Your stance on guns, depression?

[sickcycle]

I just wrote a paper for school on one of there given topics, didnt really like any of the topics so I closed my eyes and picked a random one, and I got guns. So i pulled something out of my ass and did some research and came up with this paper, I havent turned it in yet, because I just wrote it, will go back through and edit it torrow, but I just want you thoughts on the paper.



A Tale of the Gun

For protection, for love, for quenching the undying lust for revenge that one may have, a gun is simply a tool; but the hand that wields it, is what chooses its purpose in life. Many pose the argument, take guns out of the hands of people, and outlaw them, and murder rates will drop; giving way to a better tomorrow for our children. However, I give an opposite view, for all those who say that gun violence in America is climbing to epidemic heights and that our Second Emendment right should be thrown out; are simple failing to see truth in its entirety.

In 2002, there were 30,242 gun deaths in the U.S, over 17,000 of which were suicide related, that’s 56% of all U.S gun related deaths [Numbers obtained from CDC National Center for Health Statistics mortality report online, 2005.] This horrible but true statistic shows just how many people in the U.S alone die from gun violence, what’s worse, we seem to be using guns not for protection of personal vendettas, but rather suicide, most likely caused by depression. In researching topics of depression, I found that the demand for drugs like Zoloft, Paxil CR, and books to treat depression symptoms in this nation has grown dramatically in the past three years.

Depression affects about 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population ages eighteen and older in any given year, and about 15% of which will comment suicide. In the argument to take away guns from public use, this statistic shows that even in the case of a gun free America, the number of current deaths caused by guns would still be in existence, but in another form. If a person is depressed to the point of taking ones own life, they will do so, be it a gun or some other form of macabre release.

The problem as I see it is not in the gun itself, but in the person that wields it, a gun is not evil, a gun does not hold a grudge, but does provide a person with an easier way to carry out what is on his mind. But to take away our right as Americans to own and bare arms is not only unconstitutional but illogical. The fact of the matter is, criminals break laws, if we outlaw the right for a citizen to arm him or her self, then a majority of law-abiding Americans would be without protection, when the criminal who still has a gun breaks into their house, how are they to protect themselves?

To say that guns violence is not a problem in America is an outright lie, but the solution to the problem is not in the banning of firearms. What I would recommend is buckling down on how easy it is to obtain a gun, stricter laws on even what type of gun a citizen should have: for example, why sell someone a sub-machine gun that lives in the city, what purpose would it serve? There are better alternatives to this problem, but what people need to realize is, human nature is a sin-nature, the root of the problem is the person, not the weapon.

[JJ]

pretty good man



For protection, for love, for quenching the undying lust for revenge that one may have, a gun is simply a tool; but the hand that wields it, is what chooses its purpose in life

like it ^_^

[F-ck Casey]

guns don't cause crimes, the people buying them do.

[Neil]

Guns don't kill people, the people who give them guns, say oh, the NRA, kill people. Well, they somewhat do, with all that bullshit about everyone has the right to carry a gun or whatever.

[NickelNine]

The problem as I see it is not in the gun itself, but in the person that wields it, a gun is not evil, a gun does not hold a grudge, but does provide a person with an easier way to carry out what is on his (or her) mind.

I agree with that.

I just believe that a person who owns a hand gun for "safety" will use it unwisely. I think everyone has the right to own one only if they go through many class sessions and lots of training before they can own one. And I'm not talking about one class and a test. I'm talking about many hours going into the education and resposibility of owning a gun.

EDIT: I'm talking about people that apply to get a gun permit.

[F-ck Casey]

"now, students, this is how you own a gun.."

:wth:

[Louis]

That's an excellent essay. That is so true.

[HM-UNDERGROUND]

We need gunz, lolz. It's not the gunz that do the hurt, it's person holding the trigger.

I'm surrounded by gunz, my family works for the police and my dad's some state officer meaning he has like, 5 differ gunz.

[Anthony.]

Guns is spelled with an "S" ;) .

[linkin park 101]

Originally posted by Casey@Oct 5 2005, 09:04 PM
guns don't cause crimes, the people buying them do.
i'd have to agree

[Atsuzen]

Originally posted by Avenger@Oct 15 2005, 02:02 AM
Guns is spelled with an "S" ;) .
:lol:


Excellent essay, btw. ;)

[rosanna]

i don't think it is true about teens being depressed and shooting people. i have major depression and i don't really feel the need to kill anyone (but myself). now schizophrenia (paranoid) is a different story.

[Canadian Joe]

Originally posted by rosanna1114@Oct 23 2005, 10:55 PM
i don't think it is true about teens being depressed and shooting people. i have major depression and i don't really feel the need to kill anyone (but myself). now schizophrenia (paranoid) is a different story.
Welcome to my world...

[rosanna]

i know people with schizophrenia. some of them are the sweetest people i have ever met.

[Mechanical Christ]

Guns don't kill people; people kill people.....

[Todd]

Guns don't kill people; people kill people.....

And guns make it much easier for people to do that.


That's like saying ovens don't heat up food. People heat up food.

