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AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)
75. Don't conflate the death penalty with self defense.
Sun Feb 26, 2012, 03:29 AM
Feb 2012

I ask forgiveness if you aren't but it appears you are. I don't know any democrats or 'liberals', progressive, or otherwise, that are not also pacifists (which do exist, and that's cool) who aren't ok with lethal force in self defense.

You seem to be skipping the idea that a firearm can be used defensively, without ever pulling the trigger. The Department of Justice tells us at least 60,000 reported incidents per year of LAWFUL uses of firearms in self defense. Fatalities resulting? Less than 1,000. (I do not know the injury number off the top of my head)


Firearms can have a protective effect without ever firing. It's all up to how determined your aggressor is.

Yeah I read this a few days ago.... ileus Feb 2012 #1
FYI Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #2
So confusing! ellisonz Feb 2012 #3
Which one would you grab in an effort to preserve your life, petronius Feb 2012 #4
Not possessing either, I would grab neither. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #10
Just as an FYI, flare guns are *terrible* self defense weapons. Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #14
"I would point my finger or my flare gun at him" rl6214 Feb 2012 #17
I might also yell loudly " Avast, ye pirate scum!" Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #20
Now that might just work. rl6214 Feb 2012 #67
So, you're going to cosplay a pirate, yelling at other pirates? AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #77
your flare gun, but not your first aid kit? Why not? petronius Feb 2012 #23
Improperly used they can both kill you DonP Feb 2012 #5
That's the nature of tools. Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #6
it is a device used by writers all the time, Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2012 #7
Tools do not have a personal nature, they have a designed purpose. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #22
that is a good liberal and progessive value Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2012 #25
Properly used, one saves a life, the other takes a life. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #11
It can be entirely proper to take a life, to save one. AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #56
How do you take a life without firing the gun? Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #61
I tend to think of a pistol as a tool for fighting your way to your rifle, but w/e AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #73
Improperly used, anything can kill you. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #13
Post removed Post removed Feb 2012 #15
Sorry, but it is never "proper" to kill someone. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #18
I disagree. It is often proper to kill someone. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #29
Well, you may disagree, but you're still wrong. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #58
No, you are wrong. It is ALWAYS appropriate to defend oneself. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #71
Your sig is a callout of another DU member Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #86
That poster consistently called all law-abiding gun owners out as potential criminals. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #89
The link is not to his blog, but to screenshot on a wingnut website. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #93
There, I fixed it for you. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #94
Don't conflate the death penalty with self defense. AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #75
I don't conflate the death penalty with SD Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #91
"Not a liberal mindset" krispos42 Feb 2012 #79
Regarding mindset, liberal or conservative. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #95
The only one calling for euthanasia is you... krispos42 Feb 2012 #109
Who's talking demographics? Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #117
We both know that people born in certain circumstances... krispos42 Feb 2012 #120
So, we agree on just about everything. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #123
It's not about being thorough krispos42 Feb 2012 #124
Sorry, I don't buy all that. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #126
Except that it's not just about concealed carry in public. krispos42 Mar 2012 #129
OK, one at a time Starboard Tack Mar 2012 #130
Unfounded, unsupported, and untrue absolute. AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #57
To shoot someone may be "your" only option. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #59
That pharmacist committed murder. AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #74
It's not an "argument", it's a simple fact DonP Feb 2012 #24
Anything used as a weapon will kill when properly used as a weapon. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #30
my p89 is a life saving device... ileus Feb 2012 #9
No, it's a life taking device. Nothing safe about it. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #12
From the grip end it's made to save lives. ileus Feb 2012 #16
Wrong again. From either end it's made to take lives. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #19
Incorrect....made to save lives. ileus Feb 2012 #27
