Everyone in South Dakota must be forced to buy a gun?

[PLAYER57832]

In order to get a hunting license you have to take a Hunter Safety Course, which includes hands-on firing of guns. If you don't pass, you can't get a hunting license.

In PA, in most states, in fact, what passes for hunter training includes no hands-on training at all. In fact, it includes little of anything. I would like hunters to know a bit more about wildlife ecology (just to understand why laws are what they are, help make positive changes instead of just grousing about why they cannot poach).


As for the rest... self defense is good. Per guns specifically, I see enough idiots with guns out there already. I am not anti-guns, but I AM against idiots having guns. Unfortunately, i don't know how to weed them out without highly curtailing everyone else's use.

Well in my state I had to learn that in the winter there isn't enough food for all the deer. If nobody kills any of them, then they all starve and die. If you kill 1/4th of them, then they are weak and their babies die. If you kill 1/2 of them, then the other 1/2 is strong and survives. (The numbers constantly change, it's wildlife management, not slaughter for fun). So killing deer makes the population as a whole stronger.

We also had to shoot guns, present proper cleaning, care, safety inspections etc etc etc. Had to explain why you don't shoot a deer on the top of a hill (if you miss, bullets go over the hill and land where?). I can only speak to WA requirements of hands on training. Can you really speak to "most states"? Or are you just making shit up? Can you really say "it includes little of anything"? Or are you just making shit up? My class was great. It was like 3 months, 2 nights a week, with a final all day event on a Saturday. i was 21 when I took the class, and it was mainly filled with 12 year olds. I hope all classes are as stringent and well presented as mine was.

That does sound like a good class, far above what is taught here in PA. Here, its a 2 hour or so classroom only lecture mostly on very basic gun safety and rules. I think the NRA course I took years ago was much better, though that was just on safety, not hunting. As per th rest of the states, I do know that when I lived in Mississippi, the requirements were not great (and the hunting age was 10). I am told that Ohio and NY are similar to PA. Most of what I know about other state requirements comes from catching bits on the hunting channel (to which my son is addicted).

[PLAYER57832]

Player, you forgot the 3rd and by far best option. Teach the kids gun safety and handling at a young age. A child that has been trained with firearms and taught to use them isn't likely to play with one! My girls have had full access to and permission to use my firearms as needed in my absence since they were 12 (17 + 18 now), with no problems. And we're talking about large caliber handguns, deer rifles, and shotguns, all loaded and ready for use. And I'm sure Koolbaks young'uns have had similar training!

I FULLY agree with teaching kids safety. I have no problem with kids using guns under supervison and, in fact my own son very much has and does shoot with his dad. He has hunted since he was 7 (under the mentor youth program). So do many kids in our area.
However, to believe that is enough to keep kids away is not the truth. I don't really want to get into more specifics here. However, many of those killed by accident are kids who were supposed to be trained.
AND, I talk to enough people here, particularly women, yes, who are firmly against guns because of the attitudes of their husbands/fathers, etc. Understand,this is absolutely not an 'anti gun" area by any stretch of the imagination, but all it takes is one serious accident for several hundred women to decide their sons won't hunt. Sometimes dad takes the kids out anyway, but ... well.. enough on that.

Bottom line: unless the entire hunting/shooting community takes kids and guns a bit more seriously, those who are against guns will grow and those who like them will continue to go down. And, those who are against them are absolutely not going to be swayed by Ted Nuget style machoism.

I know this is a controversial and emotional issue. The thing is, too often it gets tied up in this "either you are for guns and therefore for anyone using any calibar gun under any circumstances" on one side versus " no guns ever" on the other. MOST people are in the middle. Trying to push people more to one side or the other winds up not solving much of anything.

[PLAYER57832]

At least two states operate properly

PS - here is the one town I have heard of that requires gun ownership; no injuries / fatalities linked to this and crime has plummeted and population has soared. A 28 year history....interesting.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... y_for.html

They don't need a law like that in our town. You'd have a hard time finding a house without one.

but, we still have crime (not much.. drugs, theft, occasional arson, etc) ... and a LOT of domestic violance.

[Juan_Bottom]

I've been shot at once while hiking and had a gun stuffed in my face in some dude's basement. NEVER go into the basement.

Were they hunting for non-humans?

I never saw who shot at me, but they were very very close. There's no way they mistook my brother and I for animals. We were talking very loudly. After the shot, we took off running like madmen and I could hear the person reload. Pretty scary. We don't know if we were trespassing or what. I was about 15 at the time an my brother was younger.

Was that an alien joke because my name is Juan you racist son of a bitch?

[radiojake]

Were they hunting for non-humans?

