CLAP!!!, CLAP!!! TO BRAZIL...

[xpanda]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Uncle Moneybags:
Criminals will always have guns. The black market operates irrespective of any laws passed. That includes Canada. You might be repulsed by guns, but I imagine there are Canadians that don't feel the same and have a weapon.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is just as true as the statement that there are Americans who feel as I do (in fact, I personally know a few) and don't have a weapon. Of course we have a black market on handguns ... in fact, Toronto is suffering from a surge in murders by handguns like we've never seen before. However, I have yet to meet anyone who thinks that they should also carry a gun 'just in case.' It's not legal here, regardless of the legality of gun ownership, to carry a gun in public, and it's not legal to have your firearms loaded, even at home. Your ammunition and your gun must be kept a certain distance away from one another (not too sure how far away.) Most guns that are owned here are for hunting, and we have a national gun registry. It is also my understanding that semi-automatic weapons are illegal.

Have you seen Bowling for Columbine? In it, Michael Moore goes from Canadian door to Canadian door checking to see if it's true that we don't lock our doors ... and it is. I don't know what it is exactly about our two countries, but I have no problem walking home alone at four in the morning, unarmed.

The point is that the US harbors a kind of love/hate relationship with fear where Canadians don't (I can't speak for other countries on this issue.) This is the fundamental reason why Canadians who are anti-war don't understand why it was so easy for the American public to draw a correlation between 9/11 and Hussein as examples of an imminent threat. As evidenced by our defense budget, 'National Security' is not a big priority for us. I think many of us would agree that we'd rather 'get caught with our pants down' than to conduct our society in a manner where we are expecting it to happen.

 

[Shotgun]

I wear a seat belt whenever I hop into the car. This doesn't mean I'm afraid of driving my car; it means I'm protecting myself in case something bad occurs.

I have a gun because I will protect myself and my family. I don't expect to be mugged or robbed, but I certainly am ready for it if it does occur.

To me, gun owners are self-sufficent individuals that take responsibility for their own safety rather than depending on 'the kindness of strangers'. Of course, if you only read the newspapers for your information you wouldn't have this perspective. Xpanda, what percentage of people you know own guns?

 

[SENDITIN]

Xpanda,

The reason Canada can get away with a crumbling military is because the U.S. in effect subsidizes you. Your defense is paid for by the citizens of the U.S. just like we subsidize your drug prices.

 

[xpanda]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shotgun:
Xpanda, what percentage of people you know own guns?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My father and grandfather both own a gun and both are hunting rifles. They only own ammo when they are actually going hunting. I know no one who owns a handgun or anything of the sort. But, as I said, gun ownership here, for the purpose of self-defense rather than hunting, is bewildering to us.

Senditin: the US has concerns about protecting the Canada/US border from its enemies, which is the only reason our military is 'subsidized.' I'd hazard a guess that there aren't too many countries out there who have Canada on their hit list. In fact, the last time we were attacked on our own soil was by you guys. It's okay, tho ... I forgive you.

 

[SENDITIN]

XPanda,

It has nothing to do with the border...Canada knows if they came under attack in any way, we would be the first ones to arrive...though under my administration I might have a mocha latte on the way before making the call...that way the enemy might get rid of some of the libs there first!

P.S. Anymore U.S. bashing and I'll declare you an imminent threat.

 

[Shotgun]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by xpanda:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shotgun:
Xpanda, what percentage of people you know own guns?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My father and grandfather both own a gun and both are hunting rifles. They only own ammo when they are actually going hunting. I know no one who owns a handgun or anything of the sort. But, as I said, gun ownership here, for the purpose of self-defense rather than hunting, is bewildering to us.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

X, the misconception you have regarding gun ownership is that you are getting your facts from fictional 'documentaries' like Bowling for Columbine and newspapers with an obvious biasness against gun ownership. Gun owners aren't rednecks with 3 teeth and a chew of tobacco dripping down their shirt. They don't hang out in the parking lot looking for crooks to shoot, they don't shoot the TV when Bill Clinton pops on the screen, and they certainly don't carry the weapon when they go out to mow the lawn.

There is a danger of not knowing something, and a danger of thinking you know something when you really don't. If you are 'bewildered' by gun ownership, why make a judgement on it?

 

[WildBill]

How in the hell do we go from questions about fingerprinting and visas to talks about if gun control is good or bad? My goodness if General came around this would have been relegated to the Rubber Room a long time ago. No point in arguing with you people, there is so much damn nationalism blurring everyone that rational conversation is impossible with this one. When nationalism gets involved in anything, reality and rationalism get lost very quickly...

 

[Shotgun]

Wild Bill must be a communist

Come on Bill, we are on page 4 of this discussion. How much debate can you actually have over fingerprinting?

 

[xpanda]

Shotgun:

Where have I claimed that I thought gun owners were rednecks looking to shoot something? I have only ever discussed gun owners as being defensive, and have not mentioned or even implied that they would use their guns for anything unseemly. The desire to own a gun, if not only for hunting, and correct me if I'm wrong here, is to provide a means to defend oneself in the event of trouble. Correct? Then, the point I am making is that you have to believe that there is something so serious threatening your personal security that a gun, over say, pepper spray (which I carry) is your best defense. Given that, as I said earlier, our crime rates are roughly the same, why is it that Americans carry guns and Canadians do not? One could argue that Canadians are too naive ... one could also argue that Americans are too fearful.

And, just to be sure you're paying attention, my reference to Bowling for Columbine was only discussing its portrayal of the Canadian public, of which I am part. I feel fairly confident when I state that Moore described our position on 'self-defense' fairly accurately.

 

[UncleMoneybags]

wildbill,

Well said. It is clear xpanda has her own agenda regarding firearms and I'm glad that she has no influence over our lawmakers. Salina, KS in the areas I know there is a decent percentage of gun owners that don't lock their door. It means nothing.

Alex,

A friend of mine lived in South America 14 months (6 in Brazil) and he needed an armed bodyguard the entire time. Before the bodyguard, he was robbed three times. After, zero. Maybe he was lucky or maybe the bodyguard was the reason. How old were you when you left Brazil? If you don't mind, please indicate your city of origin as well.

Thanks

 

[UncleMoneybags]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> The desire to own a gun, if not only for hunting, and correct me if I'm wrong here, is to provide a means to defend oneself in the event of trouble. Correct? Then, the point I am making is that you have to believe that there is something so serious threatening your personal security that a gun, over say, pepper spray (which I carry) is your best defense. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If I was a criminal, I'd have to move to Canada. Xpanda, have you ever heard the story about the man who built his house on a rock and the other who built his on sand? Same thing, here. I don't ever want to draw a weapon on someone but if I do I'm prepared to use it. If you couldn't then by all means you're better off without it. To each his own. I'm just trying to put an alternate way out there for the impressionable people you might influence.

 

[Brazil4Worldcup2002]

I'm from Rio, which does have the reputation of being a very dangerous city. Living here in London, i often take it for granted how safe I feel. I dont think twice about going home alone after clubbing at 3am. In Rio, one needs to think hard before going out, particularly at night (if there's going to be lots of people in your group, how to get there and back etc), whenever I leave the house I never carry more money then i'm going to use and hide it in my socks. I never have been robbed there but many of my family has.

It's just that there's so much inequality in Brazil...and lack of opportunities for the poorer classes. The inequality is so accepted that it has become institutional...university graduates there have their own special prisons and cells at police stations.
I left Brazil in 1995 when I was 12.


Having said that, i'd go back to live there anyday.

 

[UncleMoneybags]

double post

 

[UncleMoneybags]

Originally posted by Uncle Moneybags:
Carnival in Rio.

 

[Brazil4Worldcup2002]

CARNIVAL!

 

[newbie666]