What absolute drivel. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #35
Often it is necessary to take lives in order to save innocent lives. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #32
Very true and you would also use your gun on TP'ing "vandals". Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #33
Not to mention his belief that he deserves... ellisonz Feb 2012 #80
What a nutjob! Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #85
So why do police carry firearms? Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #31
Simple answer. Because in this country, they're told to. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #36
Damn... ellisonz Feb 2012 #38
Great minds think alike Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #53
You were a cop in the UK? Particulars please. Straw Man Feb 2012 #40
I'm not familiar with current "procedures", having been here for the last 30+ years Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #63
So your personal experience is at least 30 years out of date. Straw Man Feb 2012 #64
So why do they carry them in those special circumstances? Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #68
Why do they carry them in those special circumstances? Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #100
So ... Straw Man Feb 2012 #103
To protect life from terrorists Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #104
Bingo. Straw Man Feb 2012 #106
And what is that same reason? Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #114
To protect innocent lives Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #116
Thank you for admitting that firearms can also save lives. n/t Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #125
I've never claimed they can't. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #127
See this thread Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #128
You did not answer the question. PavePusher Feb 2012 #102
Guns can also save lives. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #28
Police carry guns because criminals have guns. ellisonz Feb 2012 #37
Then how do you explain Japan ... Straw Man Feb 2012 #41
Tradition and paranoia... ellisonz Feb 2012 #42
There are a lot of reasons gejohnston Feb 2012 #43
Would you care to explain why Britain has a lower homicide rate despite having a gang problem? n/t ellisonz Feb 2012 #45
there are many reasons gejohnston Feb 2012 #46
Here's the thing about your single claim... ellisonz Feb 2012 #47
Facts? Straw Man Feb 2012 #48
Well I think the homicide rates speak for themselves... ellisonz Feb 2012 #50
For homicide rates ... Straw Man Feb 2012 #52
Where's the distortion? Straw Man Feb 2012 #54
I did claim such a thing... ellisonz Feb 2012 #81
Oh, so it's a teleological discussion now? Straw Man Feb 2012 #92
You were doing well... ellisonz Feb 2012 #96
First mistake is taking Dirty Harry movies as reality. Straw Man Feb 2012 #98
"some of which simulate combat and many of which do not." ellisonz Feb 2012 #99
Sure. Straw Man Feb 2012 #101
Too easy... Clames Feb 2012 #108
One word: snipers. n/t ellisonz Feb 2012 #110
One word: wrong. Straw Man Feb 2012 #111
LOL Clames Feb 2012 #118
Oh gun porn... ellisonz Feb 2012 #119
And that simulates... Clames Feb 2012 #121
what evidence you have gejohnston Feb 2012 #51
Britain had a lower homicide rate in the 19th century ... Straw Man Feb 2012 #49
And the cops didn't carry them back then either. Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #60
So the US murder rate was higher due to armed cops? Straw Man Feb 2012 #65
Why is arming the police bad? Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #66
Against the rules? Straw Man Feb 2012 #78
What's your point? Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #97
My point? Straw Man Feb 2012 #105
So in those "special circumstances", why do they carry guns? Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #69
Both. ellisonz Feb 2012 #70
Wrong. Straw Man Feb 2012 #82
Your question is a falsely binary... ellisonz Feb 2012 #83
For starters, I didn't ask any question. Straw Man Feb 2012 #84
That's like your interpretation, dude. ellisonz Feb 2012 #107
Sigh ... Straw Man Feb 2012 #112
There are more than a few bad cops too. ellisonz Feb 2012 #113
Murderous ones? Straw Man Feb 2012 #115
Glad you admit that guns are thus used to save lives. Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #87
I'm honest. ellisonz Feb 2012 #88
I'm honest too. If you die during the commission of a violent crime, I'm not really concerned about Atypical Liberal Feb 2012 #90
Same reason non-criminal citizens carry them, too. Union Scribe Feb 2012 #122
Holy shit, all my guns are broken! AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #55
Excellent news! Starboard Tack Feb 2012 #62
Just to be sure, I tested one this evening. AtheistCrusader Feb 2012 #72
Had that happen earlier this week. Clames Feb 2012 #76
Each is task specific subject to use/misuse by the holder. Remmah2 Mar 2012 #131
Heck of an argument you got there. I guess you win. Starboard Tack Mar 2012 #132
May she rest in peace. My sincerest condolences to the family and friends. Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2012 #8
Thank You!! CokeMachine Feb 2012 #21
welcome to DU Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2012 #26
Thank You CokeMachine Feb 2012 #44
Her family has forgiven the shooter. n/t burf Feb 2012 #34
yes, I know. Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2012 #39
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