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Letter: All Gun Owners Should Have to Register Their Firearms

Albany Patch would love your 300-word letters to the editor.

[Editor's Note: Albany Patch would love your 300-word letters to the editor. .]

I applaud the  to the effort to make home gun sales more accessible . I make no secret... I hate guns, and would like to see them out of my community.

Since I can't expect that, I would propose that all gun owners in the city have to register their firearms with the city police department so that, in the event that they are burglarized, weapons can be traced to the criminals who would steal them to use them in the commission of a crime (which happens all the time).  

Any second amendment nuts who think this is an infringement on their rights, well... you have a 19th century idea of what a civilized society is.

Rights come with responsibilities. Live with one, or give up the other.

Winifred Owen April 20, 2012 at 02:13 pm
How charming that the writer of this opinion characterizes those who may disagree with any or all of his points as "nuts." The other responders have made very good points, none of which could remotely be considered nutty. In fact, the original opinion sounds nuttier than ANY of the responses!
James A. Farmer April 20, 2012 at 02:42 pm
Without getting worked up, emotional, and irate the moral high ground on firearms,
the Second Amendment, etc. rightly belongs to the institution best qualified to address this issue: JPFO. Inc. at www.jpfo.org. Read "Dial 911 and Die" (1992) at this same site. Also, JPFO, Inc. "No Guns For Negroes", "No Guns For Jews", and "The 2nd Amendment Today" can likewise be viewed online at this site.
Tim Q. Cannon April 20, 2012 at 02:45 pm
predictable responses.
Doris Meier April 20, 2012 at 02:57 pm
Always heartening to see that reason and independent thought are still alive in Albany. Great comments.
Henry Bowman April 20, 2012 at 03:12 pm
They are predictable, because they are factual. Your hoplophobia and disdain of gun owners has skewed your ability to weigh the FACTS and make a judgement.
Dover April 20, 2012 at 06:13 pm
This is an excellent site, and one I refer people to frequently. I would like to suggest that Tim also read the following pages:
http://jpfo.org/filegen-n-z/ragingagainstselfdefense.htm http://jpfo.org/articles-assd02/open-letter-to-apa.htm
paul1 April 20, 2012 at 07:19 pm
I don't want that. That's not going to make a better society with less crime. First of all, there is no way everyone is going to go out and buy a gun to keep in their house "for protection." Burglars know that some people have guns and some don't. They're not going to know whether you have one or not before burglarizing your home. So whether you want criminals to ask themselves that or not, your gun purchasing and registering behavior is not going to influence anything.
"Good people don't shot [sic] innocent bystanders, hoods to." Is this supposed to be some sort of conclusion or just a banal claim? By definition, anyone who shoots an innocent bystander is a murderer. Since everyone agrees on that, it hardly seems worth stating, and doesn't support anything you said.
Kate Nelson April 20, 2012 at 07:29 pm
Tim,
I think that you would get a better response to your letter if it wasn’t so rude and hostile. By referring to those that disagree with you as “nuts”, you have effectively closed off any chance for dialogue. I have to wonder if that was your point. Furthermore, I don’t really think that calling people names is appropriate on Patch and I wish that this letter had not been published. We are all one community and should treat each other with respect even if we have different opinions on political issues.
paul1 April 20, 2012 at 07:31 pm
Yes, by all means, we should all have guns to protect ourselves from the government. After all, there have been terrible governments elsewhere. Let's weigh that worry against the sorts of things that actually happen in this country: murders, mass murders, accidental shootings, Zimmerman-esque type incidents and many other unnecessary deaths from less-easily categorized situations.
I'm sure you're right: the chances that the government is going to pose a physical threat to me, a law-abiding citizen, is far greater than the likelihood I will by shot by some gun-toting citizen who has easy access to the vast world of armaments.
paul1 April 20, 2012 at 08:27 pm
Helpful. Debate 101 note: It's always easy to attribute one's own attitude simply to a set of "facts" (as if no conclusions and interpretations are involved) and unreasonableness (here, "skewed" vision) to one's foes based on some psychological defect or rabid state of mind.
