Guns Control
Yesterday I was shocked and appalled when word came out that there had been yet ANOTHER mass murder in America. And, in all places, a movie theatre where children were attending. I watched the video online shot by a bystander who thought he was filming people fleeing a bad movie only to realise there had been a shooting, and the reactions of the people afterwards. Not to mention seen the picture online posted by a victim of his gunshot wound.
What made me ill was the fact that on that same video, people were making jokes and even ENCOURAGING the shooter, sharing things they would have done to have killed more victims. It was disgusting, and what was worse is that some of them weren't trolls - they were serious.
Sadly, these shootings aren't rare in America - they're everyday. People are shot by the hundreds in America every 24 hours. Thousands of people are killed every year. This includes children who stumble upon guns and think they're toys, and either shoot themselves or others.
Yet there are so many people in America that think that gun regulation is a bad thing to the point they make death threats against anyone who suggests it. There's nothing more concerning than a gun lover who makes death threats - that's the sort of person who SHOULDN'T have guns. Same goes for the people who were talking about "maximum carnage" ideas.
Now, I live in a country where there IS gun regulations. The sky hasn't fallen yet. But you know what DID fall? The number of people killed and injured by guns. Last year roughly 36 people were killed by guns last year in Australia. Now, compare that to America, where over 9,500 people were killed.
Now, I thought I'd share the gun laws in Australia, that would also be super effective in America. It doesn't "take away your guns", but rather just regulates them. Now, I will admit I've taken this from Wikipedia but only because it summarises an otherwise complicated document very well.
We categories guns here. They are the following, with the laws that apply to them:
Also, I should point out that antique weapons are permitted to be kept without a license. There is also a limit on how many bullets a gun can have, and suppressors/silences are restricted.
Also, people must pass a test in order to own a weapon. Compare this to America, where people on the terrorist watch list are permitted to buy and conceal carry weapons.
It will also be a debatable issue, but the hard core second amendment members of America need to wake up to the fact that gun control is severely needed in their country. They should also take note of a key word in the second amendment: "regulated". Yes, you read correct - the founding fathers thought that guns should be REGULATED. Even they saw the possible problems, even though automatic machine guns didn't exist in their time.
Now, some people will say "now is not the time to politicise it". If not now, when? Fact of the matter is, America has more guns than any other country in the world. It kills and injures hundreds a day, thousands a year. Something needs to be done.
Meanwhile, those of us in countries where we don't have to be paranoid about whether or not we'll be shot when we walk out the door will enjoy our gun regulations and low rate of gun related deaths.
What made me ill was the fact that on that same video, people were making jokes and even ENCOURAGING the shooter, sharing things they would have done to have killed more victims. It was disgusting, and what was worse is that some of them weren't trolls - they were serious.
Sadly, these shootings aren't rare in America - they're everyday. People are shot by the hundreds in America every 24 hours. Thousands of people are killed every year. This includes children who stumble upon guns and think they're toys, and either shoot themselves or others.
Yet there are so many people in America that think that gun regulation is a bad thing to the point they make death threats against anyone who suggests it. There's nothing more concerning than a gun lover who makes death threats - that's the sort of person who SHOULDN'T have guns. Same goes for the people who were talking about "maximum carnage" ideas.
Now, I live in a country where there IS gun regulations. The sky hasn't fallen yet. But you know what DID fall? The number of people killed and injured by guns. Last year roughly 36 people were killed by guns last year in Australia. Now, compare that to America, where over 9,500 people were killed.
Now, I thought I'd share the gun laws in Australia, that would also be super effective in America. It doesn't "take away your guns", but rather just regulates them. Now, I will admit I've taken this from Wikipedia but only because it summarises an otherwise complicated document very well.
We categories guns here. They are the following, with the laws that apply to them:
- Category A: Rimfire rifles (not semi-automatic), shotguns (not pump-action or semi-automatic), air rifles, and paintball markers. A "Genuine Reason" must be provided for a Category A firearm.
- Category B: Centrefire rifles (not semi-automatic), muzzleloading firearms made after 1 January 1901. Apart of "Genuine Reason" a "Genuine Need" must be demonstrated, including why a Category A firearm would not be suitable.
- Category C: Semi-automatic rimfire rifles holding 10 or fewer rounds and pump-action or semi-automatic shotguns holding 5 or fewer rounds. Category C firearms are strongly restricted: only primary producers, occupational shooters, collectors and some clay target shooters can own functional Category C firearms.
- Category D: Semi-automatic centrefire rifles, pump-action or semi-automatic shotguns holding more than 5 rounds. Functional Category D firearms are restricted to government agencies and a few occupational shooters. Collectors may own deactivated Category D firearms.
- Category H: Handguns including air pistols and deactivated handguns. This class is available to target shooters. To be eligible for a Category H firearm, a target shooter must serve a probationary period of six months using club handguns, and a minimum number of matches yearly to retain each category of handgun.
- Category R/E: Restricted weapons: machine guns, rocket launchers, assault rifles, flame-throwers, anti-tank guns, Howitsers, artillery, etc. can be owned by collectors in some states provided that these weapons have been rendered permanently inoperable. They are subject to the same storage and licensing requirements as fully functioning firearms.
Also, I should point out that antique weapons are permitted to be kept without a license. There is also a limit on how many bullets a gun can have, and suppressors/silences are restricted.
Also, people must pass a test in order to own a weapon. Compare this to America, where people on the terrorist watch list are permitted to buy and conceal carry weapons.
It will also be a debatable issue, but the hard core second amendment members of America need to wake up to the fact that gun control is severely needed in their country. They should also take note of a key word in the second amendment: "regulated". Yes, you read correct - the founding fathers thought that guns should be REGULATED. Even they saw the possible problems, even though automatic machine guns didn't exist in their time.
Now, some people will say "now is not the time to politicise it". If not now, when? Fact of the matter is, America has more guns than any other country in the world. It kills and injures hundreds a day, thousands a year. Something needs to be done.
Meanwhile, those of us in countries where we don't have to be paranoid about whether or not we'll be shot when we walk out the door will enjoy our gun regulations and low rate of gun related deaths.