Americans don't know how to handle guns

Dr. Catherine Meeks

Americans don't know how to handle guns

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Wednesday, April 14. 2010

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By Catherine Meeks, Ph.D
The Macon Telegraph

It has been said that, “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

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#1 wdm on 04/14/10 at 06:15 PM

Maconians don't know how to handle hats.

#2 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 01:21 AM

What a damn idiot!

The people that goes through the right "channels" to legally carry a weapon (most of the time) isnt the ones that are committing the crimes. Why enforce stricter laws on law abiding citizens. The bad guys are going to do what they want to do no matter what bill or law gets passed. Do you really think the criminals would adhear to the anti gun laws if they were to come in to affect. They wouldnt be called criminals if they abided by laws.
Too bad people of this mindset gets to wander around this world.

#3 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 02:55 AM

Most registered gun owners are responsible with them. It's the idiots that get them illegally or to look tough that you have to watch out for...you can find those guys lining the streets of the hood.

#4 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 04:34 AM

Ignorance is bliss!!!!! Check out our leaders!!!LOL
I have a permit and think I have every right to defend myself...You should be happy that we took time to get permits and use our weapons properly, maybe you should take your store to the streets, and get the guns out of their hands!!

#5 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 04:41 AM

She said, I would prefer not to be around people who think they need a weapon as they conduct their daily business. How is a gun going to be a part of the day’s routine transactions?

I would perfer not to be around people that I feel I should have a firearm to keep from being assulted or robed but if I have no choice but to be around these folks I'm thankful I have the option to carry one.

#6 isa on 04/15/10 at 04:52 AM

How is a gun going to be a part of the day’s routine transactions!

When you have a hoodlum in McDonalds's with a
weapon shooting everyone in the store just so
he can steal what little change in the till-
and you look in your purse and you have a weapon that can stop this masacure-you make think different- Especially when you have your
children in line getting hamburgers.

#7 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 04:54 AM

Anti-gun laws as they are now are not very effective..but I do not agree that they should pass out weapons without restriction. There should be better laws with a tracking system. People who own weapons should be responsible if that weapon makes it into the wrong hands. Buy a safe.

#8 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 05:18 AM

PHD? in what? being a D-A!

#9 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 06:37 AM

Please not the HAT!!!!

#10 Old Man on 04/15/10 at 06:44 AM

If Dr Meeks does not want to be around people with gun rights, well Greyhound and Delta departs every day to wonderful cities such as Detroit or Chicago. Maybe someone can start a fund to help her on her way to these two safe cities.

#11 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 06:45 AM

this is probably something she just threw together as a dissertation to get those 3 letters after her name from somewhere like Spelman or Morris Brown....

#12 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 07:27 AM

If more people carry weapon then there would be less criminals

#13 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 07:52 AM

We outlawed machinge guns and sawed-off shotguns and it didnt anger anyone or cause anyone to suffer difficulty....why not outlaw handguns....we would get use to it and not suffer any problems.....sure the bad men would still keep their handguns, but if the handguns were outlawed, it would make it easier to put the people in jails....today if you get caught with a machine gun; you are going to jail....that is the way it should be with handguns....they serve no purpose.....you can protect your belongings better with a shotgun or rifle....

#14 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 08:15 AM

you could be right, but if i walk in ingles with a shotgun under my jacket i'll bet someone will get all shook up.as things go now nobody knows i carry a gun on me.

#15 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 08:27 AM

huh??? outlaw handguns because it's SOOOO easy to carry a concealed shotgun or rifle, right??!! You are obviously another one of those who have no idea...

#16 Imajean Jellybean on 04/15/10 at 08:33 AM

I suppose she has never had a husband that works night shift. I suppose she has never been at home alone in the middle of the night with a child to PROTECT when a drunkard on a bicycle carrying a gas can bangs on her front door in the middle of the night. I suppose she's never had to make the call to the Sheriffs Dept to tell them they can either come and get him in the patrol car before I send him in the ambulance for trying to enter my house. I suppose she's never stood on the other side of that door with a .410 and three shells hoping that the patrol car gets there before that drunkard gets into her house. And I suppose if she could load, aim, and shoot that gun blindfolded and hit a decent spot on a target she'd feel a little different about this issue.

