[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by Preechr

Yes, because we have a long, rich history of Prohibitions working in this country.

Firearm prohibition is different from drugs and alcohol in that gun use is not a 'vice.' You don't get chemically addicted to firing a fucking gun. Why is that hard to understand?

You need to factor in for the fact that America is simply a much larger country than either Japan (an island) or the UK (another island) and we are in the uneviable position of having to guard many hundred times more border than they do, with many, many more airports as well.

Because we don't have ANYTHING at airports that can detect guns. The UK isn't as small as you think, either, and are physically closer to places that have cheap weapons.

I still own [a gun for protection], and have never actually fired it myself. It's a necessary evil, but necessary all the same.

In what situation would you actually use the gun, though? Someone breaks into your house, starts running at you with a firearm levelled, and you strafe to the side and put one in their bean? If someone's going to break into your house, it's going to be to steal your shit, not to engage in an honorable duel with you in your living room. Provided that isn't the case, it'll be illegal for you to fire on them if your life isn't in danger.

Originally Posted by El Blanco

And, as we all know, police forces are omnipresent and appear as soon as we feel we are in danger. Its not like the SUPREME FUCKING COURT said they aren't responsible for each and every person's individual safety.

And it's not like I said that we'd need to enlist a lot more officers to make it feasible. And it's not like you weren't paying attention to anything I had to say, instead opting to quote the bits you could write the most clever responses to.

How does someone buying a pistol comprmise national security?

They can be used on public officials, too. Just because such people were immune to it in 'Half-Life' doesn't mean it happens here in the real world too.

Bullshit. Violent crime has risen in England in the last 10 years. In fact, you are more likely to get mugged in London than in New York City.

Also, the cities in the US withthe highest violent crime rates also happen to have the strictest gun laws (Washington DC anyone?).

Also, you are more likely to be a victim of a violent crime in Enland than the US.

When being mugged in England, are you more likely to die from the exchange? Washington DC having high crime rates as a result of strict gun laws is about as sound a parallel as Ronnie complaining that gay people destroy heterosexual marriages. About that graph, does it still count as 'assault' when the person being assaulted is killed, or does it get upgraded to murder at that point? It doesn't make any sense to me that the US would be a safer country than fucking CANADA.

About Japan. that is a completly different culture. People are much more subservient to authority. Is that the society you want?

So, by that reasoning, people in the US murder people with guns entirely on account of a desire to 'shirk the rules' and a degenerative attitude? Wouldn't Hot Topic start selling flak jackets and JHP rounds?

And how is banning private ownership of firearms going to stop criminals from getting them? Why can't they import them or make their own?

It wouldn't stop them entirely, but it'd make it a lot less easy. What usefulness gun prohibition wouldn't have in regard to organized crime it'd make up for in freelance dickheadedry - muggings, crimes of passion, and accidents.

...if you want to [defend yourself,] learn how to properly use a firearm.

Because being able to pick off a bottle of Mello Yello at 500 yards REALLY helps when being threatened at gunpoint when you're out walking around and unable to carry your precious gun. Or when you're the proprietor of a store and being robbed, in the which case you don't know the guys have a gun until it's in your face. The ONLY situations in which you'd have an opportunity to defend yourself with a firearm would be ones in which you either already have the weapon in-hand or know well in advance that you'll need to use it - anotherwards, never.