First all, thoughts, prayers and condolences to those hurt, their families and all my friends over there in the states.
Today's a day when us Brits see this on the news we are shocked and saddened and many ask the questions. "Why don't they get this? How many times does have to happen for it to shrink in?"
Even though i'm unrepentant raging gun control advocate with you guys.
I do listen and hear your position and your arguments. I talk about the link the constitution makes between freedom and gun ownership. I talk about Americans wanting to take personal responsibility for there families safety. I can relay the fear of armed criminal elements in society and people not wanting to face that unarmed.
But after doing that I look at the stats again, I look at the news again, I see the pictures, I then think about the thousands of Americans who die every year, who probably wouldn't die if they lived in a country with better gun laws, and I have to be that 'stoopid' liberal voice.
A few perceptions from someone out of the situation who doesn't really have an axe to grind, but feels he needs to speak the truth as he sees it to friends.
- Thousands of Americans suffer directly and indirectly every year from gun crime that they would not suffer if they lived in a country with European style gun laws.
- The basic freedoms shared by people in Europe are Similar to those in the states even though we don't high levels of gun ownership
- The Levels of other violent crime are broadly similar so we don't see gun violence transfer to the use of cars, bombs and knives taking anywhere near the numbers of lives guns take in the US, those things happen but at similar rates to the US.
- We've had a bad year in terms of terrorist attacks with bombs and vehicles used in Europe, real bad, you've probably seen the news. But ball parking it america still see's 50 gun deaths for every terrorist associated death in the Europe. (about 200 to 10,000, real ball parked figures)
- Incidents like today's thought they grab the news, its just the tip of the iceberg. For every person killed today 100 to 300 more Americans will die this year by guns dependent on how you want to read the stats.
I hope everyone here and their loved ones are well, and hope these perceptions at least make you think. I know it is not a popular view in these parts, but it need saying.
911 shows you dont need a gun to kill a large number of people. No, your gun control manta doesn't need saying - guns save far more lives and protect more property than people get killed by them. Check those facts. Sadly its not in the liberal interest to broadcast the truth.
My son was shot in the head on the freeway driving home from work most likey so someone could join a gang in one of the top 10 most dangerous cities in America - the murderer wasn't the gun. It was the thug.
Liberals slap criminals on the wrist here. Oh and whats your crime rate over there, pretty bad i would imagine and no way to defend yourself.