#17 Anon on 04/15/10 at 08:37 AM

What about protecting yourself when your not at home? I dont any stores that sell concealed carry shotguns.

#18 Jim on 04/15/10 at 08:47 AM

Lady, you may have a Ph.D but it sure as hell isn't in common sense. If you recall history you'd know that the FIRST gun control laws were written to keep firearms out of the hands of black slaves and Indians. Worked out pretty well for the law makers. For the other guys? Not so much.

#19 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 08:54 AM

"There are too many folks who think of themselves as rational about most things but feel the need to carry a gun. Why? Quite frankly, I would prefer not to be around people who think they need a weapon as they conduct their daily business. How is a gun going to be a part of the day’s routine transactions?"

This is an example of an irrational argument. The only thing daily about my carry weapon is that it is on my person. I hope, honestly, that I will ever have to use it and it is ignorant to assume that anyone who does carry a weapon is making it part of their "routine transactions".

#20 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 08:59 AM

You dolt... Machine guns are not "outlawed". You can purchase a fully automatic weapon made before 1986 with the proper permits, but they are expensive. Our laws have only eliminated the supply of fully automatic weapons, and created an insane demand for collectors. If someone gets caught with an illegal machine gun, it either came from Mexico or is an illegally modified semi-automatic rifle.

That being said, many more handguns have been in the possesion of law abiding Americans than there ever have been fully automatic weapons. People didn't get up in arms when they stopped the availability of new fully automatic weapons from entering the market because theres not any pracitcal use for them in a non-warzone situation. Handguns, when carried concealed by properly trained and authorized citizens, are the most effective form of protection. They can be taken into most public places, and since they are out of sight, they do not cause anyone any distress. You claim that full length guns would be the most effective form of protection, but that would only apply within your property, because I don't think the public would be a big fan of people carrying around full size rifles and shotguns on a day-to-day basis.

Oh, and as far as sawn-off shotguns, those are not illegal either. In order to have a awn-off shotgun, you have to pay another $200 tax to make it legal.

#21 H B on 04/15/10 at 09:21 AM

I believe if this person learned how to research, they would know the majority of gun crimes are with illegal weapons. Not registered, the owner bought it on the street, and probably doesnt really know how to properly use a weapon, just how to make it go bang. This person keeps using phd after their name. That is proper only if teaching a class, or in an academic environment.
She cannot write a prescription. I wonder what her disertation for her phd was?

#22 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 09:35 AM

> but if the handguns were outlawed, it would make it easier to put the people in jails

I don't want anybody in jail - that's not the point. The point it to stay alive!

#23 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 09:54 AM

Well, then I guess we should pass a law holding gun owners responsible for all these crime since they can't properly secure their weapons.

#24 CTGunner on 04/15/10 at 10:07 AM

I do not want to be around people who wear seat belts and own fire extinguishers. How are these items going to be a part of their daily transactions? They're paranoid freaks I tell you!

#25 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 10:16 AM

WHY DON'T WE SIMPLY OUTLAW CRIMINAL ACTIVITY?... SURELY, THIS WOULD SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM?... FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE WERE TO MAKE MURDER ILLEGAL, WOULDN'T THAT DRASTICALLY DROP OUR CURRENT MURDER RATE?

#26 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 10:30 AM

hehehehehehehehehe

#27 Ron on 04/15/10 at 10:31 AM

she asks, "why do some folks feel the need to make such a big deal out of owning guns these days anyway?"

It's called the 2nd Ammendment lady. You know...those silly pieces of paper called the Constitution and Bill of Rights?
The 2nd Ammendment was not added by the founding fathers so we could hunt or collect. It was put in there so we would have the means to protect our inalienable rights...life liberty and the puruit of happiness. It was put in there in insure a tyrannical government could not instill it's will on the people. If we change anything, we need to rid ourselves of the Patriot Act and give us back those rights that have been taken from us...that wouuld be a great start.

#28 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 11:03 AM

Yes, yes it would. Can't believe no one has ever thought about this before. You're paving the way for a brighter future!

OUTLAW CRIMINAL ACTIVITY!!!

