missed a zero.
glad to hear u r not insulting indian elders.
Retired.Don't Ask me For Re-ups. Feel Free To Add Mirrors
We Are Pirates Not Thieves.Thieves Are Found In Parliament.
We Are Pirates Not Thieves.Thieves Are Found In Parliament.
★★★★★ wrote:With the topic looming large after the Sandy Hook Shooting, what are your opinions about enacting stricter gun control in the US and why? To what extent should it be enacted? Opinions of non-Americans appreciated.
My opinion is... that I don't have an opinion about gun control in the US. I think gun possession and handling is neatly linked to culture and history of a country. I can't imagine people in my country would be allowed to wear a gun. We don't have fellows that raid schools shooting everybody... The moment I write this, we have a trial going on of a boy that killed two kids and two adults with a knife in a kid's garden last year. Yesterday he said to the judge that he intended to kill everyone that day. Should he have had a gun instead of a knife, chances are he would have managed. Last week a men was condemned to prison for severe injury to an innocent car driver that he got frustrated by his driving manners. They argued and then the man (a gardener) attacked the other driver with a brush cutter. The man lost a leg by that incident. The gardener acted out of control and used the brush cutter because that was the most offensive weapon he could find that moment. It's not difficult to imagine what would have happened if he had a gun. Last week two people argued about a parking place just in front of my house. One of the drivers showed an 'imitation gun' to impress the other, who quickly backed off. What would have happened if it had been a real gun? Would he have used it? What if the other driver had a gun? Would he have used it? Self defense? Difficult to say, but I fear to imagine. And what would happen with the fights that happen here nearly every week between the police and groups of people like football hooligans, factory workers on strike, immigrant that react against actions they find racist, etc... Police shoots with a water cannon, and rubber bullets, the opponents throw stones. What would happen if people were allowed to wear a gun? I don't think in their anger they would withstand the temptation to use it. And I don't mention all the 'stupid' pub fight between drunk people were the most creative weapons are used to fight, like billiard sticks and beer glasses. You don't want to allow these people to have a gun.
What I mean is gun control is linked to the country and their habits, and should be viewed and commented in the correct context, and certainly not by people from another country.
Links:
- Kid's garden killer: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/kanaal/index.a ... aalid=1333
Brush cutter: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail ... 1_00465423
Hooligans: http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cn ... 4_00469883
Okay here is my opinion. First, I'm American, I do believe that it's the constitutional right for us to have and carry whatever gun we want BUT look at it this way: essentially 6 months apart Aurora, Colorado and Newtown, Connecticut both experienced mass shootings resulting in multiple deaths at the hands of people who had been stated as having a diminished psychological capacity. This is where I think the NRA is wrong in stating that not every one is a maniacal lunatic. I think we all have that trigger. It's there in every person. Look at the Aurora shooting, he was smart! A Pre Doctorate if I'm not mistaken. You know what upset him? The fact that all he could get after he graduated was a job at McDonalds!
For the most part outsiders misunderstand America. We are deeply rooted in our ways and wary of change that would alter the course we seem to have followed for nearly 237 years. I do think there are better options than gun restrictions (but I agree it's necessary) and that we must consider proper courses of action. I think that gun licenses should be renewed on a continual basis not just a lifetime promissory. Most would consider it boundary crossing but in order to get the license they must retake gun control classes and computerized psychological evaluation courses every 5 years free from human administration (so that could take the belief that the evaluation was rejected on personal judgment) with a letter of acceptance or rejection being sent a few weeks later (if passed card is obviously enclosed). Law enforcement and military get a waiver on the renewal time (standard citizens would have to renew yearly) of 5 years but will be subjected to process of the psychological eval plus it'd be more intensive considering their line of duty as peace keepers.
Sure this is a roughed out idea but there is potential and we will be better for it.
For the most part outsiders misunderstand America. We are deeply rooted in our ways and wary of change that would alter the course we seem to have followed for nearly 237 years. I do think there are better options than gun restrictions (but I agree it's necessary) and that we must consider proper courses of action. I think that gun licenses should be renewed on a continual basis not just a lifetime promissory. Most would consider it boundary crossing but in order to get the license they must retake gun control classes and computerized psychological evaluation courses every 5 years free from human administration (so that could take the belief that the evaluation was rejected on personal judgment) with a letter of acceptance or rejection being sent a few weeks later (if passed card is obviously enclosed). Law enforcement and military get a waiver on the renewal time (standard citizens would have to renew yearly) of 5 years but will be subjected to process of the psychological eval plus it'd be more intensive considering their line of duty as peace keepers.
