YAY! My first gun thread. (Please note sarcasm) However, I have been thinking for the last few days about this scenario.

There are approx. 250,000,000 adults in the US right? So what if there was a "coming of age" license (like a car or the right to drink) where every adult citizen was given the right to own a gun? Let's say at the age of 25 for theory's sake. Walk into a store, get your paper and a gun. Done.

And if it was mandatory because you were responsible for being the first line of defense and protecting yourself before calling on an ever decreasing efficient Serve and Protect club while at the same time reducing the payroll of these thugs in uniform? And it was mandatory to take firearms safety in school?

Now we know that the license will depend on mental stability, criminal backgrounds etc so let's put this number at say...200,000,000 just for argument sake.

What would it be like walking down the street knowing that 4 out of 5 of the passing public were carrying?

Would you feel more safe or less so?

I'm curious because I try to put myself into the mindset of a criminal and think about walking around in public where 80% of my potential victims are most likely able to kill me on the spot. I might think of another career to pursue rather than being a thief, mugger, murderer, rapist, child molester, kidnapper, bank robber etc.

Maybe it's just me but...Granny with a gun on her hip is going to deter many would be thieves. And if she has a problem? More around her to help out.

Further...Invading forces against 200,000,000 armed citizens? hmmmm? Gotta think twice on that one right? Not too many Nations would like to come up against something like that.

Peace

First, there's 300 million Americans.

What would it be like walking down the street knowing that 4 out of 5 of the passing public were carrying? Would you feel more safe or less so?

hell no. That'd scare the f out of me. The guy behind me could get pissed I'm walking too slow and shoot me in the back without me having any chance of defending myself.
Americans aren't capable of self control, forcing them to carry guns is a terrible idea.

Bill O'Reilly really has a good idea on how to lower gun crimes. Never thought I'd say Bill O'Reilly had a good idea!
Just make it any gun crime a federal crime with a mandatory sentence of minimum 10 years. People would definitely think twice before trying armed robbery.

Not too many Nations would like to come up against something like that.

No one has been trying to invade us though. No one would try it as is! We have enough guns already. We own 50% of the world's guns.

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
~Robert A. Heinlein

I believe this statement to be true.

Answer to post........
A lot of dead people living in a very. Very egdey. Society....
Don't sneeze I'll shoot cha!!!

Seems to me it sounds like the OLD WEST?

Originally posted by Ghost375
First, there's 300 million Americans.

What would it be like walking down the street knowing that 4 out of 5 of the passing public were carrying? Would you feel more safe or less so?

hell no. That'd scare the f out of me. The guy behind me could get pissed I'm walking too slow and shoot me in the back without me having any chance of defending myself.
Americans aren't capable of self control, forcing them to carry guns is a terrible idea.

Bill O'Reilly really has a good idea on how to lower gun crimes. Never thought I'd say Bill O'Reilly had a good idea!
Just make it any gun crime a federal crime with a mandatory sentence of minimum 10 years. People would definitely think twice before trying armed robbery.

Not too many Nations would like to come up against something like that.

No one has been trying to invade us though. No one would try it as is! We have enough guns already. We own 50% of the world's guns.

edit on 13-2-2013 by Ghost375 because: (no reason given)

Actually there's about 313 million but I am using the number of adult citizens.

Now why would someone shoot you in the back when the person in back of them has a gun as well?

As it stands, you can be shot in the back while everyone else runs for cover because only that criminal is armed on the street.

And no invading forces because of enough guns? Thanks for the support!

Peace

Originally posted by SpaDe_
An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
~Robert A. Heinlein

I believe this statement to be true.

And me as well my friend.

Peace

Originally posted by jude11

Originally posted by SpaDe_
An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
~Robert A. Heinlein

I believe this statement to be true.

And me as well my friend.

Peace

Good quote, agreed here.

If only people bought a gun at 21 years old instead of a shot of alcohol

To think out loud: If everyone (250mil people) overnight had a gun, there would no doubt be a lot of violence during the first couple of years, and probably turning into long term blood feuds. However, I think the idiots would be thinned out over 5 years and the quote above would be very true, where people actually start to think (not emotionally) before they speak / act.

Only if they bring back dueling.
There are some people I would trust with a pocket knife because they might hurt themselves.

Was this thread meant to be an early April fools joke?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...I'm just disregarding this thread as a troll thread.

Originally posted by SpaDe_
An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
~Robert A. Heinlein

I believe this statement to be true.

Polite to the tune of 30,000 Gun deaths and mass school shootings every once in a while.

Originally posted by muse7
Was this thread meant to be an early April fools joke?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...I'm just disregarding this thread as a troll thread.

Disregard all you want. After all, it's the American way if you don't agree.

And no, if you read the OP it's hypothetical. But it seems that you prefer either black or white when it comes to a discussion. Too bad the elections went the same way...

Peace