#29 TTerry on 04/15/10 at 11:11 AM

To the people that think we should outlaw handguns,because someone may feel agressive.How about knives, belts, pens, and pencils. every one of these items san be used in a heartbeat, in any place, at any time to kill or wound man, woman or child. Should we outlaw these items also? By the way, murder , the last time I remember, is allready against the law. In this country there are appx. 20,000 laws on the books to regulate gun ownership. I guess you think things will change if you outlaw guns. There is more information on gunowners than the thugs that have them. This woman should be lobbing to get the same information on them, not us!!!!!

#30 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 11:49 AM

If the government thought for one second that you were a threat to their interest you could have a bazooka and it wouldn’t make an ounce of difference. All it would do is to insure that you would assume room temperature just a little bit sooner.

#31 Dante Tanner on 04/15/10 at 12:31 PM

Yes, because we don't deal with gangsters all the time. You talk about no more wild animals to defend ourselves from, yet homicide rates are at record highs in areas that are enforcing stricter gun controls. It is because the "homies" will still find a way to buy a "gat" even when Mom and Pop are not allowed to. We do need to rethink things. We need to rethink why more people don't own guns to defend against the thugs and "gangstas" that pollute the streets. More than half of the guns used in shootings are unregistered are stolen. We don't need fewer people legally owning guns. We need more educated, trained, responsible people owning guns.

#32 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 12:58 PM

Lady your an idiot, its, ppl like to hunt these days also and im not gonna throw a spear at a dear or bird thats a longs ways off! Try to take the guns from ppl that live in the south, you will not succeed!!!!!!

#33 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 01:04 PM

Trying to take the souths guns away is gonna start another civil war woman!! your an idiot like obama! Try going down mill street and you will see the ones who carry guns illegally, or atlanta street either one works!! Our second amendment states we can carry guns but the ones who have the PHD's in this world are the ones thats going to mess it up!!!!

#34 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 01:16 PM

Actually sawed off shotguns are not illegal to an extent, they cant be cut below 14 inches in barrel length i think but not sure. And I am all for any kind of gun, especially the ones that take care of those murderers and rapists the quickest, the ones that break into the houses are good for them too!!!

#35 Purple Hat for Purple Rain!!!! on 04/15/10 at 01:40 PM

I'll gladly give up my 2nd ammendment rights if you'll give up your 1st ammendment rights. Without one, you can't have the other!!!!

#36 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 06:23 PM

Those of us who have the proper paperwork to carry guns have gun control.

Gun Control is the ability to hit what your aiming at.

It is idiots like this that want to give the criminals a free pass to maim and kill the law abiding citizens with their illegal guns. Those of us who are legal are the ones who will face the wrath of these gun control morons.

I believe stupidity should be painful. To some it would be a minor muscle ache while others would feel like they are being stabbed with a red hot poker. This idiot would be getting the red hot poker for not using their brain to think thing through before putting them to paper.

#37 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 06:33 PM

why you always gotta be bringin racial on all this time? Just cause she ainnt one of yall yi bustin an haten! that what yall get for bein ingnant all the time!

#38 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 06:44 PM

yall talk like having a gun is making you safe...and talk like you would use it to kill a bad person.....i bet there hasnt been one bad person killed by a vigilante in georgia in the last 2 years.....but i bet there isnt a month that goes by in ga. that a young child isnt killed by accidental discharge of a loaded firearm in the home......wake up folks, handguns kill.....if you are a southern redneck republican against abortion because it is murder; you should also be against handguns

#39 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 06:52 PM

Owning a gun does not guarantee safety. I dont care how many responsible adults own a gun as long as they stay out of a criminals hands. But I do have to say I am not excited about living in a trigger happy environment. Sometimes problems should just be solved with a good butt-whipping.

#40 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 07:52 PM

Guess what? If a person has a registered firearm stolen from them, they do not report it, and it is used in a crime, they ARE held responsible! Gee whiz, we already have that law!

Guess where most of the illegal weapons come from - MEXICO!

#41 Operator on 04/15/10 at 08:01 PM

Maconian Please...

#42 Anonymous on 04/15/10 at 08:01 PM

There are too many folks who think of themselves as rational about most things but feel the need to wear a fancy hat. Why? Quite frankly, I would prefer not to be around people who think they need a fancy hat as they conduct their daily business. How is a fancy hat going to be a part of the day’s routine transactions?

#43 Operator on 04/15/10 at 08:21 PM

Maconian please.

