They only make a bad situation; worse

So the gun that Sarah bought could not be used for self defense?

The options for self defense in your world are???

So the gun that Sarah bought could not be used for self defense?

The options for self defense in your world are???

Look at the reality of the matter. In America, most killings and woundings, defensive or assaultive, are with handguns. Rifles are just as easy to acquire, if not more so. Yet handguns predominate. Form follows function, and function follows form, Al.

The options for self defense are only limited by your capacity to think outside the box. Most Americans die of old age even though most of us don't own a gun. Are you really sure you need a gun so bad for "defense?"

This is the USA. No one gave you the power to choose if and how people want to defend themselves.

Once again no solutions, you sound like Charlie Brown's teacher to people in the Real World on the Real Streets.

This is the USA. No one gave you the power to choose if and how people want to defend themselves.

Once again no solutions, you sound like Charlie Brown's teacher to people in the Real World on the Real Streets.

The key phrase in your statement is "to defend themselves." Not everybody buys a gun for defense. A lot of people buy one to murder or help them commit another crime--in essence, to use it as a tool to violate other people's rights. Yes, we do have just cause to screen purchasers first. Call it self-defense, Al.

( NRA at odds with law enforcement again . . . )

Disaster Can’t Destroy Gun Rights
Sierra Times
21 September 2005

National Rifle Association leader Wayne LaPierre slammed New Orleans authorities Monday for seizing legal firearms from lawful residents.

"What we’ve seen in Louisiana - the breakdown of law and order in the aftermath of disaster - is exactly the kind of situation where the Second Amendment was intended to allow citizens to protect themselves, " LaPierre said.

"When law enforcement isn’t available, Americans turn to the one right that protects all the others - the right to keep and bear arms," LaPierre said. "This attempt to repeal the Second Amendment should be condemned."

The New York Times reported last Thursday that no civilians in New Orleans will be allowed to have guns, quoting the superintendent of police that "only law enforcement are allowed to have weapons."

A Louisiana state statute allows the chief law enforcement officer to "regulate possession" of firearms during declared emergencies. "But regulate doesn’t mean confiscate," said Chris W. Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist.

"Authorities are using that statute to do what the looters and criminals could not: disarm the law-abiding citizens of New Orleans trying to protect their homes and families," Cox said.

"The NRA will not stand idly by while guns are confiscated from law-abiding people who’re trying to defend themselves," he said.

"We’re exploring every legal option available to protect the rights of lawful people in New Orleans," Cox said, "and we’re taking steps to overturn such laws in every state where they exist."

"Local authorities in New Orleans are turning nature’s assault on human life into man’s assault on human rights," LaPierre said. "Four million NRA members intend to stop this unconstitutional power grab."

I love the "YOU LOOT; I SHOOT; I PROMISE" signs down here. That the USA self defense program working.

Doesn’t the NRA have a full law enforcement training and competition program?

Are many law enforcement members; members of the NRA also?

Peter, feel free to wander around DC after hours this weekend. They have the best gun laws. Crime is not an issue there.

Is Eliot going with you?

"( NRA at odds with law enforcement again . . . )"

And we all know Law Enforcement is never wrong. Unless of course you have been following stories about the LA, NYC, Cleveland, Chicago (et. al.) cops, with people like Rodney King or Amadallo (sp?) and so forth.

I have cops in my family, some at a pretty high level in the Chicago PD. They are great people but far from constitutional scholars and most admit to making serious mistakes in judgement though their careers.

It might be a good idea if you stopped throwing "Law Enforcement" up there as if they were some kind of an impeccable reference on all things regarding guns when it suits your purpose.

Confiscating legal guns from their legal owners was not, under any circumstances, martial law included, constitutional. The local police chief, mayor or governor cannot, at his or her discretion, suspend any part of the Bill of Rights.

Besides, I thought the party line was "we don't intend to take all guns"and "registration will never lead to confiscation".

"( NRA at odds with law enforcement again . . . )"

And we all know Law Enforcement is never wrong. Unless of course you have been following stories about the LA, NYC, Cleveland, Chicago (et. al.) cops, with people like Rodney King or Amadallo (sp?) and so forth.

I have cops in my family, some at a pretty high level in the Chicago PD. They are great people but far from constitutional scholars and most admit to making serious mistakes in judgement though their careers.

It might be a good idea if you stopped throwing "Law Enforcement" up there as if they were some kind of an impeccable reference on all things regarding guns when it suits your purpose.

Confiscating legal guns from their legal owners was not, under any circumstances, martial law included, constitutional. The local police chief, mayor or governor cannot, at his or her discretion, suspend any part of the Bill of Rights.

Besides, I thought the party line was "we don't intend to take all guns"and "registration will never lead to confiscation".

People were being evacuated from their homes. People weren't just being relieved of their guns and then left in their homes. Part of the reason they were being evacuated was because of the problem with looters/thugs/rapists, etc. Guns left behind were wide open for looters to take.

People were being relocated to shelters and there was an added risk of guns being kept in an open area where you couldn't effectively keep them away from kids in the same area. There are many dimensions to this situation that I'd like to hear the NRA's solutions to. It's not so simple as they make it out to be.