Guns. Can we improve responsibility?

JonnyPistachio

I dont want to take away anyone's guns.
But I recently mentioned how many accidental shootings were happening in my area, and people doubted those claims. Its not so much that people are being irresponsible, but it sounds like the accidents are getting dumber and dumber.

Maybe we need more classes or education though. (I'm all for reducing magazine limits too)
Will firearm technology ever evolve (or do we even want it to) to something futuristic - like fingerprint identification, allowing only the owner to unlock the trigger?

Here are some of the idiotic stories of late in my state:

Pastors daughter inadvertantly shot in church! :shock:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/1 ... 72959.html

Son Shoots Grandmother in leg trying to stop dogfight :roll:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/browar ... 7424.story

3 year old shoots self in chest :(
http://www.fox30jax.com/mostpopular/sto ... Yek9A.cspx

blackredyellow

Education is the key, but you can't teach someone who doesn't care to learn.

It's heartbreaking when you hear about kids accidently shooting kids or themselves. Without even getting into the gun control debate, there are so many common sense things that you can do as a gun owner to prevent 99% of these horrible things from happening.

BinauralJam

Smart bullet is a term that has been used to describe several theoretical and prototype bullets. The "smart" part comes from the bullet doing something other than simply following its given trajectory, e.g. turning, speeding up, slowing down, sending data, etc.


[edit] Types of smart bullets This section is empty. You can help by adding to it.

[edit] Changing trajectoryOne kind of smart bullet is a projectile that is capable of changing its course during flight. One use of this would be to enable soldiers to stay behind protective cover and shoot around corners. One implementation uses a muscle wire inside the bullet. The wire shortens or lengthens, causing the bullet to bend.[citation needed] Another implementation uses a spoiler and micro gyro to control the bullet.[1]

[edit] NavigatingHoneywell Aerospace has produced inertial measurement units based on MEMS and microelectronics technologies that it claims can survive the shock of being fired out of a gun.[2]

[edit] Transmitting dataAnother smart bullet is one that can transmit data about the location into which it has been fired. A prototype has been created by researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, USA with funding from Lockheed Martin.[3] The bullet (projectile) has a sensor inside of it that can send wireless data up to 70 meters.

[edit] Limiting rangeAnother smart bullet is one that self-destructs within a limited range. This would be used to minimize collateral damage of a bullet in case of a miss. For example, hunting near a populated area. This would involve either change in course into the ground, or near vaporization.



Heard about this recently, like something out of the movie's Scanners, they hope to make it work by the end of the decade.

cincybearcat

Well, I do want to take some guns away. Part of the problem is that guns are so prevalent in some areas that people become very complacent with them.

Kids see them everywhere, adults see them everywhere and handle them everyday. They don't think about the potential serious consequences over time. Yet the hazard is the same everyday, they're awareness of it is what is changing.

Prince Of Dorkness

I love my guns and the shooting range is a fun place to go.

That said, they're deadly weapons and not toys and should be treated with respect.

Sadly, too many people act like they live in a video game.

mikepegg44

I love my guns as well. Mostly because they were a hand down from my father and his father and so on...They remind me of a lot of fun I had with my dad.

that being said...I used to keep one by my bed in a locked drawer, but as my daughter got older I realized it wasn't safe to have them in anything but biometric safe. I am the only one who can get in and that is the way I like it. I definitely don't keep the magazines in the guns either...

I really wish people were more responsible too...they ruin for everyone...
but it is REALLY easy to forget how dangerous guns are...even for a second...especially if you don't go to the range

JonnyPistachio

mikepegg44 wrote:

I love my guns as well. Mostly because they were a hand down from my father and his father and so on...They remind me of a lot of fun I had with my dad.

that being said...I used to keep one by my bed in a locked drawer, but as my daughter got older I realized it wasn't safe to have them in anything but biometric safe. I am the only one who can get in and that is the way I like it. I definitely don't keep the magazines in the guns either...

