In the words of St Bragg, its useful to remember:

"When one voice rules the nation

Just because they're on top of the pile

Doesn't mean their vision is the clearest"


I think I hear you care Bobert, along the lines of your own logic............

"
And the best of all this bad bunch

Are shouting to be heard

Above the sound of ideologies clashing"

But in the end guns dont solve problems, they perpetuate them and give credence to the ideas behind the guns. Look at the ongoing Middle east crisis and all the macho posturing by both sides over the bodies of men. women and children! Neither side is right in that context.

Although I accept that staring down the barrel of a gun held by a loony or right or left persuasion puts you into a very "here and now" type of situation and that in addition if I had a gun and needed to defend my family, I might use it as a last resort, the problem has to do with the ideas and values that the gun supporters (on both sides) are defending or promoting in different ways, at different levels of society.

Look at how the BNP work in the UK or our own One Nation, or National party here in Australia as examples of this. Religion gives these ideas and values legitimacy and status and frequently forms a package of ready made beliefs that people who dont have the skills, education or inclination to think things through for themselves take up and use to make sense of the world around them. This leaves them open to manipulation by those who actually understand this process and use it to further their own ends that usually boil down to money and power.

The message once again is.... dont get sucked in by the voices of whoever happens to be shouting loudest and try and keep some perspective on what is happening in your community or country.

Cheers,

Andrez