I am a strong believer in and supporter of the constitution of the United States, and with it the First and the Second Amendment.
Now that’s out of the way, the fact is, according to The Economist of July 28, 2012, page 12, that if you live in the United States, you are four times more likely to be murdered than if you live in Britain, almost six times more likely than in Germany, and 13 times more likely than in Japan. Two thirds of all murders in America involve guns, where the number in Britain is under 10%.
These are facts. Do with them what you will.
We have a right to bear arms, to defend ourselves, to hunt, to … what else?
But do we really need automatic weapons that can shoot 100 rounds a minute? If the Aurora lunatic’s semi-automatic gun had not jammed, more people would have died than 12, and more would have been hurt than 58. If the lunatic hadn’t had a magazine of more than 10 rounds, far less would have died.
People argue that if you outlaw guns only outlaws will have guns.
In America, everyone can have guns. So where were the gun toters in the Batman movie that should have shot back and stopped the maniac?
If it is not the ready availability of guns and bullets, what else constitutes the difference in Japan, Germany and Britain in the murder rate?
Are we just a murderous people?