Guns

[SliK]

Gun laws are very different depending on where you are on the planet.

Australia's (and one of the world's) largest massacre took place at Point Arthur, Tasmania by a gunman that shall remain nameless in this post. After that our government completely changed our gun laws and put major restrictions on the type of guns that could be purchased. You must now pass a test to obtain a firearms license which enables you to own and operate a single or double barrel shotgun (but not a pump action), a .22 rim fire bolt or pump action rifle and center fire or muzzle loaded rifles.

My father and I own two .22 rifles and a single barrel shotgun which I use for target shooting.
Now, I would love to own a handgun or a semi-automatic (and even an automatic) rifle. But due to Australian gun laws I cannot legally do that with the license I have. It is possible to obtain handguns but it must be part of a club membership. We cannot carry guns on us (concealed or otherwise).

Do you think these laws would help reduce the number of deaths in America?
To me, guns (and gun laws) don't kill people-- people kill people. I think if someone wants to go on a massacre then they will, whether they can legally obtain guns or not. I think less focus should be put on these mass murderers. There is a level of celebrity these people reach when they successfully complete their rampage. The media sensationalizes it and compares each killer to previous killers, almost ranking them in order of "achievements", ie, people killed.

So, do you think changing gun laws will stop these massacres, or do you think America is past that point and requires deeper help, at a societal level? If you think the latter, what would you suggest to help?

[cheeseburger]

Yes, strict gunlaws WILL help stop these massacres.
People pulled over in cars will be confiscated of their firearms etc.

In my country there are completly illegal carrying firearms anywhere. If you have one for hunting you have to have a licens, be in a club AND youre only allowed to hunt at specific times.


Ofcourse, just making it illegal over night will be a problem. Many will stop carrying which maybe will open for more robberies and such. But over time it will get better.

[SliK]

I'm not convinced that it will help.

20 years ago gun laws were exactly the same but you never got massacres like this. Columbine was almost as shocking as 9-11 because America (and the world) had never seen that before. Up until that point the gun laws were the same as after that point. Now massacres are becoming more and more frequent, but gun laws have remained a constant. So, how are the gun laws causing these massacres if they haven't changed in how long? Hundreds of years?

It's like, a few decades ago kids ran the streets and talked to strangers and it was no big deal. However, it is a big deal now because more and more ubductions/rapes/murders etc are happening these days. That doesn't mean we should introduce curfews and restrict the rights of many millions just because there are a few crazies lurking the streets after dark. The same can be said about guns. Don't take away the rights of millions because of a few crazy people.

Massacres are a symptom of a fucked up society and changing the gun laws will only be treating a symptom and not the root cause of the issue.

[cheeseburger]

I'm not convinced that it will help.

20 years ago gun laws were exactly the same but you never got massacres like this. Columbine was almost as shocking as 9-11 because America (and the world) had never seen that before. Up until that point the gun laws were the same as after that point. Now massacres are becoming more and more frequent, but gun laws have remained a constant. So, how are the gun laws causing these massacres if they haven't changed in how long? Hundreds of years?

It's like, a few decades ago kids ran the streets and talked to strangers and it was no big deal. However, it is a big deal now because more and more ubductions/rapes/murders etc are happening these days. That doesn't mean we should introduce curfews and restrict the rights of many millions just because there are a few crazies lurking the streets after dark. The same can be said about guns. Don't take away the rights of millions because of a few crazy people.

Massacres are a symptom of a fucked up society and changing the gun laws will only be treating a symptom and not the root cause of the issue.

You have some good points. But in general it looks like the typical american way of thinking.
Ill get mor inte to it later.

[BigBoss]

Strict gun laws won't do shit. They will still be in circulation all over.


And people who can't get them will learn to SilkRoad

[cheeseburger]

Strict gun laws won't do shit. They will still be in circulation all over.


And people who can't get them will learn to SilkRoad

Still, yes. But in less amount.

Over time people will stop bothering to get a gun, because it will be taken away and you will be punished for it.

Simple example: If it was legal to smoke crack, people would do it to a much larger amount than today. Isnt that quite obvious?

[EmTV]

Just get rid of guns period.

[SliK]

I don't think there would be too many more people smoking crack if it was legal...

[cheeseburger]

Ofcourse there would. Being allowed to do something makes it accsesable (fuck it Im horrible at english) and easier to get hold of. Dont you think more people will start to smoke pot now in those states that its legal?

[SliK]

Social acceptance is a bigger factor than legality. Pot is already pretty well accepted in society, that's why it's so common even though its illegal. Crack certainly isn't.

Guns are, and that's why they're so prevelant.

[CrashBand]

There will still be some massacres. Of course you can't stop all of them.

But would the Columbine shootings of happened..? Kids obtaining guns. Maybe not.

Would shootings happen over a bar fight/street fight..? Probably not.

America's gun laws are fucked, and what's even more scary - their gun culture is fucked. A lot of Americans have the stupid idea that you need a gun.

[SliK]

That's right, the culture needs to change. I think their laws are fine.

[cheeseburger]

There will still be some massacres. Of course you can't stop all of them.

But would the Columbine shootings of happened..? Kids obtaining guns. Maybe not.

Would shootings happen over a bar fight/street fight..? Probably not.

America's gun laws are fucked, and what's even more scary - their gun culture is fucked. A lot of Americans have the stupid idea that you need a gun.

Thank you!

Ofcourse its not the solution! Theres never ONE solution to anything. Its just one part of the whole problem.


Ive heard that in some states its actually a bigger problem to have a bottle of beer in your car, than having a loaded shotgun laying around in the back... THAT is fucking stupid.

[CrashBand]

That's right, the culture needs to change. I think their laws are fine.

I think the laws should change too.

It's crazy how easy it is to get guns in America.

[SliK]

FYI, I could massacre 20+ people with the guns I own without breaking a sweat and we have very strict gun laws so I don't think the laws will help with much.
Not to mention that black market guns will still be accessible to those who really want a powerful weapon.