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Despite some criticism of Elly's idea for a post of the month...

Despite some criticism of Elly's 'post of the month' idea, I will supply one for a very good reason:

I would like to reiterate my sentiments expressed in commenting on Toad's post about an 8 year old boy being killed in a gun accident in the US. It was actually an exhibition of automatic weapons.

Toad expressed his dismay at the fatal accident; why were the guns left loaded and why was an eight year old boy allowed to fire the weapon?

My comments were about what I would now descibe as a "love affair" the US has with personal weapons. I can just picture an indignant American claiming his right to bear arms, but why? It is no longer the 18th century or the wild west. It has become an arms race on 32nd Street.

As for Toad, visit more often, mate!

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Elly's picture

The gun debate always creates great discussion

Submitted by Elly on Tue, 2008-12-02 21:53.

Here in China it is well known that in the US people have the right to have guns, and when I tell the students here that many Aussies have guns too, they are horrified. It is not something that has made it's way to China. I explain that farmers in particular have found them useful to kill wild animals - wild pigs, snakes, crocodiles etc, and to kill injured animals etc. Only criminals now days use them against other people.
Elly

Wheels in China
Adventures of an Australian English Teacher
About Housesitting

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I think, Hutt, if you take time to do some research, you will

Submitted by Jeanne on Tue, 2008-12-02 21:26.

find articles that show that violent crime in Britian per capita exceeds that of the U.S. I am sorry you have such a warped idea of indignant Americans claiming their rights to bear arms. Your description doesn't fit most people in our country at all.

I think one of the problems is that every violent crime is played up by the media, but when you compare it with the 300,000,000 people who live here, our crime rate isn't all that bad in comparison with countries who have only 25 or 30 million people. Not that any violent crime should be acceptable. I'm just pointing out that the view of crime in our country is distorted to those who don't live here.

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huttriver12's picture

The right to bear arms is in your constitution, Jeanne...

Submitted by huttriver12 on Wed, 2008-12-03 17:13.

and you can go to a gunshop in the US and by a handgun; you can't in my country unless you have legal reasons to do so; police, security officers etc.

To buy a gun for hunting you need to apply for a licence through the local police station and your background will be checked out; if you have a criminal record you won't get a licence.This of course has no relation or bearing to illegal weapons, here or in the US. The UK has also got pretty bad, but not to the level of some major US cities.

The real weakness in NZ now are the airguns, which are becoming so much more powerful than the old airguns that we kids of the 50's and 60's had.An undercover policeman checking out a "P House"(methamphetamine) was recently discovered, chased and shot dead from men from the house. He was shot dead with one of these new powerful airguns!

The gun lobby in the US has a huge influence on your politics, especially the Republican Party. I have seen TV news and read articles about those people who resist most indignantly any possible changes to your gun laws. Children should not be allowed to hold, let alone a loaded firearm, especially at some gun show!

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Familyfunandfaith's picture

I am with you, Jeanne

Submitted by Familyfunandfaith on Wed, 2008-12-03 15:47.

I do not own a gun of any kind, though I learned to shoot with my grandfather many years ago. Stats show that the crime rates in the states that permit guns to be carried are lower than in the states that ban guns.

Live Well, Learn Much, Laugh Often

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