1.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 08:08:39
Cheers Ed. Interesting stuff. What's it going to take for Congress to address gun violence in the states? I just can't see things changing any time soon. Seems to be to many factors involved.

Would love to hear the thoughts of any other posters living over there.


2.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 11:55:29
It’s not as simple as it sounds. While most Americans are for stricter gun regulations as far as background checks (myself included), many (also myself included) are pessimistic this will in any way lessen the gun violence. It does not take a rocket scientist to realize bad people are going to get their hands on weapons.

Do I think the public should have access to AR’s? Probably not, even though it’s a bit hypocritical of me to say that as I own one. Another common misunderstanding is that many people think AR’s are a way bigger threat than other guns. While I’ll admit they probably do carry some more risk, it’s not as big of a gap as you may think. Just as much damage could arguably be made with semi-automatic hand guns and dispensable clips. Not to mention the various other types of weapons people can get their hands on. The true problem is something even more difficult to correct. mental health.


3.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 11:58:19
Klipperty it’s a complete mess. First let me state my personal stance. I’m progressive but have no issue with responsible gun ownership and have often gone tonranges and enjoyndoing so. Growing up being an NRA member meant the same really. It promoted responsible gun ownership and had classes for members etc. Today it’s a lobby group that has had way too much power and has spent the past 25 years spreading lies and fear all the while profits soar for manufacturers. Until the politicians who are owned by the NRA get a backbone and create smart practical gun laws it’ll be more of the same. At this point these things aren’t a shock anymore it’s an expection. The biggest difference now is the amount of White Supremists motivated attacks the past 2 years. This is a scary prospect going forward.


4.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 12:32:16
Tj red, guns in America are huge business so there’s never going to be a ban, even government officials such as the bushes have stakes in gun companies.

There’s more chance of this backward so called liberal country legalising cannabis and immensely boosting the economy as well as making smoking safer for all users as we will know how and what it’s grown with, similar to Amsterdam.

Imo both are the moral thing to do but moral is not our governments, count the dead on there hands, Blair and bush alone! How they sleep at night bombing innocent women and children!


5.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 12:33:00
Well in Ireland where guns are fully illegal even guards don't have them, it's incredibly easy to get a gun and there are incidents involving shootings very frequently here.

Thankfully we have not had any mass shootings, most shootings are usually gang related. However civilians have been caught in the cross fire. And for a country in terms of populus which is 1/ 100th of America, we still have gun related violence as almost a daily occurrence.

Point being it's a very difficult matter to address. Although in my personal opinion the background checks need to be more stringent. As others have said though I do not think this by any means would solve all of the issues.


6.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 14:03:44
Actually, Bill Clinton banned access to assault weapons via legislation in 1994 and it led to a drop in mass shootings of 43%. The GOP let this law lapse and the ban expire in 2004. This led to an increase of 239% in such shootings. Strangely (or perhaps not) gun sales go up after mass shootings because many Americans go out and buy weapons they fear will be limited by regulations and restrictions. consequently, the share price of the gun manufacturers also go up. It seems clear that legislation that DID work would work again. It must be horrid to live under threat of the possibility of such shootings taking place.


7.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 14:25:30
Yes Reynard when that monster bush was in charge. the illuminati puppet bred to be dumb from his Saudi oil rich father.


8.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 15:00:20
I can accept the argument that American citizens want a gun for protection or for hunting but why on earth do they need a semi-automatic? An AK-47 is for attacking not defending, and how many wild deer are you hoping to take down with 20 bullets a second? Surely mass shootings are going to be harder to carry out with a single shot handgun?
(Caveat: i know absolutely nothing about weaponry and am happy to be educated)


9.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 15:56:11
In 1994 we were not experiencing what seems like monthly shootings like we are today. While the percentages can look promising, they are somewhat misleading Reynard.


10.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 19:40:20
I understand what you're saying TjRed but the facts are: 4 killed and 23 wounded in 1994 after the legislation whilst 1993 22 killed and 34 wounded at four mass shootings (Aurora, Garden City, Fayetteville and San Francisco) . The year before there were two mass shootings and in 91 we saw 32 killed and 26 wounded at Royal Oak, Iowa City and Killeen. 1995 saw 5 killed, 96 saw 5 killed. and there was a drop. Relaxation of the laws saw the figures increase by 98 with 57 killed and 90 wounded in 98/ 99.the law was readministered and the figures went back down until Bush when the law was allowed to lapse and the numbers systematically increased. The more worrying effect is that every mass shooting sees gun sales and gun manufacturer shares increase. This is why gun companies and the NRA practice "damage limitation" rather than a legislated disaster aversion policy. Has the world changed? Yes, but statistics have a habit of showing us the underlying truth.


11.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 19:47:33
2017 - 117 killed, 463 wounded at 11 mass shootings including the horrendous Las Vegas slaughter. American Outdoor Brands finished 3.2% up when news of the attack broke. Sturm Ruger closed 3.6% up. US firearms manufacturers frequently do well after mass shootings or threats of a regulatory crackdown.


12.) 06 Aug 2019
06 Aug 2019 20:09:58
America has a sinister fetish for guns that even they themselves cannot fathom. Things like Background checks, gun licensing registry, an assault weapons' ban, FBI screenings of potential lone wolves, banning the ability of known felons, mentally-ill people and terrorists on the terror watch list to buy guns etc. are stuff that can be done by Congress in a flash. There is simply no courage nor political will to do any of this hence why i think it is only the new and younger generation who will fix America cos the older generation have surely destroyed it.