In so far as this issue goes, I couldn't agree more.

__________________
Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time. Likening weapons ownership (legal or not, you never specified) to an easily remedied parasitic infection is disingenuous at best. I point out that humans being armed is the norm throughout history, and you say that we can cure worms, so we should be able to get over violence?

Show me the medical or technological breakthrough that makes a "gun infestation" go away. Please, I want to live in this utopian society you speak of, my soul yearns for it.

People fight, people do bad things to other people. One tribe will try to steal another's cattle. Can't you see that it is actually human nature to want to protect that which is precious to you?

__________________
If common sense were common, we would all have it (including me).

Well, tell your soul that you have good news, you are moving to Europe, the UK, Australia or New Zealand. Utopia here we come!

__________________
Lucky is he (sic) who has been able to understand the causes of things
Virgil

Oh! you can still own a gun, of a sorts! You won't be able to carry it with you when doing the shopping though!

I can just see you when you get to the 12 items or less at the local supermarket. "Listen, bitch you've got 13 items in your trolley - spread 'em".

Can I come and watch as they take you away?

My example was to point out that there are lots of 'things' humanity once did, or had done to it, but time has moved on. In some places they don't even have the death penalty, it's considered too uncivilised.

__________________
Lucky is he (sic) who has been able to understand the causes of things
Virgil

Oh! and by the way, the 'tribe' up the road from me don't steal cattle any more. Apart from two large dogs, and friendly, honest neighbours, I've also got something called a phone that enables me to phone for assistance from people who actually get paid to do this very thing, protect me and my property.

As the old saying goes - why bark when you have a dog?

__________________
Lucky is he (sic) who has been able to understand the causes of things
Virgil

Awwww! cyd. What a cute pussy-cat! I have two adorable cats. Are you a cat person?

__________________
Lucky is he (sic) who has been able to understand the causes of things
Virgil

Really?

Utopia. Right.

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

2.4% isn't exactly a crime-wave. You also haven't mentioned how many of those 'assaults' involved guns. I believe we were discussing whether one carried a gun or not.

I still think you're a bunch of sissies.

As for phone surveys, come on!!!! My phone number is on just about every bloody poll and call centre in Australia. One day I got FIVE different calls in one four hour period. The questions are designed to get a certain response, if you don't know that, Matt I have a few shares in a large bridge over the Yarra River I can sell you! They're going cheap!

Just Jokin', mate!

__________________
Lucky is he (sic) who has been able to understand the causes of things
Virgil

You are entitled to your opinion. Even when you're wrong.

The fact is you are more likely to be a victim of a violent crime in many parts of the UK and Australia than you are in the US.

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

I never said I wanted to carry a gun through the checkout. Fact is, if you don't have it concealed, you actually can carry a gun in the parts of the US. But I never said I felt it necessary.

Now, the way concealed carry laws are set up in my state, I cannot have a knife in my pocket that has a blade longer than three inches without violating them. I have a pocket knife that is very handy that has a blade just a little longer than that. Now, the inane laws of this state actaully would force me to get a concealed carry permit for guns in order to carry that knife in my pocket. It's pretty handy to have, and in my youth I have had a few run-ins with the law, so I choose tyo comply with said law.

If you had read all of my responses, you would find that I am not some cowboy that wanders around town with a shootin' iron on my hip. I just want to comply with the law, and the law says that if I want to put a handgun in my glove compartment when I go camping, I need a concealed carry permit. Where I go camping is pretty wild, and the last time I went up there I saw exactly one other person in three days of camping. And he was a forestry service ranger. In the area, there are large predatory critters like the mountain lion and a couple of types of bear.

Now, I think that all is well and good in Australia if you no longer feel the need to have guns around at all. I am impressed that you are that civilised. Unfortunately, here in the US, we have not made the leap to being that civilised, and it doesn't look like we will be anytime soon. In my opinion, we are actually headed in the opposite direction, and I think there a lot of factors contributing to that. But that is another thread.

And you're probably right, I probably am a sissy, if what I have seen of Australians is any indication (Paul Hogan and Steve Irwin) of what the menfolk are like in your fair country. After all, when faced with a bloody great crocodile, I would probably use a gun rather than wrestling it.

One more thing, you mention you have cats. Do you have them de-clawed? After all, there is no need for them to have claws, in a civilised household.

__________________
If common sense were common, we would all have it (including me).

I don't own or carry a gun. I have been to the US many times, for extended periods to New York (the city and the rest), to Mass, Kansas, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, and others but for shorter periods, but I have never felt the need to have one, even while in the cities, parties, downtown, wherever. But from the way it sounds on here it sounds like you are living in Iraq or something. The Land of the Free and the greatest democracy on Earth and so many of it citizen's feel they are at death's door without a firearm. I had no idea it was like that. Learn something everyday.

__________________
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way.

"There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation" - Pierre Trudeau

“No one is more enslaved than a slave who doesn't think they're enslaved.” - Kate Beckinsale

Tweakers have changed a lot of things for US residents over the past couple of years.

I may be stupid, well I know I am, but what are tweakers?

__________________
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way.

"There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation" - Pierre Trudeau

“No one is more enslaved than a slave who doesn't think they're enslaved.” - Kate Beckinsale

It's a common name given to users of methamphetamine...

__________________
Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Correct. Ask any US cop what the biggest current problem for LE is and that's the answer you'll get.