Does the same logic apply to individuals possessing nuclear/chemical weapons? They are allowed to keep them, providing they don't use them?

I don't carry a purse. No do I feel the need to carry a weapon for "self protection" as I don't live in an area where I have ever felt the need to carry one.

I fail to see how a 5 round clip is any less restrictive to me than one with a 10 round clip. I certainly don't see the need for any one, outside of the military, to require a magazine that is capable of firing more than 5 rounds without reloading.

America's experience seems to suggest your "there's no problem" mantra is somewhat flawed.

+1

They need better enforcement of the laws rather than more restrictions but that's not my problem right now. My concern is bringing guns over the border without the hassle of namby pamby guards giving us grief. If you're legally allowed to own and possess then in the US then the Canadians should let us bring them up here with us while we're here and stop being so petty and sanctimonious about the whole thing.

I thought this paragraph from the Comments section under that article was quite valid:

"I am anti guns. But Ameica is not dedicated to guns, America is dedicated to violence. The violence may be at home with guns, or overseas with drones or cruise missiles. A foreign policy at the barrel of a gun, and people at home sort out their difference at the barrel of a gun."

It's an attitude thing. Americans, on the whole (nice big generalisation coming up), can sort their differences with a gun - because they can. Because they always have. Because they are so easily accessible.

Feeling a bit on edge tonight? Buy a gun.
Don't want to walk down that street again? Buy a gun.
Don't like the look of that fella that's moved into No 42? Buy a gun.

This grows into more of the same:
Don't like the way that 11th grader looked at me - betta bring in my gun.
Don't like the way that shop assistant spoke to me - gonna take my gun next time.
Feeling a bit crap today - gonna take out my gun and shoot some people - they're all pissing me off anyway, it's their fault I'm having a crap day - they deserve it.

It's an unstable, paranoid and easy-to-violence society.
The ownership of some 300 million guns is absolutely bonkers. But we'll never change it. A few laws might manage to tweak it but will never do away with gun ownership altogether.

And besides, I can do a bit of paranoia too - ever watched those docu-dramas about when all the petrol runs out, or a terrorism attack on a power system? America will eat its own, society will crumble in a matter of weeks, and a shooting at a school or mall will be an everyday occurrence.

Oh happy times - I watch The Walking Dead - I'm gonna get me a gun.

I rebut your generalisation with anecdote. I know an American who bought a gun for protection only when she moved to Canada!

I agree with this sentiment. You only need to look at the interminable supply of violent movies, usually predicated on a revenge theme, that America produces to get a glimpse of the national psyche.

I am confident your argument is tongue in cheek but why would anyone need a weapon that can fire more than 5 rounds without reloading?

Why would one need the type of weapon that is legal in the US but is not legal in Canada when in Canada? What type of weapon are you talking about?

am hoping so too!

What type of protection was she seeking?

She sounds like the American that felt threatened when some locals asked him a question when he was walking in a park during Stampede, as he didn't have his gun with him.

I suppose it was an equality thing, having grown up in an environment where no one had a gun and then moved to an area where it was common for people to have them and to, for example, show them off in the pub, she developed the attitude attributed to Americans above. Fearing an armed robber she wanted to be ready.

I pointed out that I'd lived here for years and wasn't dead; it's as safe in Canada as it is in the mid-west but you know how it goes, people only know what they see. Canadians think they'll be shot dead if they go farther into the US than the Walden Galleria and Americans think Toronto's all Jamaicans and Somalis shooting random children throught their bedroom windows; that and men kissing each other on the street.

Various rifles that I've collected over the years are now sitting in someones safe taking up room while I should be able to have them up here without having to go through unnecessary paperwork. There's lots of reciprocal agreements with US as the two countries are so intertwined. It just obtuse for them to get sticky about legal firearms.

If you can tell me a better way get rid of fishing stealing seals than blasting a 30 round clip at them, I'd like to know.

OK

The only seals I have ever had to deal with didn't require 30 rounds; they weren't stealing my fish though

One might be a really bad shot, rather short sighted, heavily medicated, or even a bit drunk?... Surely having the option of more bullets and it being an automatic weapon would vastly improve one's chances of hitting a target/critter/ex co-worker/school child?

Perzactly