[Politics] Guns in the US

[Slum_Wolf]

Arizona court rules Mexico can proceed with lawsuit against five US gun dealers

Companies accused of facilitating gun trafficking and and of being responsible for bloodshed that their guns contribute to in Mexico

www.theguardian.com

 

[cheshunt seagull]

A significant part of society fetishise and romanticise guns in a way that is unique to the US. They see them as a symbolic statement of personal freedom and a solution to problems.

 

[lawros left foot]

America as a society has decided that gun ownership is more important than the huge death toll that guns visit on the country year in, year out.

This will never change, because, now it is impossible.
Far too many people have guns, and, more importantly, people make a huge amount of money from the gun culture in America.
Britain saw a surge in hand gun ownership in the late 19th, early 20th century, due to fear of crime . After a few murders, by gun owners, a High Court Judge partially blamed the manufacturers and sellers of guns, although the actual murderers were hanged, this led to our first gun control Acts of Parliament.

We have since reacted to each new threat of guns, the souvenirs brought home from WW1, Dunblane with further legislation to restrict the legal ownership of guns.

We have introduced quite harsh gun control, compared to the majority of other countries, at a gradual pace, and, because of the public being largely in agreement with strict gun control, maybe to a certain extent, witnessing the effect of ineffectual firearm control in America , it has worked very well.

America would have to legislate against gun ownership from base zero, to a population that has been programmed to accept a certain level of fatalities as a price of near unrestricted gun possession.

Without years and years of public education, the majority of the American people will never be in favour of taking their God given right to own lethal killing machines unrestricted.

If Sandy Hook didn’t change things, nothing ever will.

 

[schmunk]

Interestingly, we recently bought a small farm in a small town in Missouri where my eldest and his wife and kids are now living. EVERYONE owns guns, but there is no crime to speak of. Residents don’t even bother to lock up their homes or vehicles at night.

Bowling Green, MO apparently has a population of about 5,000. That's similar to Midhurst or Rye.

A relative lack of crime is hardly a shock.

 

[lawros left foot]

Mass shooting in Indianapolis leaves seven children, aged 12 to 17, with gunshot wounds

The victims were all said to be in a stable condition in local hospitals after the latest shooting spree in the US.

news.sky.com

Thankfully, no fatalities, but teenagers shooting each other, this is what ineffectual gun control looks like.

Hopes and prayers, etc, etc, etc.

 

[The Grockle]

The American love affair with guns is something that baffles me but if all my neighbours had guns and more than likely the person burgling my house had one I'm pretty sure I'd have at least one myself.

It's easy to think of American's as gun loving lunatics but I suspect most just don't want to be the only family without a gun to protect themselves

 

[Clive Walker]

Now I’m no expert on guns or the US law for that matter but what seems obvious to me is that the 2nd amendment (i think) and the right to bare arms was written when all there really had was muskets which I think needed to be loaded and plungered a bit before firing. It took about 30 seconds per fire I guess.

The law remains the same now they have machine guns.

Policy not keeping up with technology is as f***ed up as the USA itself.

 

[chickens]

I could have done the same ID at about 10 years old, I‘m not aware of killing anyone yet.

The issue (to me) isn’t that being able to ID weapons leads to a greater chance of being a killer, it’s the casual way that, even in a household that absolutely does not glorify violence or “strength through weaponry” even young children are taught the basics just by playing video games and watching shows ostensibly for children.

I wonder if you would be as comfortable with the idea that human anatomy was slipped into young kids programming? I’d argue such education is far less problematic than gun culture, yet would provoke a greater backlash from America’s “Christian” right. To me the entire US culture is utterly toxic, and absolutely the last to be followed or adopted here. Just look at their politics. What a mess.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Nothing more screwed than the USA. You could criminalise firearms right now and they would still have a problem in two hundred years! I just do not believe in hiding kids from reality, sanitise where necessary but not sweep it under the carpet. Video games to me are far more of an issue than toy guns, although law enforcement folk would say different. The final answer? Dunno.