I really wish people were more responsible too...they ruin for everyone...
but it is REALLY easy to forget how dangerous guns are...even for a second...especially if you don't go to the range

Interesting...How does the biometric safe work?
Of course, there have been enough gun debates on this forum, I guess I was asking if anyone thinks guns could have better safety mechanisms. I googled gun safety/future technology, but didnt see much.

I'm just surprised in this day and age, that we have all this amazing technology at our fingertips, but at the same time accidents seem to be getting worse.

Then again, I'm just guessing that we have it a lot worse down here in Florida than the rest of the US. Maybe its the heat.

mikepegg44

JonnyPistachio wrote:

mikepegg44 wrote:

I love my guns as well. Mostly because they were a hand down from my father and his father and so on...They remind me of a lot of fun I had with my dad.

that being said...I used to keep one by my bed in a locked drawer, but as my daughter got older I realized it wasn't safe to have them in anything but biometric safe. I am the only one who can get in and that is the way I like it. I definitely don't keep the magazines in the guns either...

I really wish people were more responsible too...they ruin for everyone...
but it is REALLY easy to forget how dangerous guns are...even for a second...especially if you don't go to the range

Interesting...How does the biometric safe work?
Of course, there have been enough gun debates on this forum, I guess I was asking if anyone thinks guns could have better safety mechanisms. I googled gun safety/future technology, but didnt see much.

I'm just surprised in this day and age, that we have all this amazing technology at our fingertips, but at the same time accidents seem to be getting worse.

Then again, I'm just guessing that we have it a lot worse down here in Florida than the rest of the US. Maybe its the heat.

thumbprint safe..kind of expensive but worth it. I feel much safer having it...
i think I would turn my entire house into a biometric safe if I lived down there ...it has to be the heat...

mickeyrat

in short, NO. No we can not. Because of one simple fact. We are dealing with fallible egocentric human beings.

MotoDC

Perhaps I'm just not thinking creatively enough, but I don't know how much technology can do to prevent firearm accidents. I suppose biometrics on the handle/trigger themselves? We can have all the safety mechanisms in the world, but at the end of the day, if the gun is to be relied upon for self defense, the mechanism still needs to be simple enough to be reliable. As an analogy, I love the way BMW sedans drive, but I wouldn't want a gun built by them. Way too complex and interconnected.

To answer the question in the subject line directly, yes of course we can improve responsibility. We'll never completely eliminate any kind of accident -- car, office, slip an' fall in the sto' (bonus points if you recognize the movie), but we can certainly reduce/limit it. It all starts with education and like most things, it is best to start young. I was given my first shotgun in 3rd grade, but I was taught (and had already demonstrated) respect for the tool that it is. I'm hardly advocating providing every 3rd grader with a firearm (obviously), but if you plan to have both firearms and children in your home, it is incumbent on you as a parent to teach your kids the safe use and respect of those firearms. That one time you forget to lock your safe or drawer or put away the magazine could be the one time your kid goes wandering in.

hedonist

Well-said, Moto.

And can we improve responsibility? I think we HAVE to. In the end, it's like any other weapon - intended or not - that we weild. It takes education, and respect, as was mentioned earlier.

We've talked about getting a gun and likely will at some point down the road. I've never fired let alone held one but I know I'll treat that experience, whether for practice or actual "use", with the circumspect it deserves. Hopefully with good skill too.

btw, no children to worry about getting into it, just us and our thumbless cats.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

No guns, no accidental shootings.

It's really tough to legally own a gun in Canada and I like it this way.

The world has evolved. The days are long gone when we need sidearms to shoot rattlesnakes. The days are long gone when we need rifles to shoot our prey.

I get the need for some to hunt their food and I'm okay with hunting; however, assault rifles and handguns are simply not needed in today's society outside of military use- they just cause problems. I'm all for regulating the sale and ownership of these types of guns.

The argument suggesting that not all gun owners are irresponsible is simply not good enough- others have wrecked it for the responsible people. The general masses are really stupid and prone to making poor decisions. Better safe than sorry- just ask anyone who has lost a loved one from gunfire.

blueandwhite

I'm glad I live in a jurisdiction where guns are frowned upon (it's much safer), but I'm not going to suggest that Americans should surrender their firearms. Having said that, you will never curb gun violence when your culture promotes gun ownership as an absolute right rather than a right that comes with responsibilities. My understanding of American culture is that most folks in the United States are fiercely opposed to government legislating their freedoms. If that's the case, than safety should never be an issue. You should simply prosecuted for your crime/negligence after the fact. I've heard the same arguments made for seat belts, speed limits and bicycle helmets.

