Thread: USA Gun Laws Poll

Originally Posted by BobH

I would really like to see a link to where that info came from.

Bob

Here: List of countries by firearm-related death rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This list puts the US at 12th place overall for FA related-deaths. Problem is, it's not accurate. You can't really compare the US to South Africa or Colombia, or even Mexico. Among the 36 richest countries in the world, the so-called first world, we are definitely Number 1 in gun violence.

Nevertheless, I am completely against more restrictive laws on firearms sales and possession in the US in the same way that I'm not going to try and slam the stable door shut after the horses have run. We have an estimated! (actual is probably higher) 270 million guns in civilian circulation, hundreds of millions of magazines, billions of rounds of ammo in every caliber, and all kinds of tactical equipment (optics, night-vision, weapon-lights, flash-hiders, ballistic vests, etc.). Those are not going to suddenly go away. I'd like to see the lawmakers who actually succeed in criminalizing these existing arsenals, and I'd like to see the local PD who tries to enforce criminalization and makes the rounds to confiscate these items from otherwise law-abiding citizens. Today's criminal element already doesn't give a d**n about existing gun laws (my hunch is that they generally don't fill out the federally required background check forms in the local gun store, or observe ATF regs ;-) ), and any new laws on the books will make no difference to them whatsoever, except perhaps by increasing mandatory jail sentences for weapons charges and helping our prison population, already the largest in the "civilized" world, to grow and prosper.

Guns per se aren't the problem, and gun control is not the answer. Our problem is that we live in an increasingly polarized, divisive, fearful and violent society. Political and social discourse in this country has degenerated to a shouting match. No matter what side you're on, it's always an "Us vs. Them" mentality, no room for consensus... We are facing unprecedented economic challenges, with the gap between rich, middle class and poor widening at a rapid pace. Large segments of our youth are disillusioned and in fear of an uncertain future. We're seeing an increase of mental disorders ranging from depression and anxiety to the full-blown psycho-pathology of a Holmes or Cho. Throw a natural disaster or widespread epidemic into this volatile mix, and I don't think it's alarmist to say that we may see some serious s**t hit the fan in our lifetime. In a situation like that, if I were living in Germany or Denmark or Sweden or Italy, etc., I would be fine without a firearm (although I'd probably still want one :-)). Here in the US, unfortunately, in the face of our reality, not being adequately armed is a potential liability for the average citizen.

Add to that, maybe people will think I'm all wet but ...... our "entertainment" which impressionable young people many times build role models from. Glorifying violence and casting criminals in a 'glamorous' or sympathetic light. To some of these young gang kids life ain't nothin' but a movie.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Add to that, maybe people will think I'm all wet but ...... our "entertainment" which impressionable young people many times build role models from. Glorifying violence and casting criminals in a 'glamorous' or sympathetic light. To some of these young gang kids life ain't nothin' but a movie.

I was going to hit the like button, but I dont like it, I agree with it, but I do not like it.

Is it just a coincidence that the bar graph for the poll looks kinda like a gun?

Originally Posted by Theseus

Is it just a coincidence that the bar graph for the poll looks kinda like a gun?

If I was a psychologist and you were looking at ink blots ...... I'd start to wonder about you .. but yeah, you're right it kinda does.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If I was a psychologist and you were looking at ink blots ...... I'd start to wonder about you ..

You're not the first and certainly not the last to tell me that.

HamburgO

It just floors me that anyone reading the excel spread sheet from UNODC wants to compare apples to oranges. The only way the US comes out ahead if you compare it to countries not in it's class as a first ranked nation. The US is higher than virtually all of the countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. all of which have more repressive gun laws yet have a much lower rate per capita of homicide using firearms. Seems to me at quick glance the average is about 0.4 for the other countries I mentioned and the US is at 3.0 per capita. How in the world does that equate into more guns equals less violence? Even I could look good compared to a serial killer.

Bob

Australia has a higher per capita rate of murder by boomerang ..... or so I heard.

Originally Posted by earcutter

Interesting you bring up the tower in Dallas University... did you know that there was civilians providing fire to keep him from popping his head out and shooting any more folk! Yup - folk pulled out their rifles from their trunks and did what they had to do. God Bless Texas!!

Of course in today's America there are more LEO's around than... Well there's a lot more cops today.

Dallas University??????? I guess the folks in Austin will be surprised.
And today in Texas you can not have a gun on campus.

Okay, I was the one who said Dallas originally .... geography was never my strong suit and at least I was in the correct state. I associate Austin with Waylon, Willie, Mike Malone and Dave Lum.