I agree with this. I'm not all NRA-crazy and I think license/registration of handguns has a point. I think all gun buyers should undergo a background check, just like I did when I bought my revolver, ie: end the whole cash underground market at gun shows .

But at the end of the day, a law-abiding adult citizen should be able to purchase and register a handgun in a single afternoon (although I would accept a limited waiting period) and be able to take it home and be able to defend his/her property and family with lethal force if necessary.

PVN, Do you read responses or do you just skim and pick what you want to respond to? Serious question because your responses definitely make it seem like the later is true.

As I said already said I don't think that the type of gun control legislation I advocate will be passed. That does not "prove" that my opinion is wrong though.

Hahaha. PVN, you're always good for the bad analogy. It's like your brain just works in analogies and that's you're only line of defense. If only you were able to produce ones that actually worked, you would be the greatest debater of all time.

That is all.

Excellent idea. That sure works great with all the incidental deaths caused by "law-abiding citizens" that want hand guns for personal use.

I find it so disgusting how vigilante you guys think the world is. We pay people to handle the crimes. They're called police. Let them do their job. They are much less likely to make a mistake than an untrained adult that's likely never been in a life/death situation in their entire lives. Putting a gun in the hands of that person in that situation is downright retarded.

What do you think the chance is that serious drug law reform is passed in the next 5 years, and what do you think that says about who is winning the debate?

Demonstrably false re: concealed carry

You say this as if a Supreme Court majority opinion is carved in stone. One death or retirement of a sitting justice with an democrat in power & Senate majority could change the equation completely (depending on which justice). Considering Obama is the favorite in this years' election and the democrats have a real chance to maintain their Senate majority, decisions like Heller are in a far more precarious position than you seem to realize.

Well "zealots" who are seeking to completely abolish private handgun ownership in the US are the far end of the scale. The fact that 26% of the population wants to ban handguns outright is very significant, but there are many people beyond that population who don't advocate abolishing guns but still want stronger standards and restrictions in place, that's why the term is gun control is used. The same Gallop poll you're referencing also found that 44% of people favored stricter laws for gun purchases and the number of people who felt they should be kept as is (45%), with only a minority favoring less restrictive laws (11%).

In other words, of the people who want a change, there are 4x as many people favoring stronger regulation on gun sales than weaker regulation. [By necessity, that number includes people who support gun ownership rights and oppose a ban on assault rifles.] The 25% you're counting is only one part of that group.

Gun owners and the gun industry have shown they're incapable of self-policing problems like straw purchases and gun show sales to unlicensed buyers. There are all kinds of problems with accountability. Wanting to shore up issues like those and have better enforcement isn't necessarily anti-gun.

Also lol at thinking guns will protect you from the tyranny of the state. A) what do you see happening and b) tell me again how a handgun protects you from a drone strike or whatever

imo if you are using this argument, and believe this is a large chunk of what the Founders wanted, then it clearly needs to extend to the best technology the government has available to it.

FYP

When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.

Honest question.

Are you guys intimidated, scared or upset that, I, an adult male, law-abiding citizen, a medical professional with an advanced degree, own and possess a revolver for my own defense of self and property?

I have already agreed in this thread with the idea we want to keep guns out of the hands of youths, criminals, and the mentally ill. That I would accept licensure. That gunshows should require background checks. That extended magazines should be banned. That a waiting period would be acceptable.

Even with all of that: you still wish to disarm me?

Yes, I don't trust anyone who describes themselves as a "law-abiding citizen."

not sure if serious

Interesting point. It is humorous how some think that the minute one buys a gun the person instantly is experienced enough for a full commando raid. I wonder what a poll regarding gun owners crossed with gun owners that actually practice shooting would show. I'm guessing it would show few gun owners actually practice at all.

b

(a) lol at anyone thinking the US military is indomitable. 80 million gun owners with 258 million guns versus the US military, of which many members will refuse to war upon their own countrymen. The US military only has about 1.5 million active personnel and about the same number of reserves. And how long has this mighty US military been slogging it out in Afghanistan against what kind of resistance?

(b) Tell you again? Who told you the first time around that handguns protect individuals from drones and that's the point of the 2nd Amendment?