anotherlimey

ISIS... Or are we keeping that for the elections so we can blame Hillary?

dc koop

For my part I see Obama's suggestion that full background checks need to be carried out across the board (and that includes gun shows which at present are not) as being reasonable and sensible. I don't believe he has any long term desire to ban them completely

I think the NRA see Obama as a dangerous liberal with a bag full of ulterior motives up his sleeve. On the other hand the NRA and the right wing conservatives seem to have become paranoid about the whole issue

It was interesting to hear Obama remark that 2/3 of gun deaths were caused by suicide. I'm sure that anyone who wants to off themself will find an alternative method anyway.

fakey

I think you are right largely - and the nra & gop have found that maintaining a level of hysteria suits their agenda- as with most other issues
Re suicide though- I think a readily available gun probably makes suicide much easier & therefore increases the likelihood- guns are present in a high proportion of incidences - would have thought there was a connection

dc koop

I'm not in favour of total open carry laws. Permits should only be issued for those who have good reason to carry a firearm in public.

I'd feel pretty stupid myself carrying a gun around in a holster. I can just hear things like "whose that old fart think he is, Mat Dillon"?

That said there's plenty of truth in the theory that if the government declared a total ban on firearms and required all gun owners to hand them in then that would leave the criminal with firearms. Criminals don't care about laws and governments don't have a very good record of running and overseeing things efficiently

Shard

Interesting statistic, and well done Obama for raising it.

Many suicides are impulsive mistakes. Guns facilitate an effective sudden death. It's especially appealing to people who use guns. I had a 19 yo friend who died this way (many years back). So I disagree with the alternative argument - some will, many won't.

thinbrit

You are aware that Texas is the 45th state to allow open carry, right?



I've never read or heard that statement by the NRA.

Ahh, then lets ban the Honda Civic! Something we can all get behind for sure.

fakey

Hey, if you harbour a secret yearning to go around impersonating Matt Dillon, go ahead dude. Its all good 👍

As for your second point though - its pure theory & fantasy surely. Can you see any US gov attempting to do that ?
Thats just NRA/GOP/ fox news brainwashing

fakey

Open carry is legal in 45 states ?
If you say so -

The 'if you criminalise gun ownership only criminals will have guns' trope is constantly trotted out by pro gun people

Imho half the people driving in the US shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel. Or maybe it should be treated not as a right but a privilege. Tens of thousands of deaths a year. Millions of morons. Chuck Norris. Whatever.

WJS

HA!!! They are certainly to be trusted as just been displayed yet once again. 🙄

dc koop

Sad as it is using a gun is probably the best way. I know someone who had a suicide land on the hood of his car and then fall under it. Jumped from a freeway overpass during rush hour. That person I know now has insomnia and fits of depression.

A co-worker at my place took it upon himself to come in during the weekend when everyone was off and hang himself in a room above the showers. He was found on the Monday and those who found him and knew him had to receive counseling afterwards.

sir_eccles

It's a silly argument when you look at the countries that have implemented widespread gun bans and thus left themselves with only criminals having guns. UK and Australia have both seen very few mass shootings since.

dc koop

No I cannot and it would be impossible to do anyway. Apart from making it universally mandatory to have background checks properly done and safety devices fixed to firearms to prevent kids accidentally shooting themselves I don't see any solution to the problem. Sad to say there will be other shootings with or without background checks. It's just the way life is. Drunken driving, alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse kill a lot more people every year than guns do

dc koop

Guns were never part of the UK or Australian culture anyway and people in those countries have the mindset that they have no right to own them. I thought it was pretty stupid that after Dunblane owners of pistols who were members of shooting clubs had to turn them in.

That could also be interpreted as paranoia on the part of the government comparable to the paranoia of the GOP and the NRA

dc koop

I've been driving for fifty years. I've seen a lot worse drivers than in the US.

The French, Italians and Spanish are maniacs. The Germans are speed freaks. Ever seen a pile up on an Autobahn? Unbelievable mess

I cant speak for the whole US but I've driven everywhere in California, driven around the northwest and the southwest and the driving has been of a pretty good standard overall

Bob

Funniest post of the day.