Milo;147394 wroteOKAY, BACK TO A CIVIL DISCUSSION.
How else do you explain Switzerland, which has as high a per capita rate of gun ownership as the USA (if not higher), yet has far less gun related crime. I believe there is a cultural basis as well, but as I said, I have not seriously researched any of this. Just spitballing, is all.
(I have also not researched any of this, so take whatever I say as ignorant opinion)
I believe this is an important point, and also references back to morty's comments. In my opinion, North American culture is not mature enough (for lack of a better word) to handle guns. Here, guns are somewhat glorified. More and more, they are becoming an accepted method of dealing with problems. I'm not saying that guns are a big problem, and can be found on every street corner and playground. But they are creeping into normal lives. That is why I would support additional hand gun control. By reducing possible exposure to guns, society at large will have less tolerance for them. Maybe an impressionable youth will see a friend join a gang, get a gun, and will think "this guy is crazy, I'm outta here", instead of thinking "this guy is cool, maybe I do need protection as well". Or maybe that is just my wishful thinking.
In Switzerland, and Europe in general, I believe there is a greater respect for war and suffering, and the effect that guns can have on people. The tolerance for gun crime is much less. You can even see this in television show ratings. In France, almost any show with gun exposure and violence (CSI, Law and Order, etc) has a higher rating (usually 14+) than shows with sexual content (Sex and the city, anything on after 9pm, usually rated 12+). Further, I would wager that the guns in Switzerland are rifles stored in attics to be used in case of invasion (isn't everyone in Switzerland technically part of a militia??). There is a distinction between guns to be used to fight in an army, and guns to be used to prevent a mugging or rob a store.
Finally, I would argue there is a big difference between a hand gun and a rifle. A hand gun can only be used to kill a person. Well, possibly for sport shooting at ranges, but that is a side issue. Rifles and shot guns have a valid use for hunting, and possible military use. I would support a complete ban on handguns, and restrictions on rifle/shot gun ownership.
It will be interesting to see what happens in Washington DC with the current debate over guns, and if it will lead to any meaningful statistics it the current ban is repealed.
my 2 cents (soon to be 1 nickel)