BigOlBear

Skott, well-intended as you may be, I still see you falling into that same old pattern of starting a thought but never following it to a reasonable and logical conclusion. We can duel with statistics all day but what matters is this, do the statistics tell us anything on which we can and should take action? So, allow me to turn the tables on you and offer you a bit of your own logic. Can you point to success resulting from any gun law anywhere?

Earlier you said that we could have some controls on private gun sales and went on to ask how that would be a major disruption. That's the wrong question. You should have asked, "how will this contribute to a reduction in gun violence?" We cannot continue to legislate simply based on what sounds good to some of us at that moment. That explains why we have such a gargantuan mountain of laws. There's far more to it than that.

On a personal note: as a kid just joining the Navy, I was taught how to use a firearm. But then I never owned a firearm until about six years ago ... never felt the need for one before. Since then, like many Americans, I have purchased two guns and I have taken lessons on how to use them. Shortly after I bought the first gun, my then-wife woke me up around 2:30 in the morning and said she heard a noise. I took my gun from the nightstand and opened the bedroom door. There were two shadowy figures standing there. The hair stood up on the back of my neck but I slammed the clip into the gun and pulled back the slide. At that sound, one of them said, "Oh, shit" and they took off running. I ran out just in time to catch the license plate number, turned them in and they both spent some jail time.

faithistheword

You want numbers--which you then argue are incorrect--so I suggest you read "More Guns--Less Crime" by John R. Lott, jr. It was written in 1998, but the statistics are still relevant.

Ricktloml

In 1996 the Australian parliament passed National Firearms Agreement which banned private ownership of all semiautomatic rifles,and semiautomatic pump action shotguns. The new law also established more restrictions in the licensing of other firearms.
Beginning in Oct. 1996 the Australian government spent $500 million dollars in purchasing and destroying banned weapons. Prime Minister john Howard promised the citizens if Australia that they would be safer now that these horrible weapons had been taken off the streets.
Since the ban
Murders committed with guns increased 19%
Home invasions increased 21%,home invasions were so rare before the ban that the nation did not even have a legal definition of what a home invasion was.
Assaults with guns increased 28%
Armed robberies with guns increased 69%
There were also increases in rape, due to the lack of private individuals being armed and able to protect themselves.
Seeing the direct result of stricter gun laws Australians have warned the United States not to enact them.

skott Loc: Bama

Japan put in Draconian gun laws. Gun murders went to two.(that's not a percent)

BigOlBear

Japan has always had a low rate of gun crime and they have always had strict gun control. But most analysts would attribute the low gun crime rate to people control, not gun control. Again, the point is to try to draw a causal relationship between gun laws and gun crime and Japan does not provide that.

BigOlBear

A post on another thread that is worth sharing. This from a newcomer and a young person but showing a good deal of wisdom.
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I am so sorry that I have to leave this OPP, as I now will be moving after college! I can NOT believe you "so-called older folks" with all that "EXPERIENCE" that you seem to boast about! Tell me, oh "learned" folks what exactly have YOU LEARNED!! You spend COUNTLESS hours insulting one another BUT the important thing is "what have you ACHIEVED???" If you would spend as much time solving problems or attempting to problem solve instead of taunting one another, maybe we would have a better outcome! I have learned a lot!! --- What NOT to do! I will try to look at everyone's ideas. Maybe they are not mine but that doesn't mean they don't have some validity! I found that I fell into the same trap! It is like a world wind that draws you in!!! I joined in the insults!!! and for that I apologize! STOP CUSSING OUT EACH OTHER!! All you are doing is increasing vitriol and division which are our country's greatest threats! Many of you I assume, are retired. What are you doing with your time. How about getting other seniors together and hashing out the problems --- then bombard your congressmen and senators with your ideas! I wish you all 'Good luck and God Bless!'