Are Americans weird when it comes to guns?

[Stone Fox]

Speaking of Wierd Americans, whatever happened to mr "aspensucksexceptforsnowboarding" ?

We haven't heard from him in a while...

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Ok, well I had a feeling someone would bring up the swiss. They are kind of an exception in europe on the arms laws, BUT, they don't have such a gun culture - how often do you hear of someone going postal in Switzerland?

So are you saying that the Swiss are the only place in the EU that would have firearms floating around?(serious, i dont know). All I know is the storys that an instructor on my basic training told me(he was in British Para regiment, and did a tour in Ireland). So i know there was firearms there......

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Speaking of Wierd Americans, whatever happened to mr "aspensucksexceptforsnowboarding" ?

We haven't heard from him in a while...

Well snowboarding sucks....so it should be aspensucksexceptforskiing.....

[northswell]

There is a law in Virginia that means you can only buy one gun a month!!!

If guns were not so easy to get hold of your everday fooked off with the world for a few days type would not do this type of shite.

Your everyday underground scum will still rob your house and mug you at gunpoint, but its rare, well at least over here, and way less likely to result in death. You give said baddy cash cards phone and claim on the insurance.

TC i didn't mean to offend with the thread and did realise it was from your neck of the woods, sorry that poeple you know were caught up in it.

[Luke]

Ok, well I had a feeling someone would bring up the swiss. They are kind of an exception in europe on the arms laws, BUT, they don't have such a gun culture - how often do you hear of someone going postal in Switzerland?

So are you saying that the Swiss are the only place in the EU that would have firearms floating around?(serious, i dont know). All I know is the storys that an instructor on my basic training told me(he was in British Para regiment, and did a tour in Ireland). So i know there was firearms there......

Dude, that's a different story.

[paulS]

I don't think making them illegal is the answer, better control yes....

Gun-related deaths per 100,000 people

U.S.A. 14.24
Switzerland 5.31
England and Wales 0.41

Not that hard to work out....

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Dude, that's a different story.

I know, but my point being that if a group or an individual wants firearms, they can get them...regardless of the legal status of them in the country they are in.

[RJD]

30,000 gun deaths a year in a country where its free & easy to obtain guns says quite a lot.

Suer if your a nutter you can go find a gun just about anywhere, but most places that requires a serious conviction befoer hand and most probably crossing the legal line.

In the US you dont break the law untill you pull the trigger.

And guns make it easy to kill a whole lot of people, its their only real purpose (ignoring hunting/farming which seems to keep to itself).

Uk had Dunblain & Hungeford, put in severe restrictions on guns & it worked, sure you can find a gun if you want, and a lot of criminals do, but there not the same group of people that go on these shooting sprees.

It'd be very hard to remove guns from the US, even in the Uk gun amnesties turn up weapons that have been lying round for a long time.

But it would have stoped this incident and no doubt many others to follow.

[RJD]

Apparently live journal of the killer.

Edit :- wasnt him.

Top grade nutter:(

[Otter]

If guns are criminalized, only criminals will have guns. 'Nuf said.

I'm in the U.S. and frankly, The Right To Keep and Bear Arms is gauranteed, no discussion needed. I don't see the use of having an AK-47 or heavy or light MG's, but a 9mm is OK by me. I don't own any weapons whatsoever, except a Civil War vintage cavalry sword.

And I did vote "Yes."

[tomcat360]

Well just so I'm not throwing out random crap, what is the firearms policy over there?

Here you have to go through a background check, be over 18 for shotguns and rifles, over 21 for pistols and assult rifles (don't know why the hell they sell those anyways....), have a waiting period, etc, etc. Now I know for a fact that illegal weapons violations are very very serious. If there is anything wrong, illegal, modified, etc, it's 5 years in the pen, no questions asked. They haul you straight there.

I am a hunter, so yes, I guess you could say I'd like to keep my guns.

NorthSwell, no worries.

[tomcat360]

If guns are criminalized, only criminals will have guns. 'Nuf said.

Well put

[Otter]

Latest on the radio...

Apprently VT failed to pass an ordinance (?) that would have allowed armed security services to be on campus. Probably kissing up to the liberals on campus. May have been fewer killed if someone could have stepped in who was carrying a weapon and stopped the perp. Guess we'll never know for sure...

[Hang11]

Well just so I'm not throwing out random crap, what is the firearms policy over there?

