THE PROBLEM WITH GUNS
People who know my history might be surprised that I am not antigun. However, I do have some concerns on the subject. The right wing says guns don’t kill people; people do. That’s bullshit. People with guns kill people. On the left the basic argument is that only the Army and law enforcement should have guns. That’s bullshit too, although obviously not all people should have all kinds of weapons. For example, most of us would agree that bazookas and rocket launchers are off the table for the average citizen. And that the mentally ill should not have guns at all. The argument gets a little trickier when it comes to things like extended clips. I’m against them, but I might soften my position if we’re really having a serious debate. So far, however, the Republicans and the NRA have shown no interest in addressing the problem of the mentally ill possessing firearms. Until they do, I’ll maintain my anticlip position.
June 15th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Great point Larry. I really like your blog page! I’M VERY GLAD I FOUND IT. Please keep fighting the good fight! P.S. your movie was fantastic, got a chance to see it again (they are running it frequently on demand). you really have done so much for our country, for that I thank you.
Daniel Corp
Deland, Fl 32720
June 17th, 2011 at 6:34 am
Well the second amendment only protects arms, but does not make reference to ordinance which at the time of writing would have been canons, explosives and what not, so it is still relevant today in regard to tanks, rpgs, etc. I’m basically with you, there is something of a middle road, guns may not kill people, but they certainly help. Of course, if someone wants to kill someone, I don’t think it really makes much difference how. Statistically out of roughly 18,000 murders per year, about 12,000 are due to firearms, so 6,000 people were drown, stabbed, run over by a car, tossed in a woodchipper…
I would say mentally ill people should not have firearms, though I disagree about the extended magazines to a point. Swapping a standard capacity 15rnd magazine for another takes literally about 1 second, it really doesn’t make much difference.
June 17th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I live in Canada where gun laws are different, as is our constitution. I don’t own or want a gun. I do think guns have their place and that some degree of rules/regulations should be required to follow to own them. A criminal charge involving them making that person unable to legally own one again. Mental illness is difficult. That label includes depression. Quite a lot of people suffer from depression both temporarily and permanently. Where and how to draw the line there? For someone who stands up for rights like free speech, privacy, etc., drawing that line could be paradoxical. Your opinion Larry, as will Congressperson Gabrielle Giffords on the subject are particularly interesting and moving to hear since you both are among the many who have been grievously wounded by a miss-used gun. And you lived to do so much since Larry. You are an inspiration.
June 18th, 2011 at 8:40 am
Mr. Flynt
I’ve been a fan for years Im a mechanic by trade but because of a drug charge and some bad luck have been unemploied for over a year I know that I don’t have any experience with your work except having read it but I have confidence can do some worth a paycheck please help not asking for a handout just a hand up.
June 20th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Larry – i’ve been an admirer of your political ideology for some time now – ever since I was a senior in college, and saw the film ‘The People Vs. Larry Flynt’. I’d like to know more about your take on the increasing amount of civilian (and my time innocent) deaths by the hands of SWAT teams and law enforcement using no-knock warrants. I am especially troubled by the fact that there have been no arrests in the death of 7 year old Aiyana Jones. I humbly ask you to turn your powers of perception toward this case in Detroit – and shed some light on what is really going on there. Thank you –
Mike Brown
June 20th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
I agree with Mr. Flynt on this point.
The right to keep and bear arms is, at least in my opinion, a constitutional check and balance to ensure the people of this country have the ability to resist tyranny both foreign and domestic. Even believing this as I do I must contend that diminished mental capacity and/or emotional disturbance should instantly disqualify anyone from the right to keep and bear arms.
I live in Tennessee and if anyone is familiar with our laws or news they may be familiar with a case in which a man, with a valid carry permit, took a cut down assault rifle, officially licensed as a handgun, with a full magazine to a public park. The episode, in my opinion, emphacizes Mr. Flynt’s argument that certain individuals should not be permitted that particular right. Many families were terrorized by that man and the park, which I used to frequent as a boy, has never been the same. People whith permits should be educated or aware of what is appropriate to avoid harming other law abiding citizens, physically as well as emotionally, in any way when it can be avoided.
