pulse shooting in orlando, FL

[Noblejanobii]

Sorry, but I just don't trust a 10-15 minute police response time with my life (and that's even if you can get to the phone and use it).

Statistically speaking, in the USA, you can get a pizza to your house faster than a first responder so I feel this is a justified distrust.

Case in point, the bombings in France, Belgium, Turkey, and 9/11 all didn't involve the killing of innocent people with firearms.

Not trying to null your point here since I agree with you but the bombings in Paris actually did have some firearm involvement. If I recall correctly, a guy also shot up a cafe near the bombing sites, but that was the only one I think.

And please, please, please don't say the constitution is an "outdated government-sanctioned document." Ugh, reading that just made me cringe, because that's like saying the right to free speech, freedom of press, and religion is outdated also, along with the things that give us equal rights, rights to vote, and so on.

Yeah, that's kind of calling the profession I want to go into pointless and I take offense to that since politics is something I enjoy. Plus, you know, it's kind of what gives you the right to make your rant in the first place.

Also, you're quite wrong in saying that "pretty much anyone can purchase a gun in this country." Heh, heck no. In NJ, you have to go through quite a heck of a background verification process and slipping up on just one point (mental issues, criminal records, etc...) will stop you from getting one. I'm not sure what is involved in other states, but there are laws in place to some degree. As long as the laws are reasonable, I'm fine with complying with them, but there are anti-gun activists that would either want them to get to the point of being completely unreasonable (which some gun laws have gotten to that point in some cases) or just ban them altogether.

I think starmie was referring to states like mine, where firearms are quite accessible. Note, don't hold me to this since firearm laws change VERY frequently in my state and given what happened literally a year ago, I wouldn't be surprised if this had changed since then. However, last I checked, the only permit required to be held by a citizen of South Carolina when it comes to a rifle, shotgun, or handgun is a permit to carry a handgun. We don't require a permit to purchase one, we don't require registration of them, and we don't require licensing of them. HOWEVER, you have to be a resident of the state or active in the military to purchase a firearm, and in addition to that there are several tests you must be run through before you can get one. I will now run myself through these tests to show you kind of how this works. There are four things that would prevent you from owning a handgun in my state. First, you can't have been convicted of a crime of violence. I'm not sure how long this goes on for because I don't know the exact text of the law, but the point still stands. Since I haven't, I pass that mark. Second, "Any person who is a member of a subversive organization, fugitive from justice, habitual drunkard or drug addict or who has been adjudicated mentally incompetent". Well I don't think I'm any of those, so check there. Third, "Any person who had been adjudged unfit to carry or possess a handgun by an order of a circuit or county court judge." Again, don't think I qualify here, so check there. Lastly, "any person under twenty-one". Oh well looky there, I'm under twenty-one. Means I can't legally own a gun. In fact, the only time I'm actually allowed to legally use one is in specified locations where the person must be over sixteen years of age and be under the supervision of someone that meets all of the qualifications above as well as is my guardian or parent. It's not the most thorough system but they crack down on it pretty hard in my area.

@starmie

Not to be rude or anything but I think you kind of missed the whole point of his argument. So uh... yeah.