Gun control in Australia

[Jess from VA]

The ONLY argument I was making is that just because we have guns in our country doesn`t make us safer than Australians. Which is what some believe.


Statistically, widespread gun ownership may not make the country COLLECTIVELY safer, but it makes ME and mine safer (and all like minded, self reliant, freedom loving, responsible and law abiding INDIVIDUALS safer).  And I will never give up my liberty and freedom for the collective (without a fight).

IF the US went thru a rapid outlawing and confiscation of most firearms as did Europe and Australia, we would undergo a huge increase in violent crime lasting for many years (maybe decades).  We probably have more violent felons than most of those other countries, per capita, as well.  We certainly have more in prisons than they do.  Those felons do not follow the law, and very few of them would turn in THEIR guns.  Our country has been on a long downswing of violent crime, and personal gun ownership and concealed carry is a large part of the reason why.  

And this huge increase in crime would naturally result in a more rapid slide into a massive police state (which is already bad/big enough).  It is not my government's job to feed, house, clothe and protect me (thru ever increasing taxation and regulation), that is my job.

And including suicide in gun crime statistics is BS (same as putting your thumb on the scales).  

[Xtracho]

The stats on per capita murder rates are not surprising. Would love to also see the stats on violent criminals per capita that might add some clarity to the 1.1 vs. 4.7 as I would think more violent criminals would equate to more murders & violent crimes with firearms as well.

I have several friends in Australia from my time there in Queensland studying for my Master's degree. We still communicate on a regular basis. I do not know one of them that favored Australia's massive gun buy back program.

I tend to lean towards BF's comment that no matter how many gun laws or the wholesale prohibition of ownership....scumbags will always have access to guns. Regardless of the stats posted....I prefer to at least have the ability to put myself and my family on a level playing field.

[MP]

"not controlled by government"

All guns, basically, are outlawed, yet you say you are "not controlled by government"?

WOW!  They have really done a brainwashing job on you!

Also, when stats are presented on deaths, murders, etc by guns, one needs to look at what is included in that figure.

I have heard, and do not personally know, that the US includes essentially EVERY death by gun, from young age on up, as a "death".  Even a shooting by a cop is included! Have a burglar break in your house, and start shooting at you, you return fire, killing him.  It is included.  Then, those stats are reported, making it sound like those are ALL murders.  They are not. Most countries do not include those "shootings" in their figures.  Thus, the results are skewed.

Other countries just report murders in that category.  If you look at the US figure, and just include murder, it is lower.

MP

[fudgie]

Tht was murder rate. Has nothing to do with guns