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The other countries represented on that graph are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK
Last edited by hammertime33; 07-25-2012 at 07:50 PM..
Actually, the term "well organized" is very ambiguous and subject to broad interpretation. If you knew people in this country who were gun enthusiasts, you would know that they are often members of groups and that those groups are very well organized. And the amendment does not specifically mention what a "group" or "militia" consists of. In theory, it could consist of two, or even "just one" person. If one person is sworn to uphold the liberty of the country, then I would say that makes them a "well organized militia". Who are you (or anyone else) to say differently?
It has been statistically proven time and time and time again that restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens DOES NOT reduce gun related crime and deaths. In fact, places in this country that did pass laws restricting gun ownership have seen a DRASTIC increase in gun crime and deaths. If you do not believe me you can google Chicago and Washington DC for yourself and see the numbers and statistics.
the fact is that criminals DO NOT CARE IF THEY BREAK THE LAW. Therefore, even if guns are outlawed, they are going to find a way to acquire illegal ones. If they do not use guns, then they will use machetes or knives or swords or something else and the defenseless VICTIM of the crime will have no way to defend themselves.
It has been shown conclusively over and over that guns are a DETERRENT to crime - especially violent crime. To remove the only means of defense is not the answer. Besides, I'm sure you are well aware that in both Nazi German and Communist Russia, before mass atrocities against innocent men, women and children, stringent gun laws were put into place.
There are two problems. One is generic crime on the streets and that can best be solved by increasing the number of law enforcement officers in difficult areas and not tying their hands with laws that benefit the criminal. And the other problem is insane monsters who go on killing sprees. All you can do is hope that someone is present with a weapon who can stop them. And by encouraging the "man on the street" to carry a firearm, that is the best defense.
It might interest you to know that gun sales in the US are higher now than they have been in recent history and that more and more people are getting licensed to carry a concealed weapon. You cannot always count on someone else to protect you when a crazy person decides to become a murderer.
20yrsinBranson
well said, i repped you for this one.
spudee, take a look at australia for instance in regards to gun control. they did outlaw guns, and what happened? violent crime rates went UP rather substantially. it also happened in britain as well.
I know that I wil cop varying degrees of flack over this posting but I feel so strongly about the subject that I will just have to take what comes on the chin.
First up, I would like it known that I am a retired Aussie bloke with 25 years experience in most aspects of law enforcement including uniform patrol and supervision, criminal investigation, undercover narcotics, organised crime, police college instructor etc. I am also a military veteran having served n the Australlian Army in South East Asia during the 1960s (Yes, we were also there.). Bottom line - I know a bit about firearms and am not some 'pinko Commie' and am in fact a right-wing conservative.
What I don't get is how citizens of the USA (which I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting on several occasions) can continue to tolerate the rising numbers of firearm related deaths and injuries each year, which I think it is somewhere around 100,000 at present. Surely if these were casulaties sustained in some sort of military action, US citizens would want to know why!
And I also don't understand why your law makers haven't had a serious look at the Constitutional right of Americans to bare arms. I have only a basic understanding of the Second Ammendment to your Constitution but 2 things in this stand out to me - "militia" and "well-regulated". "Militia" I get as being an organised body of civilians as opposed to a permanent military force. And when your founding fathers drafted the Constitution, this ammendment was quite justified; not so much need for a 'militia' now days though I would think. But surely the term "well-regulated" is self-explanatory and seems today to be wide of the mark in the USA. I have read that is some US States, firearms can be purechased at gun shows without adequate background checks being carried out on the prospective buyer. That seems crazy!
Some of you may be aware that in April 1996 36 people were killed and 23 wounded in the massacre at Port Arthur here in the State of Tasmania. This horrific event was a watershed for gun ownership in Australia. Under federal government co-ordination all Australian States and Territories banned and heavily restricted the legal ownership and use of self-loading rifles, self-loading and pump-action shotguns, and heavy controls on their legal use. The governmenyt initiated a "buy-back" scheme with the owners paid according to a table of valuations. Some 643,000 firearms were handed in at a cost of AUS $350 million which was funded by a temporary increase in the Medicare levy which raised AUS $500 million.
Perhaps it is time that some of your politicians at federal and state level showed some intestinal fortitude and had a good look at firearm ownership in the USA.
Okay, let the bullets fly!
No bullets from me, but perhaps an astonishing insight (credit to Michael Moore and his movie "Bowing for Columbine" Americans are AFRAID. . . .OF EVERYTHING. . . and yet they count themselves as the most fortunate people in the world, due soley to the fact that they were born in the U.S. I don't "get it" either, but unlike many of my fellows, I was raised to think critically. BTW, did you know that the U.S. State of Texas has forbidden the teaching of critical thinking skills? One hardly knows if one should laugh or cry!
The other countries represented on that graph are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, UK
An overwhelming amount of "assault deaths" in America, sadly include young black men and women who are killing each other by the hundreds on a daily basis. In cities all over the US, this has become a MONUMENTAL problem. If you were to remove this demographic from the graph, our little blue line would fall much more closely in line with the other countries listed.
i fail to understand why people attack an inanimate object that is merely a tool. guns dont kill people, bullets dont kill people, cars, knives, baseball bats, etc. DONT KILL PEOPLE. ALL of these items and more require a human agency to make them work.
as to deaths caused by firearms, would these people be any less if they were tossed out a 10 story window?
why has there been an rise in violent deaths since the 60s? we have been cheapening human life by making abortion easy to get, and working hard to remove god from society. we make movies that embrace drugs, and violence, and the more violent the movie, the more we like it. same with TV shows, and video games, etc. we need to get societies moral compass set straight again, and stop coddling criminals.
This begs the question. Why do you guys feel the need to have guns? If an intruder comes into your home why don't you just throw him out the window? He'd be just as dead as if you shot him.........I mean wouldn't he?
If we have things rising in crime it is a combination of:
Bad economy.
Not prosecuting and keeping bad guys behind the bars.
Refusal to get rid of all the illegals (which have brought lots of violent gang members with them).
We have various government entities unwilling to do their job.
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