ZeeMore21

I would also like Aaron to explain why he felt it necessary to use the term thugs

Are you ignorant? Again, no has has called for violence against gun holders. Quit being foolish.Walking around with a gun is not a peaceful action...you intend on using it as a means of harming someone you think is attacking you.

Hilarious...good one : )

Also, I don't really think you can say that I was trying to do a straw man. I was arguing against the statement you made...you never elaborated on your position in regards to the police. You offered your own basic version of what you think the police do...and I think your intent was to make it seem that we can't depend on the police for anything. Only until your last post did you make any clarifications.You also never discussed the fact that chance also rules over the scenario of people taking care of themselves with the use of a gun. Just because you walk around with a gun doesn't necessarily mean you are safe or that nothing bad will happen to you.

Definitely agree with your here. Perhaps the OP could explain his or her motivations. If it is seriously a lack of confidence, than I do apologize. If it is bragging, I would suggest that the OP get over his or her ego quickly....that type of need to brag to get attention and feel important can only hurt when it comes to application season. There are many people who might not have your numbers, but are just as qualified, or perhaps more qualified, to enter a graduate program. Just some advice.

I probably would add Vanderbilt to your list...pretty strong in Southern Lit though it is not in the North of course. I'll be going there for African-American Lit.

Well, I might have qualms with the police, but in general, I rather depend on them than complete strangers I don't know that might not be qualified to be carrying around a weapon...let alone using it. I'm not saying that police officers don't make mistakes, because they definitely do. However, all police officers go through serious training on how to use their weapons in various kinds of situations. On the other hand, gun owners don't really have to go through any training. All they have to do is sign the necessary paperwork and they are home free. In the case of leaving it up to "the people" to protect themselves, we would all be depending on chance as well. I think its this type of fear-mongering that you're offering on your post, to be honest, that is driving this gun culture we have in this country. Yes, the world is evil and dangerous and no one is disputing that. However, I rather try fixing the problem of gun violence than exacerbating it. This whole notion of "everyone for themselves" does not cut it if we want to live in a safe and stable environment. There has to be accountability.

Just to clarify my earlier post, wtncffts, I was specifically calling Aaron's comparison of guns and homosexuality sick and not his libertarian views. I don't mind hearing viewpoints that are different than mine...I'm a mature adult that can handle debates. However, there is a line that shouldn't be crossed. We are talking exclusively about gun ownership...there was no point of Aaron to bring up homosexuality. Although several posters did bring it to his attention that his analogy was disrespectful, he chose to ignore it, and that is when I became angry. Homosexuality is a very sensitive issue for me, I'm not gay, but I am close to many people who are, so the fact that the poster would even put a violent weapon on the same grounds as homosexuality was very unsettling. Perhaps "sick" was not the most respectful of adjectives, but the analogy the poster was trying to make to somehow justify the carrying around of a very lethal weapon was totally inexcusable and degrading.

I don't think anyone against guns on college campuses are damning gun holders. I think the argument is that there should be a time and place for guns. Just because people can own guns doesn't mean that they should be able to carry it everywhere and anywhere just because they feel like it. People who don't own guns should be accounted for as well. Like I said before, just because there is a boost in legal guns doesn't make the world safer, and this is obvious looking at the crime statistics for the United States. No one wants to admit we have a gun problem, but the fact is we do.

I don't believe an overwhelming presence of legal guns cause a safer society to be honest. People might say that now that there are illegal guns everywhere, people need to arm themselves at all times with legal ones. The thing is, if gun laws were stricter than they are now, this wouldn't be a problem. Illegal guns were all initially purchased legally, so this division that we are putting between legal and illegally purchased guns is a bit faulty. People want to propose lax gun laws-- which boosts the number of illegal guns circulating in this country-- then want to propose the right for them to carry guns everywhere and anywhere to keep themselves safe from these illegal guns. Makes no sense to me when these people are essentially responsible for this rise in gun crime. I don't see the right that gun supporters have to add on additional danger by bringing there guns to safe environments. If they are honestly scared of illegal guns, they should actually do something about restricting gun access...not just boosting gun ownership.

