How do you Americans react to this ?

[Lothar]

Markus,

In America, we live in a society where politicians make excuses for people entering the country illegally who commit violent crimes against its citizens. Our criminal justice system turns violent criminals loose for lame excuses like: He was angry at society because he felt he was discriminated against as a minority. Child molesters and rapists are sentenced to counseling and such nonsense. Unarmed citizens who have their homes invaded by criminals are found dead by incompetent law enforcement.

Our constitution was written to to keep power-drunk federal government in check under the threat of an armed militia. I am a sport shooter. My purpose is primarily for recreation. I am also aware that being a gun owner gives me a better chance of defending my family and me in the event that someone shoud target my house while I'm in it.

I've never been scared by the mere presence of a gun in the posession of law enforcement, the military or a law abiding citizen. The idea of disarming the law-abiding and leaving weapons to the law breakers does scare me.

[mark46]

cars kill more people than gun owners, turn in your car

[Wickd89]

Originally posted by Dottore
That's revisionist history.

Revisionist history. NO $%^T Sherlock! OH my God. History by definition is revisionist. That statement is as intelligent as like saying "liquid water."

Since you felt like including my wife's Swiss heritage in your comments, lets go there!

I did not say anything positive or negative about Sweden or the Swiss with regard to WW2.
The issue at hand is why the US are OK with guns. My response was not about why a country partipated, but to commend Sweden for being truly neutral.

Should move the discussion to how England fights wars and how they thier past imperialist ways are still having effects around the world today.........

[RoninLB]

[Racerbvd]

[livi]

The legislation in Sweden also leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the right to defend yourself and your property. A burglar tripping and hurting himself on an object on my property will be able to sue me. A burglar getting beat up by the home owner in his own bedroom will likely win a law suit. A burglar getting killed by the owner while protecting his children will send said owner to prison for a long time. It is in my opinion really f¤%& up.

Too all and every person her body and soul as well as property should be sacred. Mess with either and you are out. In Sweden you get therapy and a pat on the back..

Ronin, I do like that poster!

[Chocaholic]

Markus,

I fear you're getting a skewed sample here. I for one, am a 48 year old American man. I do not, nor have I ever owned a gun of any kind. I have never felt the need for any reason to do so. I have never been threatened, attacked, or otherwise experienced any event that would lead me to consider owning a gun.

I have three young kids. I'm of the belief that the presence of a gun, with ammunition available, presents more risk than it resolves. It makes sense to me that the odds of a horrific accident are far greater than the odds that I'll ever need it, have it available, and use it successfully for self defense. Hence....no guns here.

I suppose if I lived in a high crime area, I might feel different. But, I wouldn't live in a high crime area. I'd rather live where I can relax and enjoy life rather than live in an evironment where the need for a gun is overwhelming. It's all about choices.

[slodave]

Hey Markus, if you feel left out, we could probably schedule some time to take over Sweden. Give us a couple of weeks, looks like there are a couple of other countries in line

[Izze]

Originally posted by Dottore
Livi:

Questioning the right to bear arms in America is like a foreigner questioning Abba, or vodka or Lutfisk in Sweden. No good can come of it.

Hey, keep ABBA and lutfisk out of this pls

(but you might try the surströmming, it's fermented herring.....pretty lethal actually)

....and yes, you Americans are gun nuts, no doubt.
Living in a society where you need to have a firearm to feel safe, damn that must be tough.

[Racerbvd]

Originally posted by livi
The legislation in Sweden also leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the right to defend yourself and your property. A burglar tripping and hurting himself on an object on my property will be able to sue me. A burglar getting beat up by the home owner in his own bedroom will likely win a law suit. A burglar getting killed by the owner while protecting his children will send said owner to prison for a long time. It is in my opinion really f¤%& up.

Too all and every person her body and soul as well as property should be sacred. Mess with either and you are out. In Sweden you get therapy and a pat on the back..

Ronin, I do like that poster!

Then don't let them find the body, we have Gators in FL. for that

I have three young kids. I'm of the belief that the presence of a gun, with ammunition available, presents more risk than it resolves. It makes sense to me that the odds of a horrific accident are far greater than the odds that I'll ever need it, have it available, and use it successfully for self defense. Hence....no guns here.