I would like to add that unless the country is in danger of imminent invasion there is no purpose for extended clips. I would also like to know why many civil police agencies use 9mm or similar ammunition, which is for penetration and killing power, rather than .45 ammo which, although a heavier calibur, is designed for knockdown and neutralization rather than to swiftly kill.
June 24th, 2011 at 3:10 am
Larry,
Thanks for fighting the good fight sir. It’s appreciated seeing someone with the balls to call out our government for its hypocrisy and disingenuous dealings with the people unfortunate enough to be crushed under the machine’s wheels.
With regard to high capacity clips I can only say this: When going up to our cabin in the mountains, more than anything, reloading often is simply a pain in the fuckin ass. Whether it’s a high volume clip or the universally accepted 10 round maximum, if someone wants another human dead, they’re more than likely going to be successful. Unfortunately, it only takes 1 bullet to see such a deed done.
I’m firmly in agreement that restrictions based on mental instability, criminal history, or justifiable reasoning, make the best kind of sense. I just don’t see how the limitation of ammunition in a weapon would have any appreciable impact on human casualties as a result of their usage.
I’m curious what your take is on this.
On another note, ill just say that i recently watched “The People VS. Larry Flint” and thoroughly enjoyed it. Your efforts on behalf of the 1st Amendment and its need to be resoundingly upheld struck a chord with me and I thank you.
I haven’t seen it anywhere else, but I would love to see you take on Harry Reid. He is a douchebag of the first order.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts on Ron Paul. I used to consider myself a Republican, but after so many years of lies and double dealings from both sides of the governmental aisle, I seem to be falling more and more into the Libertarian camp.
Government is supposed to serve the people gdi and I wonder more and more if our system is unsalvageable
June 24th, 2011 at 3:15 am
Larry,
Thanks for fighting the good fight sir. It’s appreciated seeing someone with the balls to call out our government for its hypocrisy and disingenuous dealings with the people unfortunate enough to be crushed under the machine’s wheels.
With regard to high capacity clips I can only say this: When going up to our cabin in the mountains, more than anything, reloading often is simply a pain in the fuckin ass. Whether it’s a high volume clip or the universally accepted 10 round maximum, if someone wants another human dead, they’re more than likely going to be successful. Unfortunately, it only takes 1 bullet to see such a deed done.
I’m firmly in agreement that restrictions based on mental instability, criminal history, or justifiable reasoning, make the best kind of sense. I just don’t see how the limitation of ammunition in a weapon would have any appreciable impact on human casualties as a result of their usage.
I’m curious what your take is on this.
On another note, ill just say that i recently watched “The People VS. Larry Flint” and thoroughly enjoyed it. Your efforts on behalf of the 1st Amendment and its need to be resoundingly upheld struck a chord with me and I thank you.
I haven’t seen it anywhere else, but I would love to see you take on Harry Reid. He is a douchebag of the first order.
I’d also like to hear your thoughts on Ron Paul. I used to consider myself a Republican, but after so many years of lies and double dealings from both sides of the governmental aisle, I seem to be falling more and more into the Libertarian camp.
Government is supposed to serve the people gdi and I wonder more and more if our system is now unsalvageable. The big money crowd seems to have preempted the Constitution and a police state with the continual degradation of our civil liberties seems to be the only result.
Anyway, that’s it. Thanks for being a part of the vocal minority and fighting these pricks with the voice you have available to you.
You’re the man.
Rich
June 30th, 2011 at 4:41 am
larry i love u , i think u r awesome , i am 41 look 30 i nee u to contact me i want to meet u, i looved the movie, n maybe i may want to be a model ???? 985-515-4395
trina
July 2nd, 2011 at 7:14 am
Mr. Flynt,
With all due respect, your argument is bullshit. I know about your history. While you were fighting with Ohio I was fighting with puberty. In the crowd of people I hung out with, in the small town an hour north of SF that I grew up in, you were a bit of a folk hero.
