Michael from GTAV sets up a fake gun store to shame customers - General

[QUOTE=Bernie Buddy;47352835]They're not above the law if they asked and received permission from the NYPD. As far as I can tell, it's not illegal to use fake firearms for filming or photography purposes as long as you ask the police for permission beforehand.[/QUOTE] As a citizen you cannot own or posses the weapons he brought into NYC. why should they have special privilege?

[QUOTE=Fish Muffin;47354673]As a citizen you cannot own or posses the weapons he brought into NYC. why should they have special privilege?[/QUOTE] Would you rather all films and TV shows use toy guns instead? Or would you rather everyone be able to carry around what look like real guns?

[QUOTE=Fish Muffin;47354673]As a citizen you cannot own or posses the weapons he brought into NYC. why should they have special privilege?[/QUOTE] Considering they built an entire store for this skit, I'm pretty sure they've gotten the proper permits and permissions.

[QUOTE=Fish Muffin;47354673]As a citizen you cannot own or posses the weapons he brought into NYC. why should they have special privilege?[/QUOTE] They aren't actually weapons you moron, they're props and they obviously have the permission to have them.

[QUOTE=MelonGuy;47351343]Guns are cool. But you don't need them. Over here obviously guns are very rare, and I never even consider gun violence as even anything that sits on my radar. I'm happy with this. Giving everyone guns over here would not make me feel safer, (or actually make it safer).[/QUOTE] You don't need them because [I]nobody has them[/I]. I don't know how this doesn't cross your mind when thinking about this.

i really like how the store looks identical to ammunation

I really hate it when actors and actresses get involved in politics, especially when they are in movies and video games that glorify firearms. Fucking hypocrites.

[QUOTE=GravyKing;47354859]I really hate it when actors and actresses get involved in politics, especially when they are in movies and video games that glorify firearms. Fucking hypocrites.[/QUOTE] Now that's an interesting one. GTA has always been a satire on American culture, from fast food to action movie violence. Obviously the purpose of GTA isn't to tell kids "Hey kids, go grab your parents' gun and shoot up your school!" It's not meant to be taken seriously. In that sense, I wouldn't say this is hypocritical at all. The GTA games have always emphasized that divide between reality and fantasy, it's part of their foundation. This would be more in line with someone like Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis coming out and in favor of gun control. Just because they play fictional action movie characters that use guns doesn't necessarily mean they believe people should own them, or at least own them carelessly. GTA is on par with action movies in a lot of ways. Their glorification of violence is so heavy-handed that it's pretty obvious you shouldn't do it in real life. You wouldn't go out and murder people over business cards after watching American Psycho, right?

[QUOTE=woolio1;47355031]Now that's an interesting one. GTA has always been a satire on American culture, from fast food to action movie violence. Obviously the purpose of GTA isn't to tell kids "Hey kids, go grab your parents' gun and shoot up your school!" It's not meant to be taken seriously. In that sense, I wouldn't say this is hypocritical at all. The GTA games have always emphasized that divide between reality and fantasy, it's part of their foundation. This would be more in line with someone like Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis coming out and in favor of gun control. Just because they play fictional action movie characters that use guns doesn't necessarily mean they believe people should own them, or at least own them carelessly. GTA is on par with action movies in a lot of ways. Their glorification of violence is so heavy-handed that it's pretty obvious you shouldn't do it in real life. You wouldn't go out and murder people over business cards after watching American Psycho, right?[/QUOTE] The more I think about it, this is more of a PSA against irresponsible gun owners. If that's the case, then good for Ned. And another funny thing, I own an Arisaka Type 99 rifle from WWII that killed fellow Americans, yet I still fire it and respect it for what it is: a tool.

If they were trying to educate people of, "Guns are not to be trifled with", doing this awkward social conversation along with what boils down to scare tactics isn't the right way to go. If you want to be properly educated and be a responsible owner, make sure you're clear in the head and take a fucking class.

-snip-

I understand why people are afraid of guns, I get it, but stuff like this just feels like fear mongering to me. Maybe I just don't get it. [editline]19th March 2015[/editline] It's literally, "This thing can make bad things happen. Fear it. Ban it. Hide from it."

[QUOTE=General J;47350266]because a lot of the time people buy these under the guise of self-protection but just want one cause it's cool. If you seriously need a gun to defend yourself you need to make a huge evaluation on your location, level of violence and crime, as well as a hundred other factors before making a commitment like this. It's not necessarily something you should consider in a window-shopping fashion on your way to starbucks and go "ooh, guns". When it comes to 1st time buyers of guns, or gun noobs that aren't the super intelligent legitimate respectable gun owners that probably are the gun majority of this forum that are snarkly judging this video- When it comes to those kind of people there are a higher chance that someone will steal the gun for suicide, someone will die because of misfire or lack of proper gun storage, or someone will steal the gun for crime/owner will the gun for crime than the owner getting the chance to successfully use it to save their life.[/QUOTE] Well then this was the wrong way to go about making this video. How does fear-mongering and turning them off of the idea of actually learning about guns help anyone? [editline]19th March 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=Fish Muffin;47354673]As a citizen you cannot own or posses the weapons he brought into NYC. why should they have special privilege?[/QUOTE] Please stop.