Right. I still would like to know why its necessary to bring a gun into a college setting, which is what started this whole thread. I'm having a hard time understanding why a student would need to be carrying one. It just seems that there are certain places where a gun is just unnecessary...like another poster brought up, do you really need a gun while you are shopping for groceries? Guns at homes are fine with me along with guns for sport...I do understand that there is a gun culture that spans hundreds of years in certain places. I just don't understand why, at the college level, people who may not come from that type of culture or background would have to deal with someone carrying a weapon. Its the fact that a college campus is a relatively safe atmosphere that would make students uncomfortable....I for one would be questioning the reason why certain students would feel the need to carry a gun into my lit class...what are they planning on using it for? Although I shouldn't have generalized the entire gun-owning population, I am still waiting for someone to truly explain what is the idea behind bringing guns into the classroom...and not only say that people have a right to carry guns. Like I said earlier, people also have the right to feel safe...just like gun owners feel the need to secure/defend themselves. Just because you have a constitutional right doesn't mean you have to abuse it or rub it into other people's faces...which is what some people seem to want to do. Just like the right to free speech, there are certain limits on it. I can't go around saying derogatory things to people just because I have the right to free speech. When my free speech may harm another person, there is a problem.

Definitely agree here. It's hard to talk to bigots.

Hey Eigen, Then I do apologize for also seeming to generalize, not my intention either. I still don't believe that everyone who walks around with a gun in a holster is honestly trying to protect themselves. I think they enjoy intimidating people with their constitutional right to carry weapons.

By the way, only voted you down once in this thread. Also, me not liking your other thread has nothing to do with my reaction to you in this thread. I'm not idiot...I'm arguing against your words. There is no person I would let argue that guns and homosexuality are on an equal footing. Only someone ignorant would say something like that. Again, please show me where I said that I would harm anyone physically who owns a gun. You should be ashamed of yourself for putting words in my mouth. Coward.

When you find any post where I say gun holding individuals should be hurt, you can get back to me. Seriously, I wonder why you still come on this site...your reputation is dreadful.

You can vote me down as many times as you like Aaron...at the end of the day, I think your ideas are sick and disrespectful.

In what universe are guns peaceful? Legally used or not, their only purpose is to kill or injure. Your analogy makes no sense. Better yet, please refrain from putting guns on the same level as homosexuality....it's stupid.

Great post Mal83....like I posted earlier, I doubt the sincerity of people who feel the need to walk around with guns in public places. To me, it's all about conveying a political view. I rather people find other ways to convey these ideas than putting other people in danger.

At this level of study, grades and GRE scores don't mean much, plain and simple. I expect that most applicants will be superb in that area of the application. It comes down to the personal statement and writing sample. Also, are you really being sincere with your post? It's kind of offputting when people list great qualifications and somehow are wondering if it's good enough. You have to be confident in your abilities...if you are not, it will come out in your personal statement.

Definitely alright...most of the time, "outlandish" refers to something bizarre, so I took it that way. But yes, I will get back to you when I do a bit more reading on this topic. This debate is a good one. Sad that Aaron decided to throw homosexuality in the mix...absolutely ridiculous to be honest.

Don't quite see your point here....how exactly do you put guns and homosexual practices on the same level as if homosexual acts has some potential physical danger to outside parties? Don't exactly follow that thinking, please expand.

I wonder when people who feared guns were the minority and somehow strange... can anyone let me know?

I doubt that it is outlandish for someone to feel unsafe because of guns on campus...not appreciated. I think its outlandish to believe that people who have a fear of guns should be labeled weird or strange. Guns end lives...I don't think everyone feels nice and comfortable having strangers walking around with them.