Americans and their guns

[SWTCommuter]

In his latest TV series, Sacha Baron Cohen gets gun rights activists to endorse arming four-years-olds

In a portion of the first episode, Cohen assumes the persona of Erran Morrad, an "Israeli anti-terrorism expert" pushing a program called Kinderguardians, which would train children as young as three how to use firearms.

He interviews two gun rights activists, Philip van Cleave and Larry Pratt, who both endorse the program. Van Cleave even helps record a truly unhinged promotional video, which features "Gunny Rabbit" and "Puppy Pistol" — fake gun products designed for toddlers.

It only gets worse from there. Cohen then gets several current and former members of Congress to endorse the program, including Dana Rohrabacher, Joe Wilson, Joe Walsh, and former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott. "It's something we should think about it America — about putting guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens, good guys, whether they be teachers, or whether they actually be ... highly trained preschoolers."

Trailer here:

 

[InterCity:125]

Guns were made legal in America at a time when it minutes to reload, the laws just aren’t up to standard in today’s world where someone can walk into a room and let lose 100 bullets per minute.

 

[AlterEgo]

Because neither county has (a) the unhealthy 'cowboy culture'; not (b) anything like the same level of social/racial divisiveness as the USA.

That’s pretty much it. I’d also say it’s not really a “cowboy” culture, more of an outlaw culture. American gun culture runs very deep and it’s probably the only developed country I have visited where I have ever thought to myself “actually if I lived here I’d like the ability to protect myself from this madness”.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The "guns for protection" argument makes no logical sense when paired with the advice given on how to be a "responsible gun owner" such as keeping one's firearm in a locked safe. See Jim Jefferies' routine on gun control for more.

 

[najaB]

The "guns for protection" argument makes no logical sense when paired with...

It also doesn't make sense where assault rifle type weapons are concerned.

 

[NSEFAN]

Because neither county has (a) the unhealthy 'cowboy culture'; not (b) anything like the same level of social/racial divisiveness as the USA.

Those who most vehemently uphold the USA's 2nd amendment as an immortal piece of legislation often seem to conveniently get the "well regulated" part of it. Most sane people wouldn't agree that allowing anybody to own automatic assault rifles with no licencing, training or requirements for secure storage meets the definition of "well regulated"... But then regulation is a nasty socialist concept so I'm sure it's fine to ignore that bit!

Even ignoring the social division and poverty aspects, Switzerland is a much better fit of "well regulated". Everyone does national service and so receives training on the correct handling and storage of firearms. Indeed it is a legal requirement to keep the ammo and guns stored apart.

 

[J-2739]

So that's OK then. Maybe you are attempting some black irony - so am I.

Nah, no.

 

[J-2739]

Because neither county has (a) the unhealthy 'cowboy culture'; not (b) anything like the same level of social/racial divisiveness as the USA.

I wouldn't say cowboy culture. I'm sure there are plenty of people who own guns that would not just shoot without question.

Btw, it is interesting to know that on the contrary, countries like Brazil don't have the same rights as the USA, but they have a higher homicide rate.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Every Swiss citizen between 18 and 50 years of age has to own a gun because he is a reserve soldier in the Swiss armed forces, yet you don’t see gun crime in Switzerland much.

Part of the reason is the piles of paperwork needed if your store of ammunition is for any reason depleted when checked.

 

[whhistle]

Yes it's awful about the various shootings in the US but you can't tar the entire gun owning community with the actions of the few mentally disturbed minority...

Yeah... just like the minority of kids that have tried to eat the laundry pods because "they look like sweets".
But we're all having to suffer the consequences by having large warnings and stupid locks that make it slightly harder to get in to.

Or like the minority of people who care about cookies.
Now in the EU, we all have to suffer by having to "agree" to usually large banners when clicking on websites. Wasting my time.

Just because it's a minority, doesn't mean efforts shouldn't be made to quash it out.
Because guns are reasily available, it makes it easier for someone to get one.
If you rarely use it for protection, may as well not have one. I mean, most other countries seem to operate just fine without.

Bromley Boy makes a good point here about two other countries with high gun ownership but much lower death rates.
Perhaps until the US can learn to share it's wealth, accept people from different races and get out of the cowboy culture then the law should be changed... to save lives.
However, it seems more important to be able to have a gun to save lives.

 

[furnessvale]

Yeah... just like the minority of kids that have tried to eat the laundry pods because "they look like sweets".

It's OK. The TV adverts tells us "Keep well away from children".

As a grumpy old man I have done exactly that for a number of years, well before these pods were even invented!