Dwayne wrote:
> I would assume, myself, that it has more to do with the fact that
Do you ditrust the people of your good country *so much* that you don't
want them to have the means to defend themselves?
> zillions of europeans aren't shot to death by guns every year and
> so they can see for themselves how not living in a country armed
> to the teeth is healthier, despite whatever bullshit surveys the
> gun nuts care to trot out.
When you outlaw or heavily restrict the use of guns, you give the most dangerous individuals in society, the criminals, a huge advantage over the "law-abiding citizens". In the land of the unarmed, the dude with the gun is king. No way that you can disarm the criminals too, not even in a totalitarian state. So dear anti-gunner, every time some innocent victims dies, gets raped, robbed or severly injured because s/he wasn't allowed to defend him/herself properly, the blood is on *your* hands too.
Here's, once agian, the *right* way to take on the crime problem: allow all citizens with a clean criminal record (for violent crime) and no obvious mental diseases to have at least one (hand) gun which can be used at home and carried (discretely) concealed on the street. Training classes which teach shooting skills, mental empowerment, safety measures for handling weapons etc. can be made compulsory for anyone who wishes to own a weapon, basically the equivalent of driving lessons. Only those that pass may own a gun. This service must be either free or at minimal costs, so that anyone can afford it. Conplimentary classes could include street fighting skills, using nonlethal weapons (which should be freely available to any adult) etc.
Shop keepers and home owners are incouraged to install cams & audios in and around the home/shop, and leave them running all the time (especially when they aren't at home/at night). Cameras are excellent preventive tools (much cheaper and effective than "youth reform programs" and such), and the best source of hard evidence one can have.
At the same time all "victimless crimes" such as the use of/trade in recreational drugs are legalized, and the penalties for the remaining (real) crimes go up. Murder is punishable by death, the mode of punishment being so that it fits the crime. Justice is served "swift & sure", within weeks of the arrest. Manslaughter is punished by 5-20 years of hard labor/regular prison, depending on the severity of the crime. Rape and other violent offences agains persons make one liable for corporal punishment and incarceration and the payment of damages to the victim, economic crimes/crimes against property result in prison (labor camps) and/or fines.
Prisons (and lobaor camps) are largely automated, there are different facilities for different types of offenses and inmates are not allowed to have physical contact. Conditions are sober but clean, food can be costumized to one's personal needs. Entertainment is highly restricted.
<obviously, there's a lot more, but this mail is getting long...>
There's a working solution for a large, modern society.