A (DU) minority view on guns.

[Threedifferentones]

57. Look, I am just shy of being a total pacifist

I have not used violence in many years, and never will again unless an innocent person is directly in danger. If someone invaded my home I would hide or run and let them have all my stuff. I am not one of these "gun nuts" who is eager for a "bad guy" to attempt a burglary so I can have an excuse to shoot. And I understand your moon colony comment is not at all serious, but I still think it is revealing.

If we gave all of our weapons to a "moon colony," then shortly thereafter the inhabitants of said colony would almost certainly return and conquer the rest of us.

This distinction is very important because it parallels our actual situation with guns. Yes, guns are terrible because killing is terrible and that is what they are for. But the fact of the matter is if you lack any power to do violence sooner or later you will be killed or enslaved.

This is what always amazes me about so many DU posters: on one thread they will rant about how the U.S. government is becoming increasingly authoritarian, and then in another they will rant about how only the government should be allowed to own guns. The problem there is obvious, and anyone who would give all of their weapons to people they don't even trust is short sighted to say the least.