If asked, I would say that Alien Soup is Center/Left, which I define as pretty much neutral, but if I had to pick, I would say more members are liberal than conservative. I think it is perfect actually, because on most issues posted here, you usually get both sides, presented fairly well, which enables the reader to make up his or own mind. The ESSENCE of a good forum/discussion board.
I hate saying I am "Anti-Gun Control" because to me, that makes it sound like I think you should be able to walk into a store a buy a gun without any hassles at all. I wish we could invent a term like "Pro-Choice" which lets you hide behind the word choice :lol: but I digress, that is another topic. My stance is this: every adult over the age of 18 has the right to own a gun to be used for self defense. I would enact the following requirements:
- To purchase a handgun for home defense, all that should be required is a valid State Driver's License, and an FBI background check - which can be done in 5 minutes
- To purchase a handgun for concealed carry, same as 1, but with an additional required training/certification course
- To purchase any long guns/rifles for home defense - same as one
- I do not believe people should be allowed to carry rifles around in every day life, except for special exceptions - hunting being the primary exception
I am an advocate of EXTREMELY HARSH sentences placed on ANYONE who uses a gun in a crime: 25 YEARS, NO PAROLE, just for using the gun itself. ACCOUNTABLITY, not a NANNY STATE. Taking things away from people because some misuse it is illogical. Punish the ones who misuse guns, not those of us who use them responsibly. Are we in grade school, that when one of us misbehaves, the teacher takes away recess from everyone?
The fact is, at 3:00 AM with an intruder in your home, the best way to provide for the safety of yourself and family is with a handgun. You can not rely on the police, plain and simple. The response time (if you are lucky enough to be able to call them) is usually too long. If you feel uncomfortable with a gun, or choose not provide the best defense, that is your choice, but I resent that some people who do not like guns saying that I should not be allowed to have one because they do not like them. Guns and children? Lock up your guns, and you don't have to worry. The fact is, more children drown in swimming pools each year then are accidently killed by guns. Should we fill in every swimming pool in America because some children drown in them?
My set up is very good: I have a
Smith & Wesson VersaVault bolted to my night table. Inside is my "home defense" gun - a Smith & Wesson 16 Shot, 9MM handgun. Also inside the safe are the keys to my
Stack-On rifle and handgun locker. Inside there I have 3 rifles, and 6 more handguns. They are all locked away, 100% of the time. My son can not get to the guns because if a gun is not on my hip, it is locked away. Gun Security problem solved.
If you feel that you are not repsponsible enough to lock your guns away from children, then by all means, think twice before you buy a gun. But again, please don't restrict me because you feel you are not responsible enough. I used to be ANTI-GUN. Then I was forced to be trained with one because of my job. Once I was trianed, I reliazied that there really is nothing to fear from them. Don't believe the hype. Guns are tools, just like anything else. My advice to someone who woul like to provide the best defense for thier home, but who feels uncomfortable or nervous around guns? Take a course, and try then see how you feel. My gun is one of my best friends, and I can not describe the piece of mind having it on my hip provides me. I know that should some animal ever try to hurt my wife or my son, I will be ready to defend them in the best way I know how. :nod: