Repeal Gun Control

Hello,

This is that last topic I ever expected to be advocating, since I am staunchly "anti-gun" in RL...

The idea I would like to put forward is that there should *not* be a ban on using guns in SL (as counterintuitive as that may sound) mainly because there are so many of them and no (good) legal places to shoot.

I bought a gun because I was harrassed, and constantly shot at when I was builidng in the sandboxes, but also cause it looked kind of fun to shoot them, (it is).

Only *after* I bought one, I find out that you actually are NOT allowwed to shoot off a gun in the sandbox. You are also NOT allowed to shoot a gun on your own property or in your own home, or at least that is what I was told.

Of course you can go to one of two "war" sims and shoot them off, but what if you hate those places? I am not into "shoot-em-up" games, I dont like "Doom" or "Halo" or any of that crap, and when I see someone dressed in war gear I usually cringe and run away. I *do* however, want to occaisionaly set up some cans in the back yard and shoot them though.

Why, ... if a gun cannot hurt anyone in SL, ... are they forbidden?

Obviously if I put it to someones head and shout profanities or something then that is a whole different kind of violation and deslt with by other linden policies.

Why is merely the shooting of the gun wrong? I dont think it is.

Should not the behaviour or the person using the gun be the deciding factor as to whether it is a violation or not?

Finally, it seems blindingly obvious that LOTS of people have guns and most shoot them off when they feel like it. In fact the use of guns in whatever area, seems pretty common, and I have never heard of anyone being reprimanded for it, unless they fall into the afore-mentioned category of "crazy gun to the head swearing" folks.

In short, trying to "kill" someone with a gun in SL (which is inherently harmless anyway), should be a violation, but shooting cans from the back porch is not the same thing at all.

If I want to be a good girl my gun is now virtually useless except for that rare emergency (but even then i would be punished for using it). Or I can do what everyone else does and flaunt these silly rules?

I'm confused

Are my facts right? Does anyone agree with me? Or am I missing something?

I could be mistaken myself, but - shooting cans on your porch with your SL gun is perfectly acceptable.

Shooting another AV without permission - even if it's Joe Griefer after he's maliciously re-terraformed your build, placed 5000 bananna phones, and burned an effigy of your daughter on your doorstep - is against the TOS.

You can't use a gun to protect yourself from harrassment. Its definately not immediate gratification - but the best thing to do is file an abuse report. For more pressing needs, contact in in-game Liason.

If you're on your own land, you can use your parcel tools to eject/ban them.

Its also not uncommon for griefers to attempt to goad you into retaliating with force. Try to resist the temptation to do that - its just giving them more satisfaction when they file an abuse report right back at you.