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| Re: RIP charleston heston [message #328336 is a reply to message #328331] |
Tue, 29 April 2008 17:53   |
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Starbuzz
Messages: 2487
Registered: May 2007
Karma: 2
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General (2 Stars) |
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Generally, there is a HUGE split in opinion between Americans and Europeans when it comes to gun control. And I don't think there will ever be any kind of same-ground.
A lot also depends on the attitude of the masses. The gun-friendly culture in the United States is simply too mature and advanced for some random ban to work. There will be outrage and people will feel their freedoms infringed upon if any thing is done to take away these rights. And quite frankly, it is just a waste of time to try to do just that.
That's not the case in most of the EU nations as the various goverments have worked together for many years through many programs to stop a widespread gun-friendly culture from developing in their lands. The respective peoples attitude reflects that progress.
In most European lands, a anti-gun sentiment is part of the collective minds of the society...so when arguments rise as to who is right, it will only come down to heated exchanges due to the vast difference of opinion.
I don't think anyone is on the "wrong."
This is what it all comes down to...two major pools of opinion battling it out. It does not work that way. Most Europeans (and most Indians too) feel a heck of a lot safer in a gun-free society. By no means are they in police states but simply maintain a trust in their government.
Americans were rised in the culture of freedom and the rights so they too have the right to demand whatever they want.
[Updated on: Tue, 29 April 2008 18:34] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: RIP charleston heston [message #328341 is a reply to message #325353] |
Tue, 29 April 2008 18:38 |
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NukeIt15
Messages: 987
Registered: February 2003
Location: Out to lunch
Karma: 0
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Colonel |
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I believe that part (or most) of that arises from the fact that we, as a nation, gained our independence because we were able to use our guns to kick a corrupt government off our shores. Our government is meant to be founded on not trusting the government to keep the best interests of the people in mind- and looking at many of the policies currently in place, we've got good reason to question their motives. Notice, if you will, how states with the most restrictive laws (not just towards guns, but in general) are also the states which are most notorious for corruption- New Jersey being among them.
This isn't a coincidence; if We the People allow our government to run unchecked, it will grow beyond our control and begin instead to control us. There are examples known to everyone of governments, in the midst of a crisis, claiming too much power (as much as I hate to use the most popular example, the Nazi Party is perhaps the most obvious one) to the detriment of its own citizens and other nations as well. It can happen without anyone even taking notice until the process is to far advanced to turn around- they take away a right here, a right there... all in the name of preserving peace and order, or the tired old excuse of "national security." All leads toward one end, and that is a government which exists solely to pursue its own agenda, with a subservient population which serves only as a resource to further those goals.
Make no mistake- the government represents the nation, but it is not a nation in and of itself. It is when the two words become synonyms that we have reason to fear for our rights- and we're perilously close to that right now. In the past, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights have guaranteed protection against that sort of thing- as it did when President Adams attempted to shove through legislation banning criticism of the Government (look up the Alien and Sedition Acts). The fact is that it is, always has been, and always will be a real threat that citizens need to remain aware of.
That is the reason for the incredible amount of self-protection built into the Constitution, and it is also the reason behind the Bill of Rights. Each and every one of the first ten amendments pertains to one or more rights of the People that has, in the past, been abused all to hell and back by the government- whether the United States government or some outside power (as with Great Britain). The First and Second amendments are quite often referred to as the lynchpins of the Constitution; if they are infringed upon then any right may be, as together they represent the People's last line of defense against a corrupt and tyrannical government. Without free speech, we may not bring our concerns into the public eye for scrutiny, and without the right to keep and bear arms we have no means to resist- however unsuccessfully- the forced quartering of troops in our homes, unlawful searches and seizures, and any number of other egregious violations of the Peoples' trust and liberty.
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. Horrid mischief would ensue were (the law-abiding) deprived of the use of them." - Thomas Paine
Remember, kids: illiteracy is cool. If you took the time to read this, you are clearly a loser who will never get laid. You've been warned.
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