Was that an alien joke because my name is Juan you racist son of a bitch?

I think he was referring to what we commonly call 'animals' - the four legged variety

[Army of GOD]

Were they hunting for non-humans?

Was that an alien joke because my name is Juan you racist son of a bitch?

I think he was referring to what we commonly call 'animals' - the four legged variety

Are you a racist? Juan is not four legged.

[notyou2]

Guns prevent the need for health care.

Has this been claimed for "sig" yet?



Anyone?

[Guerrilla James]

So the idea is to piss off a bunch of people with a political stunt that will also arm them... brilliant.

[BigBallinStalin]

I've been shot at once while hiking and had a gun stuffed in my face in some dude's basement. NEVER go into the basement.

Were they hunting for non-humans?

I never saw who shot at me, but they were very very close. There's no way they mistook my brother and I for animals. We were talking very loudly. After the shot, we took off running like madmen and I could hear the person reload. Pretty scary. We don't know if we were trespassing or what. I was about 15 at the time an my brother was younger.

Was that an alien joke because my name is Juan you racist son of a bitch?

INCEPTED!

[BigBallinStalin]

But on a slightly more serious note, that's a scary situation, JB.

[PLAYER57832]

But on a slightly more serious note, that's a scary situation, JB.

See, this is part of the real problem. I already said that I live in an very "pro-gun' area, that I myself have no problem with safely used guns, hunting, etc. HOWEVER, if people are all acting in a safe manner, then why did I have to hear bullets whix past me when I was working in the woods. If everyone operates by safe rules, then why was I lectured (not just once, but over and over) by 'well meaning" older "gentlemen" who informed me it was not safe for me to walk in the woods (note, I was WORKING, was wearing plenty of blaze orange, had tools, etc.). OR, why is it that a woman sitting in her house can be hit by a stray bullet and no one is even cited because everyone involved was following supposed safe rules and laws? (she and the child survived, thankfully)

If you ask the guys around here, everyone will swear to safely handling guns, teaching their kids correctly, etc. YET... well, the reality is otherwise. (and no, I am not being sexist. I am mostly talking to women who are speaking of "their men") The threats to hunting, carrying guns in this country are many, but the BIGGEST threat is those who use guns unsafely. I wish that more in the hunting and shooting community would take those issues seriously. Sadly, what I see is a lot of "lip service" and not reality.

Also, per your view that having kids use guns makes them safer. I don't entirely disagree. However, a lot depends on you and your child, the discipline you have in your home. I am going to go on a bit of a limb, but I have said these things before. My son has ADHD. If there is a child that would give me qualms about being around guns, it is him. Yet, my husband loves guns and hunting and wanted few things more than to pass that on to his sons, including the one with ADHD. My feeling, as you described was that since we had guns, it was best he learn to be safe. It has paid off. Give the kid a fishing pole or a gun and he is an entirely different child. Threaten to take them away and he becomes the most compliant, "obedient" attentive child "ever". (he is on medication, too). He is NOT allowed to be around guns or regular bows (kiddie ones, but not anything with a point) without supervision. At the same time, I know of a family nearby who's son wound up getting killed because he was showing his friend the gun. He was not supposed to have it out without an adult around (only for an emergency), but... kids are kids. Hit twelve and something happens to their brains. They stop thinking for a while. (note, this is actually science, not just parental opinion). So, yes, I believe in teaching kids to shoot. BUT, and this is paramount, I also believe in keeping kids protected. Too often, I hear those in the gun community only pretending to take safety seriously. And, that I feel is the biggest threat of all to gun use in the future.

[HapSmo19]

...if people are all acting in a safe manner, then why did I have to hear bullets whix past me when I was working in the woods.

You, of all people, should know that the capitalist-christian fundamentalists are trying to kill you.

[Aradhus]

...if people are all acting in a safe manner, then why did I have to hear bullets whix past me when I was working in the woods.

You, of all people, should know that the capitalist-christian fundamentalists are trying to kill you.

The question is, will the communist-muslim fundamentalists get you first?!

[HapSmo19]

Well, if history is any guide...

[PLAYER57832]

Well, if history is any guide...

If history is a guide, whoever fires the shots will be but a dupe. Meanwhile, the real power and pain come from concentration of wealth upward.

[HapSmo19]

Well, if history is any guide...

If history is a guide, whoever fires the shots will be but a dupe.

Do they have to be actual bullets or does flying planes into buildings qualify?

[PLAYER57832]

Well, if history is any guide...

If history is a guide, whoever fires the shots will be but a dupe.

Do they have to be actual bullets or does flying planes into buildings qualify?

Since it did not start a war, no.

Those were just large-scale criminals.

[HapSmo19]

wuh?