Are guns the problem? What do you think of this quote? Accurate or not?

Question

“On CNN the other night Anderson Cooper was worrying about the homicide rate in Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love is the murder capital of the nation, and CNN had dispatched a reporter to interview the grieving mother of a young black boy killed while riding his bicycle in the street. Apparently, a couple of cars had got backed up behind him, and an impatient passenger in one of them pulled out a gun and shot the kid. Anderson Cooper then went to commercials and, when he returned, introduced a report on how easy it is to buy guns in Philadelphia and how local politicians are reluctant to do anything about it. This is, again, an argument only the expert class could make. In the 1990s, the number of guns in America went up by 40 million, but the murder rate fell dramatically. If firearms availability were the determining factor, Vermont and Switzerland would have high murder rates. Yet in Montpelier or Geneva the solution to a boy carelessly bicycling in front of you down a city street when you’re in a hurry is not to grab your gun and blow him away. It’s the culture, not the technology.” —Mark Steyn

What do you think is the solution?

Answer 1

It's a culture of death and hate that we are creating.

We show that we value life so little and that respect is a thing of the past and then wonder why kids start killing each other.

Say what you will, but when there was corporal punishment in schools and homes, there were NO school shootings. There was much lower crime also. Parents taught us respect.

While liberal attitudes are sometimes good, liberalism run wild like we have today is the cause of most of our issues.

Gun availability is not the cause. When I was a kid, I could buy a gun at the local Ace Hardware store and not require a parents permission or a background check. Guns were even allowed to be brought to school as long as they were unloaded and left in your locker. I remember bringing my rifle many days and going hunting after school.

We raise our kids to show no respect and then cry when they show no respect. We are messed up as a society.

Answer 2

There's several reasons we don't use an AK type weapon, but we do still use 7.62mm guns (M-14, e.g.). 1. Prior to the development of the M-16, a successor to the M-1 Garand and the BAR was developed for their replacement. This eventually became the M-14 automatic rifle. In fact, the reason it has a 20rd magazine is that during initial development, they used old BAR magazines. When the M-14 was deployed as an automatic weapon, Vets found it hard to control muzzle climb. Having been an M-14 instructor in the Navy, I've fired one of the few remaining original full-auto M-14's, and that's not an idle report; after about 5 rounds, you're shooting at the tops of trees unless you've got a gorilla grip on the bottom of the magazine. At that same time, the U.S. was starting to get pressure from NATO allies to move to 5.56mm Ball ammunition weapons (.223), then in use by all other NATO countries. The M-14 problems eventually led to the decision to switch the bulk of the M-14's to semi-auto(keeping a few full-autos on Navy ships), and moving to the M-16 as the military's primary weapon. In the early days of the M-16, it just wasn't as durable as the M-14, nor did it have the range/stopping power of that the .308 round does, so the M-14 semi-autos stayed in military inventory for a long time as a weapon for more hostile climates (e.g., desert and ice conditions). They're still deployed on some Navy vessels. Today, the M-14 full-auto is being used by active SEAL teams, having solved the muzzle climb problem by adding a forestock grip. The one weapon truly feared by the Germans and Japanese in WWII was the BAR, as it had superior close-quarters clearing power. Its successor in today's full-auto M-14 goes further, being excellent as a long-range sniper weapon if required, and being a hell of a lot lighter than the BAR. Most shooters in competition military matches will use the M-14 (open sights are required) on the 1,000yd ranges, as it's accurate as hell at that range. 2. Ammunition - One of the other primary reasons NATO doesn't use 7.62 based primary weapons is just common military sense; you don't want your enemy to be able to capture your weapons or ammo and be able to turn around and start using them on you right away. If you capture an enemy weapon, you still need its ammo in large quantities to be of any long-term use. Same goes with ammo capture; you need the weapon to use it. The M-16 and its variants has come into its own as a reliable, accurate, and versatile weapon, overcoming its initial myriad of problems, though it's taken a lot of improvements to get to where it is now.

Answer 3

I am moving to Pennsylvania next week, and have been looking into a concealed carry permit (I have one in Virginia, but need a new one for the state I am moving to). You can get on in Pennsylvania if you are legally able to own a gun, so criminals ect can't. Except, I can't carry conceled in what PA calls "City of the First Class" which is Philly. So, I can carry conceled in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Erie, where ever but Philly. It is funny that Philly has the most murders.

Also, Washington DC has the strictest gun laws in the nation (hand guns are illegal) yet their murder rate is 3 times higher than any state in the nation, and 15 times higher than Vermont (where you can carry if you are 14). Guns make us safer. If I was a criminal DC would be a playground, knowing nobody has a gun at home, or Philly becuase nobody can carry concealed.

