Too many murders with guns.?

Question

I live outside of Philadelphia where there's been a lot of killing with guns lately (the number in 2007 so far is near 260). I think that the people who are killing others are mainly uneducated people who got caught up with crime. I am not saying that gun control is the answer, because I really don't think that the people with the guns near me have them registered to themselves or have gotten them legally anyway. However, no one seems to have a reasonable solution of what to do. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Answer 1

The US didn't have this problem 100 years ago. Certainly crimes were committed and people were murdered, but the rates of these things as a function of population were much lower.

What was the difference between now and then? It wasn't the availability of weapons. Back then, it was legal to order firearms through the Sears catalog and have them shipped to your door! There were no forms to fill out, either...you either had the money, or you didn't.

The real difference was in how people saw themselves as citizens belonging to a community, and their sense of right and wrong. How do we address that?

It starts in the family, and needs to extend to the schools. In both places today, there is too much emphasis on what is right and what is wrong (according to some self-styled "expert"), and not enough on WHY something is right or WHY something is wrong. People are not encouraged to think these things through nowadays.

When that changes, then the crime situation will change.

Answer 2

You're right; gun control is not the answer because guns are not the problem. People are the problem. Bad schools, glorification of violence, breakdown of the family structure, and the availbility of drugs all combine to create these kinds of problems.

To the guy from Canada: if you where correct, the violence would be everywhere in the US. In my town, the lasting killing was years ago when an elderly man went to the hospital to see his dying wife, killed her to relieve her suffering, and then took his own life. But then again, we have good schools here, mostly two-parent families, almost no unemployment, and the result is almost no crime.

Places like Mexico, and many Central American nations, have strict guns laws but have murder rates much higher than the US.

It's a complex problem with no easy solution. You can't wave a magic wand and think that banning guns will make crime go away.

Answer 3

If you are worried about getting killed move because there will always be a black market where people will get guns even if they get outlawed. Look at pot and beer for example both of those things cause people to either get killed or kill someone else in some circumstances. Beer while legal is still at parties where no one there is of legal age hmmmm how it got there.....Another example pot is way illegal but kids and adults alike are able to get these from people right off the street. As a great man once said as long as there are people there will be hatred and killing...no greater words were spoken to explain to you that.
Signed a,
Wise Man Who Wishes We Could Just All Get Along

Answer 4

Prosecute people who use guns in the commission of a crime and give them the max sentence. Too many prisons are letting people out on "good behavior", probation, extending their probation, or just dropping the case all together because the DA or SAOs have too large of a case load. People who use weapons in the commission of a crime need to go to jail. If you use harsher penalties against them criminals will hopefully get the message. Gun control is great if it worked, however, only law abiding citizens are going to follow the gun control laws. Thus why it doesn't work!

Answer 5

As an American Citizen I'm amazed at the irrational, illogical and just plain stupid fear of guns (handguns especially) in this country. Here's a few facts for those misinformed anti gun people.

1. We have a Constitutional Right as individual citizens to own firearms ( the word People as mentioned in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th etc... Amendments proves this and has been acknowledged by the Supreme Court)

2. The Courts of this country have consistently stated that the Police have no legal obligation to protect individuals but rather the public as a whole.

3. Since the police have no legal obligation to protect each individual citizen that responsibility falls directly on the shoulders of each American Citizen.

4. Firearms and handguns in particular are the most readily available and most efficient means of self defense for the average person

Answer 6

unfortunately I don't think there is a viable answer. Today's culture almost promotes this behavior. I know its not PC but the fact of the matter is, this urban culture is one of (not the only) the biggest factors involved. We need to change the mindset of almost an entire generation and culture. That is next to impossible. I think it all starts with the parents, but the community must get involved too. I know its cliche but it takes a village ya know. People need to keep there eyes out and report suspicious behavior. Tell someones parents that you saw their kid hangin' with the wrong crowd. We need to change the mindset from being a snitch to protecting your neighborhood.

Answer 7

To The Canadian

I live in the United States and have always found Canadians completely ridiculous!! I'd say go shoot your self...but you have no gun!

Answer 8

You could always move to a city that has better stats.

Answer 9

I live in Canada and have always found it completely ridiculous that handguns are legal in the US. I can't think of any justfication for this. Everyone says it's for protection but if no one was allowed to have one, then you wouldn't need to protect yourself. That number of shooting deaths is insane. The problem is already so out of control that I don't know if there is a solution but I think hanguns should be illegal.

Answer 10

You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hand

I have a fourth amendment right to bear arms and I exercise my rights