General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I'm still trying to wrap my head around so many staunchly pro-gun folks on DU [View all]RC
(25,592 posts)Or even that there is a problem.
Too many easily obtained, loosely regulated firearms of any and all types.
Anyone can get a hold of a gun in this country. It is easy. Way too easy. Even toddlers can do it.
The basic purpose of guns is to kill things. No other legal item, whose basic purpose is to kill, is in such wide spread use, as they are in this country.
Trying to distract from the bloody trail of death caused by guns by comparing guns to cars, or blaming perpetrators with faulty mental health, or anything else, are just straw man arguments. The obscene proliferation of guns in this country, whose basic design is for killing, is the root of the problem.
Other than hunting rifles, the rest, assault style weapons and hand guns are designed for killing human beings. And many here admit that is why they bought them. Well, that is their primary purpose.
You say you only use yours for target shooting? Well good on you. But that gun you use was was most likely designed to kill your fellow human being, which it is very efficient at doing.
Only guns have the designation of "Weapons". While other items can be used as weapons, that is not their primary purpose, as is with guns. That is the distinction.
The real problem here is a vast over supply of vaguely regulated guns.
The current reasoning seems to be that we need more easily obtained guns because so many people have guns. Anyone else see the problem here? By that reasoning, if we get rid of the guns, no one would need any.
For starts, we should look at Canada and their gun laws.
[Canadian laws require registration of all people who own guns and registration of all guns. Applicants for gun permits are screened through a background check and a gun safety course where an instructor must sign off that the applicant successfully took the course. Finally, a mandatory 28-day waiting period is imposed on first-time applicants.
In addition, Canada has special laws against the use of non-hunting firearms. Individuals are granted permission to use such arms only when the individual has genuine needs for restricted firearms or prohibited handguns that include a need to protect the life of that individual or of other individuals where
( a ) the life of that individual, or other individuals, is in imminent danger from one or more other individuals;
( b ) police protection is not sufficient in the circumstances; and
( c ) the possession of a restricted firearm or prohibited handgun can reasonably be justified for protecting the individual or other individuals from death or grievous bodily harm.
https://www.impartial-review.com/stories/would-canadian-laws-prevent-mass-murders-in-the-us
a, b, and c do not, as in this country, include simply wanting a hand gun. You have to prove your case first. It is registered and you are registered. And you and it get checked up on.
There are 7 billion people in the world.
There are 311.6 million people in the united States.
There are around 600 million guns in the world.
There are almost 300 million guns in the United States.
The United States has less that 4.5% of the worlds population.
The United States has the world's highest gun death rate.
So why do we have or need almost one half of the worlds supply of guns? How can this not be a problem?
Shouldn't 4.5% of the world's supply of guns be enough?