I had to bring this up again as I was listening to BBC Radio 5 Live last night and they brought up the debate about guns in America because today the gun ban Clinton signed back in 1994, which prevented citizens from owning semi-automatic weapons (think UZI's, AK47's etc.) expires, making it legal for Americans to purchase semi-automatic weapons for whatever they need them for.
They had a woman on from the NRA (National Rifle Association) speaking about how bad this ban was and that it didn't make sense and that Americans had the right to own semi-automatic weapons and how it didn't affect crime one bit etc. The usual bullshit you would expect from the NRA. I could barely contain myself just listening to her speak with such absolute ignorance, I was close to smashing my radio to bits, that's how much she pissed me off.
The arguments she gave in favour of this ban expiring were so bogus. Such as criminals still won't be allowed to own semi-automatic weapons, it's just the law-abiding (emphasising on that) that will be allowed to purchase semi-automatic weapons for hunting, self defence, shooting competitions, collection. Why on earth would anyone need to own a semi-automatic weapon? why does anyone even need a semi-automatic weapon anyway? owning a pistol (which I consider needless and stupid also) is one thing but before you know we'll have "law-abiding citizens" walking around armed to the teeth with UZI's, AK47's and whatnot.
Every criminal used to be a "law-abiding citizen" at sometime in their life, it's not like they were born a criminal and looked up on seeing first daylight. What if you have an argument with someone about a minor accident, it heats up and suddenly one of these "law-abiding citizens" pulls a bloody AK47 on you and shoots you. Yeah, so much for law-abiding citizen now eh!
Another bogus argument she tried to brainwash listeners with was the "what if you walk down a dark alley at night and someone attacks you?" argument. Yeah, first what are you doing in a dark alley at night anyway? you don't need to go there, what a load a crap!
I seriously do not understand what the NRA's (or anyone who supports guns for that matter) take on the matter is. How can you justify it being legal for people to own guns? (other than for sports or hunting purposes only). Nobody needs a gun to defend themselves, if guns weren't legal not many people would have to defend themselves for starters, it really is beyond my comprehension how anyone can support and think guns have a purpose (again, excluding sport or hunting).
The presenter then brought up the fact that in the UK, where guns are illegal, there are a lot less gun crime. She then pointed out that gun crime was on the rise in the UK. Fair enough, it is but nowhere near the proportions it has reached across the pond. She then added that there were a lot less people in the UK. Also true but the gun crime per person ration in the UK is a lot, lot lower than in the US. Also what about countries like Canada, Australia. Large countries but there isn't half the gun crime there is in the US. Why? because of the stupid gun laws (or lack of) in the US and the general stance towards guns by people like the NRA.
The NRA (bastards) go as far as calling the law that was signed by Clinton in 1994 a "political chest-thumping and deceit at its worst".
Read this article and have a laugh at the sheer ignorance these people project.
http://www.nra.org/Article.aspx?id=886
They had a woman on from the NRA (National Rifle Association) speaking about how bad this ban was and that it didn't make sense and that Americans had the right to own semi-automatic weapons and how it didn't affect crime one bit etc. The usual bullshit you would expect from the NRA. I could barely contain myself just listening to her speak with such absolute ignorance, I was close to smashing my radio to bits, that's how much she pissed me off.
The arguments she gave in favour of this ban expiring were so bogus. Such as criminals still won't be allowed to own semi-automatic weapons, it's just the law-abiding (emphasising on that) that will be allowed to purchase semi-automatic weapons for hunting, self defence, shooting competitions, collection. Why on earth would anyone need to own a semi-automatic weapon? why does anyone even need a semi-automatic weapon anyway? owning a pistol (which I consider needless and stupid also) is one thing but before you know we'll have "law-abiding citizens" walking around armed to the teeth with UZI's, AK47's and whatnot.
Every criminal used to be a "law-abiding citizen" at sometime in their life, it's not like they were born a criminal and looked up on seeing first daylight. What if you have an argument with someone about a minor accident, it heats up and suddenly one of these "law-abiding citizens" pulls a bloody AK47 on you and shoots you. Yeah, so much for law-abiding citizen now eh!
Another bogus argument she tried to brainwash listeners with was the "what if you walk down a dark alley at night and someone attacks you?" argument. Yeah, first what are you doing in a dark alley at night anyway? you don't need to go there, what a load a crap!
I seriously do not understand what the NRA's (or anyone who supports guns for that matter) take on the matter is. How can you justify it being legal for people to own guns? (other than for sports or hunting purposes only). Nobody needs a gun to defend themselves, if guns weren't legal not many people would have to defend themselves for starters, it really is beyond my comprehension how anyone can support and think guns have a purpose (again, excluding sport or hunting).
The presenter then brought up the fact that in the UK, where guns are illegal, there are a lot less gun crime. She then pointed out that gun crime was on the rise in the UK. Fair enough, it is but nowhere near the proportions it has reached across the pond. She then added that there were a lot less people in the UK. Also true but the gun crime per person ration in the UK is a lot, lot lower than in the US. Also what about countries like Canada, Australia. Large countries but there isn't half the gun crime there is in the US. Why? because of the stupid gun laws (or lack of) in the US and the general stance towards guns by people like the NRA.
The NRA (bastards) go as far as calling the law that was signed by Clinton in 1994 a "political chest-thumping and deceit at its worst".
Read this article and have a laugh at the sheer ignorance these people project.
http://www.nra.org/Article.aspx?id=886
