[HoosierDaddy]

Shinrei, on 21 January 2011 - 11:52 PM, said:

Once scenario we should perhaps consider is one of women being assaulted. Some women are strong, but many can be overpowered by a determined male assailant. For a woman returning home from work at night, traveling on her own etc. a gun is a great equalizer. Getting raped isn't the same as "oh, i can just give him my wallet and report it to the police asap".

True, but how often can a potential victim tell that she is about to be raped, as opposed to robbed by someone? The gun in this situation could be an equaliser, but it could also be a gross leap in escalation of violence. To the point that the woman could be the potential criminal if she escalates said violence to an unreasonable point.

This and home invasion are two of the stickiest situations and probably most easily defensible positions for arms brandishing. I think most would think a rape whistle, mace, stun-gun, etc. are a more reasonable precaution, myself.

[Mezla PigDog]

Nicodimas, on 15 January 2011 - 03:21 AM, said:

To switch the subject onto something I know way less about. IS America a fearful nation...compared to say Europeans countries.

Yes! It is one of the things that struck me the most when I lived there for a short time. American's are really afraid of what their fellow countrymen might do to them on the street. I think Europeans are more pragmatic about it while American's have got themselves into a concealed weapon arms race and have ghettoised dodgy areas.

[McLovin]

Plus, the American media has us all whipped into a frenzy with their 24/7 if-it-bleeds-it-leads coverage. One good point Michael Moore made in Bowling for Columbine is just how distorted US news coverage is. The US is safer today than it has been in decades, yet to hear some people you'd think we live in a war zone.

I am really dreading September 11, 2011, for all the ridiculous coverage it's going to generate. I think I'm going to go find a hiking trail that day and just drop off the grid.

[Tapper]

Mezla PigDog, on 22 January 2011 - 03:47 PM, said:

Nicodimas, on 15 January 2011 - 03:21 AM, said:

To switch the subject onto something I know way less about. IS America a fearful nation...compared to say Europeans countries.

Yes! It is one of the things that struck me the most when I lived there for a short time. American's are really afraid of what their fellow countrymen might do to them on the street. I think Europeans are more pragmatic about it while American's have got themselves into a concealed weapon arms race and have ghettoised dodgy areas.

Mwaaah, not so sure there Mez. We all have our strange anti-Islam, pro-native white citizen, pro-safety, pro-harsh punishment political parties (UKIP, dutch Freedom Party, Front National, whatever DeWinter calls his latest reinvocation of the Flemish Group) rising like particularly ugly clots of rot. Those are all based on fear of what our fellow man might do to us.

However, the general consensus here is that arming ourselves is not going to help us being safe. I also think the divide between rich and poor is less well pronounced this side of the Atlantic. I also think that most Americans who crossed the pond feel safe here.

Question to all you gun-carriers: would you go to Europe on a holiday, or move to someplace here permanently, knowing you can't carry? If not, why not? Are you that attached to your freedom to carry, or is it that you won't feel safe?

[Adjutant Stormy~]

Traveling to Europe, I'd leave my gun behind. It's not really worth the hassle to try to make it through customs with one, and besides, the whole right to bear arms thing doesn't obviously apply abroad.

I'm fairly certain that the kinds of people who find gun regulations THAT abhorrent aren't likely to ever leave the country...