12-16-2012, 02:27 PM
Switzerland has the fourth highest rate of gun ownership in the world and nearly zero violent crime. Japan has very strict gun laws and almost zero violent crime. I firmly believe violence has very little to do with laws and very much to do with culture. America has a violent culture, though it appears we're getting better.
I don't think criminalizing guns will help. It works in other countries, sure, but you take a country with, as you say, over 300 million guns, and you make guns illegal - now guns are all in the hands of criminals. And I like the idea of an armed populace in case a few generals and high ranking politicians decide it's time for a new system of government.
I think a solution might be to make someone non-criminally liable if their gun is used for a crime and they can't prove they took appropriate safeguards. And maybe require gun purchasers to show proof of ownership of a gun safe to a gun dealer prior to sale of a gun.
I don't think criminalizing guns will help. It works in other countries, sure, but you take a country with, as you say, over 300 million guns, and you make guns illegal - now guns are all in the hands of criminals. And I like the idea of an armed populace in case a few generals and high ranking politicians decide it's time for a new system of government.
I think a solution might be to make someone non-criminally liable if their gun is used for a crime and they can't prove they took appropriate safeguards. And maybe require gun purchasers to show proof of ownership of a gun safe to a gun dealer prior to sale of a gun.