Comments on: Welcome to the Gun Show

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:11:00 +0000

i own a hunting rifle but i would never buy a handgun because i don’t see a need for one, i don’t feel threatened at all, and for those people that need a concealed carry permit, if your that scared just stay inside before you hurt someone, your not charles bronson, and besides 99.9% of the time all you need to defend yourself are your fists or your commonsense. as for the constitution i will never pretend that it gives me the right to own my rifle, it’s outdated it was written just after the british attacked us on our own soil and it’s purpose was to aid in the readying of a citizen militia to protect our land against a foriegn invader, which will clearly never happen again.

By: Darkstar

Darkstar — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:09:00 +0000

Those that give up the sword will be ruled by those who do not.

Be they foreign or domestic.

The first outlawing of private ownership of handguns in Europe happened in 1930’s Germany. Adolf Hitler wanted to show the world (I’m paraphrasing here) ‘That in doing so Germany would lead the way to a more civilized way to live.’ And more easily lead the lambs to slaughter.

By: Jarred

Jarred — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:53:00 +0000

My apologies Joe. I am obviously not part of the utmost intelligent crowd like Michael. Though this is an informal internet blog, I will strive the best my simple mind can to provide the proper punctuation. I am so glad to see we are focusing on the topic here.

By: Cecil Green

Cecil Green — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:12:00 +0000

L Mack — how exactly are those who would rob others using a gun affected by a gun ban? They can still purchase guns from non-legit sources — unlike the law-abiding public (now defenseless).

Statistics like murder rates are affected by many, many factors. Simply attributing a decrease in murders to a gun ban seems like bad science to me.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:01:36 +0000

‘I think that your worldview may be shaken if you actually took a look at the number of violent crimes involving guns committed by registered gun owners but you will notice that a majority of gun crimes are committed by unregistered “bad guys” or as you being a person of the utmost intelligence would know them by the word criminal.’- Longest sentence ever… Hey Jarred, why not shoot some punctuation in there?

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:41:46 +0000

Up until about 2000, the primary weapon for Murder in Canada was the knife–in any form you want. But since our government spent 2 billion on a gun control program, the number of deaths through use of guns has gone up a lot.
But we’d still rather stab or strangle people up here. Let’s face it, if we took away all the knives and guns–a lot of people would get their heads bashed in with rocks, bricks or tree limbs. And hey, you just need a good set of hands to strangle the one you love.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:37:23 +0000

i think guns can be great fun and interested in them but also as a paramedic i an urban environment i know that guns cause more injury than a real deterrent. Like i said i find guns fun but i also think there is a reason most countries require you to keep them in an armory.

By: L Mack

L Mack — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:13:20 +0000

Greetings from the great Southern Land.On the 26 April 1996 a man with several guns shot 56 people at Port Arthur Heritage park ,Tasmania,killing 35.This was was the fourth mass killing in Australia in eight years .Twice before the Federal goverment had tried to tighten gun laws in Australia as well as have uniform gun laws in each state.Both attempts were defeated by rural states who feared a voter backlash.Public opinion was so strong that this time the federal goverment proposed a constitutional amendment brining gun laws under its power.Two state goverments still resisted out of eight states.There was also laws to ban all automatic,semi automatic pump action guns,and most pistols.Owners were to turn these weapons in and they would be paid market prices.Gun owners fought back with a 15 million dollar scare campaign,saying we would be invaded by our neighbors,there would never be another election,there would be an aboriginal uprising,it was a plot by homhsexuals to make Australian men all sissys,and as on.They even bought two NRA members to come and lecture us,saying what we Australians weres doing was not the American way.Presumably,they thought the American way is the right way to do things everywhere.However,both states gave up when it was polled that eight out of nine voters would vote for the amendment and many wanted something even stronger.Over 273,000weapons were destroyed.the murder rate fell about 20%.Sydney my home is Australias biggest and most violent city,it has three million people and in 1996 had sixty murders a year,Last year it had forty eight.We have had state and Federal elections,there has been no uprising,our soldiers serve in Afghanistan,Iraq ,East Timor and Vanawatu,and we have yet to be invaded.As for being wimps,you all remember what a powder puff Steve Irwin was!We have also won gold in the shooting in three olympic games.Two per cent of Australans kmow own guns,and for every one murder in Australia,there is forty in the United States.I noticed many gun owners in the book say they have a gun for safety.In Australia we got rid of guns,for safety.

By: GayLee

GayLee — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:31:33 +0000

In response to #2: a PSA is a Public Service Announcement.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:46:22 +0000

Mangesh, I love the unbiased presentation of your article and the calm and intelligent discussion of this group. This is very unusual for this subject.

Guns are a powerful extension of the ego. They give confidence to women who may fear rape, power to the resident over the intruder, and are a primal link between the hunter and his instinct to bring food to his family. This power is very dangerous in the hands of the irresponsible or criminal.

It will be very interesting to see what the courts say about Washington D.C.’s law restricting handguns. Our Bill of Rights ensures we can own guns to form “a well regulated militia.” I doubt the average gun owner has any interest in drilling to defend his state… oh, that’s called the National Guard. We’ll see.