What is meant when people say 'guns don't kill people; people do'?

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Jan 15, 2021
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#1
I have heard this statement used in the context of debate on gun ownership, can someone explain please?
 

Oncefallen

Idiot in Chief
Staff member
Jan 15, 2011
6,066
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#2
A firearm is an inanimate object, in and of itself it can do nothing. In order for a firearm to discharge a person must intentionally squeeze the trigger, it will not discharge by itself.

We don't blame the car or car manufacturer when someone uses a vehicle in an illegal or unsafe manner that results in death, so why are firearms and their manufacturers blamed when a firearm is used in a criminal or wreckless manner and someone dies?
 
K

kaylagrl

Guest
#3
I have heard this statement used in the context of debate on gun ownership, can someone explain please?
It's the same as someone saying a fork made them fat. You can use a fork to eat healthy or you can use it to eat pie all day. The object is in your hands and you choose whether it's used for good or ill.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#4
guns are designed by people to shoot and kill, but people fire them at people if they want to kill them.

I think. Who knows? Maybe some guns are just designed to look pretty!

A fork is designed to stab food, but people could use it to stab themselves in the eye.
A car is designed to go from a to b, but if driven at high speed into someone else, even by accident can cause a horrific crash resulting in fatal injury, especially if no seatbelts are worn.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#5
Not sure why this is news, unless yet ANOTHER person has used a gun to kill someone else.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#6
I have heard this statement used in the context of debate on gun ownership, can someone explain please?
What it simply means is that contrary to what the liberals and Leftists believe, GUN CONTROL SOLVES NOTHING. Indeed it creates serious problems.

The Leftist Democrats and elites worldwide have been vigorously pushing for gun control for a very long time. But it has had absolutely no impact on the murders which are committed by evil people. However, the real motivation behind gun control is not the reduction of murders, but control of populations who will not be able to oppose tyranny or defend themselves from evildoers.

Criminals and gangsters will simply ignore all the gun control nonsense, and get their guns by any means possible. But law-abiding citizens will be rendered helpless, and that's the primary idea. However, in the USA the Second Amendment specifically preserves the right to own weapons ("to keep and bear arms"), so it will not be that easy to override that constitutional guarantee. The problem which now exists is that courts and judges are simply trashing the Constitution and making up their own laws as they go along. The rule of law is finished, which makes gun ownership even more critical.
 

tanakh

Senior Member
Dec 1, 2015
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#7
I have heard this statement used in the context of debate on gun ownership, can someone explain please?
I don't know who wrote this poem but it appears to refer to the fall of Babylon as described in the book of Revelation and other Scriptures. The US has been described as Babylon and widespread Gun ownership may have been used as one symptom of the countries possible collapse.

In Scripture Babylon can be seen as a spiritual template of every major Empire/Nation that has had dealings with Israel and the rest of the known world in history. This is based on the Statue described in Daniel. In our time the US is the major world power and has close ties with Israel
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#8
What it simply means is that contrary to what the liberals and Leftists believe, GUN CONTROL SOLVES NOTHING. Indeed it creates serious problems.
what do we need then, people control?
 
D

DWR

Guest
#9
what do we need then, people control?
YEP! People need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. That is the only cure for the world's madness.
Sadly, it ain't going to happen.
 
Jan 15, 2021
477
81
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#10
A firearm is an inanimate object, in and of itself it can do nothing. In order for a firearm to discharge a person must intentionally squeeze the trigger, it will not discharge by itself.

We don't blame the car or car manufacturer when someone uses a vehicle in an illegal or unsafe manner that results in death, so why are firearms and their manufacturers blamed when a firearm is used in a criminal or wreckless manner and someone dies?
Is anyone saying that firearms can in and of themselves do anything?
 
Jan 15, 2021
477
81
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#11
It's the same as someone saying a fork made them fat. You can use a fork to eat healthy or you can use it to eat pie all day. The object is in your hands and you choose whether it's used for good or ill.
Okay. I haven't heard anyone argue 'forks don't eat too much food, people do'.
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
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#12
Is anyone saying that firearms can in and of themselves do anything?
Your question to start this thread certainly implied it.

How would YOU answer your question?
 
Jan 15, 2021
477
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#13
Your question to start this thread certainly implied it.

How would YOU answer your question?
I don't understand how my question has 'implied' anything in particular, let alone that 'firearms can in and of themselves do anything'.

I asked the question...surely if I had an answer, the question wouldn't be necessary?
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#14
its a silly phrase meant to imply that guns arent dangerous weapons at all.
When we know they are thats why they need to be handled with care or restricted.

Its kind like saying weedkiller doesnt kill weeds, people do. Or poison isnt poisonous.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
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#15
Okay. I haven't heard anyone argue 'forks don't eat too much food, people do'.
never heard of that either lol

but the gun phrase is often bandied about it seems.
Ive heard people say 'I just look at food and it makes me fat' though. lol
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
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#16
Apparently the weedkiller paraquat was banned in Samoa because people kept killing themselves by drinking it.
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
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#17
what do we need then, people control?
No. What we need is people in government who have (i) honesty and (ii) integrity. Then, instead of pushing for gun control, they would honestly address the issues which lead to murder and gang violence. Not go after law abiding citizens, which is always the choice of the dishonest Democratic politicians.

Democrats are ready to push gun control again, even if it makes no difference on crime
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...again-even-if-it-makes-no-difference-on-crime

"More to the point, criminals are the least likely to comply with such laws."
 
Jan 15, 2021
477
81
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#18
No. What we need is people in government who have (i) honesty and (ii) integrity. Then, instead of pushing for gun control, they would honestly address the issues which lead to murder and gang violence. Not go after law abiding citizens, which is always the choice of the dishonest Democratic politicians.

Democrats are ready to push gun control again, even if it makes no difference on crime
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/...again-even-if-it-makes-no-difference-on-crime

"More to the point, criminals are the least likely to comply with such laws."
By definition anyone who commits a crime is a 'criminal'.

"If guns are made illegal only criminals will own guns!"

Yeah...that's kinda what happens when something is made illegal
 

Reformed1689

Active member
Jun 1, 2018
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#19
"If guns are made illegal only criminals will own guns!"

Yeah...that's kinda what happens when something is made illegal
True. The point though I think is that the criminals in this case are those that were already criminals before guns were outlawed and who have a much more malicious intent.
 

Reformed1689

Active member
Jun 1, 2018
151
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#20
its a silly phrase meant to imply that guns arent dangerous weapons at all.
When we know they are thats why they need to be handled with care or restricted.

Its kind like saying weedkiller doesnt kill weeds, people do. Or poison isnt poisonous.

It's a phrase that is probably used in a somewhat dismissive way at times, but It's a valid point if you don't try to read into it to much.


Guns are dangerous weapons. So is scripture if it is used wrongly. I would argue that bad theology and wicked teachings are far more dangerous to peoples lives now and throughout history than any other weapon.


The issue of gun ownership though is simple. You are commanded as a husband to protect your family, your church, and to some extent your nation. Guns are one of many tools available to assist in that endeavor.

Guns should probably have some restrictions. Unfortunately a lot of folks who want more restrictions don't realize the value of what they have.


EDIT:

The phrase is a valid point, because ultimately the problem isn't the tool itself but the user. Getting rid of guns may provide some relief, but you still have the underlying problem that isn't dealt with.




The biggest problem we have with guns in America at least is a cultural problem and possibly an economic one. Both of these however are trumped by the spiritual problem.