Do you think this is a good idea?

I doubt those with unregistered guns made the list. They tend to be more of a threat. It is a false sense of security.

Criminals will get weapons even if they aren't alowed, taking guns away from the public only weakens the victims survival chance.
Who would a murderer choose to kill, someone with no protection or someone with protection?

This shouldn't be on public display, that's an infringement of privacy. Only selected officials should have access to this information, they're the only ones who need it. Next time someone flips out like that guy in Norway, the police can identify him and take action swiftly.

But another thing to consider is where does it end? Listing every resident's cutlery , hammers and baseball bats? What about glass bottles? They're a potential murder weapon.

TERRIBLE IDEA! Did you even read the article?

Not everyone that has a gun permit is a criminal. Do you honestly think gang members have permits for their weapons? This was published in a newspaper too, talk about privacy concerns!

I don't know about the situation in Iowa. And I do think there should be more restrictions on gun ownership. But this is the wrong way to do it.

just like in the chris rock song no sex in the champahne room don't go to partys with metal detectors sure it feels safe inside but what about all 'em nigaas outside with guns they know you ain't got one.

See, theres this thing called the constitution that gives people the right to own guns AND have their privacy. I don't get why demoshits are too retarded to understand this.

Incredibly stupid for the purpose of knwoing who might be a "murderer"....people who own guns legally tend to not commit gun crimes. Duh.<BR>

<BR>It might make it easier for thieves to find guns to steal to use for ill intents. Terrible. Akin to publishing people who own expensive jewelry-makes it easier for thieves to find a jackpot.<BR>

<BR>The only good reason to make it known you have a gun would be so that people know not to fuck with you but that's pretty senseless as well.<BR>

<BR>I see no good from this, only bad.

I don't get it. Why don't they just make a list of dangerous minorities?

I think having one for security reasons is good, but I also think that's the reason so many people have unregistered guns. I believe it would be a safer place if citizens weren't allowed to own guns. Unless you're a hunter and pass many mental examinations and maybe once a year someone from the government would come check out your hunting weapons.

"This has doubtlessly saved countless lives and made Des Moines a very safe city, as it helps innocent people to know who the bad guys are."

No. Rather, it has doubtlessly illustrated your incompetence in providing statistical data affirming your statement.

As a bunch of people said before...bad guys tend to have unregistered guns. Publishing a list is a waste of time and money, and a potential catalyst for hysteria among normal people who will end up legally buying guns to protect themselves from other normal people who legally bought guns to protect themselves from criminals who stole guns and filed off the serial numbers.

At worst, this published list will likely tell robbers, rapists, and murderers where not to strike, resulting in a potential for higher crime rates.

This isn't going to change anything. First of all, most bad guys own guns illegally and are definitely not going to have a permit... You'd have to be retarded to be a gangster and go get a permit and psycho-killers would probably make up about 0.02% of that list, if even that (that's 1 person in 5000 btw). Next, only paranoid old ladies are going to check-mark all the people around them with arms. Lastly, this is a massive intrusion of privacy.

If they just wen't and made guns illegal to purchase or sell, and left everyone who had guns alone, we'd have a chance at becoming a safer nation. Attempting to remove all the weapons people owned would most likely result in much bloodshed, since gun-toting hillbillies are willing to kill and die for such a stupid cause.

Whilst I would ban guns outright, "naming and shaming" people who arn't even doing anything illegal is wrong. If they want to discourage gun ownership, increase taxes on them or ban them outright. If you believe that gun ownership should be legal, then you believe that it is ethical, then you wouldn't want to invade the rights of gun users or discourage gun ownership.

Invading the rights of gun owners is not an ethical way of reducing gun ownership. And no, I'm not a conservative, I'm about as liberal as you get.

No every one who owns a gun is a "potential murderer". Most people only have them around for self defense. So I don't think it's fair for EVERYONE who owns one not to have privacy just because they are protecting themselves and their family.

I don't even know where to begin...

I'm not going to rant on about gun control as I planned. I'll just say this:

GOOD LUCK TAKING MY GUNS, MERE MORTALS!!!

I hope they do that here. I want to be at the top of the list, in bold. That way, the "good guys" know who to see when they want to get killed.

i dont understand. is it a list of people who are criminals? who should not buy a gun? a public blacklist?

Owning guns is just stupid.