The problem is too many guns & the NRA

[Bailey Guns]

This is from the "leading intellectual light" on Islamic issues (NY Times) and one of the "500 Most Influential Muslims" in the country (according to John Esposito), Imam Zaid Shakir.
There is not a Muslim problem. Especially based on the number of Muslims who have done this particular act. It’s not a Korean problem because the kid in Virginia tech was a Korean American. It’s not a white American problem because the kids in Columbine or several other places were white Americans. That’s not the common denominator, race is not the common denominator, religion is not the common denominator, gender–maybe, I would say they should just chill out. What is the common denominator. The common denominator is easy access to guns. The common denominator is that there are more guns in America than there are human beings. There are more guns in America than human beings, and they are easily had. And if someone tries to limit their accessibility, they’re going to be challenged by the NRA, the National Rifle Association–one of the most powerful lobbies in this country. That’s the common denominator. So if we are serious as a society about stopping this violence, it doesn’t behoove us to demonize Muslims. We’re here to talk about Muslims, I’m not trying to dodge that, but if behooves us to make it far, far, far more difficult for people to get their hands on a gun. And if we’re not willing to do that, it’s easy to go blame the Muslims. That’s easy and that’s why so many people do–it’s a national sport. Vilify the Muslims, they’re weak, they can’t fight back
http://biggovernment.com/cjohnson/2010/02/08/access-to-guns-not-jihad-to-blame-for-ft-hood-says-noted-islamic-scholar/

Yeah...radical Islamist beliefs had nothing to do with the Ft Hood shootings.

[Not_A_Llama]

The idea of guns being the root of violence doesn't strike me as being a particularly Islamist belief. If you took a list of the top 500 most influential Christians in this country, I guarantee you'd read shit along those lines that would make your blood boil.

[Batteriesnare]

I didn't think that the Muslims who hijacked planes on 9/11 used guns? And what about the lawyers who fight for Muslim citizens' rights after an attack, or after they are wrongfully charged, should we do away with them too?

[wyzardd]

It continually amazes me that anyone can acknowledge that there are more than 300,000,000 firearms in the US and then immediately turn around and say that we should make it harder to get them. Do they believe 300,000,001 is exactly 1 too many? Of course not. But once there are draconian regulations on the acquisition, it starts getting easier and easier to start taking them away.

I have to refrain from making any comments about the Islamish-ness of this mentality since quite a few of my toys went through a FFL that is a practicing Muslim.

[Mtn.man]

[Help]

There are Too Many guns and not enough people.

[Ridge]

It should be just like in the middle east...one fully automatic Kalashnikov per household...

[refryguy]

We wouldn't need all these guns if it weren't for all the radical Islamists right? So get rid of more radical islamists, for every 5,000 you get rid of, I'll get rid of 1 of my guns.

[ROFL1]

[newracer]

The common denominator is gun free zones.

[Irving]

The common denominator is gun free zones.

Best, most relevant post in the whole thread. Thanks.

[BigBear]

Swiss familys have their military rifles in teh house. Every house has a rifle. Very low crime in Switz.

If guns are killing people, then spoons made Rosie O'Donell fat, and pencils mis-spell words.

[buffalobo]

That article is lame and it's author should be run out of the country. Does he work for Brady outfit on the side?

This is an idea I like.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1818862/posts

Just noticed as I read article. The author, Chuck Baldwin, anyone know who he is?

[Ranger353]

This is a typical answer for someone that does not bother to gather facts and do their homework before opening their mouth. The common factor is homicidal behavior coupled with acts in a gun free zone. If you take away one factor then the outcome might be different.

We can not change homicidal maniacs from acting out their thoughts, but maybe we can add a mitigating factor that reduces or eliminates there ability to act out their behavior with such success? Adding armed reaction teams to colleges and schools nationwide is not an option, but allowing trained law abiding citizens that have been credentialed to carry firearms for protection to be legally on campus is a start.

Self preservation begins with defending yourself.

[ronaldrwl]

Swiss familys have their military rifles in teh house. Every house has a rifle. Very low crime in Switz.

If guns are killing people, then spoons made Rosie O'Donell fat, and pencils mis-spell words.


+1
Good one

[SA Friday]

Wow, by the title I thought this was going to be about the Japanese deciding to not invade the US mainland.

Oh wait, there was irony in that somewhere wasn't there.

[sniper7]

I think there are too few guns, especially in my safe.

anyone with too many care to help me out[Coffee]

[theGinsue]

If guns are killing people, then spoons made Rosie O'Donell fat, and pencils mis-spell words.

As I started reading this thread I thought of that exact quote. I'm glad I waited before skipping to the end and posting it.


The common factor is homicidal behavior coupled with acts in a gun free zone. If you take away one factor then the outcome might be different.