I'm not defending the original article, BTW (not particularly helpful in my view), but the responses are indeed predictable, regardless of whether they have anything to do with facts.
ralph April 20, 2012 at 09:20 pm
Actually in our town, an innocent bystander was shot outside the Old West Gun Room when the owner and a customer opened fire on a robber. In other local shooting history, a local gun owner shot at some teens for driving too fast on hist street. It would be nice if gun owners were subjected to random checks by police to make sure their guns were properly secured.
BHirsh April 20, 2012 at 09:31 pm
Good idea! While we're at it, we'll make everybody (including you) register their computers, smart phones and tablets!
That way, when they come to confiscate our guns, they can come to confiscate your computers, too! Sound like a plan?
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:36 am
Then paul should have thousands of examples to defend his position, but alas, he doesnt.
heres some self defense incidents oldest dated 2/26/12 from just one website, all police incidents and media reported so an claim of bias is insane. Keep & Bear Arms Review of KC3, Armed Citizen, American Rifleman, Guns Save lives and others show on average 80 incidents per month. Resident Shoots and Kills Armed Home Invader (TN) • Victim of attempted robbery shoots, kills suspect in Detroit, police say (MI) • Resident Shoots and Kills 2 Home Invaders (NC) • No charges filed in Ringgold shooting (AL) • Homeowner Shoots Machete Wielding Home Invader (TN) • Bakersfield police: Robber shot, killed in self-defense (CA) • Store Clerk Shoots Knife Wielding Robber (NC) • Police: Santa Barbara homeowner shoots intruder, suspect in custody (CA) • Renton homeowner fires shots at burglar, suspect at large (WA)
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:37 am
More
• Chief Monroe: home-invasion shooting “clearly a case of self-defense” (NC) • Homeowner Shoots Suspected Burglar as His Family Sleeps Nearby (OH) • Dallas, TX Homeowner Shoots 1 of 3 Teens Kicking In His Door In Broad Daylight (TX) • Detroit, MI Woman Shoots and Kills Armed Teenage Home Invader (MI) • Vidor shooting possible self-defense (TX) • Two Intruders Break In, Woman Finds Gun, Kills One (MO) • Redford woman claims self-defense in shooting (MI) • Sheriff: Leesburg man may have killed guest in self-defense (FL) • Officials: Shooter may have acted in self defense (MS) • NY Convenience Store Owner Chases Off Armed Robber With Pistol (NY) • Two Separate Instances Of Homeowners Using Guns For Self Defense in Pierce County, WA Last Night (WA) • Retired Police Officer in WA Shoots and Kills 1 of Multiple Daytime Burglars (WA) • Female Store Clerk in FL With Carry Permit Shoots and Kills Armed Robber (FL)
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:38 am
More
• Homeowner Shoots Late Night Home Intruder In The Hip (IN) • Couple Shoot and Kill Crazed Man Who Confronted Them in Their Bedroom (WA) • Elderly MO Couple Shoot, Kill Home Invader Who Violently Attacked Them (MO) • Slaying may have been self defense: 'This was over a girl' (IL) • Detroit senior kills break-in suspect: 'As long as I can fight back, I will' (MI) • Michigan Homeowner Fires Shotgun at Would be Thief (MI) • Neighbors: Drop charges against man, 80, in shooting of burglar (IL) • BSO: Man shot dead in Pompano Beach appears to be case of self-defense (FL) • Conceal Carry Permit Holder Stops Shooter at Church (SC) • Shooting of spouse deemed self-defense (MA) • Store owner shoots teen in self-defense, killing him (FL) • Retired cop turned security guard shoots and kills armed robber (MI) • Pawn Shop Customer With License to Carry Chases Off Would Be Robber (TX)
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:39 am
More
• Elderly NE Homeowner Fires a Warning Shot at Home Invader Who Is Then Captured By Police (NE) • Homeowner Shoots At, Scares Off 3 Burglars (MI) • Las Vegas, NV Homeowner Shoots and Kills Burglary Suspect (NV) • 78 Year Old Kentucky Man Shoots 1 of 2 Home Invaders with Antique Walther and Shotgun (KY) • Store clerk fires shot, scares off would-be robber (IL) • Montgomery County man kills alleged home invader (TX) • Police: Attempted Robbery Suspect Shot By Shop Owner (CA) • Robber killed, owner hurt in mini-mart heist (PA) • Homeowner Shoots Sword Wielding Home Invader (FL) • Police say witness shoots way out of encounter with suspects (FL) • Homeowner Shoots Intruder in His Home (NM) • Man shot, killed in St. Augustine (FL) • Defensive Gun Use of the Day: Lucky to be Alive Edition (PA) • Store Clerk Shoots and Wounds Would Be Robber Who is Then Captured (NC) • Homeowner in AZ Confronts and Shoots Daytime Burglar (AZ) • Check Cashing Business Owner Exchanges Fire With 2 Armed Robbers (CO) • Store Owner Fires Warning Shot at Armed Robber Scares Him Away (MN) • Father arrives home to hostage situation, is shot and still manages to return fire and stop his attacker (OH) • Citizen Shoots and Wounds 1 of 2 Burglars (TX) • Cleaning man fatally shoots burglar at Queens grocery store (NY) • Defensive Gun Use of the Day: Vance West (MO)