#44 Toto Megottago on 04/15/10 at 08:30 PM

In reply to all the stupid people that think gun control is the answer. Pull your head out of your a*$ and see some light.

So much energy is expended from some people to take guns out of the hands of the people. How ignorant can they be? If the day ever comes that the people cannpt own guns then we will have stopped beig a free nation. Another note is that guns do not harm anyone. A person can look down the barrel of a loaded weapon all day and it isn't going to do anything until a person operates it. It is much easier to take people away from guns than the other way around. It's just that the justice system won't do it and bleeding heart liberals are just to ignorant to understand facts.

#45 Anonymous on 04/16/10 at 01:42 AM

handguns dont kill people, its the dummy thats behind the trigger that makes the decision.
Guns just dont "go off" unless you have an older model sks or M14 or something that will fire when dropped. Glocks, S&W, Kimber, Kahr,Taurus, Ruger etc have safety features that prevent them from "going off" when dropped. It takes an effort to pull the trigger to discharge a firearm.
I guess you are a dread headed, stinkin blue gum democrat that just looks at one side of the issue though. Its your way or the highway right? You are an idiot for even comparing personal protection to abortion. Im not a republican, I would consider myself a libertarian btw.

#46 Lee on 04/16/10 at 10:32 AM

I don't know who told the author that people carry guns because thyey have some insatiable desire to be powerful, but she's way off on that one. I carry a gun to defend my life in the unlikely circumstance that it becomes necessary. That is all. I carry a gun for the same reason that I wear my seatbelt or keep a fire extinguisher in my home. It's unlikely that I will have to use any of those three things to protect my life (or the life of my family members), but if I need to, I'll be able to.

The day that an anti-gun person suggests to me a non-violent way to defend myself against an attacker that will be just as effective as my pistol, I'll be happy to stop carrying. Until that day, I'd rather be able to defend myself.

#47 Anonymous on 04/16/10 at 11:22 AM

I feel that everyone with any common sense should have the right to own any kind of gun that they desire. Maybe we should all carry a weapon to protect ourselves because you are truly not safe anywhere. You could be anywhere at anytime and have your life or the life of your loved ones threatened. It is a shame that we should feel this way but the fact is that WE ARE NOT SAFE EVEN IN OUR OWN HOMES.ButI feel a lot safer knowing that I have some protection against anyone that feels the need to come in where they are not welcome.

#48 Bill on 04/16/10 at 04:33 PM

Thisis what we got running this country,give them their freedom. And they want to take over the world. What happening today happened in Germany in 1933. Socialism. came into power. Nazis.And all productive people were rounded up and put to death. Same will happen here.History repeats its self.

#49 Jim on 04/16/10 at 05:18 PM

It is not that Americans do not know how to handle guns. It is that the small percentage of gun owners who do not follow the proper safety precautions are seen more then the ones who do follow all safety rules. I was raised with guns in my house and was handling them (for cleaning purposes) since I was 5 years old. My parents bought me a rifle before I had a BB gun; they said if I was ready for one I was ready for either one.

#50 Anonymous on 04/17/10 at 04:44 AM

Why on earth would anyone register a firearm anyway? That is ridiculous. "Here, government, I have this gun, please keep notes of it" Yea, right. Registration will lead to confiscation. You are NOT bound by law to register any firearm.

And the above comment on automatic responsibility is not accurate.

#51 Karl on 04/17/10 at 09:26 PM

Gun Control Works!!!!

Just ask:
Hitler
Mussolini
Stalin
Pol Pot
Chavez
Castro
Mao
Kim Jon Il
Need I name more?

#52 Anonymous on 04/17/10 at 11:26 PM

Lol..it does not matter how many guns you own. This isn't the 1700's. If the government wants to put you down, it will.
Also, socialism is not fascism...google it people.

#53 csb on 04/18/10 at 07:14 AM

the question is "what's wrong with Meeks? Does she think the world will be rosey and sweet,and no one will be violent,and all people will sit around the fire singing folk songs? I think that purple box on her head is too heavey or too tight. She needs to wake up and jump in to reality.The statement she made is extremely ignorant,this country was won by guns and is now protected by guns ,and they would have to pry my guns from my cold,dead hands.

