Alec Swan
Well-Known Member
Sadly the Morgan Freeman "letter" is a hoax.
.......
That's a pity, and thank you for the correction. None the less, I agree with the sentiments, who ever it was!
Alec.
Sadly the Morgan Freeman "letter" is a hoax.
.......
.......
I actually think the volume in the US is increasing and while many keep trying to bury it, these seems to be a real groundswell of opinion changing...
.......
... Enough is enough!
I suspect Luci07 that you may well have struck the right note there, BUT it will need a groundswell of gargantuan public opinion, for there to be change.
A short story for you; A friend of mine, a Brit went to visit his bother in the States. His brother took him to meet a neighbouring family; a family with several young children. The conversation got around to firearms, a common interest amongst the men present, and would my mate like to look at the hosts firearm collection?
Of course he would. He was handed a Glock, with the advice, "Be careful, it's loaded".
How has such a culture developed, HOW?
Change will only come about, by common consent.
Alec.
I've seen people compare it to the action Brits took to ban handguns after Dunblane. But here, there was the collective will to do it. British people aren't blinded by a collective love affair with firearms and the notions of "freedom" that having unfettered access to them seems to represent. Any attempt to pass legislation regulating gun ownership causes people to go apoplectic because they see it as an attack by the government on freedom (however, if the government fancies passing legislation, i.e. the Patriot Act, that throws away habeas corpus, which is also a Constitutional right, that's okay).
This^^^^
After the Norway thing, a Fox news pundit said something to the effect of, "Norway isn't a democracy because not even the police carry guns." Yeah. That's the problem, right there. Concepts like "freedom" and "democracy" are completely entangled with firearms ownership. It's nuts.
Remember the source, Fox News.
Maybe my fellow countrymen will prove me wrong. I hope so, but I'm not remotely optimistic.
Remember the source, Fox News
I cynically agree with Alec on this one. I'm an American expat, now living in Britain, and I was in high school in Colorado when the Columbine shooting happened and the same noises were made then, like they are every time this happens. I sadly don't hold out any hope that Americans are going to pull their fingers out of their collective butts and take any decisive actions with regards to decreasing the availability of guns or, for that matter, increasing the availability of mental health services (that would involve taxing people and making healthcare cheaper and more affordable for everyone, which is a profoundly unAmerican and socialist idea). It's not just down to the NRA and the gun lobby. It's the the beliefs of a lot of the general population. Far too many people, average citizens, honest-to-God believe that they are better off with *more* guns and they argue that if someone in this school (or any other site where such a massacre occurred, like the CO movie theatre) had a gun, it wouldn't have happened.
I've seen people compare it to the action Brits took to ban handguns after Dunblane. But here, there was the collective will to do it. British people aren't blinded by a collective love affair with firearms and the notions of "freedom" that having unfettered access to them seems to represent. Any attempt to pass legislation regulating gun ownership causes people to go apoplectic because they see it as an attack by the government on freedom (however, if the government fancies passing legislation, i.e. the Patriot Act, that throws away habeas corpus, which is also a Constitutional right, that's okay).
After the Norway thing, a Fox news pundit said something to the effect of, "Norway isn't a democracy because not even the police carry guns." Yeah. That's the problem, right there. Concepts like "freedom" and "democracy" are completely entangled with firearms ownership. It's nuts.
Maybe my fellow countrymen will prove me wrong. I hope so, but I'm not remotely optimistic.
Aye! What's terrifying is that there are a lot of people in the United States who don't think Fox just makes ***** up. But I used that snippet as an illustration of how deeply and indeed, intransigently, gun ownership is intertwined with what people think is "freedom."
When the US 2nd amendment was written, the prevailing firearms technology was muzzle loading flintlock muskets. I do not think the Founding Fathers had semi automatic rifles in mind. I received my shotgun and firearms certificates through yesterday and had to provide referees, they spoke to my GP, checked my land and the FAC needed a valid reason (just wanting one or a 250 year old piece of paper not being valid reasons). I also have to demonstrate that only I the certificate holder can access my rifle safe.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.xactly, and militias were roaming the land. A semi-automatic rifle can kill a lot more people than a shotgun or a rifle in one fell swoop and you don't have to be skilled to use one.
