Guns in the USA

As a U.S. citizen, this situation is very important to me. Several of us, retired teachers and social workers, are writing to the politicians to encourage graduated gun ownership. We recommend no private ownership of guns until age 21 then restricted gun ownership until age 25 with long waiting periods as well as weapons only the person who qualified can fire. The Republicans are very stubborn on the subject of any restrictions. Many citizens of the U.S. do not own any guns and many others only use them for target shooting. We’re really not all crazed gun owners.

The root of the problem is Fox News (a misnomer because it is not a news organization but is nothing more than the media arm of the Republican Party) ... Fox News promotes the gun lobby and it, as well as racism and abortion) is the glue that holds the Republican Party together.

That would certainly be a start Dizzylizzy. I think what made me stop in my tracks was that we do hear over here of the school shootings, etc. It is so tragic and yet time after time nothing is done.

By contrast it seems it is so common now that the seven shootings in two days in one area had gone unreported here.

Spookily enough, I had just read this post on Quora, prior to visiting here. I’ve no idea how accurate these statements are, however the gist of the info is most likely true.
1967 - Jayne Mansfield is killed when her car runs
under the rear end of a tractor trailer. Since then, all
trailers have a DOT bar at the rear to keep cars from
going under them.

1982 - Seven people die when Tylenol packaging was
tampered with. Since then, it takes a PhD, channel
locks, and a sharp object to get into a bottle of pills.

1995 - A bombing using a certain kind of fertiliser,
solution grade ammonium nitrate, killed 168 people,
so the government imposed severe restrictions on
the purchase of that fertiliser.

2001 - One person attempts to blow up a plane with
a shoe bomb. Since then, all air travellers have to
take off their shoes for scanning before being
allowed to board.

Since 1968 - 1,516,863 people have died from guns
on American soil. Gun violence kills an average of
168 people every two days! Now, the problem
apparently can't be solved except with thoughts and prayers!

Politicians who take money from the NRA are taking blood money including the blood of children. They are not fit to hold office and should be ashamed of themselves.

Sueki44, can you name your source? When I looked up gun ownership per capita, in US there are 120 guns for every 100 people, in Canada 34 per 100.

No fully automated triggers, and limits on cartridge capacity. In essence, hunting rifles allowed, and really restricted access to hand guns. They are very regulated here. If you are going to your gun club, you need to travel with your authorization documents, etc.

My DH owns hunting rifles, as do our grown sons. They all have to take a safety course, and have background checks before license permitted. Storage needs to be secure, and ammunition locked in a separate location. In our house, the guns are stored with a trigger-lock in the attic, and the ammunition locked in a cabinet in the basement, for example. This is fairly typical in Canada.

Comparably, in US, some states you can carry a handgun openly, loaded. You can keep it in your bedtable, glovebox, etc. You can have fully automated (combat-style), etc. Basically no restrictions.

I believe there is no need to own a gun other than for hunting or shooting practice at a gun club.

They have announced lately that there will be further restrictions on hand-guns. They have done studies though, showing that the increasing gun crimes committed in the past few years have been done with illegal weapons sourced from the US and smuggled in over our very large common border. I could not find statistics, but I remember seeing on the news a few weeks ago that up to 80% of the gun crimes committed in Toronto were done with illegal weapons sourced from the US. It is a growing problem in our cities,

Grandpanow

Chestnut

The USA gun lobby won't give an inch. No ban on assault rifles and not even that likely they will have checks on people before purchasing guns. They are so brainwashed it is utterly hopeless trying to change anything. I do believe they will end up with armed guards in schools (not that this will help of course).

Just for the record, I would be absolutely terrified living there. I would hate the thought of any gun being in the house. It goes against every instinct. I wouldn't even want to hold one. They are disgusting things.

There are already armed guards in many schools. Many of us are terrified too. It’s about half the country obsessed with guns and the other half urging some common sense. The interpretation of the 2nd Amendment the NRA touts didn’t come about until a ridiculous 2008 Supreme Court opinion that boggles the mind in the stretches it makes. A little girl just shot and killed herself with her dad’s gun this year where I live. It’s constantly sad and scary.