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:40 am
More, and remember, since 85% of incidents no shot is fired, and 70% of attempted and or violent crimes are never reported, you get the idea.
• Homeowner Exchanges Gunfire With Truck Thief Who is Shot, Captured (TX) • Rural IL Homeowner First 5 Shots At 2 Home Invaders (IL) • Homeowner Shoots and Kills Daytime Intruder (SC) • Defensive Gun Use of the Day: Parking Lot Edition (MI) • Video: SC Convenience Store Owner Shoots, Kills Career Criminal During Armed Robbery (SC) • Woman Shoots and Kills Home Invader (NC) • Off-duty deputy shoots two dogs for allegedly attacking turkeys (UT) • Homeowner Shoots Knife Wielding Burglar Several Times (AR) • Auto Store Owner Uses Taurus Judge Pistol To Scare Off Armed Robber (PA) • 71 Year Old PA Man Pistol Whips 29 Year Old Street Robber (PA) • Homeowner Shoots Intruder Who Was In His Bedroom at 3AM Demanding Money (UT) • Armed CO Doctor Helps Over 50 People Escape Deadly Hostage Situation (CO) • 7-11 Owner Shoots At, Fights Off 2 Armed Robber (PA) • Woman Shoots and Kills Home Invader (OK) • 15 Year Old GA Resident, Shoots and Kills 1 of 2 Home Invaders Using .22 Rifle (GA) • Man Holds Man Robbing Neighbor’s Home At Gunpoint Until Police Arrive (GA) • Homeowner Holds Burglary Suspect At Gunpoint Until Police Arrive (CO) • Video: AR 12 Year Boy Grabs Gun, Shoots, Stops Burglars At His Neighbors Home (AR) • Video: CO Check Cashing Clerk Shot 1 of 2 Robbers After They Maced Him (CO)
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:51 am
Lets try this on for size and see how you like it Tim.
For ages man has been looking for that missing link that bridges the gap between primates at the Chimpanzee level and humans. I say we have found the missing link, and they are anti gun extremists. They have an opposable thumb, but like chimpanzees are incapable of controlling and handling their emotions, prone to fits of anger and fear. Needing to lash out and try to make sure everyone else is afraid of an imaginary boogey man just as they are. Actions that are easily recognizable in any film or biologists experience with a troop of chimpanzee's or lower order primates. Are you indeed that missing link Tim? Then again, just treated you in the same fashion as you treated people whom never did any wrong to you and if you dont like, suggest you get some real facts to back your opine as there is absolutely nothing that says or prevents free speech from blasting a stupid opinion posted in public like yours.
Tim Q. Cannon April 21, 2012 at 02:29 am
seems I've aroused some emotional reactions...Mr Jar head...if you are a Marine...I've been to your annual birthday at the memorial building in SF...and I salute the actions of our forces abroad...but you protest too much..Relax. To the others...I made an opinionated statement...disagree....fine. I'm a nut too...it's not an insult...There is too much gun related violence out there...I happen to think fewer guns are the answer...stop the hate. It doesn't help. no more responses from here on the matter.
paul1 April 21, 2012 at 03:01 am
Jarhead, I notice you leave out the thousands of reports of people who are shot by criminals. I wonder what the ratio of those incidents to the type you report is...10 to 1, 20 to 1, 100 to 1? Probably close to the latter. Try gathering some of those statistics and you'll understand better what bothers us.
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:48 pm
Since the police acknowledge in multiple police firearm discharge reports and multiple studies that 76-80% of shootings are where both shooter and injured were both involved in a criminal activity (usually illicit drugs) not to mention the USDOJ National Gang Threat Assessment, an annual report shows 80% of all violent crimes are committed by career criminals/gang members, not to mention the CDC Death Data Statistics where over half of deaths where a firearm was the tool used was a suicide (a felony) means that over 92% of all illegal firearms deaths are committed by criminals as acknowledged by our government.
