Yeah. Pretty much.

Technically, criminals CAN'T have guns.

Technically, when you go over the speed limit in your P-car, you are a criminal.

Well no, they don't. But look at a handgun - the majority (all the ones I have a problem with) serve one purpose - shooting people. You'd certainly argue that handguns are effective at this.

So why is it such a good thing to tolerate a society filled with weapons specific to killing people? Its not like they serve other, useful, purposes.

The fact that you, as a law-abiding citizen, feel the need to own a gun is indicative of the gun culture.

Separate want from need. Most of the countries which consider that you have a gun culture would never think to have a gun for protection. In New Zealand, generally only people living rurally feel the "need" for a gun, and usually its a shotgun and/or a rifle, and used for other farm purposes or general hunting (all of which I'm totally cool with).

I even agree that shooting stuff is fun. Just not shooting people.

Well, I don't need a car that goes 160mph, I don't need Foster in the oil can, I don't need a thick steak from Ruth's Chris, but I enjoy those and I also enjoy collecting and shooting guns, as I do with with edged weapons, bicycles, models ect. Competitive shooting is also a quite popular short here in the US and fun too. Here is one of my budshttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1120804286.jpg

Yeah, but I'm sweet with all that - you are actually allowed a handgun in NZ but only for collecting/target shooting and they are heavily restricted (need a licence endorsement, be a member of a recognised pistol club (min 6mths) before getting the pistol; get police permission to get it; use it only at a recognised range).

When you guys wanna tote one around as a sort of security blanket, I get worried.

(edit) I gotta laugh. Check out the news in our "gun free paradise" - I must stress this is an isolated case (like your media, ours jumps on anything gun related and usually the media is relatively empty).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3339422a11,00.html

A freakin' grenade launcher!

Now Cam, where did I say that I carried it, but for the record, I do have the concealed weapons permit, but I very, very rarely carry (only when I have to carry large amounts of cash for work) but 99% of the time, my guns are locked up. But, I value my right to carry even if I don't exercise it very often. But give me a 2 liter coke bottle filled with frozen water, and a safe place to shoot my 10mm, boy those are so cool to watch blow uphttp://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/uzi.gif

"You drive a Porsche, so you must know that logically, it is not the car that causes fast driving, but the driver. Thus the gun doesn't cause anything. Guns do not CAUSE crime. Guns do not CAUSE people to commit crimes.

As for the 'gun mentality'... just what the heck is that supposed to mean?"

You're right - guns do not cause people to kill crimes. They simply make the impact of the crime greater. I agree that criminals don't really give a stuff about gun laws so such laws are only going to impact upon regular law abiding citizens. However it's easy to say that on a society level, gun ownership does not act as a significant disencentive to criminals. If that was the case I'd expect to see super low crime rates in the us - not the case.

The problem (in my mind only) is that having a culture that accepts or even embraces gun ownership and use is that they tend to get used more often than in a country that dosn't view the use of guns quite so favourably. Of course when guns are used you tend to get people hurt. So while the guns don't cause crime, nor do they seem to inhibit crime on any meaningful level. So I'm thinking all you're left with is the side effects of having lots of guns about the place and a culture that is comfortable with the use of them.

In terms of the gun culture, if you can't look at the pics posted on this thread so far and identify the traits of a gun culture then it's probably not possible to explain it to you. Such pics are obviously acceptable in your country/culture but over here would simply indicate an aggressive/insecure nutbag who feels their self worth/masculinity singnificantly increased by holding a firearm. Please note I'm not saying this is how you guys are - it's a different culture. The different attitudes to these pics is probably the best indicator of a gun culture/non gun culture. As they say, each to their own and you guys can have it.

On a message board you can bicker back and forth regarding the gun issue ad nauseum without changing anyone's minds or attaining any results. I prefer to let the NRA represent my voice in government, where it really matters.:)

Technically you have to be a Felon. Going over the speed limit is not usually in that category.



You're lumping all of the US into one stereotype. Laws vary from state to state. In NJ one must have a judge approve a conceal carry license....not at all an easy task, even with connections. In other states a $100 get you there.
In NJ it is not legal for a citizen to own an "assault" gun. Only law enforcement can personally/privately own them.....Now that scares me!

Ok, you just broke rules number 2 & 3.

How do we know he didn't intend to shoot his camera, which was obviously on a tripod, using the self-timer?
:)

In the military, we were taught NOT to point a firearm at any living thing unless you are prepared to actually shoot it. The photos of guns pointing "at the camera" are disturbing, and behaviour like that would result in brig time. I have no problem with responsible gun ownership, but those kinds of images simply solidify the image that some other nations have of the "gun happy" Americans.

Carlin calls it "the bigger dick syndrome"

\

Notice, none of mine were pointed at ANYTHING, my father taught me that at a very, very young age, right after DON'T TOUCH, LOOK or even think about them, if he isn't around.

Your father sounds like a very wise man indeed.

I'll second that! the hell with breaking rules 2 & 3 that kind of thing breaks ALL the rules. Shows immaturity, and irresponsabilty with an implement of destruction. I own a bunch of guns but pose for a picture like that? Not on your life.

Besides I look terrible in lingerie.

In the Army, we were taught about gun control:

Breathe
Relax
Aim
Slack and
Squeeze

It seems to me that pictures as shown above somehow come back to haunt. I'm almost superstitious about not having a pic of myself with gun.

Byron: HK95?

I totally buy in to the "polite society" rhetoric. I, for one, plan to be much more polite in the future now that I know there are looney tunes like that running around our state.

Technically you have to be a Felon. Going over the speed limit is not usually in that category.

OK so just so I know

as long as you dont have a felony, you are a law abideing citizen. cuz thats what you are saying. so where do you dwaw the line as to what is a non law abideing citizen?

The NRA kept buggin me, sending me tons of junk mail.

I got them to stop though. I wiped my ass on the last app they sent me, then I mailed it back to them. havent gotten any junk mail from them since. it was not as soft as TP but it sure felt nice to wipe with that trash.

Kyle