Quote:
Originally Posted by Toy Soldier
Kids aren't allowed guns, it's 18 for rifles and shotguns and 21 for handguns (most commonly used in these sorts of shootings because they can be hidden)...
For that reason, a change in the law would make very little difference. The guns are "out there" and obtainable (most criminals who own guns are not licensed to own them in the first place, making it illegal would make zero difference) and the incidents of high school shootings are a cultural phemomenon... in the sense that "it happened, so it will continue to happen". Essentially, some messed up kid did it and it got a huge amount of media attention, so now any messed up / angry kid with a death wish who wants to go out in a "blaze of glory" in the US has that image culturally imprinted in his mind.
I'm not saying that I agree with the fairly easy availability of firearms in the US, per se... the number of accidental deaths with them makes a good case for stronger restrictions... just that I don't think it would alter the "high school shooting" situation at all. If someone wanted to get hold of one, it would still be easy enough (it's not THAT hard in the UK, if you have the cash and know who to ask) and let's face it... someone who's planning to shoot up their school and then turn the gun on themselves isn't going to suddenly stop and say "Oh no, it would be illegal for me to have a gun! Back to the drawing board..."
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Argh. I worded it quite wrongly. Mind I thought the license age was 16 for some reason
But sooo many kids grow up with guns in their house, due to their parents having one. If there wasnt a gun in pretty much every home, these children would find it hard to get hold of them
Its not that hard in the uk you say...but how often do you hear of a shooting here compared to america?