Current Affairs The " another shooting in America " thread

[Allezfan]

I find it really quite strange when British people don't criticise the legal status of guns in America.

I feel as an outsider, I can't say too much. I know I get annoyed when americans think they can see obvious problems in my country because it's far more complicated than that from the inside and I imagine yanks feel the same when we have a go at their gun laws.

I'm happy to talk about how UK gun laws have worked pretty well for the UK. But it's a bit facile to suggest that that means every country's problems could be solved by adapting them.

 

[SNova]

I think you'll find it did...

Firearm-related homocide per 100,000 population 2014

France: 0.21
USA: 3.42

You know I was speaking in relation to terrorist acts.

 

[Seanjd]

I feel as an outsider, I can't say too much. I know I get annoyed when americans think they can see obvious problems in my country because it's far more complicated than that from the inside and I imagine yanks feel the same when we have a go at their gun laws.

I'm happy to talk about how UK gun laws have worked pretty well for the UK. But it's a bit facile to suggest that that means every country's problems could be solved by adapting them.

I see where you're coming from, although when it comes to a relatively modern concept which can be used to kill somebody instantaneously, and in the case of America which is considered to be a 'civilised' country, it's just absolute madness to have such an open policy towards them.

 

[ilikecheese]

I'm not wishing to step into another country's politics, but regardless of the current strength of the lobby, the lobby is only as strong as the politicians allow surely?

If the politicians could only act on principal not at the behest of lobby groups, (i) we'd have some semblance of democracy and (ii) situations such as this might not arise.

Agreed, but the NRA is enabled by the right wing and it's constituents. The south and rural states like Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming would probably vote to secede from the United States before voting for strict gun laws/elimination of guns.

Sadly, I reckon the only way the right wing would have their head turned is if someone did what tragically happened in Orlando to a prominent Republican event.

Even then Joe Blow from Texas would fight you tooth and nail before he'd give his gun up.

 

[Seanjd]

You know I was speaking in relation to terrorist acts.

Makes no difference if it's a terrorist act or not. The Orlando guy bought his gun legally by the way.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

What's the reason pro gun people don't want more stringent background checks?

Seems reasonable to me, and would go some way to limiting nutters getting their hands on a shooter

 

[ilikecheese]

What's the reason pro gun people don't want more stringent background checks?

Seems reasonable to me, and would go some way to limiting nutters getting their hands on a shooter

I can only speculate as I firmly believe we need stronger...much stronger laws regarding guns.

My speculation is that the right wing would view any concessions towards gun control as one step closer to making them illegal all together.

 

[LinekersLegs]

I know.

Said it before. They could pass as many rules as they like, fact is, there are gazillions of legally owned guns anyrate, and it is ingrained into the psyche (some) of the country have that it is a right to have them.

Might as well ban steak.

Don't think anybody is suggesting it would be an overnight fix or that it would drop the incidences down to zero Roydo, just that not making it incredibly easy for someone to walk in and buy a weapon that can erase the lives of so many people in the blink of an eye might be a decent first step.

Lots of things have been supposedly ingrained in the psyche but with legislation and changing of attitudes over the passage of time have improved even if not completely solved.

 

[RaleighBlue]

I know.

Said it before. They could pass as many rules as they like, fact is, there are gazillions of legally owned guns anyrate, and it is ingrained into the psyche (some) of the country have that it is a right to have them.

Might as well ban steak.

Banning guns would not fix gun violence in America.

However, it would drastically reduce it in many cases.

It probably actually wouldn't stop (edit: all) mass shootings. Guns would still be available. But it would certainly cut down on crimes of passion resulting in dead families.

 

[cbpointblank]

A false flag, is a operation that is ment to gain more legal controle over the citicents, by the means of violence and terror towards it's own population. Otherwise it is not possible to restrain such laws, without the unrest of the population.

You may disagree, but this is my way of looking at the World we live in.

USA is a nazi regime in my eyes, and I do not trust their politics.

You are completely off your rocker.

 

[SNova]

I've always been an advocate of the Swiss model personally.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I can only speculate as I firmly believe we need stronger...much stronger laws regarding guns.

My speculation is that the right wing would view any concessions towards gun control as one step closer to making them illegal all together.

Or maybe they'd be afraid they wouldn't pass the background check.......

 

[ilikecheese]

Or maybe they'd be afraid they wouldn't pass the background check.......

Well that too haha

 

[Allezfan]

I've always been an advocate of the Swiss model personally.

You want a gun that you can also use as a can opener?

 

[wm02]

Agreed, but the NRA is enabled by the right wing and it's constituents. The south and rural states like Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming would probably vote to secede from the United States before voting for strict gun laws/elimination of guns.

Sadly, I reckon the only way the right wing would have their head turned is if someone did what tragically happened in Orlando to a prominent Republican event.

Even then Joe Blow from Texas would fight you tooth and nail before he'd give his gun up.

Ultimately, I think the rural/urban divide is very sharp when it comes to perspective on gun ownership. Rural areas tend to strongly support gun rights and typically vote Republican (Bernie Sanders, though out on the left, has supported gun rights to a certain degree as he represents a fairly rural state). On the other hand, cities tend to strongly support gun control and typically vote Democratic.