Quote:
Originally Posted by garinda
Facts On Gun Deaths In The USA
The Americans value their constitution and the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment deals with the right to bear arms. Here is the price that ordinary Americans are paying for the privilege
- 8 children a day die in murders, suicides and accidents involving guns
- since John F. Kennedy was assinated more Americans have died from gunshot wounds at home than died in all the wars of the 20th century
- Osama bin Laden would need at least nine twin towers like attacks each year to equal what Americans do to themselves every year with guns.
- Murder rates in LA, NY and Chigago were approaching the hightest in the world (30 per 100,000) until moves were made in late 20th century to restrict access to guns to teenagers. (The NRA wants these moves reversed)
http://thegreenman.net.au/mt/archives/000473.html
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The movie "Bowling for Columbine" provides some interesting views of American attitudes to firearms. And it also shows that there is no unanimity in America on the question of firearms. It would be wrong to lump all US citizens in the guntoting redneck camp.
I remember reading in one thread about that the first two ammendments were next to one another for the reason that they are somehow related. To go off topic for a moment, let's look at the issue of flag burning. I find it ironic that those who tout the 2nd ammendment are often those who support a law banning the burning of the American flag. But the right of Americans to burn their flag is guaranteed by the first ammendment. To pass such a law would be to undermine basic freedoms of speech and expression. Why do so many Americans want to emasculate the first ammendment, yet still keep sacrosanct the second?
In my opinion ... and it is opinion only ... the second ammendment like the one dealing with the quartering of troops in private homes (I forget the number) is an anachronism. When there was the potential need for a true citizen army, which is distinctly differnt from a volunteer army, the ammendment had value. I am certain that the founding fathers did not intend that Americans should be able to arm themselves with sophisticated firearms which endanger the lives of innocent civilians.