 

[lawros left foot]

73% of Americans said in a national survey in 2017 that they have fired a gun at least once.
95% of gun owners have fired a gun, 55% of non gun owners have fired a gun.

It would be interesting to know how many Brits,% wise have fired one.

Also, according to the survey, 5% of gun owners have never fired their weapon.

A very strange statistic.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

The American love affair with guns is something that baffles me but if all my neighbours had guns and more than likely the person burgling my house had one I'm pretty sure I'd have at least one myself.

It's easy to think of American's as gun loving lunatics but I suspect most just don't want to be the only family without a gun to protect themselves

Half of the US is as accepting of guns as they are accepting of Trump. The lesser of two evils. And no amount of carnage will change their mind.

Unfortunately, after more than 60 years of watching their antics, I no longer care about dead Americans, adults or children. If they ever reach a point where they are no longer happy about the situation it will be for them to do something about it.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

73% of Americans said in a national survey in 2017 that they have fired a gun at least once.
95% of gun owners have fired a gun, 55% of non gun owners have fired a gun.

It would be interesting to know how many Brits,% wise have fired one.

Also, according to the survey, 5% of gun owners have never fired their weapon.

A very strange statistic.

Now there’s a NSC poll!

 

[lawros left foot]

Now there’s a NSC poll!

Do it!!!

 

[BadFish]

I don’t own a gun, but I believe in the right to own one.

I also believe in the right to own one. However I also believe in the wisdom of limiting who has access to them.

For me it's not the right to own one that is the issue it is the refusal to accept any kind of background check or limitations on who can own what. This is nothing short of insanity.

But mass shooting after mass shooting will not loosen the grip of the NRA but jobs on this issue so their is really no hope.

I am just glad my kids don't go to school in the real nut job states.

From proud leaders of the free world to utter basket case is a sad demise for the US. Still good ole Trump will make it great again.

 

[BadFish]

73% of Americans said in a national survey in 2017 that they have fired a gun at least once.
95% of gun owners have fired a gun, 55% of non gun owners have fired a gun.

It would be interesting to know how many Brits,% wise have fired one.

Also, according to the survey, 5% of gun owners have never fired their weapon.

A very strange statistic.

Surely lots of people I the UK have?

I have a couple of times.

 

[lawros left foot]

Surely lots of people I the UK have?

I have a couple of times.

Apart from friends who served in the Armed Forces, I only know one person ( to my knowledge) who has.

He shoots clay pigeons.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Half of the US is as accepting of guns as they are accepting of Trump. The lesser of two evils. And no amount of carnage will change their mind.

Unfortunately, after more than 60 years of watching their antics, I no longer care about dead Americans, adults or children. If they ever reach a point where they are no longer happy about the situation it will be for them to do something about it.

I agree and that’s why I have no inclination to ever go back

 

[BadFish]

Apart from friends who served in the Armed Forces, I only know one person ( to my knowledge) who has.

He shoots clay pigeons.

I did cadets for a shirt while and fired a. 22 at a range.

The other time was working on our farm In Australia.

My brother also does a lot of pheasant shooting, although I haven't done that.

It would be interesting to know how many have/haven't though.

 

[BadFish]

Half of the US is as accepting of guns as they are accepting of Trump. The lesser of two evils. And no amount of carnage will change their mind.

Unfortunately, after more than 60 years of watching their antics, I no longer care about dead Americans, adults or children. If they ever reach a point where they are no longer happy about the situation it will be for them to do something about it.

I am sure I read that the majority of people in the US are supportive of tighter gun control. The NRA are too powerful and out of control. They need to get their shit together with lobbying over there. Too much influence in government.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Half of the US is as accepting of guns as they are accepting of Trump. The lesser of two evils. And no amount of carnage will change their mind.

Unfortunately, after more than 60 years of watching their antics, I no longer care about dead Americans, adults or children. If they ever reach a point where they are no longer happy about the situation it will be for them to do something about it.

Harsh, but true.