Comments on: Character

By: rockcriedout

rockcriedout — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:56:15 +0000

in Australia, you can’t own a handgun for personal reasons. you may only own certain kinds of guns for farming purposes. not sure what those purposes are, but to own a gun legally, it’s quite a rigorous process you must go through.

people still get shot here in Australia. but I suspect not as many as in the States. people are more likely to be knifed here from what I see on the news. we definitely don’t do as much hunting for sport as Americans do.

By: Inesita

Inesita — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:16:41 +0000

Oh, and before you start, no I’m not a “everything is bad in the US and everything is good in Europe”-person!

By: Inesita

Inesita — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:12:17 +0000

I agree. I don’t understand this need of handguns either. In Germany and Denmark, people are only allowed hunting rifles with a certain license and there’s strict laws as to how you have to keep them (in a locked safe, ammo and wapons not together, etc.). One can own handguns as well, but again, you need a certain license and have to store it properly…

I grew up in a house with guns and hunting rifles (my dad was a forester and hunter) but they were always locked up. I think I wouldn’t feel safe if there was a handgun and it was easy to access. What if a robber gets his/her hands on it first? How can you be sure that you will use it correctly and not just stand there shaking when somebody breaks in and stands infront of you? Don’t robbers react more agressive, when they see a gun, because they feel more threatened by you?

Don’t know…guess it depends on perspective. But I do feel that there’s much more gun related violence in the US than in Europe (no, don’t have any statistics…but I’m pretty sure that they would be easy to find…) and I think it has to do with the laws.

By: mireee

mireee — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:45:00 +0000

If he hadn’t owned a gun he wouldn’t have shot her. In Spain, the only way you can have a gun is paying full partnership for hunting clubs -which give only so many licences a year-, and going into actual hunts. Nobody else can own a gun. One of the reasons I’d never move to America is how easily you can get a gun, I don’t understand that at all. No civilian should be allowed to have guns at home, never ever.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:59:07 +0000

Pufinstuf,

I liked the link you provided to DOJ. I don’t agree with your reasoning, but bravo for providing the link!

By: Wendie

Wendie — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:44:56 +0000

@Jorge (Sasha, you need 5 deep comment threading!)

No, I don’t think it will stop people from getting handguns. Do I think it will diminish the number of handguns out there? Eventually.

By: JorgeMacD

JorgeMacD — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:44:34 +0000

Will outlawing handguns really stop killers from getting handguns, do you think? They don’t have much problem getting guns illegally NOW.

By: Wendie

Wendie — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:02:52 +0000

@pufinstuf BUT, are they responsible for more than twice the homicides because of their accessibility? I think you and I are actually on the same side of the gun control issue, but I don’t get the “Keep hunting rifles, they’re different” argument.

By: CJT621

CJT621 — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:03:30 +0000

Not according to Kurt Cobain

By: pufinstuf

pufinstuf — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:42:38 +0000

Also see http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/weapons.htm
Handguns are responsible for more than twice the homicides of “other guns”.