Answer 4

You have drawn up on of the hardest problems in this country to correct. First citizens have a constitutional right to bare arms. Point Blank. I think the biggest problem is that guns are easy to get in urban areas and there is not enough law enforcement to crackdown on that so it then starts in the home. If someone is to keep a gun at home make sure everyone understands what it is for and how to use it. They need to practice with it at a range on targets. It is just like driving a car you can not take it for granted but should understand what it is to be used for. Proper education on firearms is the key because you will never fully be able to get rid of them.

Answer 5

Lets see. I have a few firearms. None of them have ever killed anyone. A gun by itself is nothing but a club. The problem is the people. Philadelphia needs to clean the scum out of it’s city. The neighborhoods where these murders are happening need to band together to fight it.
There are plenty of good laws regarding firearms. Maybe it’s time to enforce them. Maybe, they should allow more law-abiding citizens to use self defensive measures to prevent crimes.
If, instead of shooting the kid on the bike, the person simply ran him over with a car, would cars then be the problem? What if he got out and beat the kid to death with a rock, are rocks the problem? Nope. It’s the people. I love when people blame the tool for the work of the person. If I try to build a house and it falls, is it the hammers fault? Nope. People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions.

Answer 6

The are several parts to this answer

There is a lack of spirituality in our society today that leads people to think it doesn't matter what you do as long as it's what you feel at the moment.
Note that I said spirituality not Christianity as I don't care what type you adhere to the only rule is that your Deity be a kind and loving one not a mean ole hate monger.

we are glorifying violence with this gangsta rap

Single parent families make it impossible for anyone to properly supervise their kids. I bet you the shooter isn't even sure whom his father is.

Education we must teach all kids that all life is sacred and not up to them or their posse to terminate.

A real death penalty. I have no problem with public execution for several reasons first and foremost to send the message if you commit this crime you will get executed where all can see and I have no problem with hanging if it's done correctly either the neck breaks or the head comes off (not intentionally) either way you die quickly and send the message. So may all perish whom decide to live this way.

Death for
Murders
Child Molesters
Rapists
Career Criminals

Answer 7

Statistics also show that over 70% of the firearms used in violent crimes are illegally acquired or illegally possessed weapons.

It's not the LEGAL guns that are the problem.

If you want to stop the problem, start with practicing justice instead of law. Stop being so reluctant to give the death penalty to murderers. Stop wasting time by keeping people on death row for fifteen years. Make the executions public and very painful, and you'll see a sharp decline in violent crimes.

Violent crimes persist because the punishment doesn't match the crime.

It's like robbing a bank of a million dollars and being told you only have to pay thousand dollars in return. I'd rob the bank, too.

Answer 8

The solution is a tough one. Guns are not the problem at all. The idea you get rid of crime by creating Law is absurd. Criminals by the definition are not going to follow the laws. Out issues are all in the punishments. We have a limited justice system and limited number of cells and an unlimited number of criminals. We need harder punishments. We have Capital punishment, but no corporal punishment. If you get a 10 year sentence, then you need to serve 10 years. No bonus for good behavior. They had a chance for good behavior and that was outside of the prison. The Right to bear Arms is our right in this country. Everyday we have to hear about how dangerous guns are. It’s the people that are dangerous. I would rather see people be licensed to have babies then I would for them to be licensed to carry a fire arm. That makes more sense to me anyhow. I have even gone through the thought of making it mandatory for everyone to carry a fire arm. That certainly would have stopped some of these attacks that happen at our schools. Gun control just makes it harder for the law abiders to defend themselves. The idea that the police are here to protect you is just wrong. All police men carry chalk. Life is tough defend yourself at all times.

Answer 9

The quote is accurate. Guns are not the problem. The problem in Philly is in da hood. These people have never learned to exist as a community. If they would pay more attention to Bill Cosby and less to Al Sharpton, Jesse and Snoop Dogg they would be far better off and they may even start learning how to peacefully co-exist with each other.

Answer 10

Guns can't shoot themselves. Guns are not the problem whatsoever. Most folks who own guns have them for protection, or hunting.
If we're talking murder rates, do you suppose more murders are committed with guns, than all others? Let's find out...

Below, a link. 1/3 of murders in America, are committed without guns. Cars kill more people. Shall we take cars away from the people, too?

The day my gun is taken from me by the government, is the day I can no longer protect my family against "tyranny, and government".
My second amendment RIGHT! "The right to bare arms".