I think the issue here is that whilst the vast majority of gun owners may be responsible people, the minority who are not can cause tremendous and disproportionate suffering to both humans and animals. Where a society like America allows such widespread ownership of guns, it must surely increase the likelihood of those weapons falling into the hands of the unbalanced or disaffected, with the tragic results we see all too often. Sadly, and to the bewilderment of much of the rest of the World, the US seems to regard that as a price worth paying. :confused:

I’m not sure what you see outside the states in regards to what happens often here. Sure there have been campus shootings and madmen running the streets of LA, but those occurrences are few and far between.

What you probably see (and I’m taking a stab at it here) is the murders in the major cities in this country. One reason I would expect this is because that is all that I see. I live about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Last year its murder rate was well over 1 per day. Most of the murders had to do with gangs and drugs. The sad part is that the victims are more often than not innocent bystanders. If these druggies shot straight and only killed each other, I don’t think anyone would have a problem with it.

The problem is the police force is not large enough, aren’t always, ehhh lets just say, doing their best. On top of this, Philadelphia has very tough gun control laws, where the average citizen who lives in the city isn’t allowed to own some weapons or carry some. Again, as I pointed out in my earlier post, if you can not defend yourself from the scum of society, what else can you do? Go and Vote? And to take a line from the New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg who was asked about people not being able to buy/own a handgun in NYC he said “We have the best police force in the world, there is no need for someone to own a gun.” Now I’m not knocking the NYPD, but the police can not be everywhere at every time. So what are we supposed to do? Sit and hope and pray?

I think not, I would much rather have the ability to defend myself if needed. The gun problem in the US is not widespread, even though I’m sure that idea goes against all conventional wisdom. The gun problem, the murders, are only in a certain group of this country. And it does bother me to say this, but as you said this “problem” is something a lot of Americans are willing to live with. Not because we don’t care, but because we will not tolerate a loss of our individual rights in order to (the key word)”possibly” address a serious problem in a certain group of society.

I could further discuss this, but I don’t wanna take up more of my time at this moment. However, I will further discuss this at any future point if anyone is interested 😀

this post on here has actually made this site not very enjoyable anymore after all this is suppose to be a aviation forum hence the name the aviation forum

sad really

Ehhh not to be rude Bristol Rob, but does your computer automatically bring you to this thread when you log on to KeyPub? Because if it doesn’t, your opinion, IMHO, quite simply sums up who you are. And who you are is fine, but It makes sense of everything. I’m a pro-gun, bible toting hick, but I’m willing to discuss this further, whats up with you?

BTW, isn’t this thread posted in the GENERAL DISCUSSION area of the forum? I may have to go back to school…..what does General Discussion actually entail? Maybe a mod could help me out, I wouldn’t want to break any forum rules.

Oh and if sarcasm isn’t allowed I apologize in advance.

GRRRR@ INTOLERANCE OF OTHER POINTS OF VIEW. 😡

See what I did there? 🙂

GA

Yes I did, very very cunning of you oh wise one 😀

Ahhh ok, im not sure if we have these “chips” in out cards here in the states or not.

Btw, do you have the new cards, or “sticks” (the little ones you can attach to your keychain) that enable you to literally wave a magic wand and the money is mysteriously debited? Im just wondering, theyre here in the states but so far dont seem to have become to widespread. Personally I dont like the idea of RF tags with my money, I bet its just as easy to get access.

But anyways, thanks for the reply cdp206.

Doesn’t anyone else here think that the American adoration of guns is sick and totally abhorrent? Up here in the sheep country of the Peak District, a gun is a tool, used only sparinglyand not for fun, to control the odd rogue fox and to shoot dogs( mainly Weimeraners and labradors) that worry and kill sheep and lambs.Most of the owners are ”townies” and some get very abusive when told to put their dog on a lead in order to protect livestock and breeding wild birds.Thank goodness we have more sensible laws about guns in this country!

Ehhhhh I’m not sure where to begin. “American adoration of guns is sick and abhorrent?” Let me just say as a proud American gun owner, I am neither sick or insane. Now, some people may think I am, after all, my collection at my age of 26 is large, I own almost as many as I am old.

Not only due the number of firearms I own bother people, but so do the types. I have many “sport” rifles, most which I’ve inherited from family. I also have a few shotguns for other times, depending on what I am hunting or the location.

In addition, I have those disgusting handguns, 5 at this time. What do I do with them? Whatever the hell I want as long as its legal. I enjoy shooting them, putting myself under pressure trying to get better and better each time I go to the range, which is exactly what I do with every other firearm I own. (Well, there are a few I don’t fire, but thats more to do with “heirloom status” than anything else.)

But, the creme de la creme, are my “assault rifles”. The rifles everyone hates, even the “sporting shooter”. Along with a few examples of rifles we and many allies used in WWII, I have a few newer ones. The question is why?

Its simple actually. Again, with the marksmanship, the toughness to shoot well, the yearning to be better. The competition within oneself is, in my opinion, the most important competition any of us will ever face.

But, at the very root of all of this, the very meaning of shooting well, being a riflemen……In order to defend yourself, your neighbors, whomever it may be from whatever threat there may be.

Here in the US, there are many many people who feel that our 2nd amendment (right to bear arms) is the most important out of the 10amendments. Why? If you can not defend yourself, what point are the other rights? How important is the 1st amendment, the freedom of speach, if you can not say what you want?

We are a young country and we have progressed very fast. However, for a good percentage of the population, the government is not to be trusted. And I am not referring to Bush and Iraq, or any other certain president or circumstance. What I am referring to is the basic common mistrust of any government body getting to strong, too all powerful/enveloping.

This is a basic American idea, one that surprisingly has not died out since the revolution. And I hate to say it, but the idea is becoming more widespread, louder if you will. I do not want an “armed revolution”, but if that point comes I will not be surprised, let alone standing on the sidelines unprepared.

It comes down to this in America. We don’t have adoration for firearms. What we have is a deep respect for the power they yield and the power they represent for individuals.

BTW, any of this Gangster crap or what I would guess most people see overseas about the murders in this country, this is not the same thing that I just explained, it is the exact opposite. So please, I understand they we tend to believe what we see, but do not confuse the two. They are two completely different entities.

Seriously doubt this . The USAF is more likely to use a UAV for this purpose and use its high loiter time .

I agree, the USAF will not want to pay the developmental cost to build a 2 seater JSF, its that simple.

Thanks Flex, no wonder I never noticed it.

Thanks for the replies mike and FMK.6.

I was just interested as over here in the states the whole banning of firearms, especially handguns, is a hot subject these days. And I have heard from pro-gun groups that violent crime in Britain and Australia has skyrocketed since both countries both passed comprehensive gun bans.

But I like to hear from people that are “on the ground” sort of speak.

All I can say is, thankfully, no gun laws have been passed recently. But Im betting that is going to change in the not to distant future.

just wondering usernamechanged……..what sorta hoops do you have to go through to own those firearms in Great Britain, at least thats where im guessing you live.