Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: 2004tdigls
based upon the pure numbers your country resembles the horn of Africa, not a civilized western democracy:
http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/
http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/number-of-gun-deaths
by comparison, Canada with it's "civil liberties" being restricted by "laws intended to confiscate guns", has
somewhat lower number (actually several orders of magnitude)
http://www.rawnumbers.com/crime/gun-deaths-in-canada.html
please continue to enjoy your second amendment rights, perhaps flak jackets and ballistic helmets will become a fashion statement south of the border
Well, since Toronto is more dangerous than New York (and, in fact, so is London, because while guns aren't used, knives and acid are just as effective), I will remember my flak jacket when I visit.
http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/increased-murder-and-mayhem-new-norm-for-toronto
Spare us all the typical smug, self-righteous "our system is better" posts.
The RCMP doesn't include rape as a violent crime in Canadian crime statistics- so, any numbers comparison between our nations is by its very nature specious and misleading.
I'm sorry that you've been mislead.
The rates of crimes, including violent crime, and murder, has more to do with social issues than with existing laws.
If you want to look at gun deaths in the US, the preponderance, almost 2/3 are suicides, a social issue that is improperly included in comparisons like the one you linked, but that doesn't reflect the actual rate of violent crime. Its inclusion skews the argument and misleads.
The next largest gun death source is gang on gang violence, again, an issue that is social in its origin and has not historically been improved by various weapons laws. Look at Toronto, or London. That source of gun deaths (or knife, or acid, whatever the weapon) needs public policy and policing changes to be addressed. Young boys need to be shepherded into a better life. Banning weapons makes no difference in how young boys without hope become gang members.
While we both exist in North America - the fundamental difference is this:
Americans wrested their freedom from a sovereign through armed resistance and the people themselves granted the government its authority.
Canadians were granted dominion by a sovereign, from which the government derives its authority.
This is a critical distinction. It is why the Second Amendment was written in the first place, and why Americans place such importance on that particular right, a right which we thought was self-evident but worth codifying.
A right that you were granted by a government, which decides the extent of your liberty.
2004tdigls, please proceed to nearest burn unit.
Well stated, Astro.