We can not change homicidal maniacs from acting out their thoughts, but maybe we can add a mitigating factor that reduces or eliminates there ability to act out their behavior with such success? Adding armed reaction teams to colleges and schools nationwide is not an option, but allowing trained law abiding citizens that have been credentialed to carry firearms for protection to be legally on campus is a start.

Self preservation begins with defending yourself.

I think that there are three things that need to be understood by those who would try to remove legal access to firearms (Now, I don't for a minute think these people are intelligent enough to comprehend these concepts, but...)
(1) I've always said that if you want to stop the hostility and aggression you have to remove the violence from the hearts of mankind. Of course, this just isn't possible as violence has been a part of man's character since our origins.
(2) A firearm is simply a tool. Blaming a firearm for being used to commit an act of violence makes as much sense as blaming a butcher knife for cutting the finger of a housewife making her family dinner, or a hammer for causing the bloodblister under the thumbnail of a DIY carpenter.
(3) Bad guys are always going to exist. Denying an individual the ability to provide for their own defense is denying that individual a basic human right, nothing less.

[GreenScoutII]

There are a couple of guys from Europe on this board. I'd like to hear their opinions on this subject. I would wager that criminals in other countries which have strict gun laws still manage to get their hands on guns one way or another.

Whenever I run into a rabid anti gunner who espouses banning or further restricting firearms ownership, I always give the same response. I listen intently, shake my head vigorously in agreement and say, " Yeah, that would work great! If we just get guns off the street, our murder rate would decline overnight!" I then let them utter more nonsense and false statistics and then I say, "You know what, we ought to ban drugs too! Just think, if we made meth and cocaine and heroin illegal we wouldn't have addicts burglarizing homes and cars to finance their habits! The crime rate would plummet overnight!"

They usually get pissed off at that point and leave me alone. I tell you guys, its just about the only way I can tolerate some of my wife's family.[Beer]

[Ranger353]

"You know what, we ought to ban drugs too! Just think, if we made meth and cocaine and heroin illegal we wouldn't have addicts burglarizing homes and cars to finance their habits! The crime rate would plummet overnight!"


Excellent! [Coffee]

[theGinsue]

...and then I say, "You know what, we ought to ban drugs too! Just think, if we made meth and cocaine and heroin illegal we wouldn't have addicts burglarizing homes and cars to finance their habits! The crime rate would plummet overnight!"

They usually get pissed off at that point and leave me alone. I tell you guys, its just about the only way I can tolerate some of my wife's family.[Beer]

That is EXACTLY what I say too (well, not exactly, I just say that we should make cocaine illegal). Those folks always say that my logic is just confrontational.

[ruthabagah]

Yes I am from Europe, and would like to bring a couple of clarification to this age old debate:

1 you can own pretty much any weapon you want in most of Europe as long as you are a registered user. It doesn't mean gun restriction, it means keeping guns away from felon or irresponsible users. Getting a permit is usually an easy process that takes none or limited paperwork.

2 the only restrictions are the ones that make sense: keep your firearm locked, do not resale it to anybody without a permit.

3 in Switzerland, if you are part of the militia you have your issued sig550 stored at home, but with no ammo! Also the first couple of days of bootcamp you are trained to use your weapons and explained the consequences of mis using it.

4 criminal can find weapons on the black market, yet, armed agression are in constant decline because the black market has been starved of new and fresh weapons. There was a surge in the mid 90 due to the conflict in former yougoslavia, yet it seems to be better now.

I hope this help diffuse any misconceptions.

Ps. I am writing this on my iPhone, please excuse the typo!

[Troublco]

Well, if guns and the NRA are the problem, and if you aren't part of the solution you're part of the problem,
I'm proud to be part of the problem!

I should go buy another gun.

[BPTactical]

Dear Imam Zaid Shakir-
If you dont like it, get the fuck out of OUR country!

The problem is there are too many radical Muslims in the world.
Americans with guns upset their plans to rid the world of "Infidels".

We should all be their travel agents to the 72 Virgins[M2]



Fuck em

Hoorah for Troublco!

[theGinsue]

We should all be their travel agents to the 72 Virgins[M2]

I'd be happy to buy a few 55gr "tickets" so they can get their 72 virgins.

[Birddog1911]

I'd be happy to buy a few 55gr "tickets" so they can get their 72 virgins.

I'll load up a few more 175grn tickets when I get home[Sniper]

[Troublco]

I say we start a rumor that Allah ran out of virgins. Then, start a new ammo company ("Virgin Ammo") and make 72 grain loads for 5.56; Call it the 'ticket to heaven'.

[GunTroll]

Might be onto something there!

[Jumpstart]

That article is lame and it's author should be run out of the country. Does he work for Brady outfit on the side?

This is an idea I like.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1818862/posts

Just noticed as I read article. The author, Chuck Baldwin, anyone know who he is?

Yes I do. I contributed to his presidential campaign and seriously consider joining his party. Good article. Thanks for posting.