RE: Blame

Jools wrote:

<As a UK citizen (where not even the police carry guns) I agree totally with
Rod that you can't legislate away bigotry and hate, but on the other hand
you can remove the mechanism that makes it so easy for people to kill.  

Surely with such high gun death rates it is easy to see that while it isn't
the guns that are the culprits, if you take them away you'll save lives.
What kind of culture of fear can necessitate having a machine for killing in
your home, or available at a local store?

As horrible as it sounds, people are people, and some will always pick on
groups that seem vulnerable in order to make themselves feel stronger.  Why
not make it more difficult for them?  The UK is no paradise certainly, but
our chances of being murdered are infinitesimal compared to the US.>

In this country, any form of gun control, no matter how well-reasoned or
sane, is seen (by some)as a direct attack on our personal freedom and on the
very foundations of our democracy.  You'd have a better chance of outlawing
automobiles in this country than you would of outlawing guns.  The arguments
against gun control are also well-reasoned:  "Guns don't kill people, people
kill people."  "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."  "More
people are killed by automobiles in this country every year than are killed
by guns, but you don't hear anyone talking about outlawing cars."   Then
there's my favorite NRA bumper sticker: "My wife, yes.  My dog, maybe.  My
gun, never!"  Doesn't that really say it all?  The right to bear arms,
interpret it how you will, is even enshrined in our Constitution.  It was
meant to guarantee freedom from the tyranny of the state.  Unfortunately, it
has guaranteed the more general tyranny of any and every kook with a gun.

Thanks once again for letting me vent.  Can we talk about plants now?

Kurt
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