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Venezuela Bans the Commercial Sale of Firearms and Ammunition
Bob the Super Hamste writes "The BBC is reporting on a new law in Venezuela that effectively bans the commercial sale of firearms and ammunition to private citizens. Previously anyone with a permit could purchase a firearm from any commercial vendor but now only the police, military, and security firms will be able to purchase firearms or ammunition from only state-owned manufactures or importers. Hugo Chavez's government states that the goal is to eventually disarm the citizenry. The law, which went into effect today, was passed on February 29th, and up to this point the government has been running an amnesty program allowing citizens to turn in their illegal firearms. Since the law was first passed, 805,000 rounds of ammunition have been recovered from gun dealers. The measure is intended to curb violent crime in Venezuela, where 78% of homicides are linked to firearms."
Right, because it's easy to defeat a modern army using only cheap pistols. If people decide to take up arms they will, gun laws or not; take the revolutionaries from Colombia, for instance - they have been fighting the government for decades, and I don't think they care much about only using legal guns.
Puts on the Devil's advocate mask...
Statistics show that if the victim has a firearm, there's a greater chance of either he/she or the people near the victim being wounded. Homicides should drop in this context.
As for number 2... nope, nothing on that, it's Venezuela after all...
Tell that to Susanna Hupp after the Luby's shooting. She watched a gunman shoot both of her parents, while her gun was lawfully elsewhere, it was illegal at the time to conceal carry in Texas.
Statistics show taking guns away causes an increase in violent crime... See Australia and England
Statistics show that allowing for more lawful firearm posession (concealed carry) tends to reduce violent crime... See Florida, Texas etc.
The bottom line really comes down to this... Do you want to have a 100% guarantee that a criminal can shoot you with impunity, or a chance to protect your life... Tell that to Susanna Hupp after the Luby's shooting.
---- Fight to protect your right to keep and arm bears! ummmm... ya I think that's right....
And LaPierre's statistics about the millions upon millions of people claiming they deterred a criminal attack by brandishing a firearm can't POSSIBLY be inflated by the NRA.... because we know gun owners don't exaggerate. ever.
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Blah blah blah, the gun rights advocates, or "gun nuts" are constantly going on about the need to protect themselves, about home invasions, and robberies, and race war.
I grew up in inner-city Chicago, and have traveled in all kinds of dangerous urban settings, at all hours of the day and night, both in Chicago and other cities, unarmed, and the worst thing I've experienced was harsh language.
The problem with gun nuts is they're fearful people. They're afraid of imaginary dangers that are unlikely to happen. Then they get drunk and angry and shoot a friend or family member.
FWIW: I legally own a handgun, which I acquired as an adult after growing not being around guns. My experience is that handguns are a waste of time, and more dangerous to the owner and his/her family than useful. Rifles and shotguns on the other hand are worthwhile investments for hunting, and fighting in the civil war against the Fascist Republicans.
Or...tell it to the guy Trayvon apparently attacked....who successfully protected himself from Trayvon's attack.
See?
You example is actually a success story!
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........