Yes, I understand that guns can make killing someone easier. That wasn't the point I was trying to make nor is it the issue.

My point is:

1. If someone is to the extreme that they would kill someone, they will find a way.

2. There is a reason that people are killing other people and it isn't guns.

Number 2 is the real problem that needs addressed. Getting rid of the tool of choice isn't going to stop any of this. It's not the guns causing the problem is problems with our society.

The people that live here and the culture that exists is so much different than anywhere else I've ever been and this is the real problem. People outside of the USA like to point there fingers at guns to explain our problem, but they don't live here and they don't understand the root of the problem isn't the guns.

This problem is only getting worse as "thug" life is glorified more and more, the younger generation is eating this up for some reason. Parenting also seems to be at an all time low. Violence is accepted in all media, which is fine, but parents aren't there to put limits in place. They're not there to punish properly, teach respect, teach right or wrong. They're simply not their for their kids. They're not a meaningful part of their lives in that they want to be their childs friend not parent. Kids are raised in a society where drugs and gang life are glorified to the extreme. Parents choose to let this media babysit and teach their children about life. People look up to these "role models" and see this as either the correct way to live or the only alternative for them. Almost everyone that lives here has an "I deserve" mentality that they were raised on. Whether I earned it or not "I deserve" it. Such a narcissistic society that is only getting worse with this new generation.

I just love how people who don't live here (and probably have never visited here) can simply sum up the problem and call it obvious. People are killing each other. Taking away the tool of choice is not going to fix this problem. As I stated earlier guns have remained constant, it's our society that's changed.

You have to treat the problem not the symptom.

-Edited by MontanaHatchet

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Nah uh. We don't say things like that here. 

Look at the data in the comparison of american cities and towns instead of reacting emotionally without actually thinking about it with a "Think of the Children" attitude.

Your attitude of thinking is the same kind of thinking that gets people to want to ban videogames that are violent just because they are violent.  Or alchohol because some people abuse it.

Lots of people who favour gun controll always see the guns as the problem, and never look at the root causes ...

The CIA maintains a statistic called the Gini index which measures the income distributions between the richest and the poorest people in a country; the index is out of 100 and a lower score is generally better (more equal distribution). Countries like Denmark, Belgum, Sweeden, Norway and France are some of the most equal contries in the world and have scores of (roughly) 25; Russia is very inequal at a score of 40, and China is even worse at 44.

The United States Gini index is 45 and in practically every country that has a worse Gini index the wealthy are forced to have body guards to prevent there murder when they go onto the streets. The United States is a country where for (roughly) 20% of the population the best option for living the lifestyle you want to live is to become a criminal, typically a criminal where the meaner and more violent you are the better you will perform.

The question with the United States isn't "why is gun crime is so high?" the question is "why isn't gun crime higher?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality

Stop reacting, start thinking.  Think with your brain, not with your emotions.  Then come back.

I think that if you have a license to own a firearm, then you can have one. I think that no one should be denied that right (barring the crazy/mentally unstable people).

I have been shooting guns since I was five. Been hunting since that. The thought to harm someone in any way has never crossed my mind.

Some interesting points here, though I've only read a handful of posts as I've scrolled down. I don't really have anything to say at this time about having guns for security, but I don't think owning a gun should instantly make you a bad person.

Honestly, I'd like to own a gun just to go to a range from time to time (or maybe to even try to hunt). I went with somebody last year and it was a good time as well as a good safety lesson. Heck, I think I had more fun on a cowboy styled range shooting revolvers and an old styled rifle with lead bullets than I did with a more modern firearm such as a Glock.

Wow, I agree with Stickball. Anyways, I'll just say yes I think it's perfectly normal and I can't wait to buy a FAL and Gew98 or if it's to hard to find one a Kar98k.