Whether severe restrictions on gun ownership would save a thousand lives, or merely a handful now and then, really isn’t the point. The more important question is what kind of country do we want to be? Will we insist on remaining among the most heavily armed nations on Earth — and one of the most deadly, as if those things were merely coincidental — or will we seek to create a culture of non-violence, in which manhood is not defined beginning at an early age, as being related to fighting, hunting, shooting things for fun, and generally being physically tough?

Bottom line: there is something wrong with a society in which so many people want and even seem to need guns, like some kind of psychological crutch; a society in which millions pay good money to watch two men get in a cage and beat the **** out of each other, and think to call that sickness a sport, or even worse, an art form.

Whether or not gun control can really work as advertised, guns, sadly, work exactly as promised. They serve only one function, and it is that purpose for which they were made: to kill, either an animal (usually for fun), or another person.

To think that we would want more killing machines in the hands of a people who are so quick to resort to violence at the drop of a hat — to avenge global, or local “disrespect” by some foe, real or imagined, or to resolve otherwise minor squabbles — seems the stuff of true insanity.

In short, while guns alone don’t kill people, it is rather apparent that Americans do, and mostly with guns. And until we address the cultural sickness that lay at the heart of our national identity, it is quite clear that we are a people unworthy of access to such instruments of death as these.

Perhaps somewhere there are people mature enough to handle guns responsibly. We have proven, over and again, and with the blood of our children, that we are not that people.



from http://www.timwise.org/2012/12/of-heroes-and-hype-mass-murder-and-the-absurdity-of-the-more-guns-crowd/

If there are such people they are not in your government. Your Country is the most cruel, warlike and savage one on earth, bar none. It stole the land from the people who lived there first and killed them when they protested. Until such time as your country stops murdering people by the million all over the world, I'd suggest that American citizens are not safe from their government and should protect themselves from their vicious and warlike government by arming themselves to the teeth to prevent it from turning its massive arms on them.

(By government, I do not refer to the crooked lackey shills that you vote into office; I refer to their boss...The Bank.)

Any social change that will alter the gun culture will have to be imposed. The population will not willingly evolve on a cultural level to attain a point where your society can exist without the perceived need for firearms. While firearm ownership is felt to be a right under the second amendment, you have a grasshopper's chance in a supernova of banning guns.

However, that is not to say that regulation cannot be introduced. Background checks, psychiatric assessments, licensing, gun safes in the home etc., could go some way to reducing the national death toll from guns. It worked here (despite the rhetoric about Australia promulgated by the NRA) and the deaths per annum by firearm are falling with each passing year, while more weapons are confiscated in police raids, thus decreasing the amount of guns in circulation for the criminal element.

Initially, the opposition to this legislation was great, and I even opposed it at the time (being a former rifle collector), but eventually the nation adjusted to the change and no-one but the hardcore rednecks voice concerns about it anymore. Until such time that regulation is imposed, you will have to get used to the fact that mass shootings will continue to be a by-product of the 'freedom' to bear arms.

Stay tuned for the usual false equivalences, Red Herrings and Strawman arguments.

strange how everyone is Tip-Toeing around Switzerland when they aren't spreading dis-information about our "Gunculture!
Third in the world's per Capita Civilian Firearms Ownership!
Near the bottom in Guncrime!

Yes, but there is an obvious cultural difference nonetheless. I'm not familiar with your legislation, however, isn't there a higher level of training? I mean, your society appears to have a greater level of responsibility regarding firearms.

Yeah...I gotta admit I kinda like Switzerland. It got a lot of things right. The funniest part is, it's a democracy and not a republic (you KNOW how I feel about democracies). I guess that what fails in theory works in practice. On the other hand, if Switzerland signed on to the ICESCR and ICCPR it's pretty much a republic anyway in that it recognizes the rights of the individual.

At any rate...Good for Switzerland! It is now a toss-up between Switzerland and Iceland as the country I'd like to live in. If you guys can manage to kick the BIS out on its ***, I think I'll move to Basel.

for those that served in the Armed Forces yes!
But Ownership isn't dependent whether one served in the Army!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland

* After turning 18, any individual can buy singleshot or semiautomatic long arms (breech-loading or muzzle-loading) without a permit (so-called "free arms"). Likewise, members of a recognized rifle association do not need a buying permit for purchasing antique repeaters, and hunters do not need one for buying typical hunting rifles.

* Most types of ammunition are available for commercial sale, including full metal jacket bullet calibres for military-issue weapons; hollow point rounds are only permitted for hunters. Ammunition sales are registered only at the point of sale by recording the buyer's name in a bound book
Just to dispel the Notion that Swiss Citizens have been disallowed Ammunition,when the Federal Government stopped issuing Ammunition to Members of the Armed Forces,to keep at home!

Ok, I looked it up. I think regular inspections and the associated weapons training go a long way in explaining the cultural differences.