If the video really was serious in promoting the idea that gun control is a serious issue and that guns aren't a toy then it really shouldn't stoop down to youtube views tactics of making people look stupid in a staged situation. If you have a first time buyer who is genuinely curious about owning a gun and probably has heard the hundreds of news stories about guns and gun violence, why not calmly explain to them the responsibility of owning such a device. This video really just seems like fear mongering how people went from "yeah I want it for protection" to "now I wouldn't feel safe with a gun I [I]own[/I]"; instead people should've thought "now that you mention it maybe I don't need one for protection but I shouldn't be afraid of owning one as long as I take the necessary precautions." But that wouldn't get many views/reactions huh. There is such thing as responsible firearm use and possession, what you need is public education and careful regulation, but it's easier to scare than to teach. Yeah every gun has a history and I bet a majority of legally sold guns have a history of sitting in a safe or maybe making a few rounds to the firing range then getting ignored/sold back.

[QUOTE=Cpn Crunch21;47356789]If the video really was serious in promoting the idea that gun control is a serious issue and that guns aren't a toy then it really shouldn't stoop down to youtube views tactics of making people look stupid in a staged situation. If you have a first time buyer who is genuinely curious about owning a gun and probably has heard the hundreds of news stories about guns and gun violence, why not calmly explain to them the responsibility of owning such a device. This video really just seems like fear mongering how people went from "yeah I want it for protection" to "now I wouldn't feel safe with a gun I [I]own[/I]"; instead people should've thought "now that you mention it maybe I don't need one for protection but I shouldn't be afraid of owning one as long as I take the necessary precautions." But that wouldn't get many views/reactions huh. There is such thing as responsible firearm use and possession, what you need is public education and careful regulation, but it's easier to scare than to teach. [B]Yeah every gun has a history and I bet a majority of legally sold guns have a history of sitting in a safe or maybe making a few rounds to the firing range then getting ignored/sold back[/B].[/QUOTE] Case in point: All of my guns are in lockboxes. Have been now for about two years. Haven't had time to make it to the range, so they've just been locked away in the closet. They do not pose a threat to anyone in the closet.

[QUOTE=General J;47350266]because a lot of the time people buy these under the guise of self-protection but just want one cause it's cool. If you seriously need a gun to defend yourself you need to make a huge evaluation on your location, level of violence and crime, as well as a hundred other factors before making a commitment like this. It's not necessarily something you should consider in a window-shopping fashion on your way to starbucks and go "ooh, guns". When it comes to 1st time buyers of guns, or gun noobs that aren't the super intelligent legitimate respectable gun owners that probably are the gun majority of this forum that are snarkly judging this video- When it comes to those kind of people there are a higher chance that someone will steal the gun for suicide, someone will die because of misfire or lack of proper gun storage, or someone will steal the gun for crime/owner will the gun for crime than the owner getting the chance to successfully use it to save their life.[/QUOTE] You're assuming that these people would walk out with the guns right away (in new york? fucking lmao okie buddy). If they were going into a gunstore that literally advertised help with buying your first gun they were probably going to seek out and expecting some help with safety and etc. from the shop, not someone who is obviously incredibly intelligent saying to them "Oh hey Mrs. Lanz- I mean Smith, did you know gun r bad and can shot a baby sometimes?" Telling people things they already know instead of teaching them actual safe use and giving them proper instruction is really dumb and honestly a huge waste of time and money when all it really does is give the producers a way to pat themselves on the back and say "Phew, we saved lives today, lattes on me boys!" and not much else. "all guns have history" Give me a break, jeez. Even if they do, it doesn't make that weapon more likely to kill someone. My SKS could very well have blasted some serbs, but it doesn't make it any more dangerous than my grandpa's safe queen. This video is more or less outright falsifications on one side and incredibly useless hyperbole on the other and achieves basically nothing except for pointless fear-mongering and trying to alienate and make uncomfortable a handful of people who were doing nothing wrong and trying to get into something they had some interest in by saying "You WILL blast babies with this or someone you know will if you get this!"

I've said it before and I'll say it once more: less-lethal weapons - projectile ones. The FN 303 for example: shoots hard, spherical, fin-stabilized projectiles that break on impact. Very accurate, enough for self-defense distance. No, it does not have the exact stopping power of a machine gun, but it's not a worse alternative than deadly firearms. The arguments I get about its cons are chances of one-in-a-hundred, which I'd have rather than the current death count.

