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Here in texas there is a concealed handgun law that allows people to carry guns in public places and there has been some argument over whether colleges can ban guns on campus. This reminds me of how they do searches at school. They take you out of the room and the dog comes and sniffs your bag. Or they do it during the "fire" drill. They don't even ask if they can do it.
enough to drive can buy or carry firearms. To purchase a long gun you must be 18, and 21 to buy a handgun. You must also pass the Federal check. I, in fact, would be very much in favor of not allowing driver's licenses to anyone under 18.
Secondly, what gives you the impression that people who carry guns do so with the intent of killing somebody? I carried a gun for 25 yrs as a cop and never shot a soul. I've carried one in the years since I retired and haven't shot anybody yet.
The right is as old as the human race and is called self defense. No government can permit or deny that right. In ancient times our ancestors probably carried rocks. When they discovered clubs they carried those. Later knives were carried, then swords, and with the advent of firearms, they became the choice.
If people are irresponsible and careless with guns as you suggest some are, what makes them less so to drive a car?
Owning and using a firearm demands responsibility. How does one measure that responsibility? Background checks won't validate or invalidate a person's measure of maturity; neither will a waiting period. Neither will forcing gun owners to take a safety class or a test. I know young people of 12 who are far more mature than adults in their 20's.
Banning guns won't work. Witness the former Soviet Union and its various subject countries. As soon as they gained freedom, guns began appearing from the places in which they were hidden during the occupation. Estonia is one that comes to mind. Tens of thousands of armed civilians appeared, all with their own firearms that they had concealed from the Russian invader.
Estimates in this country are that there is one firearm for every citizen. The vast majority by far, are unregistered. Even in New York City, where it's nearly impossible to purchase a handgun, police estimate there are over a million unregistered guns. Most homes in the West, where I live, have guns. Most of the owners will not register them, nor will they surrender them. I'm one of those people, as is every resident in my little town. And, know what, nobody has been shot here in over half a century as far as anyone knows. We don't have burglaries or any of that stuff either.
Sorry to mention guns people. Plese don't get your panties in a bunch. What I was trying to illustrate was the intentions of our founding fathers to allow us to defend ourselves against an internal takeover by an oppressive force. These were wise men. They recognized the possibility that such a thing can happen. Not that it’s happening now, but to rule it out from ever happening at any future time is rather short sighted. IMO, it’s in our best interests not to put devices like this in place. The potential for abuse is far too great.
On a lesser scale, showing ID to a bouncer or any one else is a far cry from having all your personal info recorded in a database. If you think mailing lists are not compiled out of them and sold, you’d better think again. If I want my name on a mailing list ill put it there myself. And do you really want the bouncer at the door (and who knows who else ) to have access to your home address and other personal info.
The only thing that that can be said in its favor is that it can protect us from terrorists and I think that’s a crock as well.
Somehow this thread has turned from a privacy issue, to a gun debate. Anyhoo, Ill contribute by US$0.02 cents (AUST$0.013)
I have spent all my life living in Australia, and I have only ever seen a gun once, which was on my uncles farm and is used for hunting. I dont know anyone with a gun, and other than the police and musems, never even seen one!
I believe that obtaining a gun licence in Aust is relatively simple and I would assume, somewhat similiar to the licencing in the US. If that is the case, the question is why do so many people in the US feel the need to purchase guns? If the reason is for personal security, I feel comfortable with a big fat cricket bat behind my front door. I cant justify any reason for owning a gun and hence, will never own one.
I apologise in advance if any of my assumptions of the US are incorrect, but down here, we only get spoon-fed news on the US from our TV's.
for dragging it away from it's original point. I'll end it with just a quick comment and maybe somebody can get it back on track again
SoggyBottom, the laws in in Australia are vastly different concerning guns than here in the States. It's far more difficult there than here. There are Australian gun forums where you can find out more than you ever wanted. Sorry that I don't have the URL's at hand.
Okay, again, I apoligize for the digression and I'll shut up about guns.
Video Vending Machines
Wouldn't surprise me if the cig companys use the info to send ads, free samples, etc to the people who use those machines.
When did having a credit card prove you're over 18? Heck my 15 year old nephew has a debit/credit card his parents gave him to access his checking account. (Yes he has one ... has to pay for his own things. Made him realize how fast money can go. )
Though the machine does require an ID as well I am sure there are already fake IDs out there.
All I know is, that here in Louisiana, it is no longer required for the DMV to put your SSN on your license, but i'm still wary of to whom i show my license, and why. And I'm even more paranoid about to whom I show my Merchant Mariner's Document (which is a form of Federal ID, anyway)
btw, after reading some more of the posts, i thought of something else that might interest everyone. one of my favorite wci-fi authors, Robert Heinlien came up with a way to get around the national database thing, in his book, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
and on the firearms issue, (not gun, as a gun is actually an artillery piece) as the Second Amendment says, it is our right to keep and bear arms. and to clarify any confusion that might result from the word "militia". i would suggest looking up Title 10 of the US Code, and doing a search for the defintion of the "unorganized militia", if you want to really get under the skins of the likes of Sarah Brady, et al.
going back several decades to my Army days. We had a phrase to differentiate between rifle and gun. I won't post it.
Good point on militia......but it won't make any difference to the anti "gunners." We, the people, can't decide such things for ourselves. We need Big Brother to tell us. That goes for a lot more than firearms, these days. It goes for everything, right down to the food we eat and the air we breathe. If they don't control it yet, they're trying, which is what this thread and a couple of others started out talking about.