Those 2 vids were excellent... Laughter and mock comedy sometimes takes the edge off of highly volatile discussions while still exaggerating the reality and complexity of the situation... First off, I'm Canadian, don't hold that against me...... I fully agree that criminals and psychopaths will always find a way to get the firepower they need... However, my only question is, why do some countries have a much higher per capita violent crime rate than others? By the the way, per capita takes away how big or small your nation is, that is an even playing field... If it is not due to gun controls, then why?... And how as citizens can we allow it to go on?... How many times must a nation morn and not strive to improve the situation?... I honestly do not have the concrete answer, only questions... How long will we allow our society to function like this?... When do we draw a line in the sand, and state the we will no longer tolerate this level of barbarism?... When do we look at ourselves and perhaps make decisions that we are partially responsible, if not fully responsible... An excellent video is the Robert Kennedy speech "Menace of Violence", ... Thought provoking,

 

I take full advantage of my right to own firearms. I have a carry permit and use that. As has been said, the criminals are going to get their weapons regardless. As a result, I will be prepared to defend myself in whatever manner necessary if the situation does ever arise that I would need to do so.

 

Crusader, I think a country's economy has more to do with the crime rate than the right to bear arms does. If someone is desperate enough to hold up a convenience store, they can just as easily use a knife over a gun.

 

I'll be getting my concealed carry permit for Iowa as soon as I turn 21. I don't plan on carrying all the time but I'm sure I will quite often. As Sarge said, I also want to be prepared to defend myself should such and instance arise.

Criminals will get their weapons regardless. But if we have more responsible citizens carrying, I see a safer America. (Note that I said "responsible citizens", guns aren't for everyone IMO).

 

I have a carry permit and I am against gun control although I don't really care about owning any type of assualt weapon.

This guy had explosives and would have aquired an ilegal gun since he was so bent on doing this.

If there was total gun control only criminals would have guns and there would be no deterent to rob someone or break in someone's house while they are home. Here in KY you can carry a gun legally in your glove box without a carry permit.

 

Lou you're right, I agree that it is a major contributing factor, however unemployment figures in the US are at 8.2%, Canada is at 7.1%, not a huge determining deficit... However I think you are on to something more profound, our unemployment is almost as high per capita as the US, however, our society can still access healthcare for all our loved ones whether or not we are employed, maybe that also detracts from the despair of not being able to provide for loved ones and family in bad times and perpetuating the notion that I must do anything (good or evil - or just give up on societal norms) to get by... With the distribution of wealth in the West standing at 98% on or below the poverty line and only 2% reaping the benefits of the American (Western) Dream, then maybe we all had better get more guns, cause we'll need them... What a vicious circle to be entrapped in... Back to my original point, do we, as a society need to take a long, hard look at what our accountability is and what it is that we need to fundamentally change in our selves?... Damien...

 

With this in mind. I do have to acknowledge one point Crusader is trying to make. There is less gun violence in Canada.

As for the unemployment rate. Canada's national unemployment rate may be 7.1%. But here in Windsor, Ontario ours is about 10%. The highest in Canada. And the last time I heard, Detroit had the highest unemployment rate in the U.S. Unemployment rates are deceiving though. That number is only people who are on some kind of government assistance (welfare, etc). Here in Canada, after a few years of unemployment, you are taken off the statistics. So the unemployment rate of any given area is actually a lot higher than the statistics claim it is. I suspect Detroit and many other major areas of the U.S. have a much higher unemployment rate than the statistics show also.

In desperate times, people take desperate measures. And robbing a place at gun point is far too common in any country. But I think I see where the gun control advocates are coming from. I'll explain.

Here's what I believe the gun control advocates are saying...

We all want to be the hero that saves the day. Many people have the idea that if they have a gun, they can take out the bad guy and save the day. In their mind, it works out great. But in reality, in a robbery situation, you're not able to get to your gun in time without the bad guy being able to take you out first. Or it turns into a stand off situation with the police being involved. But another factor is what's behind the bad guy? If you're intention of taking out the bad guy misses, or the bullet goes through the guy, what or who are you going to hit that's behind the bad guy? If the robbery goes as planned, the robber gets away without having to fire a bullet. When someone tries to be a hero, someone is likely to get shot. Usually an innocent bystander.

I can see their points.

Plus, it's become a scarey fact of life that kids are showing up to school packing now too. Schools have metal detectors for a reason folks. And that's the reason.

I think there's very little someone could've done in the case of the movie theatre shooting. It was dark in there, he threw smoke bombs, he was wearing bulletproofing, plus there was so much chaos going on. If someone tried to return fire, it might have made a bad situation worse.

 

All fair and respectable arguments. Mostly everyone seems to be on the same page about having the right to bear arms because he is a law-abiding citizen choosing to arm himself in defense. I think this has concrete validity. I cannot really come up with an argument (for hypothetical sake) against it. It could not be logical to just make all guns illegal everywhere. However, concealed weapons make me nervous as hell. We do not have that here in New Jersey and several other states above the Mason Dixon line.

On that note, the issue of the right to bear arms and gun control clearly highlights the differences between the deep-rooted mentalities of the North and the South.

 

i conceal carry for many reasons and will not change that. i also collect guns of all kinds (assault weapons, semi pistols, revolvers, hunting rifles, shot guns, etc) i am all for the 2nd amendment 110%

i carry mainly for if i need to put an animal that is coming to attack me or if i hit a deer etc and didnt kill it but it is paralyzed and has no hope of survival and is suffering. not going to lie if my life is endanger i wont be afraid to use it as well (last thing i ever want to happen) i also shoot at the range alot and recently got into shooting little ball thumb tacks at 25 yards with a .22 long rifle and also shooting tacks the size of a dime at 100 yards. its a pashion for me to own and shoot firearms of all kinda and i am not willing to give it up!

as far as getting them out of the wrong hands it will never happen do to the black market that will NEVER go away. if you ban firearms then the honest people that could own a firearm wont and the criminals and nut cases will still get from the black market and have them and then you as a civil person are more endanger to get robbed etc. because they know you have no pertection.

i also represent the castle doctrine act in my home as well.

 

X2 Lou... Bad guys or desperate people will always have access to weapons... We as a society do not benefit from being armed, on the contrary, we perpetuate violence as the mind set of the bad guy is that most likely he or she will have to use the weapon, that is a very bad mind set for the common good... And you are bang on with the Hero Scenario, heck, I am that guy, however, what ever our fantacies of grandure are, reality will always take it's coarse and often in tragic circumstances... In the words of a great American Icon born in Canada, "We need to have a kinder, gentler machine gun hand" - Neil Young... Food for thought...