US Gun Laws

[Hauldren Collider]

This is why God invented hand grenades and RPGs.

By the way, why are(n't) those legal?

I think they are, they just have an exorbitant tax stamp.

[Hauldren Collider]

By the way Asher, the reason is 1. People in america like hunting and 2. there is literally ZERO correlation between gun laws and gun crimes in US cities in either direction. That is to say, the level of gun restrictions has zero measurable influence on the rate of gun violence.

I read this in Freakonomics, I assume the data in that book is accurate.

Theory time: It's like illegalizing pot--you aren't going to stop people from getting it. If you're willing to break the law to kill somebody, you're willing to break the law to buy a gun. In the end, the only people without guns are the civilians.

[BeBMan]

I saw a report a while ago of a Brit who owned a cold-war era light Scorpion-type tank. He painted it in pink and is permitted to drive around with it on public streets. Unfortunately he had to remove all the weapons

[Wezil]

You hunt with handguns?

[Hauldren Collider]

You hunt with handguns?

Some do, actually, although handguns are mainly used for target shooting which is another popular activity in the US.

[Asher]

By the way Asher, the reason is 1. People in america like hunting

What kind of idiot hunts with a handgun?

And people in Canada love hunting too. We probably hunt more per capita than the US. I know we've got a ****load of guns in Canada, but they're mostly 0.22s.

2. there is literally ZERO correlation between gun laws and gun crimes in US cities in either direction. That is to say, the level of gun restrictions has zero measurable influence on the rate of gun violence.

I read this in Freakonomics, I assume the data in that book is accurate.

Theory time: It's like illegalizing pot--you aren't going to stop people from getting it. If you're willing to break the law to kill somebody, you're willing to break the law to buy a gun. In the end, the only people without guns are the civilians.

It shames me to have to explain this. Of course making guns illegal in one district (let's say DC...) doesn't help. All you need to do is drive a district/state over and get your gun. Guns are so ****ing pervasive due to so many years of legality that it will take many years for harsh, country-wide laws to finally lower the numbers and the corresponding crime rates.

Do you think if it wasn't so trivial for this idiot to get a gun with an extended capacity clip, this would have happened? If you answer yes, you need help.

[Wezil]

x-post -

to HC - I think Canadians do a fair amount of hunting as well...

[DaShi]

Because the government can be trusted to never abuse its power.

Stay in your compound then, and take Jared Loughner with you. You'll have lots to talk about.

[Hauldren Collider]

What kind of idiot hunts with a handgun?

And people in Canada love hunting too. We probably hunt more per capita than the US. I know we've got a ****load of guns in Canada, but they're mostly 0.22s.


It shames me to have to explain this. Of course making guns illegal in one district (let's say DC...) doesn't help. All you need to do is drive a district/state over and get your gun. Guns are so ****ing pervasive due to so many years of legality that it will take many years for harsh, country-wide laws to finally lower the numbers and the corresponding crime rates.

Do you think if it wasn't so trivial for this idiot to get a gun with an extended capacity clip, this would have happened? If you answer yes, you need help.

Asher I've heard this argument and given how stubborn you are I know I'm basically talking to a brick wall here, so I'll just say that banning guns nationwide in a country like the US would be very unlikely to work. So I don't think it's even a useful discussoin. It's basically, "well if you didn't have any guns there wouldn't be any problems"--well we do have guns, and we can't magic away all the guns, so what do you want?

Furthermore, you'd be preventing people from partaking in a legitimate form of entertainment. Alaska for instance has high gun ownership rates but low gun violence...it's mainly inner cities.

[Asher]

You know what else doesn't work? Your current situation.

Just admit that you and your countrymen just don't have the balls to do what most other developed nations have done.

[Wezil]

Some do, actually, although handguns are mainly used for target shooting which is another popular activity in the US.

I was actually unaware of this (it is prohibited here).

Wiki has a bit about it. Specialized handguns with extended barrels and sights. Also,

With the exception of small-game hunting using rimfire cartridges, very few semi-automatic handguns are well suited for hunting, typically lacking both the power necessary and proper sights.

[Hauldren Collider]

I feel perfectly safe. I think the crime problem in inner cities lies more with drug gangs and problematic judicial practices than guns. Guns are the symptoms. Take the guns away and watch the stabbings go up.

xpost

[Felch]

You know what else doesn't work? Your current situation.

Our current situation works just fine. The reason people in Germany are hearing about an Arizona Congresswoman being shot is because it's an unusual event.

[Al B. Sure!]

[Asher]

Our current situation works just fine. The reason people in Germany are hearing about an Arizona Congresswoman being shot is because it's an unusual event.

People being shot in the US is not an unusual event. A political figure being shot is.

It's sensational news when ANYONE is shot with a handgun in Canada. In the US it's part of your regular day.