Right, and the percentage of people who's houses burn down compared to those who never experience that sort of loss is also very, very low.

So, because it's very, very low, I guess it's not really that big a deal to get rid of smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. I mean, come on, that happens to other people, right?

Yes, in this world (the whole thing) you're constantly in danger. Any and every one of us could theoretically die today or tomorrow, whether it be from an animal mauling, car wreck, plane crash, violent crime, or a meteor strike. We could get cancer or any number of medical ailments that could kill us (or not).

As a matter of fact, there are several folks that have announced to the board at various times that they had cancer. There have been some that have been in very bad accidents. There is at least one here in Houston who's had his house destroyed by fire.

I don't carry again because I feel that I really need to. I don't actually fear needing a gun. Up until about 2 years ago, I wasn't even interested in guns. I carry one because I can. I have the right to carry one. If the right isn't exercised, it could be lost. I wouldn't like to lose the right to.

It's absolutely not fear of needing a gun that causes me to carry, but as long as I'm aware of the responsibility and take every precaution and use my head concerning the exercising of the right, I'm also not afraid to carry it.

I read the BBC news on the BBC website. As in Australia, guns are banned in the UK. What has shocked me since I started reading the BBC news is how many people in the UK are shot and killed in the UK (with guns). I have seen one or two of the articles mention that the gun used was a shotgun which I believe is legal in the UK, but they haven't all mentioned in, so I wonder if some of those folks are being killed by illegal handguns. I don't know that much about the firearms rules in the UK, there may be more to it than that. Still, it's interesting that folks are still being killed by firearms there.

This is interesting.

Buyback has no effect on murder rate - National - smh.com.au

exactly, masraum, the world is a very dangerous place. the only reason that we are here is because our ancestors were badder-arsed than nearly every other species of creature on the planet. and US SPECIFICALLY, as in those capable of still drawing air, are the direct ancestors of parents, granparents, great-grandparents, etc., that were badder-arsed than the other humans.

Get rid of guns, murders with other weapons will go up tremendously.... Bad people, will do bad things, even if you take away guns....

apparently, criminals have been resorting to 'samurai' swords, in the UK. a ban is in order.

Anyone who thinks gun control laws work need only look at Wash. DC and how things work there vs. just across the bridges in VA. And for those silly gun buybacks, what criminal would give up the tools of his trade? The one I went into Phoenix was nothing more than a bunch of old people basically selling useless WW1-era guns for a $100 grocery store gift card. Though since it's a no-questions-asked event, it would be a good place to dispose of a crime gun.

except in china. gun violence is almost unheard of. you can probably count the number of gun violence incidents a year with one hand. nationally. it's not just a matter of guns being completely banned (although black market still exists and criminals still have guns). it's the matter of the punishment for any gun related crime is death.

not saying that the draconian system is good. but in this very limited scope, gun violence is almost eliminated. murders are still plentiful. just with knives and machetes and other implements. u can't fix violence in humans.

Lack of gun violence in China (excluding that committed by the state against its people) is purely a cultural, not legal, thing. If all gun ownership were legalized tomorrow in China, almost no one would buy them. They simply have no tradition of private gun ownership there. A death sentence plays no role in the equation other than eliminating recidivism.

A quote from the article;

"Homicide patterns (firearm and non-firearm) were not influenced by the NFA, the conclusion being that the gun buyback and restrictive legislative changes had no influence on firearm homicide in Australia," the study says.

That's not surprising. The same could be said for any country is this situation. The crims won't hand in their guns. What they don't mention is most of the deaths by firearm where crims against crims. Drug deals gone bad etc.

Again, I advocate your right to carry but I disagree with scare mongering. There are many places in France for example that rival U.S areas for crime. As a tourist, you avoid those areas. Based on Sniper's view, you shouldn't go swimming in the ocean as you might get attacked by a shark, or holiday in Australia:

YouTube - Come To Australia!

Did you know Phoenix is the kidnapping capital of the world? The secret is that 100% of those cases are Mexicans being held until their coyote (human smuggler) gets paid. When the cops find a drop house full of illegals, because they're being held against their will, they're called kidnapping victims, even though they were never reported missing. And let's not forget that our crime stats include gang bangers shot by police, but count them as "children killed by guns."

Just stay away from the bad areas and you're fine. What I try to be vigilant against are these lone wolf, random nutbag attacks, like happened in those gun-ban places like Brazil and Holland last week.

both private licensed and unlicensed ownership exists. hell my grandpa supposedly owns a wheel gun from back in the day that he's got stashed away in some cubbyhole...that he probably forgot about.

the issue of lack of gun related violence I see is directly linked to the punitive ramifications. even the triad would rather use knives and swords rather than guns.

[QUOTE=dewolf;5957690] What they don't mention is most of the deaths by firearm where crims against crims. Drug deals gone bad etc. /QUOTE]

Actually, I don't remember if it was that article or another, but the stats that I saw indicated that there was a ratio of something like 10:1 of gun deaths being lead by suicide and the smaller percentage being violent crime. I believe I also read that the gun buy-back did reduce the number of gun related suicides.

BTW, it's now come out that the deceased in that road rage incident here over the weekend was a former sheriff's deputy and his neighbors told news reporters that he had severe anger mgt. issues, was given to yelling at family and neighbors in public and that was one of the reasons he's no longer a sheriff's deputy. So he had bad intentions and knew exactly what he was doing by getting out of the car with gun in hand.

Rick, interesting stuff. Can you post the follow-up news link?

Much appreciated...

Police investigating whether road rage led to fatal shooting in Gilbert

Police investigating whether road rage led to fatal shooting in Gilbert

Posted: 04/09/2011
Last Updated: 6 hours and 6 minutes ago

GILBERT, AZ. - Police have identified a man who was shot and killed during a confrontation at a Gilbert stop light Saturday night.

Sgt. William Balafas, with Gilbert police, said 56-year-old Mitchell Fickes was pronounced dead at Scottsdale Osborn Hospital following the Saturday shooting.

Gilbert police spokesman Joe Gilligan said at approximately 5:20 p.m., officers responded to a shooting call at the stop light at Williams Field Road and Market Street.

It was reported that Fickes and another male driver were engaged in some type of road rage incident with each other.

At the light, Fickes, who was driving behind the second man, reportedly got out of his vehicle armed with a gun and started walking toward the 23-year-old driver in the front vehicle. The driver in the front vehicle reportedly fired multiple shots at Fickes, who was coming at him with a gun.

Gilligan said Fickes was shot several times and was flown to Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn with life-threatening injuries, where he later died.

Several neighbors told ABC 15 Fickes' mean and sometimes aggressive attitude did not earn him many friends in their neighborhood. Many said he had anger management issues.

"He would scream at the neighbor kids and his family in public," a neighbor who did not want to share his name said. "Everybody had problems with [Fickes]. He just wanted everything controlled in his area."

When ABC 15 reporter Steve Kuzj told neighbors who knew him what happened most said the road rage incident sounded like something Fickes would do.

ABC 15 reached out for an interview from Fickes' family, but they said they were not ready to talk yet.

"I guess I'm not surprised. He was just a very angry guy. I feel sorry for his family, but the guy didn't seem like he was ever going to change," the anonymous neighbor said.

According to Balafas, the shooter was detained immediately after the incident as police began their investigation. He was reportedly released at the scene.

Balafas said the shooting is currently being treated as an act of self defense. The case will be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for review.

Ok... thanks for totally not getting my post. I was saying if you ban guns, the murder rate will stay the same, just the weapon of choice will be different....

yea i just saw...not sure what was in my head when i hit reply to your post. my point is factual..but totally not connected with your post. forgive me hehe

So what else do you disregard that might happen to you?

Car accidents? Heart attacks? Other serious illnesses or injuries?

Don't carry health or fire or flood insurance either?

Ignorance is bliss, baby.

Proving only one thing: You will be unprepared if you find yourself forced to defend your life vs violent assault.

Good for you....i guess....

I choose not to be a victim of violent crime, if possible.

Many members of my family and friends who found themselves unprepared got to become just that- victims. So have i a few times, and i was prepared.

It's not abstract for me.