Do we want 71 yr old men “Emptying their guns” in public?

[OddBeMe]

No this isn’t a pun. He literally shot like 9 bullets and hit no bad guys…and luckily no bystanders.

Yes

No

[JamesDiaz11]

Yea, people should be able to defend themselves, including using weapons. The guy clearly needs target practice, but for someone who's been in firefights in Iraq, it's a lot harder to hit somebody that you'd think. I probably fired a few hundred shots (granted, I had a M-249 the first go round) for every guy I hit.

[OddBeMe]

So you’re ok with shitty gun owners emptying clips in public? No issues there?

[JamesDiaz11]

I don't think he's a shitty owner, I think he's a shitty shot. and No, I have no issue with it- I wish he actually hit the guy tho.

[OddBeMe]

So all we have is 300 million guns the country and your wishes? Couldn’t we at least ask them to take a class first?

[JamesDiaz11]

Have you ever read the book Bowling Alone, by Robert Putnam? Let's kill two birds with one stone. In Bowling Alone the author proposes that the reason behind the rise in antisocial behavior is a disintegration of community sentiments, including hobbies we do together (e. g. bowling). Why not have gun classes/ leagues- get people together, disseminate education/ information, and build a healthy understanding and respect for these weapons (including for young people). A welcome byproduct may be that the need for guns will diminish at the same time those who possess guns gain a greater control over them.

[OddBeMe]

I’m not against that. But that’s still missing this issue. Or the classic misdirection. 300 million guns = lots and lots of gun deaths. And huh! America leads the civilized world in gun deaths…by a factor of 10.

[JamesDiaz11]

No, you're dead wrong. Iceland, Finland, and Canada are in the top 12 gun owners per capita, and their gun crime is significantly lower. Look it up. Classic Liberal argument, let's not check anywhere else for a similar comparison to prove causation or correlation, and just assume "what feels right to me is right."

[exitseven]

Yes, as society continues to unravel we will see more and more people take the law into their own hands. Too bad Mr Joel did not practice with his handgun before he needed it. There might have been a different outcome.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Anonymous]

Let me rephrase the question for you. Do we want 71 yr old men to be able to defend themselves from armed robbers? Hell yeah we do. I voted A

[OddBeMe]

What if you and a loved one were standing a few feet away. His defending himself means one of you die. Which?

[Opinion Owner]

What if your father was robbed and shot by these pieces of shit? It literally happens many times every day across the country. This is one isolated incident that might have gone worse, but it didn't. There is no perfect solution to the problem of increasing violent crime in the US, but taking away the right of law abiding citizens to protect themselves from these assholes is definitely not a good one.

[OddBeMe]

I would cry harder if my father accidentally killed an innocent person like your mother who was standing nearby when he “defended himself”.

[Opinion Owner]

Why do you care more about a stranger than your father?

[OddBeMe]

Because a stranger would be dead…?

[Opinion Owner]

And that's worse to you than your father being dead? Yikes!

[OddBeMe]

Didn’t know he was dead. Just thought robbed. But sure, I’d be equally sad for both deaths. My fathers and my father killing another innocent by being a dipshit with his gun.

[ShadezMcgee]

So you are proposing to remove a way for elderly people to defend themselves all because of an isolated incident?

No, he should have that right. Get the man some range time and he will be squared away.

[OddBeMe]

Should he be forced to go to the range for target practice? Maybe have a certain hitrate before carrying a gun in public?

[ShadezMcgee]

Individual responsibilities to be trained, but now if you are saying people need to have a hit rate test, you are foolish. A stationary target is way different than a moving one.

If you want people to have mandatory weapon certification and up to date quality, send them into the military.

[OddBeMe]

I’m all for bringing back the draft. But having some type of standard for life is…standard. Like drivers tests.

[ShadezMcgee]

If you want standards for guns are you personally paying for it? Individual responsibility is imperative for something like gun ownership. I carry, I own and I practice. That is all me.

So, enlighten me. What are the supposed standards you demand to see for someone who wishes to carry a firearm for self defense? Are you holding criminals that have no regard for firearm laws twice as accountable?

[Pohjolan]

With the Wild West being less wild that some parts of US yes its entirely reasonable for people to carry guns for self-defence.

Especially as the police may just skedaddle if things get too hot and just wait for things to calm down.

[OddBeMe]

If you were nearby at the time and bullets whizzed inches away from you…still feel the same?

[Pohjolan]

I'd rather be in that scenario with a gun than without, yes.

[OddBeMe]

Funny when guns = gun deaths. Statistically, you would want to be in a situation without a gun.

[Pohjolan]

Switzerland and Funland might want to have a word with you.
Look there is already too many unregistered and too many illegal firearms in the US for gun control to make much of a difference.
You have to start fixing other societal problems first and maybe then when people no longer need to carry guns around you can start working on gun control.

[SnowedIn]

I don't want anyone shooting guns in public.

[OddBeMe]

Then we’re in the wrong country :)

[Anonymous]

As usual, in an effort to solve a nonexistent problem, the left has created a society that has people feeling like they have no choice but carry a weapon. I don't blame him one bit.

[Dargil]

Naah. Just let him get beat up, robbed and murdered... right?

[OddBeMe]

Assuming a lot. But what if you were standing nearby?

[msc545]

We don't want ANYONE firing a gun in public.

[Juxtapose]

If they're defending themselves then absolutely!

[OddBeMe]

Bystanders be damned huh?

[Juxtapose]

That's the criminal's fault.

[OddBeMe]

No…that’s the bad aim of the idiot holding the gun.

[Anonymous]

Your 5,729th post urging women, the elderly, and disabled people to disarm themselves. L

I’m starting to think you’re just a home invader.

[Gibbons44]

Pr'oly better than randomly killing people. Say, in westchurch.

[Paul09]

You should have serious training, being able to carry..

[KrakenAttackin]

The thug shot back and hit him in the foot. No one shot well, so what?

[Sevenpointfive]

that's fucking awesome !

[coolawsomegirl]

i suppose not

[gorydetails]

was he robbed?

[OddBeMe]

Sure. And he emptied his gun as a lousy shot. Bad for bystanders.

[gorydetails]

Well no, the article doesn’t state that he was robbed. So you’re a lying sack of shit.

[OddBeMe]

I believe “robbers” are mentioned. Are you saying since they may not have been successful shooting a dozen rounds and hitting nothing is a good thing?

[gorydetails]

“Tried to” rob him. They were unsuccessful. Seems like the old dude won.

[OddBeMe]

And if their were bystanders?

[gorydetails]

there wasn't

[OddBeMe]

But if there was. You know, like Texas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LikdDxivUbI

[gorydetails]

if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas