5 ms·

The only place on earth where gun ownership is considered a freedom rather than a threat to civil society is America.

babypuncher 4y ago
At best, gun ownership should be viewed as a regulated privilege not unlike driving on public roads. Everyone who drives has to be licensed to do so. There are different licenses controlling the use of larger vehicles on public roads. There are safety requirements vehicles must meet in order to be street legal. Every vehicle has a unique registration number tied to the owner. All of these regulations have made driving considerably safer today than it was 80 years ago.
- internet_user 4y ago
  Czech Republic has had a gun tradition for ~500 years. Homicide rates are lower than in over-regulated nearby Germany and quite a few other European countries. It’s even lower than some famously entirely gunless Asian countries. Your conclusions are not grounded in data.
  - bb88 4y ago
    Deaths before and after automobile and driving regulations can, in fact, be measured. It's just a google away to prove it.
    - internet_user 4y ago
      and it has nothing to do with guns.
internet_user 4y ago
Wrong. Czech Republic is a shall issue country in the heart of otherwise gunless Europe. 500 year long gun tradition. The only two times gun ownership/carry was suspended during those 500 years was under Nazi and Soviet occupation. Even foreigners from friendly nations can obtain a permit and carry, not even the USA doesn’t do it. Self-defence with deadly force enshrined in the constitution. Lower homicide rates than gunless Asia. Every gun permit is also automatically a concealed carry permit, again, not even the USA doesn’t allow in every state. 20% of parliamentarians carry weapons to the Parliament. This is a country in Europe.
- babypuncher 4y ago
  The Czech Republic is a welfare state with universal healthcare, free university tuition, and other incredibly strong social safety nets in place. As a result, they rank #12 on the inequality-adjusted Human Development Index. More people living happy lives without fear of economic destitution is a good way to keep crime rates low. Desperation breeds antisocial behavior. I'll never argue that the presence of guns directly cause gun violence. There are many factors at play. Strong gun regulations are one proven means to reduce gun violence, even if they are merely treating a symptom rather than the real disease. Unfortunately, making the necessary changes to truly solve the problem is even more of an uphill battle. I could see meaningful gun legislation passing within the next 10-15 years. But it will probably be decades before we solve our problems with inequality, healthcare, and education, assuming our entire democracy does not disintegrate first.
  - internet_user 4y ago
    I never seen this "inequality-adjusted Human Development Index", but I'm certain Germany ranks higher on it than CZ, it is quite bit more developed than CZ in many areas. Many Yet, they don't have shall issue laws, no constitutional rights like in CZ and USA, and their homicides (firearms or not) are somewhat higher. They border each other and have a long shared history going back a thousand years. Seems regulations actually matter very little, except maybe appeasing the anxious that something is being done? Czechs do ask for medical clearance, which is probably reasonable, but I'm afraid even that could be abused by a rogue government: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry
    - babypuncher 4y ago
      Germany ranks slightly higher at #10. The US is down at #28. Wikipedia has more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequality-adjusted_Human_Development_Index https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequalit...
- sgjohnson 4y ago

At best, gun ownership should be viewed as a regulated privilege not unlike driving on public roads. Everyone who drives has to be licensed to do so. There are different licenses controlling the use of larger vehicles on public roads. There are safety requirements vehicles must meet in order to be street legal. Every vehicle has a unique registration number tied to the owner. All of these regulations have made driving considerably safer today than it was 80 years ago.

internet_user 4y ago
Czech Republic has had a gun tradition for ~500 years. Homicide rates are lower than in over-regulated nearby Germany and quite a few other European countries. It’s even lower than some famously entirely gunless Asian countries. Your conclusions are not grounded in data.
- bb88 4y ago
  Deaths before and after automobile and driving regulations can, in fact, be measured. It's just a google away to prove it.
  - internet_user 4y ago
    and it has nothing to do with guns.

internet_user 4y ago

Wrong. Czech Republic is a shall issue country in the heart of otherwise gunless Europe. 500 year long gun tradition. The only two times gun ownership/carry was suspended during those 500 years was under Nazi and Soviet occupation. Even foreigners from friendly nations can obtain a permit and carry, not even the USA doesn’t do it. Self-defence with deadly force enshrined in the constitution. Lower homicide rates than gunless Asia. Every gun permit is also automatically a concealed carry permit, again, not even the USA doesn’t allow in every state. 20% of parliamentarians carry weapons to the Parliament. This is a country in Europe.

babypuncher 4y ago
The Czech Republic is a welfare state with universal healthcare, free university tuition, and other incredibly strong social safety nets in place. As a result, they rank #12 on the inequality-adjusted Human Development Index. More people living happy lives without fear of economic destitution is a good way to keep crime rates low. Desperation breeds antisocial behavior. I'll never argue that the presence of guns directly cause gun violence. There are many factors at play. Strong gun regulations are one proven means to reduce gun violence, even if they are merely treating a symptom rather than the real disease. Unfortunately, making the necessary changes to truly solve the problem is even more of an uphill battle. I could see meaningful gun legislation passing within the next 10-15 years. But it will probably be decades before we solve our problems with inequality, healthcare, and education, assuming our entire democracy does not disintegrate first.
- internet_user 4y ago
  I never seen this "inequality-adjusted Human Development Index", but I'm certain Germany ranks higher on it than CZ, it is quite bit more developed than CZ in many areas. Many Yet, they don't have shall issue laws, no constitutional rights like in CZ and USA, and their homicides (firearms or not) are somewhat higher. They border each other and have a long shared history going back a thousand years. Seems regulations actually matter very little, except maybe appeasing the anxious that something is being done? Czechs do ask for medical clearance, which is probably reasonable, but I'm afraid even that could be abused by a rogue government: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_abuse_of_psychiatry
  - babypuncher 4y ago
    Germany ranks slightly higher at #10. The US is down at #28. Wikipedia has more information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequality-adjusted_Human_Development_Index https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequalit...
sgjohnson 4y ago