> The reason is that children are trained at low age, that wearing a weapon
> is normal, and cool. (IMHO ... sorry if I insult you with this ...)
Only if you consider Hollywood movies "training". Of course, that starts
a whole other topic..
> Yes ... but what I wanted to point out is, that guns are normal 'machines'
> in america ... it is normal to wear them, and gun lobbyists state that it
> is even the law that allows it.
Someone has been watching too many American films. There are not alot of
places where it is normal to wear a gun, open or concealed in the U.S. I
believe it *is* legal here in Oregon to carry open, but rarely seen as far
as handguns are concerned. Rifles *are* seen here often, usually hunters
carrying them into the woods to go hunting.
It's not too hard to get a concealed carry permit here, and many people
have them. You have to pass a gun safety test, and get a background check
by the police every 4 years. It's nearly impossible to get one in many
states, including California.
The 2nd amendment to the Constitution deals with firearm ownership. It's
wording is very strange, such that it can be interpreted totally
differently depending upon whether or not you research the basis of
it. In other words, just reading it and applying current definitions to
the wording it appears to apply to the military. You realize something
must be wrong once you realize that the *last* thing the writers wanted at
the time was an armed government, thus requiring more research into the
thinking and wording of the document as written over 200 years
ago. Anti-gun groups try and portray it in a 20th-century
interpretation. Pro-gun groups try and put forth the original
interpretation. The NRA, as far as I've observed, has somehow derived
it's own "as long as it's a sporting use" interpretation which baffles
me...
> >> but just try to drink a beer in public, and off you go to jail ...
> >> (this is simply unthinkable for me ....)
I think one of the biggest problems with people comparing the U.S. with
their own countries is that they don't realize the size and layout of the
U.S. First, the U.S. is *big*. My state, Oregon, is bigger than
England. There are 49 other states. Each state has their own laws
regarding alcohol and firearms. The federal government is limited by the
Constitution in the power they have over the states. So, the U.S. is more
like 50 different countries. Thus, while it may be illegal to drink on
the street in Oregon (though the police rarely enforce it) it appears
perfectly legal in Nevada (or, maybe the police just don't enforce it
there on a wider scale?)
Alot of the gun violence is "turf wars" between rival gangs. I can pretty
much guarantee that there is nothing legal about them carrying nor
shooting their guns. The random shooting and accidents might seem high
until you think about the fact that these reports are coming from the
equivilent of 50 countries (50 independent states), reported by a large
number of news agencies competing with each other for the most sensational
story to grab more viewers. Really, it's not as bad here as it appears on
the news.
> guns easily accesible to children, and beer in public prohibited.
> This is unthinkable in Europe.
Well, guns should *not* be easily accessible to kids, without parental
supervision. The problem is, kids *can* manage to get them if they try
and the only place they get firearm experience oftentimes is the movies
(you know, the ones that show how cool and common the carrying of a gun is
in America). I personally believe that kids should be instructed in
*safe* gun handling at an early age, then given plenty of opportunity to
go out "plinking" with your supervision so their curiosity doesn't get a
chance to build up. Both of my sons learned at an early age what a gun
can do, where to not point the muzzle and why, and how to *properly*
unload a semiauto pistol lest someone die from an "unloaded" gun. In
doing so, they are very responsible when we take the guns out for an
afternoon of plinking in the woods (they are 15 and 18 now).
> >> I understand that there are GREAT differences between american and
> >> european culture, and apologize if somebody feels offended, but this
> >> is my oppinion ....
> This applies to this letter too :)
I've really been trying to avoid posting to this thread, as this topic can
get very heated and the Arachne list really isn't the place. I just had
to put in my 2-cents worth on the subject and hope the list soon can
return to its charter.
