OMR, you make a compelling argument as to why it is important to maintain YOUR right to bear arms but I am yet to see a compelling argument as to how that relates/compares to us.
Thanks Dunaruna, It is a very American, (USA), corncept based upon our unique history and heritage, and the manner we broke away from our Mother Country which is very different from the way you folks and our other siblings did it. There are many Liberals here in Seattle and in this Great Country that share your, (and apparently Vlad's point of view about how society should not have guns). That is an 'option' in the political systems in England, Auzzieland, NZ, Canada, and many other Countries in the world, and I sense the majority of the world and many here lean the direction you do.
Does not matter: I will not voluntarily surrender any right the Cornstatution grants me, and a lot of Americans feel that same way I do. I never said nor ment to imply that your Country, (which I admire a great deal), should adopt the American, (USA) approach. I think our English parents and our siblings in Auzie, NZ, Canada share the basic confidence we all have in our respective systems, this is just a difference, (minor but IMHO very significant). We still share much in common, and our peoples' values are clearly the reason freedom exists in the ENTIRE world today. NO doubt in my mind about that. Had the Spanish, French, Germans or others ever beaten the English we would not have the world we now have, and freedom would not flourish as it does in our Countries and much of the world. That is no accident: my friend.
After all, a comparison is the theme of the thread.
I get a little hot under the collar when our cultural differences become a slinging match.
That: I appoligize for. It was not and is not my intention to make you, Vlad or any of my iboats friends "hot under the collar", I made this point for my Countrymen as much as anything, as our public schools teach a lot about homosexuality and victimhood, but very little about what makes us unique and very important amoung the worlds' powers.
I (and most aussies) don't give gun control in this country or the opposing view in your country a second thought, it's just not on the radar.
Understood.
The only reason it get's media is when it becomes a political football for your pro gun.
I would call it 'pro foundational rights', Dunarana, as guns, (second amendment) is not nearly as important as the corncept of foundational rights, (it is just a symptom of the basic problem we have here dealing with Liberals anxious to cede as much of our rights as they can to the government). Example of this problem: I'm not a Republican I'm an Independent, but I can't stand any current Democrat presidential candidate (if Bill Richardson had not welcomed surrender to Islam I could possibly deal with him). I deeply admire on a personal level: John McCain and to a lesser extent Fred Thompson, although I would not politically support Mr. McCain because he ceded our freedom of speech to incumbent Pols in McCain Fiengold, and I have big reservations about Mr. Thompson for the same exact reason. I would still favor either over any current Democrat as every single current Democrat wants to pack the Judicial system with black robed tyrants to rewrite or reinterpret away all of our, (American's foundational rights), because they view our precious Cornstatution as a "living breathing document" to be flushed down the terlet and replaced with the Liberal European rule by elites. Not gonna agree to that without a fight: my friend!!!
It goes without saying that I (like most fathers) would do anything to protect my family but carrying a handgun on a family boating trip is such an alien concept to me because there is no threat (I must confess, I take a shotgun when we go fishing for sharks), there is nothing to protect against. Same goes for our home.
I also rarely pack my gun(s) Dunarama, if I'm at a place that I have a great deal of confidence in, but generally: I have a safely stored unloaded weapon and ammunition available if need be. (Two times in my life it was necessary to bring one out, but nothing happened because I had a 12 ga shot gun, [my favorite gun to have to equalize things, if need be], the main reason I prefer a shot gun is the immeadiate deterant effect it has on any potential bad guy or guys lookin down the big hole in the end). This Country has a much greater population then yours does, their are a lot of illegal immigrants, and because of the attractiveness of our system: the most agressive people in the world today are here in this Country. I'm really not as paranoid as this may come across, and I am very carefull with my artilery.
BUT, I understand and respect your right to protect your family as you see fit.
Thank You.
We have cultural and political differences. You like it your way, we like our way.
Agreed.
If we ever get the chance to meet, let's discuss it over a beer or two.
).
