I wasn't trying to insinuate that the purpose of keeping guns legal in the U.S. was so Americans could hoard them away and try an overthrow the government. I do think if the government tried to ban or take them away that it would be utter chaos. Also the need for protection by using a gun where your from I assume isn't as great ad it is here cause the culture is nowhere near the same. The town this happened in isn't a poster ton for violence but in a lot of city's in America if people don't arm themselves they are at the mercy of those who are sure to be armed and not the nicest of people.

^I'm sorry for misrepresenting your stance on this, blooz.

I wonder how often people owning guns prevent crime compared to how often people owning guns causes crime. I suspect it contributes to more than it prevents (but gun culture certainly plays part).

Its cool, sorry bout the typos this things a pain in the ass. You should YouTube "gangland" in America and type in crip or blood or Mexican Mafia or aryian brotherhood. That's who will control the sale of guns in America if their ever banned legally. Tell me what you think.

I'm thinking I would never buy a gun illegally (and can't buy one legally) and so if I should ever get crazy enough to want to shoot friends or family or some guy whose care I just bumped into, that would not be an option for me. If someone broke into my home, shooting them wouldn't be an option, but that's fine because I'd rather lose a TV or a stereo than become someone who shoots other people. If some criminal does break into my home, I have less reason to believe the criminal does carry a gun because they are likely harder to get a hold of, even if getting one is still a possibility. F.ex not only would you have to get in contact with the right people, but illegal guns could be very expensive. I believe I would feel safer around other people, and by extension in my community, if I don't have to worry that the guy cutting in the taxi line or that prick of a neighbour whose dog I accidentally hit with my car might also carry a gun in his pocket or keep one in his house.

I'm thinking less fear, less violence. You could have the same sort of crime, but perhaps that crime would be less violent because the threat of someone bringing a firearm into it is much smaller.

I woke up this morning to more detail about this horrible story. It's just so awful. But the heroism I'm hearing about on the part of some of the teachers is amazing.

His mother, a rigid primary school teacher had an m4. Assault rifle?....

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p...fan/HC/pot.jpg

I'd love to see how this goes over.


I assume you've never taught in America.

My personal view?

If your country is in a position whereby removing or restricting the right to own guns will genuinely be a bad idea because of the potential for people to react badly, or because there is such a demand for these things that illegal trafficking would be an unstoppable force, then frankly, things probably got screwed up long enough ago that nothing can help in the present day.

Amusingly, this also works for tobacco and alcohol.

The problem isn't that gun control doesn't work. The problem is that so much of the American population doesn't want it to be ABLE to work.

But it also doesn't work.

The best gun control you can have is a good economy, a minimum wage that keeps pace with inflation, and medical service that meet the needs of the population, especially mental health services.

Taking away guns won't stop someone from making a bomb, or poisoning food. You need to remove the impetus from the individuals.