[nonhuman]

About 45 minutes ago 4 shots were fired near (just outside?) my apartment in Central Square, Cambridge, MA. So far the only details I have are those posted in my blog and on my girlfriend's blog, but from the police activity I saw immediately following I think the shooting may have occurred in the park that's literally right next to our apartment building (there was also a shooting there a couple weeks ago).

Oddly enough, all the years I lived in Oakland I never even came close to witnessing a shooting, but it only took 3 weeks here...

[Spook E]

Why doesn't your government ban firearms? Sure people get shot in Australia, but not to the extent that it seems to occur over your way

[iREZ]

because its in the constitution that one has the right to bear arms.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by Spook E

Why doesn't your government ban firearms? Sure people get shot in Australia, but not to the extent that it seems to occur over your way

Against the constitution.

[invisibleX]

Originally Posted by Spook E

Why doesn't your government ban firearms? Sure people get shot in Australia, but not to the extent that it seems to occur over your way

Queue long discussion as to the long term effectiveness of gun bans and registration measures including a variety of examples from both sides and wildly exaggerated claims and anecdotes.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by iREZ

because its in the constitution that one has the right to bear arms.

Arms? Does it mean I can own grenades, missle launchers, and bombs?

[hyteckit]

By the way, big deal. I hear gunshots every week. Some officer just got shot in my neighborhood today. Luckily his bullet-proof vest saved his life.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by hyteckit

Arms? Does it mean I can own grenades, missle launchers, and bombs?

Nothing that exotic.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by mojo2

Nothing that exotic.

But I thought it was my constitutional right to bear arms?

[tutelary]

Originally Posted by Spook E

Why doesn't your government ban firearms? Sure people get shot in Australia, but not to the extent that it seems to occur over your way

because we are too stupid to amend the constitution. It could be done, and we could eventually clean illegal arms from our streets, it would take a long time, but Americans are so stupid we all live in this state of never changing ignorance. I dont own a gun, I refuse to be part of the problem.

[anonymac]

Originally Posted by tutelary

because we are too stupid to amend the constitution.

Everyone let's repeat, "you can't amend the constitution to take away an enumerated right."

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Criminals don't follow the law, so banning guns would just leave law-abiding people totally defenseless.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by anonymac

Everyone let's repeat, "you can't amend the constitution to take away an enumerated right."

Guns don't kill people, people kill people.

Guns on planes don't kill people, people kill people. I have no clue why they ban guns on planes.

[tutelary]

Originally Posted by anonymac

Everyone let's repeat, "you can't amend the constitution to take away an enumerated right."

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. Criminals don't follow the law, so banning guns would just leave law-abiding people totally defenseless.

what a pathetic set of well worn excuses you use. look at the murder rates in new york city alone versus whole other COUNTRIES.

You'll find that the 2nd amendment never specifically granted *INDIVIDUALS* right to bear arms. Interpretation is key. It could be modified in such a manner as to make average joe having a gun illegal.

GUNS kill people. You can run or fight someone with a knife. Its hard to do either from someone with a gun. Its a tool that MAKES MURDER POSSIBLE and *EASY*.

Go ask surgeons in major metro areas how they feel about guns with as many people as they save or watch die every week from gunshots.

[Ganesha]

What's the problem?

1) They aren't shooting at you.
2) If they ARE shooting at you or near you, you have the right to shoot back.

Edit: Grammer

[tutelary]

Originally Posted by Ganesha

What's the problem?

1) They aren't shooting at you.
2) If they ARE shooting at you or near you, you have the right to shoot back.

Edit: Grammer

The problem is you're accepting living in a society where average citizens on the streets are having gun battles. How can this NOT strike you as illogical, immoral, and detrimental to the function of that society as a whole?

[anonymac]

Originally Posted by tutelary

what a pathetic set of well worn excuses you use. look at the murder rates in new york city alone versus whole other COUNTRIES.

You'll find that the 2nd amendment never specifically granted *INDIVIDUALS* right to bear arms. Interpretation is key. It could be modified in such a manner as to make average joe having a gun illegal.

The constitution/federal government doesn't grant us any rights. It only states/upholds them. The 2nd amendment has always been understood to mean that individuals have the right to have a gun ever since 1776. "Modifying" this is completely unconstitutional and beyond the scope of government. Please take a class in the constitution.

Anyway, guns are not the problem in new york city. It's definitely the people.

[tutelary]

Originally Posted by anonymac

The 2nd amendment has always been understood to mean that individuals have the right to have a gun ever since 1776. "Modifying" this is completely unconstitutional and beyond the scope of government. Please take a class in the constitution.

Actually, NO. You'll find theres a wide degree of debate about interpretation on the matter. Congrats on registering just to show your ignorance, btw. "The People" does not refer to individuals, it refers to militia. Think about the time it was written in.

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by Ganesha

What's the problem?

1) They aren't shooting at you.
2) If they ARE shooting at you or near you, you have the right to shoot back.

Edit: Grammer

You don't have the right to shoot back. You only have the right to defend yourself. If there's a gun fight outside and a bullet come through my window, I don't have the right to go outside and gun down everyone with a gun.

[Ulrich Kinbote]

Originally Posted by iREZ

because its in the constitution that one has the right to bear arms.

Americans

[hyteckit]

Right to bear arms means the right to protect and defend yourself. Doesn't necessarily mean you have the right to own guns, grenades, missle launchers, bombs, and such.

[Andy8]

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

Americans

Exactly.

[tutelary]

Originally Posted by Ulrich Kinbote

Americans

99% of the things people say about my country I don't feel are true, but yes, America as a whole is idiotic with its weapon obsession. We now have enough weapons to arm even our cats and dogs if we wanted to, and give every man, woman, and child 2 guns each.

It is stupidity for the sake of stupidity, hiding behind a misinterpretation of something that was meant to help a young America. It makes me ashamed to live here when I see people defending it.

[anonymac]

You know what they say, love it (guns and all) or leave like the traitor you are.