Off shoot of "Some Should Carry"

[Rock and Glock]

Your question makes my really consider my personal values, sir. Six months ago I would have agreed with more regulation and redtape. Now, with no specific "incident" to "blame", I agree with QKShooter. I've seen too many slippery slopes in my life, and just don't think this is an argument we want to allow to begin.

I am a strong believer in Personal Responsibility.
I would rather keep the lid on Pandora's Box closed as tightly as possible.

Everyone appears to be thinking about their values - good question.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Phil Elmore]

There is a LOT of people who carry that are a mentally unstable.

This is simply untrue -- and it's the sort of misinformation the firearms prohibitionists love to see us propagating amongst ourselves.

Legal analysis of Florida after the institution of its Shall Issue carry law, for example, showed us a couple of very eye-opening facts. Not only did violent crime in Florida decrease (the anti-gunners were going on about blood in the streets), but holders of legal permits (thus the only people legally carrying in Florida) were found to commit crimes at a fraction of the rate of the population at large. This means that those carrying in Florida were, compared to the general public, less likley to be "mentally unstable."

Certainly, there are mentally unstable people who carry guns. They are the exception, not the rule. I am not willing to grant my government the power to decide who is worthy and who is not in the absence of some crime or other substantial evidence of mental illness.

[Sheldon J]

I really have to disagree with the annual thing. That would do a lot to discurage many folks. Given the expense, an annual renewal could be prohibital foe a good number of folks.

Exactly

[P95Carry]

I think the free states of Vermont and Alaska got this whole gun thing down pat.

I am pretty much with srfl. As too with automobiles there will always be those who finish up not ideally suited to ownership and use but first we have our rights and second is what we might call the ''for the greater good'' approach. That means, why punish the many for the sins/failings of the few.

Slippery slopes concern me a lot - I have seen too many. My only caveat really is a wish that folks who decide to carry should know certain things and have certain skills. The better to help themselves and others - safely. They have the right to bear arms but - logically IMO some semblance of competance is useful.

Then tho is the problem - is this voluntary or mandated! In PA folks who do this do so voluntarily which in essence is fine but I'll bet there are some folks with a carry permit who really could do with some help!! Other extreme tho is a state that mandates training - sometimes almost to excess with time and cost - as if hoping to dissuade folks from going that route.

Overall, more control is just that - more control - in essence the anti's main mantra - control.

[Phil Elmore]

Exactly. Any time one group of people presumes to tell another group of people who is "worthy" according to their arbitrary standards, the seeds of tyranny are sown.

[Roadrunner]

I'm with P95Carry and Phil. I recently got out of one of the most controlling organizations on earth, the US Army. One of my main problems with military life was the restrictions placed on my ability to own and use my own weaponry. Technically, I was permitted to keep firearms and other deadly weapons (like my knife collection) in the unit arms room. Practically speaking, when they were in the arms room they were of absolutely no use to me. The red tape involved with accessing them was tremendous and greatly discouraged weapons ownership among those who lived in the barracks. I ended up moving off post on my own dime to regain the freedom to do as I wished on my free time. It was costly, but allowed me to buy a revolver and shoot with it frequently. That was only one of many restrictive policies I had to deal with. My experience with regulation and red tape of this type is that it effectively takes away your freedom. I passed on re-enlistment for that and other reasons, and I was offered a five-figure bonus to stay in. It still wasn't enough to make me put up with that BS anymore. If the government ever gets as restrictive as the Army, something has gone seriously wrong.

[OD*]

We shouldn't even need permits.

[raevan]

The only kind of gun law I would be comfortable with is one that every adult be required to own and be competant with a military type rifle

[Bumper]

I'm in agreement with many of you, but especially raevan. They should require every household to at least own and be competant with a firearm, whether it be rifle, pistol or shotgun. Then they should reduce the amount of grief someone has to suffer with the law should they ever have to actually use it to defend themselves....

[AutoFan]

You want annual testing for an activity that has too many people who don't know what they are doing or are mentally unstable? Good, let's start with car drivers - they kill tens of thousands every year.
Let's go to married couples next. We should really do something about those people having and raising children willy-nilly.
And I can't begin to describe the damage done to society by people who are allowed to warp others' minds with religion. Preists, ministers, etc., all should have their belief systems approved.
As far as that goes, you should need training and licensing to publicly speak or publish. Just so proper English is used and no one is offended.

See where this goes? And not only do the CCW holders have a lower incidence per capita of criminal acts than the general population, they have a lower incidence of criminal acts per capita than LEO's!

Until I see evidence pointing otherwise, I have faith in my fellow American. Sort of the "innocent until proven guilty" principle applied to life in general.

[RobL]

You may desire to have "permission" from your state to carry.
A Democrat legislator from Alaska, Eric Croft, while addressing a group celebrating 10 years of Shall issue in Arizona said it well: “…why is it that we should have to get a government permit to exercise a constitutional right?"

I desire to live with my God given right to self preservation-it is so important our founding fathers even wrote a bit about it in the Bill of Rights.
Yep, freedom can be sticky, sweaty and uncomfortable. I will wager we are far more danger from idiots with cars that non quals with guns.
It is a personal responsibility issue, not a legal matter.
Respectfully Yours,
Rob Leahy
(Live From the Relatively Free State of Alaska)

http://www.havegunwillvote.com/index...ec=news&id=304

[older gunner]

Exactly. Any time one group of people presumes to tell another group of people who is "worthy" according to their arbitrary standards, the seeds of tyranny are sown.

Well said. I certainly agree. I don't even like the idea of a CCW permit requirement in order to exercise a constitutional (and I think God given) right.

[Bud White]

The only kind of gun law I would be comfortable with is one that every adult be required to own and be competant with a military type rifle

Thats is a excellent idea but i think we should throw in rifle and handgun

[ibex]

I agree with Phil Elmore. Well said! Can I quote you?

[Phil Elmore]

Feel free.