If you don't want the government to require your citizens to be responsible than gun safety is an impossibility.

hedonist

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

No guns, no accidental shootings.

I'm all for regulating the sale and ownership of these types of guns.

But, what would you propose on top of our current practices?

And to your first point - well...point taken. However, I also think about the recent story of the young widow who had to kill an intruder hell-bent on gaining entry to her home (to her?) - despite her having fired warning shots.

I'm not saying incidents like that balance out accidental shootings...it's so grey, unfortunately.

MotoDC

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

No guns, no accidental shootings.

It's really tough to legally own a gun in Canada and I like it this way.

however, assault rifles and handguns are simply not needed in today's society outside of military use- they just cause problems.

I'm not going to get into the gun debate here as it's been hashed out plenty before, but I am curious -- I thought hunting was big in Canada? Is it really that hard to get guns? Or just handguns.

And you know what they say in the army about handguns -- they're only good for fighting your way to your rifle.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

I see two responses to my post.

Firstly, by suggesting strict regulations and laws for automatic weapons and handguns... I guess I was implying making them illegal except for armed duty (military, cops, security guards, etc.). Strong penalties attached to owning an 'illegal' weapon should be in effect.

Secondly, hunting is big in Canada in some regions (the interest in it is waning); however, it is not a free for all. Gun owners must get certified. All rifles must be licensed. Hand guns and automatic/semi-automatic weapons are not options.

Thirdly, protection is nice. Go further back though. How did the intruder come into the weapon in the first place? By legal means? Did he purchase it illegally out of the back of a car? Was the weapon stolen (by him or by the person he bought it from)?

Goofy people are going to get guns. Losers are going to do bad things with them. On occasion, accidents will occur with responsible people's guns. Far from perfect, it's tough to argue the fact that by restricting access to weapons and limiting the production of them, society does itself a favour and 'helps' keep the peace.

hedonist

Should've made myself clearer or provided a link - it was the intrudEE, not intruder, who had the gun. And protected herself with it.

If made illegal, I think that black markets will always prevail in times of prohibition, no matter what's being prohibited.

I'd rather deal (somehow) with the idiots who misuse guns, vs. penalizing those who use them responsibly.

brianlux

cincybearcat wrote:

Well, I do want to take some guns away. Part of the problem is that guns are so prevalent in some areas that people become very complacent with them.

Kids see them everywhere, adults see them everywhere and handle them everyday. They don't think about the potential serious consequences over time. Yet the hazard is the same everyday, they're awareness of it is what is changing.

I totally agree with cinybearcat. There are way too many irresponsible gun owners.

I'd also like to see rural home shooting prohibited. There are plenty of shooting ranges even in many cities- even one campus I worked at years ago has an indoor shooting range. I don't see why everyone in a rural (in my case semi-rural) neighborhood should have to listen to their neighbor fire their gun for hours at a time- not to mention wondering when some irresponsible shooter is going to fire into the air or out into the distance- rare, but it has happened. No offense to gun owners here, but this issue gives me the shakes.

unsung

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

I love my guns and the shooting range is a fun place to go.

That said, they're deadly weapons and not toys and should be treated with respect.

Sadly, too many people act like they live in a video game.

QFT.

covered in bliss

Before you worry about that, you have to change how easily someone can legally buy a gun over the internet without any background check or even paperwork. There was recently an under cover news story about it... scary stuff. Random Joe can buy a gun in the parking lot of a walmart. Absurd!

bennett13

Thirty Bills Unpaid wrote:

No guns, no accidental shootings.

It's really tough to legally own a gun in Canada and I like it this way.

The world has evolved. The days are long gone when we need sidearms to shoot rattlesnakes.

If you don't mind me asking...what do you shoot rattlesnakes with?