[Mrluvaluva]

From Sky News

In the state of Virginia, where the deadliest shooting in US history has taken place, buying a gun is easy.

Any state resident over the age of 18 can walk into a gun shop and purchase a weapon on the spot - subject to an instant criminal check.

And even individuals who fail the background check may buy a weapon if the sale takes place away from a licenced gun store.

No training or license is required to own a gun and there is no 'cooling off' period to help prevent crimes of passion.

Machine guns such as AK-47s and Uzis are as easy to buy as hunting rifles.

The seemingly lax gun laws of Virginia will be debated in the wake of the campus shooting, but there are many more US states where purchasing a gun is even easier.

The Brady Campaign lobby for gun control gives Virginia's gun laws a 'C minus' on a scale of A to F for the strength of control.

But 32 of 50 states are ranked D or F.

In New Mexico, rated F by the Brady Campaign, there are no restrictions on the number of guns state residents can purchase at any one time.

And in Wyoming, also rated F, it is perfectly legal to sell a handgun to a child.

Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign, said: "We've done nothing as a country to end gun violence in our schools and communities.

"If anything, we've made it easier to access powerful weapons."

[lily.]

Nothing has been learned. 18 school shootings in 10 years? That's a shocking statistic on it's own, but combined with all the gun crimes in the USA it's just unbelievable.

They are paying the price for their gun-culture freedom, and they are paying it with the lives of innocents.

I hope that one day, someone in power will make the right decision and try to get the guns off the streets, but I fear it's too late.

[Mrluvaluva]

"And in Wyoming, also rated F, it is perfectly legal to sell a handgun to a child."

WTF?

[GiRTh]

I wouldn’t believe everything you read or hear about American gun laws. It’s well known fact that the scene in Bowling for Columbine where Michael Moore buys the gun at the bank was staged to make it look worse that it really was.

The second amendment of the constitution is the right to bear arms. The founding fathers of the USA places a very high priority on gun freedom. There is absolutely no chance of there being an amendment to the amendment so the laws are here to stay.

[lily.]

The thing is G, even if they did (by some unlikely miracle) completely ban handguns, how could they possibly get them off the streets? I mean, look at the sheer number of handguns in circulation in a place like the USA. It would be impossible to get rid of them. People would just make sure they didn't get caught with them.

But, while the criminals have guns, the regular people want them too, to protect themselves from the criminals. It's a sad reflection of the society they have to live in.

[Sunny_01]

Their gun laws are a joke really - if you buy a gun from a gun fair you are not subject to the usual background checks! how can they just sell guns to kids, because at 18 thats all they are really - its so sad.

[nodisharmony]

I believe that guns in the USA should now be banned.

I know that it would be a little late, as guns are so available, but it would be a good start for the next generation who could grow up in a country where guns are not available to buy legally and to be caught carrying a gun would be a very serious crime.

In the UK we are coming down on carrying knives (big-time), many could say that, there is no point! But others who have been a victim of knife-crime would disagree naturally.

But even though we can debate about how the USA could improve the situation, it would take a President who cares about things like this.

George W. Bush has Iraq & war on his mind and from my view, he relishes it.


nodisharmony

[LargeAndInCharge]

i think no one should evry be able to sell guns or nives

and our british army should not even be fightin in iraq

[Sunny_01]

I agree Nodis - a start would be to ban them now - yes it would take years and years to stop the circulation but it would be a start! Anything has to be better than kids carrying guns!

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by Sunny_01
I agree Nodis - a start would be to ban them now - yes it would take years and years to stop the circulation but it would be a start! Anything has to be better than kids carrying guns!

Sadly Sunny, I feel that George W. Bush is very, "Gung-Ho"

And killing people in Iraq is too much on his mind and we shall have to wait for a more peaceful President to come along in many years to come.

But it is a nice thought, No Guns!!

But nobody can totally guarantee that all guns will disappear, especially in the USA.


nodisharmony

[Mrluvaluva]

There will always be a market for them. Legal, or underground. But if the legality to buy one was taken away, or made much tougher, then this would be a start in the way of reducing the amount of guns in circulation.

[Sunny_01]

George "gun touting" Bush is far more interested in what is happening in other countries than taking stock of the problems in his own country.

Like Mr Luva has said making it illegal will certainly go a long way towards reducing the amount of guns that are on the market. America must be at saturation point by now

[GiRTh]

The right to bear arms is the 2nd amendment to the constitution, so all you guys are talking about bans that will never, ever, not ever happen. Never.

[Mrluvaluva]

What. Are you saying you can't make an ammendent to the ammendment?

[GiRTh]

It's very difficult to make and amendment to the amendment. Sorry it will never, ever, not ever happen.

[Mrluvaluva]

Not impossible though!

[nodisharmony]

I have to agree with GiRTh.

But it is a nice thought. Anyway, in the UK, we are pretty safe, I think?


nodisharmony

[lily.]

Mwahahahahahahaha Nick.. that's what you think....

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by Stropz
Mwahahahahahahaha Nick.. that's what you think....

Are you trying to scare us Stropz?

a gun under the pillow can only be a water-pistol really


nodisharmony

[lily.]

Nah, I'm not scary. LoL.. But I do have a "Super Soaker" water pistol..

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by Stropz
Nah, I'm not scary. LoL.. But I do have a "Super Soaker" water pistol..

They are really bad! Soak someone to the skin.

More waterpistols and less real guns would be a start

Regarding "Scary", we can all be scary at times.

I know Spiders & Ants don't scare you Linda. If you could tell us what does scare you, I am sure Baz WON'T put a picture of it on his Avatar.


nodisharmony

[Sunny_01]

Originally posted by GiRTh
The right to bear arms is the 2nd amendment to the constitution, so all you guys are talking about bans that will never, ever, not ever happen. Never.

I appreciate that and understand that but I just "feel" that is what should happen even though I am very aware that it wont

[lily.]

Originally posted by nodisharmony

They are really bad! Soak someone to the skin.

More waterpistols and less real guns would be a start

Regarding "Scary", we can all be scary at times.

I know Spiders & Ants don't scare you Linda. If you could tell us what does scare you, I am sure Baz WON'T put a picture of it on his Avatar.


nodisharmony

Insinuating undertones in that post there Nick. Why I'm sure I have no idea what you mean at all.

And, I will NOT tell you what scares me. There are not many things that do scare me, but when you get to the ones which do, then you hit a nerve.

[nodisharmony]

Originally posted by Stropz

Insinuating undertones in that post there Nick. Why I'm sure I have no idea what you mean at all.

And, I will NOT tell you what scares me. There are not many things that do scare me, but when you get to the ones which do, then you hit a nerve.

No problem Linda.

We all get scared sometimes. Especially when my girlfriend creeps behind me and then grabs me with no warning.

It's driving me mad, but some girls don't listen? You know what I mean
_____________________________________________

Anyway, Gun laws in the USA are a joke and we must just accept that in the USA, most people have access to a gun, whether they personally own one or not.

Call a friend up and say, "Could I borrow your gun mate"

Suddenly you have a gun and bullets to match.



nodisharmony

[GiRTh]

Originally posted by Sunny_01

I appreciate that and understand that but I just "feel" that is what should happen even though I am very aware that it wont

I think eveyone who want a ban is right. I'm sure that every administration, who have had to put up with this kind of tragedy, wished that there was some way around the constitution. But, I'ts too complicated and gun culture is so prevalent in America that it's wishful thinking.