Power of owing guns and character

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  • As I think about the famous quote by our 16th president/Abraham Lincoln, I wonder if this applies to just politics or applicable to other forms of power such as gun ownership.

    “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power,” (Abraham Lincoln)

    https://www.oregonlive.com/news/202...s-record-breaking-gun-violence-continues.html

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...n-party-leaves-1-dead-9-wounded-east-n1282801

    The above are examples of recent news articles regarding gun violence. It is apparent that more and more are owning guns nowadays and coverage of gun related topics will probably increase.

    Owning a firearm basically gives you the power which can be of many forms: to defend yourself, hunt, ...

    Character can be defined as "the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual."

    Does character play a role in how one deals with increased perception of power?

    Does one build character through school, upbringing, religion, community or people you hang out with, ... or is it innate?

    Does "cancel culture," "CRT," and other reimagine themes have anything to do with it?

    Are guns being blamed or should "character" or "lack of character" be the focus?
     

    trickg

    Guns 'n Drums
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 22, 2008
    14,598
    Glen Burnie
    I read somewhere once that per capita, we're actually safer with guns now than we were 100+ years ago.

    I also think that you can't pick a couple of instances and say that there's a trend because of gun ownership and perceived power. I'd lay odds that none of the guns used in the shootings listed in the articles were obtained through legal means. In regard to Portland, you also have to factor in the fact that the police have been gelded under the whole "defund the police" movement. What those articles portray is criminality - we shouldn't be trying to stick a stigma or try to say there's a trend when looking at what are in actuality very few instances when compared to the rest of the millions of legally owned guns all across the country.
     

    Bob A

    όυ φροντισ
    MDS Supporter
    Patriot Picket
    Nov 11, 2009
    30,691
    Portland is an example of the deliberate abandonment of social restraints. When the leaders of a community basically declare that criminal activity will be tolerated, endogenous criminality will flourish; further, it will attract criminal actors from other areas.

    Add to that the fact that the city is being used as a focal point for anarchy, and the widespread use of media to spread information to that effect, as well as using it to glorify violent behavior, and what you see is what you get.

    It's not the increasing prevalence of firearms that's doing this; what's happening in Portland (and similar venues) is what's causing the increase in firearms.
     

    TheOriginalMexicanBob

    Ultimate Member
    Jul 2, 2017
    32,179
    Sun City West, AZ
    .It's not the increasing prevalence of firearms that's doing this; what's happening in Portland (and similar venues) is what's causing the increase in firearms.

    That's not what the media, Democrats and others commited to the Big Lie say. Of course...those with even a modicum of critical thinking skills realize the increase in firearms and ammunition sales is in response to the the explosion in crime and the real insurrection started by BLM, ANTIFA and their assorted supporters.

    There has been no evidence given to support their claims beyond their making such claims and echoed by the syncophants in the media.
     

    Bullfrog

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 8, 2009
    15,160
    Carroll County
    Does "cancel culture," "CRT," and other reimagine themes have anything to do with it?

    Cancel culture and CRT are both attempts to coerce others to think and believe as you do, against their will.

    If you support either of them it's a good indicator you can't be trusted with a firearm and the power that comes with it.
     

    Doco Overboard

    Ultimate Member
    Most persons I think, begin to develop individual character long before ownership or responsibility of arms becomes apparent.
    It's the lack of moral hygiene maintenance and the cultural environment that stunts the growth of character in a way that becomes rapidly outpaced by other factors, such as continued intellectual interaction with morons.
     

    dannyp

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 30, 2018
    1,464
    people know right from wrong and choose to ignore it , you don't beat your girlfriend , wife, parents , people on the street and carry on with everyday life . the one's that shoot each other at the drop of a hat don't care if they live or die , only if they are the MAN . truly sad .
     

    babalou

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 12, 2013
    16,020
    Glenelg
    Bingo

    Most persons I think, begin to develop individual character long before ownership or responsibility of arms becomes apparent.
    It's the lack of moral hygiene maintenance and the cultural environment that stunts the growth of character in a way that becomes rapidly outpaced by other factors, such as continued intellectual interaction with morons.

    100% agree
     

    slsc98

    Ultimate Member
    May 24, 2012
    6,746
    Escaped MD-stan to WNC Smokies
    …Owning a firearm basically gives you the power which can be of many forms: to defend yourself, hunt, ...

    …should "character" or "lack of character" be the focus?

    Manual-at-arms and marksmanship are incumbent with responsibility and not just discipline but, self-discipline.

    Likewise, Stephen Covey does about as great a job as any contemporary in correlating responsibility to “RESPONSE with ABILITY” and the concept of Free Will.

    ^Those concepts,^ I have come to realize, truly terrify many in our society today (namely the deficiency-minded and corrupt legislator-politicians) the concepts of Free Will and Individual Responsibility (and Consequences).

    That few things involve Free Will and Individual Responsibility as much as Individual manual-at-arms and marksmanship, it does not surprise me that the lazy thinkers among us (and latently corrupt legislator-politicians) try and “focus blame” “on guns” and proponents of the Second Amendment.



    John Adams wrote that our Constitution was written for a moral people.
    :thumbsup:

    Similarly, Émile Durkheim proffered:
    When mores are sufficient, laws are unnecessary; when mores are insufficient, laws are unenforceable.
    —Émile Durkheim




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