You distinguished yourself to me in two important ways: as a man who will fight just because he thinks he’s right, and as one the most vulgar and obscene men of your time (you’ve been ‘out-obscened’ by MANY of the younger crowd). Your commitment to obscenity does not diminish my respect for your courage.
But none of that plays into your ‘clip argument’ and that’s why it’s bullshit. Unless I have grossly misunderstood you it almost sounded like you were willing to stand against high capacity magazines because the NRA won’t seriously debate the scope of the Second?!?
Sir, that position has no ethical merit and is beneath you. If you believe that firearm ownership should have limitations then argue THAT from moral and Constitutional premises. Don’t stand on principle when the principle you are standing firm on is based on the political retaliation of your opponent’s views. In your letter I saw no legal nor compelling moral opposition to high cap mags. Where is the moral premise or legal precedent for your seemingly spiteful opposition?
And right about now you may be tempted to disregard this post as a right-wing rant. You’d be half right. It’s a rant but I’m almost a polar opposite to every right-wing asshole on TV. The thing is, a right can’t be compromised Mr. Flynt, and you know this.
I can NOT post this without saying that the Campari ad was the funniest cartoon I have ever seen. It was so cruel and so vulgar it became art. As soon as my son was old enough I showed it to him.
Mr. Flynt, I’m almost 50 yrs old and when I see a cop, or a Councilman, or a Senator, or the fucking President, I greet them all the same; I raise my middle finger good and high so that there is no confusion as to my thoughts. And yes, like you I went to federal court over it. I told you that to remind you that if you hadn’t gone to court to fight for the 1st, maybe I would have been barred from court and so, thanks Mr. Flynt.
July 7th, 2011 at 11:07 am
At the time the Constitution’s 2nd amendment was written, there were mentally ill people. I would think at that time, gun owners were smart enough not to sell them a gun. Laws are such that we can not discriminate today against anyone. SO… it should be added…but be careful! Who is mentally ill? (people who take antidepressants?) You may be opening a door we do not want opened!
July 8th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Semper Fi, Larry! I see Bachmann wants to ban porn, same sex marriage, you name it. It’s time to do a porn parody of Bachmann!
July 14th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Gander is the greatest arms supplier in Middletown, NY. Some guys have machine guns I don’t know why
July 15th, 2011 at 9:42 am
Fucking please!!! my God! all these ‘feel good” ideas are whats fucking this country in the 1st place!! “lets ban guns from felons”- sounds good-we dont want proven crimonals having guns-oh but shit!-they already do-DUH!!! lets stop the mentally ill from being able to buy guns-start with the congressman & work your way down!!! we’re all nuckin futs at one time in our lives or another. wake up Flynt- “u cant ban stupid!!” You know this. or how about the little ditty “when you outlaw guns- only outlaws will own guns” lets give every american who lives in this country a right to carry a hand gun-oh gee we already did-its called the 2nd amendment & if evryone followed it-therd be alot more peace in this country of ours!!!!
July 20th, 2011 at 10:53 am
I agree with you 100 percent on the mentally ill should not be able to own guns. I’m just scared of who it’d be deciding who is too sick to own a gun. I’d hate to think that the Rev. Farewell, Obama or people like that was deciding who could own guns, buy liquor and so on. But we can agree that there are some so sick that it is just pretty much common sense that they shouldn’t be allowed shit without supervision.
Your a good man, a Great American and a great smut peddler (the best in my opinion) and despite what some may say, you’ve done more for our individual rights that most politicians have … THANK YOU!
July 28th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
I THINK YOU ARE A SCUMB BAG IF YOU PUT CASEY ANTHONY IN YOUR MAGAZINE TO MAKE MONEY AFTER SHE DID, AS YOU KNOW, HOW SOMETHING TO DO WITH KILLING LITTLE CAYLEE….DO YOU HAVE A HEART, SOUL, OR ANY CARE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD MR. FLINT.????
