Nightline on Obama, gun control

[unixronin]

Nightline broadcast a good and pretty balanced segment last night, discussing Barak Obama's gun control position and the massive gun buying rush that's going on across the US now by people concerned that if they don't buy them now, they won't be able to.

Particular points to note:

• The customer who keeps repeating to the reporter, "Never mind Obama's words, look at his actions."¹
• The gunshop owner reporting Obama supporters coming into his store wearing their Obama buttons, who just voted for him but are still afraid he'll ban guns.

[1]  You might have seen me say this once or twice.  Assuming you've been paying attention.

Comments

[laurarey.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a citizen of both countries, but live in Canada. My husband commented last night that he finds if fascinating that Canadians own more guns per capita than the U.S. (many of which aren't registered), yet we have fewer gun crimes (percentage wise) than the U.S.

Living in Toronto, I do favour handgun control.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Which once again reinforces the point that it isn't a gun problem, it's a social problem. Israel, Finland and Switzerland also have higher rates of firearm ownership than the US. The UK has had lower-than-US firearms ownership throughout most or all of the 20th Century, and has also had lower crime rates; but the crime rate exploded when drug gangs reached the UK in earnest.