"Holy holy holy war God's right hand was in the car That shook the church, shopping mall."

Threads like this one suck.

Preaching to the choir.

We in the USA live in a diferent world. Very few can comprehend how much different than: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. We speak the same language (sorta) but then the similarity starts to unravel.

Wyoming is not Chicago (thank God!) is not rural Missouri is not the (San Francisco) Bay Area is not Alabama is not Wisconsin. So the differences begin to show up even within our borders. As tiresome as the old bumper sticker is(Guns don't kill people, people kill people) it is true. Here in lovely, peaceful, rural Franklin County Missouri we have had four murders committed by edged weapon and only one by firearm (in the last year). No firearm related accidental shootings fatal or otherwise. Three suicides, one by firearm and over 90 vehicular deaths. Our population here in Franklin County is just under 50,000 and we are the second largest county in area, in the state of Missouri. Everyone I know (and a great many I don't) owns firearms. Not one or two but numerous firearms. The state of Missouri requires all citizens who apply for a hunting license to take a hunting safety course and PASS it before they are issued a hunting permit. The course deals with firearm (and archery) safety in the field, in transportation and at home. Here in Franklin county we rarely have discussions about firearms except about what might be the best turkey gun or something like that. The only time we talk about gun ownership, banning of guns, gun rights, the second amendment, etc. is when it gets some play in the big city (St. Louis) press or on TV. I don't know of anyone who is irresponsible about firearms. I have never heard of or seen any incident involving firearms. For those of you in the UK: you have a long history of un-armed law enforcement personnel. This certainly used to work very well. I have heard that there are more and more officers being trained in the use of firearms and being required to carry them than before. You also have some very strict gun laws. It seems that you are experiencing an increase in gun-related criminal activity even as you implement tougher sanctions. As WE (NRA members, gun owners) see it, strict gun control will not have a positive effect on deterring crime. Private ownership of firearms is not a deterrent to crime, don't misunderstand me. The thought of thousands of armed "muggles" being ready to blaze away at intruders is truly scary. But the prohibition of firearms has created a source of income for the criminally inclined. WE in the USA learned this the hard way with the prohibition of alcohol. It is still a lesson to be learned as regards to "controlled substances". Prohibit something and you have created a lucrative market for the prohibited item.

I have carried concealed and un-concealed both (legally). I have had training for police reserves. I have taught a simple handgun safety course for armed guards when I was an employment supervisor for Pinkerton's.

While this all may seem strange to you who live over the water, it's fairly normal here and I really don't see that it deserves all the blather it has stirred up.

Let the Flamers go elsewhere and lets write of music, please!

thanx CB