On 06/12/16, Jeff Smith said the following...   
       
    JS> Yes Ian, but Canada also has about one tenth the population of the US. I   
    JS> don't think it is so much Gun Control as it is the mindset of the   
    JS> people.   
      
   1/10th the population, and much much less than 1/10th the gun violence level.   
   Actual statistics available here   
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate   
   show that the US firearm-related death rate per 100,000 population is over 5   
   times that of Canada. Interesting that all of the countries in the list with   
   higher rates than the US are countries that have certain 'rule of law'   
   issues. Certainly no G8 countries worse than the US.   
      
    JS> Gun control isn't going to keep a gun out of the hands of those   
    JS> that want to use a gun.   
      
   Ah, this is the biggest sticking point I hear in gun control arguments. The   
   saturation level of guns in the US is at an alarming level. It is trivial for   
   someone to lay their hands on a gun - legally or illegally, in the US, just   
   because of the sheer volume of guns in the environment. Because guns are more   
   difficult to procure legally in Canada, there's a far lower level of   
   available guns.   
      
   I'm sure you'd agree that a certain level of gun violence is due to the   
   instant availability of a gun in the environment - such as crimes of passion,   
   or toddlers shooting other toddlers, etc. If the gun wasn't within 10 feet,   
   the incident wouldn't have happened.   
      
    JS>    
    JS> > It's unfortunate that Americans cling on to a few words written into the   
    JS> > constitution about the right to bear arms.    
    JS>    
    JS> Important words to the average American Ian. From day one our freedoms   
    JS> have been important. And many Americans resist having those freedoms   
    JS> taken away or limited. Is gun control necessary in the US? Yes, I think   
    JS> it IS a good thing. There are people that shouldn't be allowed to   
    JS> legally own or possess  a gun. Such as Felons, Mentally, or Emotionally   
    JS> unstable people. Proof of proper gun usage should be and is currently   
    JS> required. That having been said someone that wants to use a gun to   
    JS> commit a crime isn't interested in any existing gun laws. I see guns as   
    JS> a thing. How it is used is determined by the person. If gun sales were   
    JS> banned here Ian. Those that still wanted a gun could easily get one.   
    JS> Laws against something don't keep people from doing that thing if the   
    JS> desire is great enough. Again, change the mindset of the person and the   
    JS> existence of guns becomes irrelevant. But, I also realize that that is   
    JS> also the hardest thing to accomplish.   
    JS>    
    JS> > Thankfully, our Charter of Rights and Freedoms doesn't have such silly    
    JS> > language.   
    JS>    
    JS> Silly is a matter of perspective Ian. What Canadian freedom would you   
    JS> fight to keep or resist being taken away Ian?   
    JS>    
      
   Canadians suffer from much less 'rights and freedoms' than our American   
   neighbours. I don't have the right to free speech, for example. However, I do   
   have the right to reasonable speech.    
      
   I am happy to accept the 'limitations' on my rights and freedoms, in exchange   
   for socialized health care, the right to notice before my employment is   
   terminated, and a social safety net that works.   
      
   After re-reading my original message, I would like to apologise for my   
   inflamatory wording of my feelings of the US constitution. I'm not changing   
   my opinion, however I admit a certain lack of sensitivity in my wording.   
      
   Ian   
      
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