Yes, it's the person's choice to heat up the food, but using the oven is sure easier than blowing hot air from your mouth onto the food until its warm.

[Will]

"Guns aren't dangerous. In fact, Jesus and Moses used guns to combat the Egyptians."

[cece13]

I think that there should definately be stricter gun control laws... or guns should just be completely banned.

I hate hearing " guns sdn't kill people,people kill people" bs
yes people do kill people. people w/ guns kill people. I think that there'd be less violence if the guns were banned in the US

[Dedicated]

I agree with the guns don't kill people; people kill people idea. The problem is that that can be used for anything though. What I mean is like, a world leader could nuke a country and someone supporting the nuke would say that nukes don't kill people; people kill people. So I guess that this post has become void.

Although there are times when I think to myself that I want a gun for protection and as a way of scaring someone away.

[Christopher]

i think there's a positive and a negative side on owning a gun
positive: you can protect yourself
negative: you can hurt innocent people with it
the people who buy guns are trying to protect themselfs and they're falimy or whatever but i think it's dangerous selling guns to who ever comes into your shop. Let the police handle the protecting ...

great essay btw

[Anthony]

very very impressive arguement. the best thing being the fact that you actually back up your theories with statistics. just make sure that they have been cross referenced with other sources - from experience i find that actually showing 2/3 sources makes it seem to be a solid statement.
but yes, very intelligent. a rarity on here but certainly well worth the wait

[rosanna]

i actually thought about getting a gun for protection but i am worried about hurting myself(as opposed to someone else)...
it is very hard to go back from your decision to kill yourself after you pull the trigger and that scares me.
i think that is a good thing...for the moment.



my father was shot to death...as a result we weren't allowed to have guns in like a 10 mile radius of our house. guns scare me. seriously. i even see a cop with a gun and it freaks me out. like oh my god a real live GUN!!! i don't know what it is but they are scary.

and when you get a gun and you live with someone else, you have to trust them enough to know they won't do something they shouldn't. that is hard to find someone like that these days.

[TeMpEsT]

"Guns aren't dangerous. In fact, Jesus and Moses used guns to combat the Egyptians."

Family Guy +1

[Odaton]

Well just take a look at two neighbouring nations, the US (little gun control) and Canada (lots of gun control), from www.guncontrol.ca...which has gotten its info from Government sources. If guns were distributed equally among the population, 1 in 4 (25%) Canadians would own a gun, compared with 4 in 5 Americans (80%). Now, if you take the homicide rate of each country per 100,000 as of 1998:

Canada: 1.83
US: 6.62

Then the percentage of homicides commited using firearms:

Canada: 27%
US: 66% (and 75% of those with handguns, which in Canada are illegal for the general public to have)

These statistics alone justify the need to control the sale of guns. I think guns are suitable for recreational purposes like hunting, and shooting at the firing range for a hobby, but not to carry around for "safety". My uncle recently got charged because in an emergency he was found with a gun in the back of his truck that wasn't his and wasn't put away properly. However unfair, I think strict action should be taken against guns and gun violence.

If someone is in depression or is extremely angry and they have a gun at their disposal...don't you think that in their irrational state they will be more likely to use it? Of COURSE people shoot the guns but sometimes people's actions cannot be accounted for so their needs to be control on what can...the guns themselves. Another huge factor is disparity and gun violence. The increase in Toronto's homicides (71 this year, which is a lot for that city) is majorly due to gang wars in the poorest parts of the city where people have no opportunity, so they resort to violence to survive.

[User Name]

But to take away our right as Americans to own and bare arms is not only unconstitutional but illogical.

That was only written into the constitution in the event that Britian reinvaded the United States. It never happened. If you ask me, your 'right as Americans to own and bare arms' has been abused.

[Odaton]

Indeed, a Constitution that is over 200 years old that contains ideas from that period in time....back then women were also not considered "people" as well. SO you AMEND the constitution, Neil, for that reason!

[rosanna]

the majority of murderers don't have a mental disability.

[saunderitos]

when the criminal who still has a gun breaks into their house, how are they to protect themselves?

Like the British do, We can not carry guns and we do fine. Good ol cricket bat/golfclub to the back of the head if need be.


guns arnt evil (or something like that :P) They arnt evil, but they are a disgusting invention. What need should we have to hurl small pieces of lead at each other at 3000 m/s? What need should we have to kill each other?

Ban guns, less school shootings, less street murders, less successful muggings, less armed robberies. No more trigger happy police.

[Intergalactic Christ]

If the criminals have guns, it makes sense to give the cops guns too. If I was a policewoman, I wouldn't like to go out to a situation where the criminals were possibly armed, whilst unarmed myself.

Remind you of anything?

[saunderitos]

If the criminals have guns, it makes sense to give the cops guns too. If I was a policewoman, I wouldn't like to go out to a situation where the criminals were possibly armed, whilst unarmed myself.

Remind you of anything?


or vise versa, criminals now carry guns more often because the police carry

[Intergalactic Christ]

The police in this country don't carry guns. Personally, I would feel safer knowing police were armed.

