Originally Posted by joe
My problem with it is, banning assault rifles will not stop mass gun shootings. So what happens in 2 years when there's another Sandy Hook situation? It'll be, we need to go further. Ban more things. Increase regulations. But those won't help either, because the sad truth is you can't stop dangerous, mentally disturbed people from committing mass violence. They'll find guns to use, legal or illegal, if they want them. And if there's no guns, they'll use a car. Or a knife. Will we ban all of those things? Where is the line?
At some point, we must recognize that out of all the humans, a small percentage are going to be screwed up in the head, and there's nothing we can do about it! We shouldn't take away the freedoms of law abiding citizens
in a feeble attempt to protect us from the small percentage of psychopaths. Banning guns or increasing regulations is just a feeble way to make the public feel better, it won't change anything, except the good guys become less free. That's my problem with it.
And how am I, an Australian and generally a good guy, any less free than you? I don't want a gun, and I more importantly don't feel the need to own one. And that is where I think the issue is. It isn't whether you need one or not, it is the fact that so many Americans feel
the need to own one. There needs to be a change in Americas gun culture, as much as their needs to be a change in both gun reform and dealing with mental health problems. And I don't see how maintaining the status quo is doing anything to reduce the perceived need of owning a gun?
Guns aren't outright banned in Australia, but you need to present a case to own one (and personal defense isn't a case). But there is very little real gun culture here and I think it is in part due to the changes we made after Port Arthur.