Source
r/unpopularopinion•
pbkind

We should arm the homeless

I personally don't know where I stand on guns.

But, if I am to take the second amendment as an inalienable right for Americans then the next logical step would be to provide a free gun to every US citizen. Especially the homeless.

Pro-gun people cite the importance of guns for things such as personal defense and community policing. If you have a home I guarantee you have not been robbed as much as a homeless person. Because they carry their valuables with them they are more prone to be the target of crimes like the stealing of IDs and birth certificates. If they are at a greater risk then they, more than anyone, deserve guns for protection.

If gun ownership is indeed a right then we should provide the means to exercise that right for less fortunate individuals who arguably need it more than those that can afford it.

Edit: The point of this post was to question the exceptionalism we have when it comes to someone's right to self defense. A lot of these comments suggest it would be crazy to allow a homeless person to kill someone they feel threatened by. So why is it okay for police to do it? Or other Americans with homes? Why do you not want homeless people to have guns? Because you are afraid of them. You dehumanize them and assume they would kill at the drop of a hat given a chance. They are people, just the same as you.

If the 2A is a right, then everyone should be able to exercise that right. So long as they do not abuse it. If that sounds scary to you then maybe we should rethink this "right".

Posted Mar 30, 2019, 1:03 PM UTC · edited

1873
DopiDopiy•

Homeless people are mentally ill and need Heath care, not guns.

8
pbkindOP•

Not all of them are. But I would argue, why not both? Guns and health care.

3
aherdofangrykittens•

Homeless people are mentally ill

Not all of them.. most are just lazy pieces of shit that prefer to huff glue than be responsible.

-1
they_call_me_bileth•

Found the Ayn Rand fanboy

6
aherdofangrykittens•

Ayn Rand

Don't know who that is...The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged.. ah.

Nope.

1
pbkindOP•

I hope, for your sake, humanity shows more compassion for you than you for do others.

0
aherdofangrykittens•

What possibly more could humans do to me that I've not already experienced first hand?

0
ghostonhalloween•

Are you kidding me right now? I live in Florida... you’ve got me FUCKED all the way up if you think this world would dare even think of arming HOMELESS FLORIDA PEOPLE. Have you crushed any crack rocks today op? Have you smoked any weed? Have you shot up today? are you out of your fucking mind?

3
pbkindOP•

It is an unpopular opinion but it is mine. I actually work at a needle exchange program and know many homeless addicts. If the crack addict with a home can have a gun then the crack addict without one deserves one too.

1
ghostonhalloween•

Absofuckinglutely not. These homeless people here are fucking psychotic. I’ve nearly been jumped by some crazy fat homeless woman because she saw me carrying takeout one night... she literally wanted to kill me for it and the restaurant had to call the police on her... google, “Florida man” and then imagine, “homeless Florida man shoots innocent person for food” headlines... yeah no. You’re fucking crazy op

2
pbkindOP•

Why do they not have a right to guns but you do? Why do you think you are more mentally capable of chosing who to aim a gun at than them? If they are defending their livelihood as is there right is that so bad?

0
ghostonhalloween•

So you’re saying that homeless people should be able to shoot innocent people? Dude I only keep a gun in my house for extreme emergencies only. Florida is a stand your ground state. If you feel threatened by someone that comes on your property/they’re armed and dangerous/threatening your family.. you have every right to shoot them and then call the police and let them know. I live up in the panhandle so the police are usually on your side 99% of the time.

2
GlitteringClaymoreShort men are valid•

Yo I’m from FL too and I can absolutely agree that tossing a firearm to them is horse shit. The homeless people in my town can’t talk in coherent sentences, always pee in public, shit themselves, walk around screaming that the government fucked them over, litter fucking EVERYWHERE, they will follow you and beg for money and get violent if you say no... generally they are a major nuisance here. We have homeless shelters they just refuse to go so they can oppress themselves.

