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America is held back by part of the constitution

Posted by: Catherine ( Great Britain ) on May 02, 1999 at 01:30:11:

In Reply to: Because we are too soft on criminals posted by Shaun on April 05, 1999 at 16:38:24:

: : Why is USA so violent? Think about that. Arms in almost every house...

: Don't blame all of America's violence on people who own guns, when, in fact, only a small percentage of gun owners are law breakers. I do believe that we should have the right to bear arms, but only law-abiding citizens. The drug dealers, gangsters etc... should not be allowed to own guns (they should all be in jail, but our country is so soft on criminals), but there are many good people who do own guns and they shouldn't be deprived of that freedom. I do not own a gun, but I do believe that honest law abiding people should have the right if they wish.

: If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will own guns.


I think your views, and the views of the pro-gun lobby are misguided. Rather than taking sensible action against guns America is held back by part of the constitution, written in a society where guns were somewhat neccessary.
I belive that the US is so violent as a gun culture is accepted. I live in Britian where, following the tragedy in Dunblane in March 1997 (16 5 year old plus their teacher were shot-dead by a madman), hand guns are banned but even before that it was much harder to get your hand on a gun. In the US any legislation to prevent a criminal/person with violent tendencies from owning a gun is deemd unconstitutional. But even more importantly no-one in Britain feels they need to own a gun as we are used to not being able to. I've never even seen a gun! Britain is , rightly, 'softer'on criminals than the US - we don't have the death penalty but I belive we have been tougher on the cause of crime: poverty. The US should learn from ours, and other European cuntries example's and ban handguns and be tougher on poverty!!!




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