Should guns be banned in America?

[michak]

Actually, you're wrong there. ZERO PEOPLE DIED in the china stabbings. Although around 25 people were stabbed, none of the injuries were fatal. That is the difference between a gun and a knife.

Sorry i was wrong, i had been told that it was a shooting. Im sorry.
But i still stand by the fact that im sure mass killings happen all the time, but we dont hear about it.

[Special At Specialist]

Sorry i was wrong, i had been told that it was a shooting. Im sorry.
But i still stand by the fact that im sure mass killings happen all the time, but we dont hear about it.

Maybe in third world countries like Somalia... Name one first world country where mass killings are not heavily publicised by the media.

[Dayman]

American drones kill more innocent lives then the sandy hook incident or any other massacre  the American government doesn't give a shit about a few children being shot dead they're more interested in their globalistic agendas.

They disarm the people so if they do anything fucked a revolution isn't likely.

[Dayman]

Sorry I forget  to mention I watch heaps on conspiracy theories.

[Professor Polonsky]

Gonna say this again. The rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment are extremely limited. So far, less than a handful of laws nationally have actually been found Unconstitutional.

And if Obama gets to replace one of the Conservative Five on the Court during this term, the Supreme Court would very likely reverse its judgement and not even find an individual liberty to own guns in the Second Amendment.

[Russ]

Firstly, mass deaths have been occurring since 1900's as a direct result of the amendment which gives the Americans the right to bear arms....  its 2013 now......I think they have had a lot of time to make this amendment- I studied legal studies, it does take years to alter 1 amendment.

That's not since the Sandy Hook shootings then, that's "forever". I'd also question whether or not the sociocultural environment in the US has merited a change to gun laws for that long. Additionally, what makes you think that mass deaths are a direct result of the 2nd amendment and that they couldn't happen in a society in which there was no right to bear arms?

I think it is essential based on the fact 49/61 mass deaths that took place in US, were with legally purchased firearms- THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THESE FIREARMS and what happened? innocent people died!

See above.

[Special At Specialist]

Additionally, what makes you think that mass deaths are a direct result of the 2nd amendment and that they couldn't happen in a society in which there was no right to bear arms?

See above.

I honestly don't see how that quote supports your point of view... if anything, it does the opposite. You have just shown us evidence of how most gun murderers obtain their guns legally, so making it illegal should dramatically reduce the number of deaths.

Also, look at countries like Australia, the UK and Sweden, if the evidence which you presented to us is not enough.

[sabii]

That's not since the Sandy Hook shootings then, that's "forever". I'd also question whether or not the sociocultural environment in the US has merited a change to gun laws for that long. Additionally, what makes you think that mass deaths are a direct result of the 2nd amendment and that they couldn't happen in a society in which there was no right to bear arms?

See above.

Umm let me see.... the fact that the number of deaths that occur in America is WELL BEYOND the amount that occur in ANY OTHER COUNTRY. JUST GOOGLE IT. Why? becasue in America everyone has the right to carry a dangerous weapon on them!!!!!

[Russ]

Both of you completely ignored my point, which was that the people obtain guns legally because they can. If they require more stringent checks, do you think that gun wounds and deaths will suddenly disappear?

[Professor Polonsky]

No - a much broader approach in the US would be required to eliminate their insane prevalence rates of violent crime. Setting stricter gun controls is a good first step - and one which is a lot less costly. At the very least though, a national mental health system which actually works is required. Substantially reducing poverty might take a while longer.

[thushan]

I honestly don't see how that quote supports your point of view... if anything, it does the opposite. You have just shown us evidence of how most gun murderers obtain their guns legally, so making it illegal should dramatically reduce the number of deaths.

Also, look at countries like Australia, the UK and Sweden, if the evidence which you presented to us is not enough.

Basically what Russ is saying that the extremely high numbers of deaths in the US could be due to other reasons. The only way to figure it out is by actually trialling a gun outlawing in the US. However...such a measure would be impractical at best.

[Russ]

I wasn't really saying they were due to other reasons, I was just questioning tenuous assertions

[slothpomba]

I see many have voted yes but i haven't seen anyone say why they think we should do so, surely, at least some of the people who voted in the poll have a more complicated answer than "they're bad"...

Several theories in political philosophy are based on the idea we have a natural right to do absolutely anything we want (absolutely). We only then start carving away at the rights people shouldn't have (that is we start out with a full set of rights and remove some of the harmful ones, rather than start out with the explicit assumption there are no natural rights and we choose what to *allow*) right.

So, take personal property for example. In some natural state, i could wander into your house and just start taking your shit or eating the food out of your fridge. Of course, that would lead to chaos and make living extremely hard, so, we take away that (eg. make it illegal). Why should we take away the right for people to own guns (not that i necessarily agree but it'll keep this thread going) ?

[jeanweasley]

I think the US's govt needs to change. It should really stop its capitalist motivations. Seriously, if it weren't wrong and inhumane, idiots should be killed.

[Dayman]

It should really stop its capitalist motivations.

Which capitalist motivation?

Also, look at countries like Australia, the UK and Sweden, if the evidence which you presented to us is not enough.

Australia has centrelink so does Sweden have an equivalent while UK has one of the highest crimes rates in the world you need to do better

Honestly in my humble opinion crime/homicide rates is related to the social benefits available in that country. Otherwise the poor have nothing to lose they have nothing so going to jail is not a big deal. The sandy hook and newton massacres were caused by drugged up insane fucks.