Quote:
Originally Posted by enigma2
I'm becoming concerned that this discussion is leading to a certain animosity and heatedness towards some of my posts.
Some are aware that I am arguing my case from a different societal attitude than that of those living in the US and excuse me. Others feel that I'm criticising the US, and in a way that is probably correct to some extent. If I hadn't travelled there I would not have had so much to say. But I did, alone, and came to no harm! However, although I have teased and taunted, it is all academic to me. Australian citizens don't feel the need to go armed and I doubt this will change any time in the next 50 or so years. Also, as I can't see myself emigrating to the US (well, I doubt you would have me!) it doesn't effect me in my every day life.
I suppose it is all to do with my distaste of an armed populace. In other words, it's a personal thing. Therefore, I bow out of this discussion and wish you all well.
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When you came to the U.S., did you tie your shoes before you left? Did you put your seatbelt on when you drove to the airport? Did the car have an airbag? Did you have to go through security screening to get to your plane? Were the pilots of your plane subject to random drug tests? Were you shown the emergency exists, the dixie cup oxygen masks, your seatbelts, and your floating seat cushions? Did you chew your meal carefully? When you arrived you wear UV sunscreen and UV sunglasses?
Had none of those measures been taken, it is likely that you would have arrived just as healthy and skin-cancer free, anyway. Is
that unto itself a valid argument
against any of those measures? (And the countless additional ones...got tired of typing...)?
Of course not.
Using the fact that you, personally, were not subject to violence in the United States as some sort of proof-positive against the "gun culture" of the United States is, well, kinda silly.
Actually, it would be
far less silly to use your violence-free experience within our "gun happy" country as a testimonial
in favor of an armed citizenry. Who knows? Some ruffian might have seen some big Aussie dude and surmised you might be packing heat and moved onto another target - another time - another place. You just don't know...