#54 Bob on 04/18/10 at 08:43 AM

Apparently, you are referring to the growing "right to carry" trend of the last decade. States making these laws are for CONCEALED weapons(pistol) permits. Chances are, you aren't going to know who is licensed and who isn't, that's the point of CONCEALED. This is beneficial in that people with irrational fear of firearms won't see them, and criminals (who prefer unarmed victims) won't know who is armed. Tell you what, you keep being a sheep, I'll keep being the sheep dog. You leave me alone, and I'll take care of the wolves when the police are 15 minutes and unable to save you.

#55 Anonymous on 04/18/10 at 07:36 PM

You need a gun if you live near the Buggy Wash or near the Mcdonalds on friday night. A good pair of ear plugs to. Called the police twice, and no one showed up AT ALL. What a joke!

#56 TTerry on 04/19/10 at 06:40 AM

To answer #28 anon. For your information, there are more children drown every month or year, than are killed or shot. Please get your facts straight before you get other uninformed people to believe your untrue thoughts and take it for gospel. The next time you buy something in a 5 gal bucket, make sure you look on the side of it and look at the diagram. You probably see warning--- a child may drown in this. Do you wish to outlaw buckets now? I guess you really think outlawing guns will stop the gangbangers and robers,reapist, and fools on a missiom from getting one. Fat chance. You sound like a woman so wake up lady and pay attention to facts and figures, not what you think.

#57 Anonymous on 04/19/10 at 08:40 PM

No body is trying to take your guns from you. Fox news wants you to believe that so maybe one of you idiots will pull an Oswald. They are to smart to kill the president but I bet you're not. The lady in the purple hat is just to get your racism pumped. Open your eyes already.

#58 Martin on 04/22/10 at 12:39 AM

I am strongly against this article, I think a more serious issue is the fact that you look like the dude granny from them Tyler Perry Moives.

#59 Trader Vic on 04/22/10 at 04:45 PM

If you believe there is no-one in govt that wants to disarm the American populace, you are indeed mistaken. Pelosi, Feinstein, Bloomberg, Holder... do i need to go on? The only reason nothing is happening right now is because they know we won't let them get away with it.
While Fox News may not be truly "fair and balanced" they are closer to the truth in their reporting than any of the other cable news networks, and i have serious doubts about them wanting to see harm come to anyone. Failure maybe, but not harm.

#60 Anonymous on 04/22/10 at 07:45 PM

Look people..this is not the 1700's. One name...David Koresh..need I go on? Your measly guns are not going to protect you from the government.

#61 Anonymous on 04/22/10 at 08:07 PM

""People didn't get up in arms when they stopped the availability of new fully automatic weapons from entering the market because theres not any pracitcal use for them in a non-warzone situation.""

That's not entirely true. It was snuck into the Firearm Owners Protection Act at the last minute. With no internet at the time, word of the change took a while to get around, but it did. A number of members of Congress didn't get reelected.

#62 clinging to my guns and religion on 04/22/10 at 08:49 PM

I bet if Jesus had been packing..there would not have been a crucifixion.

We should all resort to violence to protect ourselves. You'll never take me God! I will go when I am good and ready.

Nothing like a good false idol to keep you safe and warm at night.

#63 Robert on 04/22/10 at 10:00 PM

Gun Control:

The belief that a woman found raped and murdered in an alley, strangled with her own panty hoes, is some how morally superior to a woman explaning to a police officer how her assailant got that big bullet hole in him.

#64 Frank Castle on 05/25/10 at 12:01 PM

You are darn right!
I want my country back!

I don't care whether you are white, black, green, pink or purple! Color has nothing to do with it. I don't care what you do. Want to burn your self up? Do drugs? Get stinking drunk? As long as you do it in your house or other appropriate place I DON'T CARE.

I just want my country back. I want to be able to leave my front door unlocked. I want to be free to travel any place in the city at night. I wan't to feel safe in my home. I want the enjoy the things I want to enjoy without someone telling me I can't. I wan't to take a long walk with my wife without worrying. I want to have my wife go meet her friends for lunch without worrying that she will be raped, robbed, car jacked, murdered.

I have owned several guns for most of my 45 year old life. I have had a concealed carry permit for 7 years and I carry daily. One thing I can say is that Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns!

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