0
pbkindOP•

I work with the homeless. Shelters are not always safe spaces for them.

1
GlitteringClaymoreShort men are valid•

What’s safer? Getting hit by a car as you shoot up in the road? Or going to a place with free food and clothing where you MIGHT get funny looks?

0
pbkindOP•

You are pulling shit out of your ass and making no sense.

No one is talking about "shooting up a road".

In regards to shelters; it isn't funny looks they are afraid of. How can you argue the homeless are violent and then suggest that a shelter full of homeless would be a safe space?

0
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1
drageult•

why would of all people, homeless people would need guns? STICK YOUR ARMS UP OLD MAN, IM HEAR TO STEAL YOUR RUSTY OLD TIN CAN YOU USE TO COLLECT MONEY!! like it makes no sense. people have guns for home defense, people with alot of money to keep said money safe. or just a basic gun nut who enjoys shooting ARs. giving homeless ppl guns would mean they would sell it right away for money to spend on drugs or something else. you dont think we should give prisoners guns do you?

1
pbkindOP•

Homeless are statistically more likely to be the victims of hate crimes than others in the US. Not only that, but it is more likely the hate crime will turn fatal for the homeless individual. I would argue that their right to protect their life is more important than someone else's right to protect property.

1
drageult•

yeah but do you really think a homeless person would give a crap if they had a gun? they would rather have a roof above their head or food to eat. guess what people do when they dont have food or money? thats right they rob and steal. now imagine a homeless dood with a gun. so no giving guns to homeless people in everyway is a bad idea. its more of a ironic joke tbh. dont you think women should have guns? considering they get raped and man handled by men?.

2
pbkindOP•

In my argument I say that every citizen should receive a gun if it is a right. So yes, this would include women. If everyone gets a gun then the homeowners will have one to protect themselves as well. If self protection is a right we can't take it away from a certain group just because we are worried someone will exercise that right.

0
drageult•

i really dont think flooding the society with guns is the right thing to do. to use guns you need training, how would a homeless man buy more bullets, clean and take care of his guns. and eventhough i think women need protection have you seen how stupid and impulsive people can be? whats to say someone wont blast someones brains off because they got in an arguement? it really wont be peace on earth with that much firepower.

1
nonoplznowhy•

dude you can't even spell amendment

1
pbkindOP•

That isn't a counter argument.

3
GlitteringClaymoreShort men are valid•

A majority of homeless people are homeless because they have an addiction or something their family couldn’t put up with. Giving guns to a drug addicted homeless dude is going to have an outcome of mass shootings and suicides.

1
tiniest-wizard•

Do you have a source for that claim?

No, of course you don't, you just made that up based on bias and prejudice.

2
pbkindOP•

But homeless people are statistically more likely to be the victims of violence than they are to commit it.

0
GlitteringClaymoreShort men are valid•

Lmao says who? Ellen? This is the worst idea. Nobody will feel safe walking downtown anymore, more so than they already fear it.

0
pbkindOP•

Says this and many other studies on violent crime.

If more guns isn't the answer, why let anyone have a gun?

1
Tearishh•

I.... I can’t.... I still can’t tell if this is a shit post?

1
AlbertFairfaxII•

If you don't have a home you shouldn't be able to get a gun. There are limits to the 2nd amendment.

-Albert Fairfax II

1
Raven9nine9•

If you gave them guns most of them would go straight to the pawn shop.

1
tiniest-wizard•

That is their right as an American citizen, conducting free trade in the marketplace. Flooding cheap guns into the market will only increase the ability of the average American to defend themselves.

2
Raven9nine9•

If you actually understood what things like free trade and marketplace meant you would know that flooding the market with cheap or free guns destroys the gun market and the state giving free guns to homeless people has nothing whatsoever to do with free trade.

1
tiniest-wizard•

Too bad, it's a constitutional right.

1
Raven9nine9•

No. It is not. The constitution does not say the homeless will be provided with free guns.

