Reply #167: MrBenchley - Two quick notes to consider [View All]

[Petrodollar Warfare]

In Michael Moore's controversial film, "Bowling for Columbine," he noted that Canadians have a very high gun ownership per capita, but when compared to the USA, Canada enjoys a far lower violent crime rate as regards to gun violence. M. Moore thought raised a good quesiton.

So, I think you're displacing some anger at a symptom, and not the cause. The question is WHY are Americans more violent-prone when compared to our ("gun owning") Canadian neighbors? I would speculate that our nation has a history of armed conflict, and our society has a larger gap of social equity (ie. lack of safety net compared to Canada, etc.), and thus a higher level of intrinsic violence. I looked at the pictures on the website "weresorry" vs. "werenotsorry" and I noted that many right-wingers had their guns on display as a sign of...well, I would guess low self-esteem... and some bottled up anger resulting from within...? They and the rabid NRA types are not representative of the majority of gun owners.

(fyi: I am a gun owner. A target shooter, not at hunter, and I suppose I like the precision of the mechanics and the sport, just like some people like bowling, some like fishing, some like motorcycles, some like my father enjoy flying a private airplane, and some people even like NASCAR racing. To each their own - as long as everyone abey the laws, and those who don't are addressed in the judicial system).

Regardless, I would only point out to you that millions gun owners in the US (like our Canadian neighbors) are decent, moderate people and are not representative of the *small but vocal/rabid* "gun nuts." Likewise, most Christians and Muslims are decent, moderate people and not representative of the *small but vocal/rabid* "fundamentlists." My point? Please do not stereotype.

The more important question is what if anything can we do to slowly change our societal plague regarding this propensity for violence? Blaming those with certain tools (ie. guns) is not the answer, just like blaming all Muslims for the 9/11 tragedy is not the answer.

Secondly, I am leaving after this post for several hours, but I would simply ask that you review my 2 posts #95 and #116, just food for thought. Lastly, while I do not care for the NRA, I must mention that the civilian gun industry is rather small, and it is not the source of societal conflict. However, what is TRUELY corrupt and IS the source of geopolitcal conflict and violence/destruction on a broad-scale is the Military-Industrial-Petroleum-Banking Conglomerate. The power welded by that group is what is deserves EVERYONE's scutiny and criticism. Thanks for your consideration.