Here in NZ, it's 18+, they interview your partner and a non related referee, training at the police station, written exam, any criminal record and you don't get a licence, and it is renewed periodically.

On a normal licence, for centre fire semi autos, no more than a 5 round magazine, no pistol grips or flash supressors, for rimfire, max 10 round magazine, no pistol grips, minimum 20 inch barrel length for all firearms.

Bolt/pump action has no rules on magazine capacity or pistol grips.

Special licences required for bigger magazines, military stocks, handguns, they are hard to get, and you need to prove a need for it - eg competition shooting with a handgun, and then it's restricted to where it must be kept.

The cops also check your home out to make sure there's adequate lockable storage for firearms and ammunition, and will start asking questions if you've got too many guns registered - ie 5 AK47's would get them worried.

[libby]

Normally i'd get into this thread, but not sure its the time or place, hope all your friends are OK Tomcat...

[WooD]

The shooting was a tragedy no doubt, but gun control or the banning of them wood have not stopped the idiot.

Given a week I know I could find any gun I wanted on the street, be it a full auto, 50 cal sniper rifle, or a silencer. If you want a gun around here you can find it.

I grew up around guns, and still to this day collect them. I have several assault rifles. Hell I even have a carry permit, that allows me to carry a concealed weapon anywhere I want, except in any school, bar / pub, or any government building. Never had to use it, and pray I never do.

[Luke]

I am a hunter, so yes, I guess you could say I'd like to keep my guns.

It's nothing to do with hunting...I'm no veggie... there's a dude 2 doors down from me who keeps guns to shoot game, and there are strict laws that mean they have to be kept in proper cabinets, and the ammo cant be kept in the same place etc. and people come round and check.

Like you say, i don't know why they sell other tyes of guns...assault rifles aren't used to shoot deer.

[chris fixxy]

its an interesting personal liberty question isnt it.

Did the shooter get his gun legally?

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

what is the gun culture that is so strong in america? western movies? hip hop? i think outlawing guns is a great idea that will never happen, or work. (since there are already so many guns out there)

but maybe they should stop selling guns and wallmart. thats just ridiculous.

i know my gun culture is Grand Theft Auto III, which spawned from english hands.

[CheeZee]

Firstly .. Tommo , my very best regards to your family and friends effected by this incident ( there isnt an emoticon that can display that).

I dont think the timing as Libby has said is good for pulling this apart too deeply guyz.

I was brought up with hunting and fishing and am still a very keen shooter on a range or equally in the field, i belong to various clubs and have always conducted my shooting with the upmost respect for life and safety of others and that is hugely down to my upbringing and training backed with a complete regard for respect for another's life.

I have mixed in some dodgy circles over the years and will say this ... " a maniac is a maniac for any reason, if he or she has the will and the want to do harm to others then they will find a way to do that no matter what the reason is for such actions. Guns can be a problem , so can knives , so can hands .. this in my eyes is more to do with a society problem than an availability of weaponry.

Yes i personally believe that there should be tighter gun control in the US and other countries, but not to the extent that has been forced on us in this country because it simply does not work and my own personal feeling is that i should as a responsible adult be allowed to pursue a sport within reasonable guidelines, the same as boxing or any other sport that can have a relevant margin of danger 'in-built' .
I have read many reports from the NRA and i personally believe that some of the guyz that call the shots in that organisation are throwbacks from a time in history best forgotten and as so are probably not the ideal candidates to make such heavy recommendations on gun law in the US which then ultimately should be under closer scrutiny by the politicians that give the nod on these recommendations.
Obviously there is a massive global illegal gun trade and some of that trade falls directly from the global so-called legal arms trade. Most illegal weapon trade is at the hands of organised crime and the people responsible can equally be a ganglord as much as the un-checked, un-watched politician.

This issue is as heavy and far ranging as the thread on slavery .. it really does not matter who was to blame for such actions ..it is important that every organisation pro and against come together to make decisions and laws to safeguard all and to minimise the chances of such things happening again.

My personal thoughts on this recent incident are ... " what the hell were the police thinking , who the flesh had trained these incompetent flesh's to NOT react from the earlier shooting .. " guyz if any one needs a vent ..there it is , it was shamefull to see so called professionals display all the stereotyping of the fat , confused local hick officer

(apologies for my usual crappy grammar and lack of articulation-if thats even a word ! )