I don't have a problem with that, but I do like it here that I can walk out with pretty much any firearm I can afford the same day after the background check. As for private sales I agree that they need to put stricter laws on it. Every gun show I go to there are people walking around with rifles and pistols with a flag or something sticking out of the barrel with a for sale sign. Unfortunately there are no laws against private sales requiring a background check. So if you do sell your gun make sure it's to someone you know so you don't have to worry about it's involvement in a crime. Even though that probably isn't a guarantee either.

Anyways here's a link to check the firearm laws in your state. I'm glad Florida and Texas have very lax laws for a firearm collector such as myself. Compared to places like Cali and NY, where you have 60 days or whatever to register your firearm with the police. 

http://www.nraila.org/GunLaws/#?st=TX