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I've been silent for ten pages.

I disagree with most of the comments here. To be sarcastic, and attempt to return to the initial subject of this thread: once again "truth" is a five to four Supreme Court decision. Obviously the four desenting justices are foolish, ignorant morons. The first fourteen words of the second amendment are nothing more than a single example, no longer in force, but to be ignored for the larger more important ideal of giving us all weapons to fend off the hordes of unemployed minorities who are awaiting outside our home to invade, rob, torture and murder us in our sleep. And, of course, a Republican-dominated court would never legislate from the bench, only Democrat ones would.


My point:
There are other points of view, and those of us who have them are not all unpatriotic Communists.

Enjoy your moment of glory, I expect this SOTUS decision will eventually go the way of "... with all deliberate speed."

Thank you for your support, buy bonds.

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As to the issue of violence in the US - I had experience as a criminal prosecutor in Michigan for almost 7 years. The reality is that violent crime in the US is actually rare (by most views of the meaning of the word "rare") but it is far from what we would like it to be. It also bears mentioning that how rare it is varies quite a bit from place to place.

Getting struck by lightning is also quite rare but that doesn't mean you should continue to play golf in a lightning storm or that it's silly to take precautions (going inside etc.) against it when a lightning storm is present. Other prime example of this would be bicycle helmets for kids - kids being seriously injured because of no helmet is rare (again by any reasonable definition of the term) but it still makes sense to have your child wear a helmet doesn't it? For that matter you could probably get away with leaving your door unlocked for years but wouldn't it be stupid not to lock your door anyway?

It also seems like a good time to point out that the relative rareness of many of these tragedies is probably, in part at least, caused by people taking precautions. The same may apply to guns -- there is ample statistical evidence that more than 100,000 crimes are prevented each year by the use (or threatened use of firearms). Worth thinking about?

The fact is there are a lot of violent crimes in the US (even though it is rare) and it is not at all crazy or unreasonable to be concerned about your safety and that of your family. Security systems, dogs, extra locks, and guns are all rational and reasonable ways of providing additional security for yourself and your family. People may choose one way or many ways but to dismiss these concerns (particularly in a sarcastic and deameaning way) is kind of petty.

Also I believe the violent crime rate in the UK has risen quite a bit since the handgun ban went into effect there. I'll try to find some statistics on that. The notion that these European countries are some kind of utopia is bit misleading particularly with all the rioting in France in recent years.

Brian

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UK - Study: Much gun crime is unreported


Gun crimes in UK list of articles -- http://uk.news.yahoo.com/fc/gun-crime-law.html


Analysis: UK gun crime figures



Gun Crime (Coverage: UK Wide)

In the year ending June 2005, there were 10,979 firearm offences recorded in England and Wales (excluding offences involving air guns). 
This is a 6% increase from 2003/04 and continues the pattern of annual increases every year since 1997/98. 
In fact, the current number of firearms offences is almost twice that of 1997/98.
Firearms were involved in 1,206 more serious incidents of violence against the person (other than homicide) in 2004/05 than in 2003/04. 
In less serious incidents of violence against the person, firearms were involved in 4,568 offences – a 31% increase from 2003/04.
Firearms were used in 73 homicides in 2004/05 (under one in ten of all homicides), five more than the previous year.
There were 2,659 firearm robberies in 2004/05 (4% of all robbery offences) – down 9% from 2003/04.
412 firearm offences resulted in serious injury in 2004/05 – down 6% from 2003/04.

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Quoting hal9g:

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Unlike Daddy DVD, I would not "ask him why he's unlawfully breaking into people's houses" because frankly, I don't give a rat's a$$ why he's doing it.

I did not meant I was interested in knowing why, I meant that if you would take the time to talk some reason into the perpetrator you will be less likely to become a victim of a violent act.