July 29th, 2011 at 5:47 am
LARRY, YOU HAVE BROKEN MY HEART.I HAVE ALWAYS DEFENDED YOU AND YOUR MAGAZINE. SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS HAVE POSED IN HUSTLER AND I AM PLAYBOY MODEL. WHEN I LEARNED THAT YOU ARE OFFERING BLOOD MONEY TO A HORRIBLE, NEGLIGENT AND FRANKLY NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE MURDERER OF A 2 YEAR OLD CHILD(NO MATTER WHAT THE “VERDICT”), I WAS CRUSHED. I AM HOT AND SEXY AND THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS IN THIS COUNTRY TO CHOOSE FROM, I BEG YOU NOT TO REWARD THIS SICKO, I KNOW IN MY HEART YOU ARE BETTER THAN THAT AND YOU DON’T NEED THE MONEY OR THE BACKLASH.I AM SPEAKING FOR ABOUT 200 GUYS I TALKED TO TONIGHT AT MY STRIP CLUB AND THEY ALL SAID THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST IN SEEING CASEY PROFIT FROM THE MURDER OF THAT BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL. PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT, LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU LARRY, PIA XOXOXOXO
July 30th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Well Mr. Flynt, that is right. And the religious anti adult industry, the dollar wad preachers influance upon the asshole who shot you most likly doesnt pay taxs and has a tax exempt corporation that shuts down after pissing off someone who turns and files a law suit on them instead of weapons usage.
It is said, “The mighty pen is the best weapon”.
Once the sepperation of church and state is reconized the aspect of our oppion and yours can happen.
I think it is wonderful you won the USSC 9-0 and put the religious kingpin out of the business of mouthing off.
It is also ashame the fools stepped up and spent millions on the anti adult business and P,P / .WEE,WEE extorsion. Well maybe not ashaming but funny in deed. No more LA redlight cameras looking into limo’s. Privacy……..
August 4th, 2011 at 1:33 am
The mentally ill make me uncomfortable with kitchen utensils, much less with guns. Look at what Andrea Yates did with a bathtub. She had a history of mental problems, so did Seung-Hui Cho (the VA Tech shooter). People who are about to snap will often show warning signs. Such cases lacked proper monitoring procedures. When it goes wrong, many are quick to condemn the psychologists for not taking stronger action, but the flip-side would be routinely using extreme measures to cause unnecessary harm in any number of ways.
As for the guns, anyone showing warning signs should probably be confined until the extent of their problems can be better determined. Then take responsible action concerning the patient and society. I would lean in the direction of suspending gun ownership rights even for borderline cases (err on the side of caution). Defining the warning signs in extreme detail would be of help to this process. It may be, that the ideal approach is for the mental health community to develop better standards based on past cases. This would allow them to be more objective and lesson any guess-work they may be overly relying on. For there to be better results, the state must work hand in hand with this process as the patients reenter society.
August 14th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Larry,
Real quick. I am a responsible gun owner and proud of it. I believe in our 2nd admendment strongly.
Far as the “Menally Insane” purchasing firearms LEGALLY, I agree with you. No Sale to mentally insane.
My state of Michigan is strong and firm on NOT allowing ANYone who has had a mental diagnosis or spent time in a mental instatution purchase or own a firearm (legally that is).
I can’t speak for other states, but I would hope they would have the same.
Far as Extented clips…longer magazines for personal weapons, well to me that is just a EGO trip for those who have them. Any rational man/woman who knows or who has been trained properly with firearms knows that any confrontation in your home or outside of it will only last Seconds…and NOT 50 or 100 rounds later…for Christ sake, this isn’t Afgahnistan or Iraq, there is absolutely no need for that.
Personally, I think these Extented clip owners are just making up for “Other” short-commings….lol!
September 7th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Hello friendz
West Virginia gun trader is a forum which is related to sell or trade any gun according to west Verginia state laws. You are welcome to the forum and share everything.
thanks
September 21st, 2011 at 1:46 am
So a lifelong sufferer of depression can’t shoot dinner? What about fishing? …You know they’ve got those hooks…sharp little things they are…