When the incident with the policewoman getting shot was in the news, I saw a bloke on TV saying that cops carrying guns would intimidate the citizens, which they didn't want. Honestly, in this day and age, I don't think you can have the whole "friendly neighbourhood bobby" thing anymore, they have to have some clout behind them.

[arbaks]

I'm against guns in homes, military and police are the only people that should have guns

[rosanna]

if they are the only people with guns, other people would be able to get ahold of them. kinda like drugs. that was a good point that my mother made to me once.

i think no one should have guns. they need to be banned. sayonara, adios.

i know that isn't going to happen, but honestly i think people are too irresponsible to handle that big of a responsibility.

[LProx4life]

You know if we didnt have guns in the first place we wouldn't of had this, we would be gun free but since wars started they made guns as a defending method so we couldnt blame them for that. But we can blame them for making it legal for people to be able to carry a gun if you have a permit because think about it if no one on the street had guns people wouldnt need guns as a protection sort of way.

[saunderitos]

The police in this country don't carry guns. Personally, I would feel safer knowing police were armed.

When the incident with the policewoman getting shot was in the news, I saw a bloke on TV saying that cops carrying guns would intimidate the citizens, which they didn't want. Honestly, in this day and age, I don't think you can have the whole "friendly neighbourhood bobby" thing anymore, they have to have some clout behind them.


Sorry, I thought you were American ^^ I am British aswell :P. I still disagree with you though, police should not carry guns. If someone shoots them,how is a gun going to help them? It is NOT. They should buff up on kevlar.

[Intergalactic Christ]

If a citizen gets shot in a crowded place, how are the police supposed to protect the public with... a stick?

[saunderitos]

If a citizen gets shot in a crowded place, how are the police supposed to protect the public with... a stick?


We have done well enough so far,but I am no police expert so I really couldn't say.

[Intergalactic Christ]

I'll go research that in a bit (after school) ;)

Anyway, I noticed something in your post

"If someone shoots them,how is a gun going to help them? It is NOT. They should buff up on kevlar."

What about the citizens? Should we all go around wearing kevlar too?

[saunderitos]

What about the citizens? Should we all go around wearing kevlar too?


If you are worried about getting shot then yes. I couldn't care in the least really, I don't think i am gonna get shot.

[DIJ Metal]

if you ask me guns are stupid and they should all be destroyed. Unless you're using one in war they aren't necissary.

[Intergalactic Christ]

If you are worried about getting shot then yes. I couldn't care in the least really, I don't think i am gonna get shot.

Okay, so say you're in a shopping centre, no kevlar, and some gangster shoots somebody. The police patrolling the shopping centre do not have guns. So basically, you have a homicidal maniac running around the town, and all the police have to stop him is a Big Stick. If they had guns, they could take him down easily with a shot to the leg or something, it does not always mean murdering them.

And citizens should be able to walk around the town without fearing for their safety.

[saunderitos]

Okay, so say you're in a shopping centre, no kevlar, and some gangster shoots somebody. The police patrolling the shopping centre do not have guns. So basically, you have a homicidal maniac running around the town, and all the police have to stop him is a Big Stick. If they had guns, they could take him down easily with a shot to the leg or something, it does not always mean murdering them.

And citizens should be able to walk around the town without fearing for their safety.


I do not fear. How many police have you seen patrolling shopping centres?
None here.
If they had guns, they could miss and shoot some person. A leg shot can bounce off your shins and rip your insides apart. Wow, nice take down there son. You just ripped a guy to shreds, but only inside, oops, the bullet just came out the top of his head. Nice.
Police will be trigger happy, and end up shooting when they feel like it, what if they rampage? I really doubt a police man could shoot a man in the leg when he would be, say running, or if the police are getting shot at.

[Intergalactic Christ]

I have. I always do, actually.

Remember, we aren't just going to give police handguns and say "here ya go," they'll get training too. Any shot can rip you apart, but I'd rather see the fucker dead than still running around with a gun, wouldn't you?

Police would not necessarily be "trigger happy". I've heard of police (in america) who've been on the job 20+ years and not gone on the "rampage" with their guns. And the police don't roam around solitary.

You seem to think of the police as mindless drones - they're not. They're trained professionals.

[rosanna]

police decide it is imperative to shoot to kill when a suspect is speeding and won't stop. that is not a good reason to start shooting...i don't think any time is good to shoot a suspect but i can understand if they have a gun and you see it and they are trying to use it. that is it. every other problem ca be solved another way.


and the fact that the police have guns does not deter anyone from crime or else there wouldn't be any. people are so used to it they just don't care anymore.

[Intergalactic Christ]

police decide it is imperative to shoot to kill when a suspect is speeding and won't stop. that is not a good reason to start shooting...i don't think any time is good to shoot a suspect but i can understand if they have a gun and you see it and they are trying to use it. that is it. every other problem ca be solved another way.


and the fact that the police have guns does not deter anyone from crime or else there wouldn't be any. people are so used to it they just don't care anymore.

If you're speeding and won't stop, you are being dangerous to other drivers, and could probably kill them. Over here, the police have to surround the other car to stop it, which isn't easy, safe, and doesnt always work. --watches too many police programmes--

It isn't about putting people off crime, it's about defending the citizens.