Each such individual is required to keep his army-issued personal weapon (the 5.56x45mm Sig 550 rifle for enlisted personnel and/or the 9mm SIG-Sauer P220 semi-automatic pistol for officers, medical and postal personnel) at home. Up until October 2007, a specified personal retention quantity of government-issued personal ammunition (50 rounds 5.56 mm / 48 rounds 9mm) was issued as well, which was sealed and inspected regularly to ensure that no unauthorized use had taken place. The ammunition was intended for use while traveling to the army barracks in case of invasion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Switzerland

Ok, I understand all that, but there is obviously a cultural difference where the Swiss are more responsible with firearms. Clearly, Australians weren't responsible enough owing to 13 mass shootings between 1980 and 1996 (prior to the legislation) and in the US the statistics are worse (no doubt owing to population figures).

The OP is perhaps trying to understand the need for cultural change as opposed to the details of a said nation's legislation and regulation.

So, culturally (regarding firearms), what sets the Swiss apart from the US and Australia?

actually it is a Direct Democracy with Republic Overtones!

Switzerland (German: Schweiz[note 3] [ˈʃvaɪts]; French: Suisse [sɥis]; Italian: Svizzera [ˈzvit͡sːɛra]; Romansh: Svizra [ˈʒviːtsrɐ] or [ˈʒviːtsʁːɐ]), in its full name the Swiss Confederation (Latin: Confoederatio Helvetica, hence its abbreviation CH), is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland

But you wouldn't like it any way,too many Banks!

I don't thinks so!
Problem is,somehow,in the US they have stopped to train the younger Generation in responsible Firearms-Handling,and now you see the result!

Too many of the Young Ones have lapped up the Garbage coming out of Hollywood,as if that Crap were real Life,and the Gangculture isn't helping either!
But those are social Issues that can't be fixed by Gunbans that really only affect lawabiding Citizens,as shown by every Shooting in the US and elsewhere!
I was shot by a Hoodlum in a Country with strict Guncontrol,which incidentally is awash with any kind of Illegal Firearms from sawn-off Shotguns to fully automatic Military Style Weapons!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knabenschiessen

These are precisely the cultural differences I was looking for.



I don't think gun bans are the answer either. But I do agree with licensing, background checks, regulation of sales and a legislated requirement for gun safes. These seem to be common sense responses to many scenarios where accidents and unlawful usage occurs. The current call to ban the nebulous 'assault weapon' is reactionary and fails to address the real issue.



Yes, I remember you relating that previously. Crazy!

Is this culturally typical for the US?




I mean, this seems wrong to me, but I'm from another country. I'd never see an image like this in my culture. If my concern over such a shot is misguided, why is it so?

doubt that's typical for the US,even though the Gungrabbers and Hollywood would like people to believe it!
According to the Hollywood-Schwachkopf-Crowd,there are Running Gunbattles in every City in the US,except those in California ,Chicago and DC!

All the fooferaw about an "assault rifle" ban caused Santa to go on a buying spree this year for his American kids. Look what she got:



...and all I got was another damn lump of coal!

Oh well; maybe next year...If I can stand being good that long.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2253337/Americans-pose-Christmas-tree-guns-got-gifts.html

actually,it hasn't got a Flash-Hider,so most likely it doesn't qualify as an Assault-Rifle!
That's how stupid the Rules are!
Totally politicized and unrealistic!
Not a thing to do with Reality,only to do with the Politician's Brainfarts!

However,I do get excellent results with this Contraption in keeping people off my Lawn!

man has a duality of good and evil and for some the evil is manifest. just as all people cannot be good nor can all people be bad we are forced to accept our dual natures and pay accordingly.

i agree alot whit what you say but there piont about gun control i dont agree with isirel prob spelled wrong hope people get the point has no control over guns at all and its that safest contry in the world from what i gather thru media and in ohio when we passed the carry law crime whent down as with other states but the point of that school shooting the was a sad day and should of never happened but from news media that boy tried to get one and was denied gun control was in place and worked he had to commit a crime to get them but to your point the culture is very violant just listen to rap music i dont and im sure not all is but just saying and our movies historicly we are a waring nation from the beginig when we won our freedom to the spanish american war war of 1812 a civil war right in ww1 then ww2 the korean war veitam cold war even tho that wasnt actually a war to desart storm somolia kosavo and now the two we are in now but i am a believer that guns dont kill people people kill people

and as a hunter thr killing is not for fun to all i hunt and trap when i get the chance and eat everything i kill but again thats how i was raised

What are they hunting in Compton, Watts, St Louis, Philly and other Ghetto areas?

That's the culture there. the ones with the most guns and largest gangs wins.

When is the Gov. gonna' disarm them and shabitch?

One poster says shabitch needs his AK to protect himself from whitey.

Wut's up wit dat?

good piont i myself own one i bought it when i was 18 and still in the service its nice to have around would i buy it now prob not but i feel its our right and historistly the right is to protect us from the goverment i understand our goverment out guns us anyway but if we are limited to small mags what are our chances then ???? the to the gangs its our media the glorifys it is always has from billy the kid to john dillenger al capone to the gang banger movies and music of today alot of our countrys problem is its being ran by the draft jumpers of the vietnam era i maybe wrong just saying