Guns in America

[Bond18]

I was glancing through the 'numbers' section of the most recent Time Magazine.

One portion absolutely amazed me:

90
Number of guns in the U.S. for every 100 citizens, according to the 2007 Small Arms Survey, making it the most heavily armed country in the world. India has the second largest civilian gun-arsenal tally, with just four firearms per 100 people.

4.5 million
Number of new guns purchased in the U.S. each year, more than half of the 8 million produced worldwide.


To me, these are just startling numbers. I've always felt a little uneasy about how easy it is to attain firearms in the U.S. and all "guns don't kill people, people kill people" arguments aside i truly believe most people aren't responsible enough to own one.

What are your thoughts on this issue EL D forum?

[Chump Change]

I was under the impression Canada was up there in terms of gun ownership, despite the discrepancy in gun-related crime between Canada and US?

Moore did a great job of making this point in 'Bowling for Columbine' even though his dumb ass ruined it by essentially ignoring the point he made to push his agenda.

[Kimbell175113]

I remember Paul Phillips wrote what I thought was a very good blog entry on this subject a while back, one that, honestly, changed my mind a little.

(digs up link)

ah, here we go: http://extempore.livejournal.com/180946.html

[Taso]

I hope more Americans get guns. An armed population is the last defense agains tyrany.

By the way, that is a good 'blog' entry on the subject.

[demon102]

[ QUOTE ]
I remember Paul Phillips wrote what I thought was a very good blog entry on this subject a while back, one that, honestly, changed my mind a little.

(digs up link)

ah, here we go: http://extempore.livejournal.com/180946.html

[/ QUOTE ]

would anyone mind posting some good points as I am drunk and dont want to read a bunch of stuff, lol

I think gun ownership would'nt be such a big deal if the ideals of the avg. American didnt include so much violent action. I own a gun but would never use it unless I had to absolutely have to but so many of my friends that own pretty much have it so that given the first legal or illeagal opportunity depending on the person will use them in a sec. I wonder if this 90 in 100 even tries to round up to the amount of illegally owned and guns that don't need to be registered. As really I wouldnt be surprised if the gunrate was more than 100 per 100 in the US.

Everyone I know besides me that has a gun has like 3+ and many have 6+ but this is a sample size that includes city/suburbs and rural areas withing a few miles of each other so not surprising.

[Rootabager]

All my dads crazy gun friends wont buy a registered gun. They get them unregistered from gun shows.

I am also suprised paul phillips is so pro-gun. He is right though 100%

[Taso]

O spit, is that Paul Phillips the poker player?

[sledghammer]

[ QUOTE ]
I remember Paul Phillips wrote what I thought was a very good blog entry on this subject a while back, one that, honestly, changed my mind a little.

(digs up link)

ah, here we go: http://extempore.livejournal.com/180946.html

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, reading this changed my mind on this subject as well. Paul's very eloquent.

edit: also might want to include the second part.
shoot em up again

[plzleenowhammy]

[ QUOTE ]
i truly believe most people aren't responsible enough to own one.

[/ QUOTE ]

what are most people responsible enough to own? a car? a knife? a credit card? a blender?

is it just americans who aren't responsible enough or the entire world?

and link to time article ifucan

[plzleenowhammy]

is this the alex jones blog? i [img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] pp now.