America's Gun Violence

oftenreading said:

dudeman said:

oftenreading said:

dudeman said:

PJ_Soul said:

dudeman said:

Really? The mere sight of a gun in the holster of a trained professional makes you uncomfortable?

I understand that a lot of people are anti-gun but that seems overly sensitive.

Maybe it's just the crazy, weirdo, gun nut American perspective in me that makes it seem odd.

No, not in a holster. All cops in Canada have guns. I said bearing arms. I.e. standing there holding big ass assault weapons in their hands. Many of them. At a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Even so. I fail to see the issue. They are trained professionals.

mickeyrat brings up a good point which I agree with, but even if all of these individuals holding the guns are trained professionals the concern stands. Many of us (I would hazard a guess it's most of us, but I don't know that there are any stats on this) don't want to have these weapons present at such events. Their presence completely changes the atmosphere, and for the vast, vast majority of times we don't need them. There is really no need to give in to this assumption that such weapons are necessary or desirable.

So, you are concerned about people charged with the safety and protection of your citizens having guns? Even though they are trained?

Asked and answered.

dudeman said:

mickeyrat said:

dudeman said:

mickeyrat said:

dudeman said:

Really? The mere sight of a gun in the holster of a trained professional makes you uncomfortable?

I understand that a lot of people are anti-gun but that seems overly sensitive.

Maybe it's just the crazy, weirdo, gun nut American perspective in me that makes it seem odd.

we assume well trained and proficient. not always the case.

similar to this , what do you call the person who finished last in their class at med school?

Does the RCMP have problems with their officers gunning down civilians at public functions? Has that ever happened?

I'd say the RCMP are far more disiplined to start with coupled with a diiferent national mindset.

the image portrayed or at least perceived by me is one that starts with how they can serve or be of service vs here with "respect my authority"

That being the case for the RCMP, I guess I really don't understand why people would object to the fact that they are armed.

oftenreading said:

dudeman said:

oftenreading said:

dudeman said:

oftenreading said:

dudeman said:

PJ_Soul said:

dudeman said:

Really? The mere sight of a gun in the holster of a trained professional makes you uncomfortable?

I understand that a lot of people are anti-gun but that seems overly sensitive.

Maybe it's just the crazy, weirdo, gun nut American perspective in me that makes it seem odd.

No, not in a holster. All cops in Canada have guns. I said bearing arms. I.e. standing there holding big ass assault weapons in their hands. Many of them. At a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Even so. I fail to see the issue. They are trained professionals.

mickeyrat brings up a good point which I agree with, but even if all of these individuals holding the guns are trained professionals the concern stands. Many of us (I would hazard a guess it's most of us, but I don't know that there are any stats on this) don't want to have these weapons present at such events. Their presence completely changes the atmosphere, and for the vast, vast majority of times we don't need them. There is really no need to give in to this assumption that such weapons are necessary or desirable.

So, you are concerned about people charged with the safety and protection of your citizens having guns? Even though they are trained?

Asked and answered.

So you must really object to private ownership of guns by civilians.

In case you aren't familiar with the typical usage of "asked and answered", it means that I have already provided my answer, not that you get to provide your own answer for me.

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Often... have you expressed that you don't want the RCMP armed? Has anyone?

dudeman said:

oftenreading said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Often... have you expressed that you don't want the RCMP armed? Has anyone?

I haven't ever expressed that, no. I can't speak for everybody else but I don't recall reading that here.

I read that the "concern stands" with regard to the presence of guns in the hands of the RCMP at events, that it "changes the atmosphere" and that they are rarely needed.

Maybe I have reading comprehension issues today but could you please explain why the "concern stands"?

OffSheGoes35 said:

Canadians probably feel as if the americans are the naive-thinking ones.

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

mcgruff10 said:

OffSheGoes35 said:

Canadians probably feel as if the americans are the naive-thinking ones.

Absolutely 100%.

We still like you guys though! You goofy bastards are a hoot!

dudeman said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Stickman12 said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Stickman12 said:

dudeman said:

PJ_Soul said:

dudeman said:

Really? The mere sight of a gun in the holster of a trained professional makes you uncomfortable?

