5 ms·

Not only is prohibition pointless; the actual harm caused by guns is relatively low compared to other causes. More people are harmed by cars than handguns.

mc32 14y ago
But people need to get to places. People don't need guns for daily survival. Japan annually sees double digit gun-deaths. In the US we see triple digit accidental gun deaths.
- WiseWeasel 14y ago
  There is still a significant number of people in the US who hunt for subsistence, or to supplement their diet. If you live in rural Alaska, you might rely on your gun for daily survival in a very real and immediate sense. Some cynics might say the same for Compton or Detroit.
  - mc32 14y ago
    Japan's Swords and Firearms laws allow for that. It's a lengthy and involved process. It's not a short process, but if you could prove that it was really necessary -such as life sustaining necessary, you could obtain a shotgun, for example.
    - deleted 14y ago
      [deleted]
    - WiseWeasel 14y ago
      No one needs a Hummer, but someone's buying them.
  - grecy 14y ago
    Of course (I live right near Alaska and hunt). If you can prove you hunt (permission from a land owner, hunting permit, tags, etc.) you should be allowed to own a couple of weapon. No semi or fully automatics, no handguns, no "assult" shotguns or what-not. Those are not for hunting, and every hunter knows it.
  - Wilya 14y ago
    In quite a few countries where weapons are heavily regulated, you can get a permit. The structure obviously depends on the country, but if you have a genuine reason (mostly hunting or sport) and satisfy some basic requirements (no criminal record, mentally sane, etc), getting a reasonable weapon is possible.
malandrew 14y ago
As someone with multiple near death experiences under my belt, I can attest to this. I have almost been shot once (not in the US), but I've have had a little over a half dozen near misses in cars (several countries, as driver, passenger and pedestrian/cyclist) and two near drownings (not in US). Of all possible dangers I may encounter, cars easily worry me the most.
drhayes9 14y ago
True, but cars are good for something other than killing things. See my other, longer comment here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4298113 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4298113
- derleth 14y ago
  > cars are good for something other than killing things Not all kinds of cars. What legitimate use does a massively overpowered Lamborghini have? Or a massively overpowered motorcycle?

mc32 14y ago

But people need to get to places. People don't need guns for daily survival. Japan annually sees double digit gun-deaths. In the US we see triple digit accidental gun deaths.

WiseWeasel 14y ago
There is still a significant number of people in the US who hunt for subsistence, or to supplement their diet. If you live in rural Alaska, you might rely on your gun for daily survival in a very real and immediate sense. Some cynics might say the same for Compton or Detroit.
- mc32 14y ago
  Japan's Swords and Firearms laws allow for that. It's a lengthy and involved process. It's not a short process, but if you could prove that it was really necessary -such as life sustaining necessary, you could obtain a shotgun, for example.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - WiseWeasel 14y ago
    No one needs a Hummer, but someone's buying them.
- grecy 14y ago
  Of course (I live right near Alaska and hunt). If you can prove you hunt (permission from a land owner, hunting permit, tags, etc.) you should be allowed to own a couple of weapon. No semi or fully automatics, no handguns, no "assult" shotguns or what-not. Those are not for hunting, and every hunter knows it.
- Wilya 14y ago
  In quite a few countries where weapons are heavily regulated, you can get a permit. The structure obviously depends on the country, but if you have a genuine reason (mostly hunting or sport) and satisfy some basic requirements (no criminal record, mentally sane, etc), getting a reasonable weapon is possible.

malandrew 14y ago

As someone with multiple near death experiences under my belt, I can attest to this. I have almost been shot once (not in the US), but I've have had a little over a half dozen near misses in cars (several countries, as driver, passenger and pedestrian/cyclist) and two near drownings (not in US). Of all possible dangers I may encounter, cars easily worry me the most.

drhayes9 14y ago

True, but cars are good for something other than killing things. See my other, longer comment here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4298113 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4298113

derleth 14y ago
> cars are good for something other than killing things Not all kinds of cars. What legitimate use does a massively overpowered Lamborghini have? Or a massively overpowered motorcycle?