Boy are you wrong, if you taught your kids at a young age (like my father did) to respect and how to handle fire arms they would be much safer than trying to hide them from guns.

[Rick Lee]

I've never lived in a house that wasn't full of guns. Somehow I made it without ever coming close to getting hurt with one. But I sure have had some injuries with cars, bicycles, motorcycles, kitchen knives, cooking, you name it. Guns are the least of my worries.

[livi]

Chocaholic, that is nice to hear.

Dave, I appreciate the irony.

Racer, that is not an authentic pic, is it??

[Flatbutt1]

Originally posted by livi
Still, does it not feel a tiny bit sad that matters are the way they are in that respect ?

Yes Marcus it is just a bit sad.

[Racerbvd]

Originally posted by Rick Lee
I've never lived in a house that wasn't full of guns. Somehow I made it without ever coming close to getting hurt with one. But I sure have had some injuries with cars, bicycles, motorcycles, kitchen knives, cooking, you name it. Guns are the least of my worries.

Growing up, I wasn't aloud to have a BB gun, so my dad gave me a Shot Gun when I turned 12

We also had a real one of these when I was growing up, and I knew better than to ever touch or mess with it, or I would really get hurt

Thompson 1927A-1 model T1

All the classic details of the time honored original are reproduced in today's semi-auto Thompson. The frame and receiver are machined from solid steel. The wood is genuine American walnut. This .45 caliber carbine features a 16 1/2" finned barrel, compensator and is available with a blued steel receiver.

50 Round Drum, 30 Round Stick Magazine

[Jims5543]

I have no guns in my house and besides seeing sidearms on Police have never been around guns in day to day life.

My dad hunted and has guns and they were in my house growing up. Dad took me ou tin the woods when I was about 12 years old and blew the side off a tree with his shotgun. It scared me. That was the point he wanted me to understand that playing with the gun would end up with someone looking like the last 1/2 of the tree just add blood.

I got the point and never touched his guns. Conversly a neighborhood friend, who was a detectives son, took out of of his dads many gus to show us when we were about 13-14 years old and no parents were home. I left immediatly after I was teased for begging him to put the gun away. I did not want to die.


In my adult life I have chosen not to have any guns in my house, I do not feel the need for them, I do not hunt and do not feel threatened in day to day life to neccesitate owning a gun for self defense. If I lived somewhere that made me feel threateneed I would move.

[Dottore]

My personal view - and I'll take some flack for this - is that there is a fairly high correlation between the love for guns and a deep emotional immaturity. The owner of the gun believes he derives a certain strength from his weapon that he himself sadly lacks as a human being.

I lived in Switzerland for a good many years and always thought there was something deeply juvenile about the military service there, and the manner in which Swiss men dealt with this. There's a kind of adolescent locker room mentality it about it all. If you (Wickd89) ever want to amuse yourself ask your Swiss in-laws the next time just why it is they have a compulsory military service and have guns under their beds. Is it the Austrians they're afraid of, or the Italians?

And I echo what Flattbut says, there is something very sad about Americas infatuation with weapons. And very immature. As the replies to this post will surely demonstrate.

[Moneyguy1]

Racer: Is Chocoholic really "wrong" or do you just differ in opinion? Seems as if this is a subject of individual decision and not "rightness" or "wrongness". Your preference is simply that. A preference, not right for everyone or wrong. A lot like religion...............

[bell]

Originally posted by Racerbvd
if you taught your kids at a young age (like my father did) to respect and how to handle fire arms they would be much safer than trying to hide them from guns.

that is the truth, i remember when i was young when my dad was cleaning his guns that it was all business and no play.....period, there wasn't a second option.

[Hawktel]

The simple fact is, when things go wrong, as they tend to, its best to rely on yourself.

You can call it childish, sad, immature, irresponsible, wrong headed, foolish, or what not. I don't care.

Perhaps the difference between both sides is I'm responsible for my safety, and even the safety of other's from any weapon I own.

Your safety depends on the government, and society.

[LeeH]

Originally posted by Kurt V
The story posted by Ron is an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/homeinvasion.asp