Rigeri

I agree with Chewie...

I mean when a terrorist attack kills 3000 people.. they spend billions on dollars to fight terrorists...

Why not do something about the gun problem ? Yes you can never stop it.. but you could change that 11000 number down to like 1-2 thousand

Kattie

Guns aren't the problem. Would people be happier if there were more stabbings than shootings? Or would they campaign to ban knives too? Murder is murder regardless of the method.

Michael Moore's movie wasn't really anti-gun, but rather a poke at the alarmist culture in America and the cultural attitude of using violence to solve problems. Another criticism i would have is the "nanny culture" in America or blaming anything other than yourself for your problems. People blame the gun and not the murderer. Another example would be blaming McDonalds because you are obese. The media also participates by overhyping things such as school shootings by turning killers into celebrities.

Just because you have a well-armed civilian populace doesn't mean that people will go gangbusters. Even if by some miracle all guns were banned, people would just get more creative in their endeavors to kill. You can't ban everything. Besides, in my experience, police are pretty worthless. And unless you have one stationed at your side at all times, then they are the crime scene pickup. And if i choose to have a weapon for protection then i should make the choice ,not the goverment. Banning guns doesn't make the peril any less. Right now there is a serial killer running around in my area who is kidnapping and stabbing women to death. You don't need a gun to be a scary criminal.

One solution i would have would be to legalize all drugs. Most inner city violence is drug-related. Let's face it, if alcohol prohibition didn't work, then why do we think drug prohibition will? What i put in my body is my business and there are already laws to deal with me if i act criminally. People who think that drug use will rise dramatically with legalization ignore reality. Drugs are here and everywhere already. This would empty jails and make space for real criminals and also give police a lighter workload. I would much rather the police concentrate on capturing violent criminals then going after somebody's basement marijuana farm. Besides, when was the last time you heard of people killing each other routinely over moonshine?

Throwing dollars at something isn't going to solve the problem. Look at how much money has been thrown at the "Just Say No" type campaigns. To say they haven't been effective in stopping kids from doing drugs is an understatement. People do things because they can. Murders happen because people don't fear repercussions. Mainly because cops have their hands and jails full. Violent offenders are released early everyday to make way for new prisoners. It's not much of a deterrent when you know that if you are caught, you aren't serving your full sentence. Guns are neutral, they are just things. I guess asphyxiation and knifing aren't as sexy.

FantaOrSprite

Some people in this thread have said that the US doesn't have good health care plans for their citizens. I work in a grocery store and I am covered with healthcare. For the people who don't work for whatever reason there is something called Medicare which covers basically EVERYTHING. Its like welfare for the poor people.
People here have mentioned that a small percent of the population of America is rich, while most are poor. Umm. Not where I live. In My Opinion the best thing about America is the oppurtunity you have to make something of yourself. If you are poor you don't have to stay that way. My Uncle is from Mexico, and he told me if you are born poor there you will be poor basically all your life because there are no oppurtunities for the people with no money. He swam the river to America when he was 17, worked in a tobacco farm to support his siblings through school and now owns 2 houses and is the farm manager.
About the gun problem- Guns don't kill people , people kill people. I think harsher restrictions should be placed on getting a gun, defiantley. Where I live, the average person has one. My brother received one for his 14th birthday. (A rifle btw). I don't like guns, and I don't really want one in MY house just because I think it is a dangerous thing to have laying around. My cousin shot his twin brother with one when he was 6 years old, because they were playing police and he thought it was unloaded. I don't blame the gun on that one..I blame the parents.
About legalizing drugs. Idon't really see a problem with the legalization of pot, but I dont ever want to see the point where crack is made legal. that would just be dangerous. People's personalites totally alter under that drug. I would just have to move if something like that happened.

PapRoach123

I really don't think guns are needed to defend yourself. Most people don't even know how to handle a gun. Criminals do. You think you can outrun a criminal with a hell of a lot more experience with guns than you do? Think again. Firing a gun is easy. Hitting the target is another. It took me 6 months to become a good shooter, and I practiced just about every day.

When I think of an armed civilization, I'm thinking of a one way ticket to hell. If people need guns in their homes so they can protect themselves from other people, then 1. you're on the wrong end of the deal, and 2. you're not creative enough.

1. A gun is an attack weapon. When used in an attack, a gun is 10 times more effective than in a defensive situation. Not to mention a criminal is more experienced with guns than Common Joe. (thanks for the phrase, pasta )

2. A gun is a gun. It doesn't do anything else but fire bullets. It's basically who pulls the trigger first will live. I'm not such a gambling man. I'm much better with a bucket full of water and some high voltage electricity for example. Throwing knives is a possibilty too. But you'll need skill to do that, so wipe that one off the table. Another possibility is a lightening fast dog with very sharp teeth. Two of those is even better.

And those are just for in your home. Now you're walking in the streets. One, stay at home at the wrong times. Two, don't carry a gun when you're outside, because whenever you panick and reach for it, all innocent people among you are in danger. Instead, pretend to surrender and strike a knife in his heart at the right moment. If you don't have a knife present, just go and break his arm in which he's holding the gun. It's a fairly easy thing to do once you know a few good wrestling moves.

The possibilities are endless. I always say, guns are for pussies.

Beeone

Well I'd say that your chances of surviving from a stabbing are much better compared to being shot. And if someone pulls out a knife you can always run, but you can't run from a bullet. I would also say it's fairly "easy" to kill someone using a gun, whereas if you're going to stab someone to death using a knife you need more guts.

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charly

I'm in shock how the security is controlated in Japan...
iknow if u make a crime in japan, steal or something like that, they cut u a finger or a part of ur body :-/

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Rigeri

RaInBoW_bRiTe...

I´m not saying the healthcare in the US is horrible.. I´m just saying that it could be better..

Like here.. it doesn't matter at all how much money you have.. EVERYBODY go to the same places and get the same service (that is good by the way)...

And if you would get diseases like cancer or HIV.. then the government would pay for the treatment

So yeah Its one of the best in the US.. but it could be better.. I believe it is better over here, but I understand that Its difficult to change things in such a big country

PapRoach123

I think the US has a very poor system for college students.

Rigeri

yeah..specially that Its ******* exspensive, here you really just have to pay for the books and registration.. so most of it is just paid by the government..

I mean why not ?

When you have more educated people.. then it puts the country in a better situation, and probably makes it more rich.. So why not pay for education with the tax money ?

They are actually right now working on this more here in Iceland.. they want to spend more money on schools.. so after few years you don't have to pay for books or anything.. just 100% paid by the government, and also change the education system for grammarschools and universities, so most/all students will do their work on laptops...

But I mean nothing is for sure.. depends who will be in control the next few years... But I´m sure it will get better in the next few years... the idea is that everybody should get the same opportunity to get a GOOD education... doesn't matter if you have 1000000$ or 1$ in your bank account.. should have the same right as everybody else to study and get a good life

IamA-BFG

Damn that was a good post!