0
pbkindOP•

Okay, so what? That's their right to do so.

-1
Raven9nine9•

What do you mean "so what" ? Are you a moron? Obviously that means giving them free guns would be pointless.

1
BoiseShooter556•

Part of carrying a weapon is the discipline of selecting and paying for it.

1
pbkindOP•

It says nothing about having to pay for your gun in the 2nd and I fail to see how choosing and paying for a gun requires "discipline".

1
BoiseShooter556•

The second only garauntees that you have a right to it. But a gun company is not bound to give you a gun for free, nor is tax money used to buy you a gun if you do not have one.

Guns are expensive. You can easily spend $800 on a new handgun. For many people that is not pocket change. If it is your first or only gun you will probably do research to make sure you do not waste your money. Doubly so if you live in a state with costly liscencing or wait times. The act of picking a gun, researching it, trying one if possible, understanding how you will use or carry it, figuring out a carry system, and putting money aside for it is a discipline.

1
pbkindOP•

That isn't discipline that's doing the bare minimum to follow the law.

My point is it is too expensive and should be made more accessible if we are to consider the 2nd to be a right.

1
BoiseShooter556•

Very little of what I typed is required in most places, but the entirety is what one should do if they want to be smart about it. From your comments here it is obvious you do not know what gun ownership and use entails.

To fix accessibility cut taxes on guns and gun manufacturers to include repealing the NFA and do away with waiting periods.

1
tiniest-wizard•

That's bullshit, sir. I could inherit $500 from a dead relative, walk into a store knowing nothing about guns, and buy one at random.

Did I have the discipline of selecting and paying for it? No.

Do I get to carry it? Yes.

American citizens should not be left unable to defend themselves simply because they cannot afford a place to live.

1
BoiseShooter556•

Sure you CAN.

It would still be better to know what you are doing and buying first, but it is better to be serious about it. I doubt you will want to trust your life with a $500 gun from a big box store(after taxes I'm assuming), but you can. Strangely the form 4473 asks for an address. What do you put if you are homeless? You also have to show an ID. The addresses should match so, what do the homeless put for these?

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
InfamousFailure•

Homeless Battle Royale.

1
Wholsum•

I do agree that homeless people need better protection but 35% have a mental illness, a lot of them are on drugs. I am not scared of homeless people, they are humans like you and I, but this is just the facts. Also, how would the government make sure all these people are qualified for a gun? What if they aren't?

Its okay for the police and other Americans with homes to do it because they are qualified.

Furthermore, it would be so expensive for tax-payer to arm homeless people.

1
pbkindOP•

Way more comments against my opinion than upvotes. So much for upvoting unpopular opinions. 🤔

-2
declan-jpeg•

if this is 2A supporter bait, youre doing a great job lol

1
pbkindOP•

I honestly don't know where I stand on guns. But I think that homeless people have a lot more to lose from a violent encounter than someone with a home. Home robberies are usually just that, robberies. But violent crimes against homeless are more likely to end in death for the victim.

If someone is pro 2A but against the homeless having guns I would argue that it isn't so much about rights for that individual but more so about exercising power. All of these comments are dehumanizing and how they feel homeless aren't fit to own guns. If they aren't fit, why is anyone?

1
declan-jpeg•

If you’re being serious, this really isnt a great idea. The amount of robbery and crime that already happens (mostly unreported) in homeless communities is already staggering. Listen to some homeless people tell their stories, youtube has lots of them. For some of these people, being raped and robbed is already almost a given. Adding guns into the mix just means more deaths. A good guy with a gun doesnt always stop a bad guy with a gun, it just usually means someone dies.

1
pbkindOP•

I know what homeless go through as I work with them. This is part of why I feel they deserve a gun more so than anyone. As being homeless is hell.

I agree that more guns equals more deaths and that is why I am conflicted on the issue. I don't want guns but if someone is going to have them then everyone should have them otherwise you have individuals with greater power over people who are already at their lowest.

1