Another issue is that you can walk into a gun show, pay some money and carry out an assault rifle with no background checks.
For those who have not, please look out a short documentary called Living For 32, and consider supporting the Brady campaign. They don't want to 'take people's stuff away', they want stricter controls on who can buy stuff in the first place.
So horrific I would like to see a link between medical records and the issue of a gun licence, both here and the US anyone with a known problem of either dependance on any meds illegal or other wise and alchol as well should never be issued with a gun licence
This was debated recently in the UK. Personally I am against the medical records being linked to records of gun ownership. Do you seriously think if that was the case then a gamekeeper or anyone else relying on their guns for their livelihood and suffering from depression or such like would consult medical professionals if there was a chance of having his guns taken away.
They don't want to 'take people's stuff away', they want stricter controls on who can buy stuff in the first place.
I don't think this has anything to do with guns directly, goodness knows anything is dangerous in the wrong hands, cars, axe's, lawn mowers etc etc. Its all about using things in the correct way.
My thoughts are that people need to get on board with mental illness issues and parents need to stop being in denial that there is something wrong with their little darlings and get the appropriate treatment even if that means sectioning them. For a mother to have guns available to someone recognised as having problems defies belief.
America, like here, because lets face it we have psychopaths on the loose, needs to address some of these weird cult, thinking type things I believe the mother had some weird beliefs about Armageddon and get to grips with mental health.
In the Victorian era people were placed in Sanatoriums because they didn't have the wherewithal to know how to treat patients but these days we have more knowledge but need to invest in treatments.
Everyone always decries these acts but they will keep happening unless something radical is done.
The events in Newtown are about as distressing as I have ever seen, those beautiful children and heroic teachers wiped out is awful beyond belief.
I don't think this has anything to do with guns directly, goodness knows anything is dangerous in the wrong hands, cars, axe's, lawn mowers etc etc. Its all about using things in the correct way.
Coincidentally, I have just finished reading the following piece which makes the same point. More violence, more disregard for human life, more love of killing machines.Finally, whilst not detracting at all from the loss suffered by the families and friends, it was briefly mentioned on the news today that 10 Afghan children, ages 9 -11 were killed by a mine/i.e.d whilst collecting firewood. Are their lives worth less than the American children? going by the media coverage given to both events then yes. and i find that very very sad indeed.
QUOTE=CaveCanem;11356740]You get a semi-automatic firearm, you hold the trigger down, you spray, you can kill a whole room full of people. You can't do that with any of the other items you mention. WHY do people need these types of weapons if they are not in the military.
I cynically agree with Alec on this one. I'm an American expat, now living in Britain, and I was in high school in Colorado when the Columbine shooting happened and the same noises were made then, like they are every time this happens. I sadly don't hold out any hope that Americans are going to pull their fingers out of their collective butts and take any decisive actions with regards to decreasing the availability of guns or, for that matter, increasing the availability of mental health services (that would involve taxing people and making healthcare cheaper and more affordable for everyone, which is a profoundly unAmerican and socialist idea). It's not just down to the NRA and the gun lobby. It's the the beliefs of a lot of the general population. Far too many people, average citizens, honest-to-God believe that they are better off with *more* guns and they argue that if someone in this school (or any other site where such a massacre occurred, like the CO movie theatre) had a gun, it wouldn't have happened.
I've seen people compare it to the action Brits took to ban handguns after Dunblane. But here, there was the collective will to do it. British people aren't blinded by a collective love affair with firearms and the notions of "freedom" that having unfettered access to them seems to represent. Any attempt to pass legislation regulating gun ownership causes people to go apoplectic because they see it as an attack by the government on freedom (however, if the government fancies passing legislation, i.e. the Patriot Act, that throws away habeas corpus, which is also a Constitutional right, that's okay).
After the Norway thing, a Fox news pundit said something to the effect of, "Norway isn't a democracy because not even the police carry guns." Yeah. That's the problem, right there. Concepts like "freedom" and "democracy" are completely entangled with firearms ownership. It's nuts.
Maybe my fellow countrymen will prove me wrong. I hope so, but I'm not remotely optimistic.