Sure this is a roughed out idea but there is potential and we will be better for it.
Check ALL links before PMing me.
mesquite wrote:I think that gun licenses should be renewed on a continual basis not just a lifetime promissory. Most would consider it boundary crossing but in order to get the license they must retake gun control classes and computerized psychological evaluation courses every 5 years free from human administration (so that could take the belief that the evaluation was rejected on personal judgment) with a letter of acceptance or rejection being sent a few weeks later (if passed card is obviously enclosed). Law enforcement and military get a waiver on the renewal time (standard citizens would have to renew yearly) of 5 years but will be subjected to process of the psychological eval plus it'd be more intensive considering their line of duty as peace keepers.
????????????????? Pretty much how my state ALREADY DOES IT! I don't know of ANY state right off the top of my head that issues a LIFETIME permit.
Mandatory refresher course + renewal fees + acceptance or rejection coming from State Police Headquarters - every 5 years. No psychological evaluation, but you get checked out pretty thoroughly at the beginning (fingerprints, FBI and other background checks) and the licensed instructors for the refresher courses will most likely pass on a message with the renewal application if they see/hear anything that leads them to believe that renewing a certain individual's CCW would be a mistake.
"We Gladly Feast on Those Who Would Subdue Us." - Addams Family
I don't think any greater changes should be made to gun laws, as it has been my experience that most gun crimes, at least in America, aren't even committed by guns that were legal or stolen. In fact, the majority of guns obtained by criminals are done so by means other than a gun store and that sellers of these illegal guns get their stock from mostly anywhere, but a gun store. It should be noted, I think, that the majority of gun violence happens in states that carry the stricter gun laws: I don't know how much that plays a part into this type of violence, but it does suggest that a "Tightening of The Laws" is rather ineffective, against gun crime overall.
In addition to this, I've been looking up the rates of Mass Shootings in America and aside from the "cherry-picked Mother Jones Investigation", the FBI crime rates suggest that rate of mass shootings has been pretty consistent for the last 30 years, about 20 incidents a year. In fact, the data shows that there were more mass shootings in the 90's, than in this past decade. I also want to point out that there were less incidents in the 70's, than in any decade that came after and even fewer than that in the 60's (gun laws in this 20 year period weren't nearly as strict as they are now). It's possible (and personally suggested) that you'd have to factor in our overall approach towards violence now: Our violence-driven TV shows and movies and our more accepting approach towards violence in popular music and video games as well as an ever increasing population, and more people adding to our impoverished ranks...because if you don't know, cities are where most of our crime has always been committed..
So no, I don't think more gun laws should be put into place. I'm really no more or less likely to be shot by increasing laws, but I would however be, less able to protect myself. And I don't know about any of you, but while I like the idea of being helped, I like even more the idea of being able to help myself, especially when it comes to the "saving" part.
In addition to this, I've been looking up the rates of Mass Shootings in America and aside from the "cherry-picked Mother Jones Investigation", the FBI crime rates suggest that rate of mass shootings has been pretty consistent for the last 30 years, about 20 incidents a year. In fact, the data shows that there were more mass shootings in the 90's, than in this past decade. I also want to point out that there were less incidents in the 70's, than in any decade that came after and even fewer than that in the 60's (gun laws in this 20 year period weren't nearly as strict as they are now). It's possible (and personally suggested) that you'd have to factor in our overall approach towards violence now: Our violence-driven TV shows and movies and our more accepting approach towards violence in popular music and video games as well as an ever increasing population, and more people adding to our impoverished ranks...because if you don't know, cities are where most of our crime has always been committed..
So no, I don't think more gun laws should be put into place. I'm really no more or less likely to be shot by increasing laws, but I would however be, less able to protect myself. And I don't know about any of you, but while I like the idea of being helped, I like even more the idea of being able to help myself, especially when it comes to the "saving" part.
"Fate is knocking at your door again... What are you going to do? Gonna have to let it in sooner or later, you know...can't keep denying it. Fate's A Bitch, but a generous one. Giving me ways out all the time, lol. I think maybe I should take one, before it's too late. But I can't help myself; I need to indulge a bit longer...."