>> I think it's more a cultural thing, rather than a factual thing.

>> I'd rather confront an unarmed burglar without a gun than an armed one
>> with a gun...
>
> Be sure to post this on your door, so they will respect your choice.
> : )

See, the thing is that it's not my choice, it's sort of a collective
choice. These are things that are very difficult to compare and even
describe out of context.


>> This is not to say that I think gun bans would change anything, on
>> either side. But a culture that is less focussed on guns probably is a
>> safer one. But then again, guns are only a part of the story.
>
> Have you no murders then, or serious assaults?

Where I live now (Brazil), we have both galore. But talking about Germany,
of course there are, too -- much fewer, though. The thing is that since
there are fewer guns around, there also seem to be fewer guns involved in
the "normal" crimes, the ones that happen around us. And it seems to me
that crimes where no gun is involved have a tendency to be less damaging.

See, I understand the point that guns can help to prevent a crime, or help
to interrupt a crime. But that's only part of the story. This is in a way
similar to the mutually assured destruction theory of the cold war. There's
something to it, but it also has a touch of insanity :)

> HE LOANED THEM THE BULLET.

Now this personal responsibility in action :)

Gerhard

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body