I understand that a lot of people are anti-gun but that seems overly sensitive.

Maybe it's just the crazy, weirdo, gun nut American perspective in me that makes it seem odd.

No, not in a holster. All cops in Canada have guns. I said bearing arms. I.e. standing there holding big ass assault weapons in their hands. Many of them. At a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Even so. I fail to see the issue. They are trained professionals.

They probably looked scary

Guns are scary. If you don't think so, you probably don't respect them enough.

I remember a long time ago walking back to our hotel in Puerto Vallarta: we walked by the Corona outlet... there was an armed guard with an ak47. He wasn't smiling and I had a sober thought: his decision making is all that stands between me walking by or me becoming Swiss cheese.

Served in the military where there were times I literally had to hold and sleep with my M16, which IS an assault weapon. Was trained and educated on how the rifle assembled, disassembled, functioned, trained to troubleshoot malfunctions. The rifle was a tool, just like my boots, shovel, and flashlight were. It served to protect myself, my fellow soldiers, and innocent people who could not protect themselves. Respect for firearms is something that is not lacking. Firearms are not scary if you educate yourself on them. What is scary, as your illustrated in your example, are the PEOPLE who posses them and are not educated, trained, responsible and respectful. Those PEOPLE are dangerous regaurdless of their choice of weapon, not the weapon itself.

I understand this argument and it does stand to logic; however, it falls down for me at the point where, as you said, PEOPLE access these very deadly tools and use them against other people.

The current legal format for purchasing and owning weapons fails.

The current legal format makes it illegal for felons, people with mental illness, illegal aliens, those convicted of domestic violence, drug addicts, people dishonorably discharged from the military and those who have renounced their citizenship to own guns.

The laws we already have aren't being enforced.

rgambs said:

dudeman said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Stickman12 said:

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

Stickman12 said:

dudeman said:

PJ_Soul said:

dudeman said:

Really? The mere sight of a gun in the holster of a trained professional makes you uncomfortable?

I understand that a lot of people are anti-gun but that seems overly sensitive.

Maybe it's just the crazy, weirdo, gun nut American perspective in me that makes it seem odd.

No, not in a holster. All cops in Canada have guns. I said bearing arms. I.e. standing there holding big ass assault weapons in their hands. Many of them. At a Remembrance Day ceremony.

Even so. I fail to see the issue. They are trained professionals.

They probably looked scary

Guns are scary. If you don't think so, you probably don't respect them enough.

I remember a long time ago walking back to our hotel in Puerto Vallarta: we walked by the Corona outlet... there was an armed guard with an ak47. He wasn't smiling and I had a sober thought: his decision making is all that stands between me walking by or me becoming Swiss cheese.

Served in the military where there were times I literally had to hold and sleep with my M16, which IS an assault weapon. Was trained and educated on how the rifle assembled, disassembled, functioned, trained to troubleshoot malfunctions. The rifle was a tool, just like my boots, shovel, and flashlight were. It served to protect myself, my fellow soldiers, and innocent people who could not protect themselves. Respect for firearms is something that is not lacking. Firearms are not scary if you educate yourself on them. What is scary, as your illustrated in your example, are the PEOPLE who posses them and are not educated, trained, responsible and respectful. Those PEOPLE are dangerous regaurdless of their choice of weapon, not the weapon itself.

I understand this argument and it does stand to logic; however, it falls down for me at the point where, as you said, PEOPLE access these very deadly tools and use them against other people.

The current legal format for purchasing and owning weapons fails.

The current legal format makes it illegal for felons, people with mental illness, illegal aliens, those convicted of domestic violence, drug addicts, people dishonorably discharged from the military and those who have renounced their citizenship to own guns.

The laws we already have aren't being enforced.

I'm absolutely sure you know (as I have said so to you before) that at a gun show, swap meet, or private sale, I can sell handguns and tactical rifles to any person I choose without regard for whether or not they are "felons, people with mental illness, illegal aliens, those convicted of domestic violence, drug addicts, people dishonorably discharged from the military and those who have renounced their citizenship".

You say enforce the laws that exist, don't make new ones...those laws allow me to sell handguns to gangbangers. Legally.