[QUOTE=Talvy;47357235]I've said it before and I'll say it once more: less-lethal weapons - projectile ones. The FN 303 for example: shoots hard, spherical, fin-stabilized projectiles that break on impact. Very accurate, enough for self-defense distance. No, it does not have the exact stopping power of a machine gun, but it's not a worse alternative than deadly firearms. The arguments I get about its cons are chances of one-in-a-hundred, which I'd have rather than the current death count.[/QUOTE] Big problem: stuff like the FN 303 normally aren't available to civilians, and when they are, they are far more expensive than just buying a gun.

[QUOTE=General J;47350266]because a lot of the time people buy these under the guise of self-protection but just want one cause it's cool. If you seriously need a gun to defend yourself you need to make a huge evaluation on your location, level of violence and crime, as well as a hundred other factors before making a commitment like this. It's not necessarily something you should consider in a window-shopping fashion on your way to starbucks and go "ooh, guns". When it comes to 1st time buyers of guns, or gun noobs that aren't the super intelligent legitimate respectable gun owners that probably are the gun majority of this forum that are snarkly judging this video- When it comes to those kind of people there are a higher chance that someone will steal the gun for suicide, someone will die because of misfire or lack of proper gun storage, or someone will steal the gun for crime/owner will the gun for crime than the owner getting the chance to successfully use it to save their life.[/QUOTE] I'd be more likely to agree if the group sponsoring this video weren't anti-gun lobbyists [QUOTE]Sign below to show your support for background checks on all gun sales, a ban on assault weapons, and a limit on the capacity of ammunition magazines and we’ll advocate in Congress on your behalf.[/QUOTE] I can totally get behind the idea of informing people how their ideal method of protection could backfire tragically, and the idea that window shopping definitely isn't the way to become a responsible gun owner, I just wish messages like this were coming from a more balanced source. Sadly it seems like in America you either get the NRA's (and their bought politicians) scaring people into buying as many guns as fast as possible and damn the consequences, or the anti-gun lobby (and their bought politicians) using fear-mongering and occasionally solid statistics to push poor policy.

You neglect to mention that the FN 303 is available to only military and police. Even if the gun was available to the public, the ammo would be way too expensive to even practice with it. For most people, a suped up paintball gun would be more feasible, but I do not reccommend either of these options for self defense. They just can't be ready at a moments notice in my opinion.

[QUOTE=cdr248;47357433]Big problem: stuff like the FN 303 normally aren't available to civilians, and when they are, they are far more expensive than just buying a gun.[/QUOTE] Well you [I]are[/I] paying for your life, right? Not someone else's...

[QUOTE=Talvy;47357466]Well you [I]are[/I] paying for your life, right? Not someone else's...[/QUOTE] What does that even mean? There is still the fact that civilians cannot even legally purchase this weapon without following an extremely long and complicated process of paperwork and time.

Like it should be with firearms too?

For those who don't know about America's restricted classes of weapons, the government agency that covers this area, the ATFE (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives), takes around half a year to get back to you on your paper work. That is for Class 2 weapons which are short barreled guns and anything classified as an AOW. Class 3 takes over year and that covers full autos. If the FN 303 were to be sold to the civilian population, there is a good chance it would be classified, at least, as an Any Other Weapon. It serves no "sporting purpose" and fires unique ammo that must be imported.

[QUOTE=Talvy;47357832]Like it should be with firearms too?[/QUOTE] An extremely opinionated and simplified statement, but one you are certainly able to claim. Every country is different, what would fly in many European countries when it comes to gun control laws would be shot down in an instant in the US. Making statements that imply that everyone in the US would be much better off if they just bought a very specific and very hard to obtain less than lethal weapon is just a gross oversimplification of the current situation in America when it comes to guns and gun rights. It doesn't serve to further any discussion about the topic at best, and makes those that feel strongly about the topic angry at worst.

As in more paperwork should be done since even licensed guns are abused a lot.

Honestly, this video did nothing to change my opinion on guns. I'm still going to get one when I can.

So many pro gun people here, I think the video was good, sure it wasn't perfect but it does spread a message that needs to be spread in the US I think. Anything to slowly weaken the gun culture rather than just taking away guns from people is a good thing. You will never take guns away from the US but anything to weaken the culture might drop the number of people that shouldn't own guns. But yeah, the video could have been handled way better.

[QUOTE=reevezy67;47358067]So many pro gun people here, I think the video was good, sure it wasn't perfect but it does spread a message that needs to be spread in the US I think. Anything to slowly weaken the gun culture rather than just taking away guns from people is a good thing. You will never take guns away from the US but anything to weaken the culture might drop the number of people that shouldn't own guns. But yeah, the video could have been handled way better.[/QUOTE] A detailed video about how to safely handle and store firearms would be infinitely more useful if they were actually interested in public welfare.

Oh yeah it's clickbait, I don't think the video is a negative thing though.