I read a newspaper article yesterday. There was a poll in the US after the school shooting. 21 people dead, including 19 children and yet fully one third of those polled said that the right to bear arms shouldn’t be repealed and that the ‘odd’ mass shooting was a small price to pay for the freedom to defend yourself. Words fail me.

Hit the nail there DaisyAnne, it is all about money, the root of all evil

Well said Cleo panda

I think it's the love of money that is said to be the root of all evil Pedwards

I read a newspaper article yesterday. There was a poll in the US after the school shooting. 21 people dead, including 19 children and yet fully one third of those polled said that the right to bear arms shouldn’t be repealed and that the ‘odd’ mass shooting was a small price to pay for the freedom to defend yourself. Words fail me.

But what are they defending themselves from? Is every other American a gangster?

And what does an 18 year old youth want with a semi-automatic?

I don't understand their mentality. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition...

As a gun owning US citizen, I'm open to all the arguments here, save one. I can tell you from long experience, Biden is not a good man in any sense of the word.

I do not like guns. But can empathise with someone in a remote area wanting a handgun to feel safe.
What I do not understand is a country that says it’s fine for an 18year old to buy semi automatic weapons with 100s of rounds of bullets without any checks.
Same person is not allowed to buy alcohol. Or a kinder egg.
America. You’re a great country. But this is madness.

happycatholicwife1

As a gun owning US citizen, I'm open to all the arguments here, save one. I can tell you from long experience, Biden is not a good man in any sense of the word.

Please elaborate.

Perhaps the most useful thing the US could do in this context is to pass legislation banning politicians from receiving corporate funding.

MayBee70

happycatholicwife1

As a gun owning US citizen, I'm open to all the arguments here, save one. I can tell you from long experience, Biden is not a good man in any sense of the word.

Please elaborate.

I think happycatholicwife1 must be Jill Biden, as that’s the only way she would know if he is a good man in any sense of the word. I’ve sussed her.

Zonne

Perhaps the most useful thing the US could do in this context is to pass legislation banning politicians from receiving corporate funding.

Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner!

open.lib.umn.edu/americangovernment/chapter/9-2-lobbying-the-art-of-influence/

Casdon

MayBee70

happycatholicwife1

As a gun owning US citizen, I'm open to all the arguments here, save one. I can tell you from long experience, Biden is not a good man in any sense of the word.

Please elaborate.

I think happycatholicwife1 must be Jill Biden, as that’s the only way she would know if he is a good man in any sense of the word. I’ve sussed her.

I think she meant that Biden is just as crooked as the rest of the politicians.

www.politico.com/news/2022/01/21/its-a-gold-rush-for-lobbying-firms-with-biden-ties-527635

Juts seen Gerry Springer saying some very interesting things about this subject. He says if the American people had a vote they would ban automatic weapons and have checks, and make the age for ownership 21. He said the current legislation is not what the people want. So basically they should vote on the subject!

I’m American, and I can tell you that MOST of us think the gun
laws here are complete lunacy. The quote by Isaac Asimov in the original post really sums up the problem in the US:
“My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”

happycatholicwife1

As a gun owning US citizen, I'm open to all the arguments here, save one. I can tell you from long experience, Biden is not a good man in any sense of the word.

I'm willing to believe you. But you need to give evidence of why Biden is "not a good man".

I am not sure whether I would use that phrase but I dont agree with Bidens handling of some issues, the relief that he isnt Trump shouldnt outweigh everything.

Galaxy

I am not sure whether I would use that phrase but I dont agree with Bidens handling of some issues, the relief that he isnt Trump shouldnt outweigh everything.

... the relief that he isnt Trump shouldnt outweigh everything.

Good point!

BTW - the GOP 'insiders' aren't counting Trump out in 2024 - not even the sceptics! And he's hinting at another run for the Presidency .

A choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledee... unless Biden's ousted before then!

Not knowing details on Biden he has to be the better man compared with dangerous and the wholly dreadful Trump who I fear will try again for political power.

It’s complete madness to allow anyone to buy automatic weapons. No one needs an automatic weapon. The idea you protect children from mass murder by arming teachers is so crazy I’m astounded anyone with a brain could suggest it.
The link between white evangelical Christians, Republicans and the right to bare arms is another challenge ?