Arizona shooting range accident

[Gregor-y]

Ha, tell that to Panama, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya.

And Russia.

[schmenke]

... just as I don't get a say in some of the stupid things taking place in other countries.

That is the root of the gun debate. Today, gun ownership in the U.S. is engrained in the culture of its society. It is a culture that is foreign to many outside of the country, and just because it is so does not make it wrong. It’s ignorant for any outsider to pass judgment on a particular society’s culture (customs, habits, traditions, etc.) just because it is different or contradictory to their own.
Americans are passionate about their firearms which today are integral to their daily lives. Because this passion may contradict other society’s culture does not make it wrong.

[steveaki13]

You may be right Schmenke.

But why does there never seem to be any thought or consideration of change, when so many School shootings happen?

I mean I ask an American to answer, when that happens do you question your gun laws?

If not, that strikes me as surprising.

[BDunnell]

Many of the people dying is a good thing

Says a man whose level of intelligence would render him all but useless to man or beast in any nation other than the USA.

[BDunnell]

Actually, you can't say that. When you become a citizen here then you get a say. Until that time it's none of your business. just as I don't get a say in some of the stupid things taking place in other countries.

'You can't say that'? It's not really your business to tell others what they can and can't say.

Your attitude is a bit rich coming from a person hailing from a nation whose international military interventions have, time and again, been carried out without reference to the people of the countries concerned. Did they 'get a say'? No. They simply had to put up with American bombs falling on their heads. So, I'd quit that facile line of argument if I were you. Taken to its logical conclusion, you would never comment on any issue that didn't personally concern you. I'd imagine this isn't the case.

Sadly, far too many individuals such as yourself consider the deaths of children a perfectly acceptable price to pay if it means you can keep your beloved weapons, without which your sense of insecurity is such that you feel helpless. I pity that attitude.

[BDunnell]

It is a culture that is foreign to many outside of the country, and just because it is so does not make it wrong. It’s ignorant for any outsider to pass judgment on a particular society’s culture (customs, habits, traditions, etc.) just because it is different or contradictory to their own.

I consider that a really weak argument. According to your train of 'thought', slavery would never have been abolished. It was pretty ingrained in many cultures. Racism was endemic in South African culture (may still, to some extent, be) — should we just have accepted that, too?

[Rollo]

Americans are passionate about their firearms which today are integral to their daily lives. Because this passion may contradict other society’s culture does not make it wrong.

Does it make it good, useful, sensible or economically beneficial though? Is the opportunity cost justified?

[BDunnell]

Does it make it good, useful, sensible or economically beneficial though? Is the opportunity cost justified?

The funeral industry does well out of it.

[Starter]

'You can't say that'? It's not really your business to tell others what they can and can't say.

Just as it's not your business to tell Americans what they can and can not do - like own guns.

Your attitude is a bit rich coming from a person hailing from a nation whose international military interventions have, time and again, been carried out without reference to the people of the countries concerned. Did they 'get a say'? No. They simply had to put up with American bombs falling on their heads. So, I'd quit that facile line of argument if I were you. Taken to its logical conclusion, you would never comment on any issue that didn't personally concern you. I'd imagine this isn't the case.

Since your country directly benefited from our "military intervention" it's a bit rich for you to get on a high horse about it, eh?

Sadly, far too many individuals such as yourself consider the deaths of children a perfectly acceptable price to pay if it means you can keep your beloved weapons, without which your sense of insecurity is such that you feel helpless. I pity that attitude.

Another example of your hyperbola. Nowhere have I said the deaths of children are an acceptable price for the ownership of guns. That some children die from the misuse of guns is unfortunate. Just as many, many children dying from the misuse of automobiles is unfortunate. I'm not about to ban children from riding in cars either.

[Starter]

Does it make it good, useful, sensible or economically beneficial though? Is the opportunity cost justified?

Yes.