Ok, some are stupid. But that is just natural selection attempting to get back into the human equation.

__________________
The National Science Foundation announced the following study results on U.S. military recreation preferences:
1. Sport of choice for Marines: bowling.
2. Sport of choice for Sailors: football.
3. Sport of choice for Soldiers: baseball.
4. Sport of choice for Coast Guardsmen: tennis.
5. Sport of choice for Airmen: golf.
Notice how the farther down the list you go, the smaller their balls get.

what were the crime rates at that time and how do they compare to those of our time?

__________________
1.20.09 - the end of an error

"The people who cast the votes don't decide an election, the people who count the votes do." Joseph Stalin

Life is a sexually transmitted disease having a 100% fatality rate

Late 70s is as far back as I have found with a quick google. But they were about the same. As a matter of fact, they have only changed slightly, but with a big spike when the big bans happened in the early 90s.

__________________
The National Science Foundation announced the following study results on U.S. military recreation preferences:
1. Sport of choice for Marines: bowling.
2. Sport of choice for Sailors: football.
3. Sport of choice for Soldiers: baseball.
4. Sport of choice for Coast Guardsmen: tennis.
5. Sport of choice for Airmen: golf.
Notice how the farther down the list you go, the smaller their balls get.

__________________
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~ Ernest Gaines

Who says that a majority of us do that?


You are going to have to start coming up with better rebuttals.

__________________
The National Science Foundation announced the following study results on U.S. military recreation preferences:
1. Sport of choice for Marines: bowling.
2. Sport of choice for Sailors: football.
3. Sport of choice for Soldiers: baseball.
4. Sport of choice for Coast Guardsmen: tennis.
5. Sport of choice for Airmen: golf.
Notice how the farther down the list you go, the smaller their balls get.

__________________
Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands? ~ Ernest Gaines

It depends on the weapon, and the state.

Example.

Military guy with a security clearance, and many years of service, with extensive training.

I had to get a letter from my command stating that I am a responsible person, they had to review my Service Record Book, and if anything, even a page 11 entry is found they do not sign the paper. Then I have to go to the sheriffs office, have a background check done. Then I have to fill out an application, obtain three references from honest citizens with no record, and disclose information about my marriage. They then check out my references, and my wife to make sure they are clean. Then I get my permit. You can apply for up to three permits at a time, each permit is good to purchase one pistol, and they are good for five years.

A civilian goes through the same thing, minus getting the command to sign off on it.

Rifle or shotgun from a gun show. Show up with the money, and two forms of ID. They then call the sheriffs office and have a background check done, and if it comes back clean, they sell you the weapon.

I have heard that some states require you to receive training and receive a certificate before buying any gun, some only require it for specific weapon types. But I have never seen anything that specifically says this is true, so it may be rumor mill.

The State of North Carolina does not require training for simple ownership because they believe that ownership is the right to any clean citizen. They have the checks and what not to ensure you are clean. You can not require tests for a right.

As I have said before, you can require tests for a drivers license because driving is a privilege not a right.

North Carolina law says that no loaded or unloaded weapon can be accessible by a minor. And every gunshop, or dealer requires you to read the letter of the law before sale is complete.

__________________
The National Science Foundation announced the following study results on U.S. military recreation preferences:
1. Sport of choice for Marines: bowling.
2. Sport of choice for Sailors: football.
3. Sport of choice for Soldiers: baseball.
4. Sport of choice for Coast Guardsmen: tennis.
5. Sport of choice for Airmen: golf.
Notice how the farther down the list you go, the smaller their balls get.

Just because some moron decides to take his gun ownership and translate that into barbaric nonsense, does not mean you punish the rest of the peaceful gun owners.

Same thing applies to a lot of things, most specificaly, drugs as well.

I use my guns as paperweights.

What if the idiot breaking into my house had a machete or pick axe? Are you trying to level the playing field. And why should I have to worry about what type of weapon the criminal breaking into my house is carrying?