Since you are so convinced you are right paul, prove it and refute with actual government data the above appropriately referenced reports and let us know when you have that data as we will need to dress warm for hell freezing over. You want to know what bothers us paul, lame ass lies and people who repeat them in the forlorn hope the idiots believe them as facts as you are prone to do. How about you go talk to the BATF who refuses to prosecute more than 1% of the 930,000 felons stopped from buying from a licensed source since 1994? How about demanding the government actually do something about the 95% of felons who dont even buy from a licensed source to begin with? How about rescinding the Haynes vs US 390, 85 1968 Supreme court decision that makes 85% of all gun control laws not applicable to felons because of that little 5th amendment thingy.
Jarhead1982 April 21, 2012 at 01:49 pm
How about proving the police solve more than 8.06% of all violent crimes committed on an average year?
Why is it that violence never reduces when law abiding gun owners are restricted? There is no right not to have a lame assed opinion blasted by facts and if you cant handle them, you really shouldnt be commenting in public. Yet understand this, once a Marine, always a Marine and we never quit so when you get the itch, do yourself a favor and base your irrelevant opinion on something more than emotional ka ka as we will be watching and responding.
ralph April 21, 2012 at 04:45 pm
Most of these comments are from folks who comment about the 2nd amendment exclusively. The volume of their comments is not statistically representative of anything. It would be nice to have a feature on patch where the geographical location based on IP address of the commenter was included.
John Doh! April 21, 2012 at 05:56 pm
States that have enacted "stand your ground laws" have seen about a tripling or quadrupling (I forget the exact #,) in shooting deaths where nobody was prosecuted. From my understanding, these laws legalize shootouts and murder when someone says they felt threatened regardless of the facts. i.e. Zimmerman.
Dover April 21, 2012 at 05:57 pm
"Most of these comments are from folks who comment about the 2nd amendment exclusively."
Did you somehow manage to miss the subject and content of the letter? Do you see any other amendments mentioned? I know some have presented suggestions that bring to mind the 4th amendment. Would you like to discuss that instead? Why not just go ahead and state your opinion? "The volume of their comments is not statistically representative of anything." Has anyone made such a claim of statistical representation based on comment volume? I must have missed that one. "It would be nice to have a feature on patch where the geographical location based on IP address of the commenter was included." Why?
paul1 April 21, 2012 at 06:53 pm
Jarhead, the statistics you quote prove my point. Thank you. What's interesting is that you don't even seem to understand the comments your tirades are in response to. Without getting that straight, there's no hope of a rational discourse, which I'm sure you weren't interested in anyway.
Tatter Salad May 11, 2012 at 04:11 pm
Guns in California are already registered by the State as a requirement. Only some guns older than 100 years are exempt. The Po-Po has EASY access to that data, even when they pull-over a vehicle. Diane Finestein, California's leader on making guns illigal here, carrys a small revolver in her purse. You see, she see's herself as 'special'.... an may be a 'target' yada yada. Guess what: If you walk the streets in Richmond or Oakland, YOU are much more of a target than she is.
Dover May 11, 2012 at 04:19 pm
Thanks for bumping this one, Tater! You are correct. The police know who is packing.
I'm wondering if Tim is still embarrassed and/or re-thinking his misfired (intentional pun) advertising strategy.
Tim Q. Cannon May 12, 2012 at 02:21 am
since Patch doesn't care about whether the anonymous trolls spout their crap, I'll say it here...if you don't have the courage to use your real name you are a coward and belong in an AOL chatroom. I have my opinions and am entitled to them and use my real name. If you don't, your credibility is zilch. Your opinion is useless unless you are willing to back it up by saying,,,this is me and let people know who you are. Useless. So use your real name or STFU.
Dover May 12, 2012 at 03:21 am
This is my real name. You should know that. We've met offline. We're in the same business.
No one is debating your right to an opinion. Why would you assume such? Angry people should not own guns. Thank goodness we agree on that one!

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