Quote:
Originally Posted by zerospinboson
No, i'm happily going to continue living in Europe, where gun crime (esp. with deadly results) statistically just doesn't happen.
Which, NOFI, was pretty much the whole point I was referring to. Sure, guns might come in handy if you live near a drug cartel, or if you live in a low SES neighborhood, but they're hardly a solution, and I doubt that the fact that you need to carry them around in order to feel safe makes you feel safe.
The problem isn't really that criminals might resort to violence, it's more a question of which types of violence they consider acceptable, and how large the need to become a criminal is.
And with the income disparity (between the richest, the rich and the poor) in the US being the largest in the world, as well as having a substantial amount of people living below the poverty line (somewhat higher than in western Europe (the UK excepted)), and less social mobility (due to the relatively high costs associated with getting a good education), I'd say fixing that would do more to lower crime rates than either giving everyone mandatory gun training or trying to outlaw them.
That said, this would go against the whole "everyone has equal chance to make it, and if you don't make it it's your own fault" notion that is seemingly spoon-fed to everyone from birth, keeping people from supporting more equality of access to healthcare, schooling, etc.
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excuse me? You are kidding, right? We should "fix" the disparity HOW? Living in Europe gives you no insight to the problems here.
Personally, I was raised to pay my own way. This is something people can't understand nowdays.
Lets start with the free breakfasts and lunches at school. If you cannot afford to feed your kids, by golly I sure as heck won't. What does oatmeal and a peanutbutter/jelly sandwich cost? Kids won't eat it? My heart breaks. Have you any clue to the waste incurred each frakin' day at just one school because kids are allowed to choose what they want? Disgraceful!
Can't afford health insurance? Don't get it, but sure as hell don't depend on anyone else (except possibly family) to bail you out. lts not a god given right.
Can't afford a house? Don't buy one. It isn't a "right" Bought a house and now are losing it due to no fault of your own? Sorry, thats tough. Pull up your big girl panties and start over like our forebears did. I do NOT own you a bailout! Does no one remember the 30's? Who bailed out who then? No one, and we came back a stronger, more reliant society.
Can't afford a college education? Bull hockey. Go to work, take out loans, and do like anyone who really wants something does.....sacrifice until you get what you want. You may graduate with horrendous debt, but where is it written higher education should be free? My daughter and son both did this.......and they are now debt free, and have a decent job.
I believe the saying is "You have the right to PURSUE happiness", not happiness is guaranteed. That goes for wealth, homes and everything else you might want in this life.
I"m sure I'll be blasted for my views. Tough. Someone has to finally stand up and say "enough".