Making guns illegal in order to reduce gun violence is about as smart as removing cars from our society to reduce motor vehicle fatalities. (About the same number of people are killed in cars as the number of people killed in gun violence in the U.S.: approximately 30,000 per year.) Yes, making everyone walk everywhere will reduce motor vehicle fatalities. And it will even make society more physically fit, as a side-benefit. Nevertheless, people are willing to take their chances every time they get into their car. And I for one am also willing to take my chances on not being a victim of gun violence. To me, it is an acceptable risk of living in a free society.
On a practical note, banning semi-automatic rifles - or even all guns - is not at all effective in reducing gun violence. (Handguns account for the vast majority of gun violence.) First, of the 30,000 gun fatalities, more than 1/2 were suicides. People who are seriously suicidal will simply find an alternative method. And second, only the law-abiding will give up their guns. Washington DC had a ban for many years. Chicago too. Didn't do anything to reduce violence, just the opposite in fact. Law-abiding citizens are defenseless while the criminals continue to be armed.
Do I know the answer to reducing gun violence? No, but I do note that the vast majority of gun owners are responsible, law-abiding citizens. Perhaps we need to focus of getting more mental health help to depressed individuals, as well as to those who are willing to take out their grief and frustration on others.
@Len: Would like to know your source. An article I read quotes the woman as saying "“This guy grabbed me and we kissed. And then I turned one way and he turned the other. There was no way to know who he was, but I didn’t mind because he was someone who had fought for me.”
No where can I find where she felt she was "assaulted", as you state.
65° Mostly Cloudy
Sen. Dianne Feinstein To Introduce Gun Control Legislation
Making guns illegal in order to reduce gun violence is about as smart as removing cars from our society to reduce motor vehicle fatalities. (About the same number of people are killed in cars as the number of people killed in gun violence in the U.S.: approximately 30,000 per year.) Yes, making everyone walk everywhere will reduce motor vehicle fatalities. And it will even make society more physically fit, as a side-benefit. Nevertheless, people are willing to take their chances every time they get into their car. And I for one am also willing to take my chances on not being a victim of gun violence. To me, it is an acceptable risk of living in a free society.
On a practical note, banning semi-automatic rifles - or even all guns - is not at all effective in reducing gun violence. (Handguns account for the vast majority of gun violence.) First, of the 30,000 gun fatalities, more than 1/2 were suicides. People who are seriously suicidal will simply find an alternative method. And second, only the law-abiding will give up their guns. Washington DC had a ban for many years. Chicago too. Didn't do anything to reduce violence, just the opposite in fact. Law-abiding citizens are defenseless while the criminals continue to be armed.
Do I know the answer to reducing gun violence? No, but I do note that the vast majority of gun owners are responsible, law-abiding citizens. Perhaps we need to focus of getting more mental health help to depressed individuals, as well as to those who are willing to take out their grief and frustration on others.
December 25, 2012 at 12:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kiss Statue Leads To Resignations, Disappointment
@Len: Would like to know your source. An article I read quotes the woman as saying "“This guy grabbed me and we kissed. And then I turned one way and he turned the other. There was no way to know who he was, but I didn’t mind because he was someone who had fought for me.”
No where can I find where she felt she was "assaulted", as you state.
March 24, 2012 at 9:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )