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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Baloo: [QB] Omega [post-edit correction -- It was Orion Syndicate who said the original phrase]: This is not mocking, but you said something in such a way that it lent itself to this purpose. If you are offended, I apologize, but your phrasing was perfect. <blockquote>One life taken by cars is one life too many. I don't understand how people can continue to defend the use of cars after so many tragedies. Haven't you learned anything? Cars kill. Yes I know, it's not cars but the people who own them but if you make the car laws stricter so that only certain people can own them, you won't have any Tom, Dick or Harry just going to the grocery store and buying themselves a car to kill someone with.</blockquote> There are nearly 200 million cars and light trucks (which includes SUVs and pick-up trucks) registered in the U.S. In 1998 (the latest year I could find complete data for) there were 14,471 traffic fatalities. Of these, 2,549 were children. Let's now look at firearms: Annually, there are around 1,400 firearms-related deaths in America. (I could not find statistics for individual years, nor separate figures for children). Now, if the death of one child is one too many, why isn't the death of 2,549 children (nearly twice the annual gun death total) raising as big a hue and cry as gun deaths? Think about why you perceive guns to be more dangerous than automobiles. "Guns are for killing!" Well, of course. That's why you [i]can't[/i] buy one at the corner grocery (unless your corner grocer has a valid license to sell firearms). Your corner gun dealer can't (and won't) sell firearms to anyone under the age of eighteen, nor will he sell handguns to anyone younger than twenty-one. I am a firearms owner and know just how difficult it is for a [i]qualified[/i] buyer to purchase handguns. I am also familiar with firearms safety (I keep mine locked up when not in use) and do not let my son play with guns or gun-like toys. I fully intend to indoctrinate him thoroughly in the principles of firearms safety long before he will be allowed to even touch one. If you don't like guns, don't buy any. Don't ever call the police for help, either. They carry guns on a regular basis, here in the U.S. As far as guns preventing crime, let me say this: it isn't armed citizens shooting at badguys that is responsible for the reduction of crime and murder rates in areas where gun possession is fairly liberal. It's the knowledge that a potential victim [i]may[/i] be armed that prompts criminals to choose less-violent crimes. There's less likelihood your victim can justifiably shoot at you that way. Here's a link related to this topic: [URL=http://www.ssaa.org.au/ILA/Mar97.html]Firearms and the USA[/URL] Please read it (without prejudice) before commenting. (First of Two, if you could assist with more information or links, I'd appreciate it.) The Constitution does not tell us what rights we may have, but defines just how far the government is allowed to go in the performance of its duties. Free Speech, Freedom of Religion, and the Right to Bear Arms are, as defined by the Constitution, "God-given rights", and exhisted prior to its being set down on paper. Almost everywhere else in the world, the right to exercise deadly force, and the implements with which to deal it, have been reserved only for the priveledged class. In the U.S., it isn't. Firearms ownership by law-abiding citizens is not the greatest danger to face the western world, nor is it likely to be. I agree that it's criminal to shoot someone without cause, but that is already illegal. If you outlaw guns, you define law abiding citizens as criminal. You still haven't arrested, disarmed, or put away the crack dealer or the rapist or the burglar who you fear. Instead, you have just made it safer for them to ply their trade. You have also just increased the workload for the police, who will now have even less time to go after the violent criminals. --Baloo [/QB][/QUOTE]
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