Quote from axeman:
"Violent crime rate would be reduced if you increased the capacity to carry a concealed weapon? "
Several studies have shown this.
"Try a different route. Perhaps it is access to health care, or access to work, or access to a decent place to live, or a community that cares about those that are within it's scope."
Agreed. This is the better solution, and focuses on the
real issues.
"If you are afraid of getting mugged or rapped, get a really big powerful dog. Trust me, they will cross the street when they see you coming."
This will certainly help, but not always.
The problem with big powerful dogs is:
1) People in metropolitan areas usually cant have them
because of yard requirements, etc
Renting a place with a yard big enough for a dog which
wouldn't be considered CRUEL would triple my rent in san diego.
Finding a place that even allows a big dog, is EXTREMELY difficult.
I have a cat, and that disqualifies me from 90% of the rentals.
2) Big powerful dogs can be very friendly - and therefore useless.
3) Useful big powerful dogs, the kind that will actually attack,
can get you thrown in prison, like that lady in San Fran
whos dog KILLED someone. Her life is ruined.
A citizen with a firearm is far more capable of making
the correct decision rather than a big powerful dog.
Just look at all the issues with pit bulls killing people.
Mauled children, people, etc....
Yet ANOTHER example of MISUSE by a person.
It's NOT the pit bulls fault, yet they are often blamed
as being inherently dangerous dogs, instead of the
owners that beat them and have them fight other dogs
for money.
Focusing on the dogs, or the guns, or whatever detracts
from focusing on the real issue.
I would like to see people discuss the issues that
nitro and nihaba brought up in their posts instead.
WHAT is the source of american violence?
Some people see racism in Hestons comments, but is
he really that far off? Historically, people KILL one another
for the slightest of differences. The catholics and the protestants
for example. In a country as mixed with ours, that is also
violent, what else would you expect?
However, we also know that black on black crime is also
very prevalent? Why is that? Is it cultural? Or does the
reason really have more to do with the economic ladder and poverty?
I have never heard a really good argument to explain
american violence.
peace
axeman