guns should be largely illegal

Vigilantism is unfair and wrong in a democracy, this i feel is the main purpose of guns and therefore guns should be largely illegal. I can think of these purposes for guns all of which are either morally wrong (obviously so) or can for filled though another mechanism (in a democracy) <br> intimidation: its wrong and should not be accepted <br> Murder or serious harm; pretty frowned upon. obviously a primary use of guns via passionate morons <br> sport; can be done via bb-guns <br> food: theres not enough for for everyone to go hunting and so guns should be controlled and licensed to the few lucky enough to own land (similarly to who ever lives with bears ect) <br> To remove ones government; the very point of a democracy is that this can be done through non violent means. <br> if you believe in liberty, i applaud you, but this tread is for a democracy. <br> a nation with an army does not need an armed population

It's not the gun that's the problem - it's the mind of the person holding the gun.  In this respect there are only really two types of person.

1)  The person who thinks that they can just take what they want without regard for the rights of others.

2)  The person who thinks that they are only entitled to what they have earned.

The first type of person is dangerous whether they have a gun or not.  The second type of person is only dangerous if you are trying to rob them.

The problem is that both types of person look alike and there is no way to tell one from the other until you find yourself being robbed.

The first type of person will use any weapon.  These can include sticks and stones, knives and guns, race and religion, the media, the state and even the courts.

An armed populace peopled by citizens willing to defend themselves and their neighbours is the final and perhaps the only defense against the threat of an alliance among those who have no respect for their neighbours.