No one is suggesting NZ adopt US style gun laws or at least I’m not. But likewise us kiwis need to stop lecturing Americans about their gun laws.

Yes this is true. This gun control debate seems to have us quite interested, without realizing it people can take on a false set of compelling belief that they are in a sense actually affected by it’s outcome yet not actually physically belonging to this group.

Yeah mate I’ve been in debates with US citizens and had to reign myself in, It’s their country not mine, I realized this when i watched open minded Americans who took the time out to debate with foreigners on the subject become defensive. That’s why I’m here on a kiwiblog arguing with kiwi’s and surprisingly kiwi’s here are pretty knowledgeable, I suppose we can afford to since it doesn’t affect us in anyway except those who think it does. You’re there so it definitely affects you.

I’m back from work so, excellent posts.

My position was that of the perspective of a kiwi here in Nz viewing America from a physical distance rather than taking the position of an actual citizen of that country, Kiwi in America and Monique and maybe a few others who are actually there can give an actual account of what they see within their localized area and the general mood of their local community at this present time.

I’m still not convinced that AP rounds should be allowed outside of military control as it was developed for military purposes, There is no way a countries citizens will allow a three man operated hand held rocket launcher to be sold legally to the public?. A countries military fights for and defends their people and when the conflict is resolved the troops are brought home and demobilized and the ordinance is put into safe storage.

A little bit of background checking and registration is a good thing We demand in New Zealand two references, A short course, background check, basic test This is not a onerous requirement to my mind. along with security of the weapon and the graduated license with more capable weapons having more training, proof of purpose and security. I think that our gun laws are doing the job they were designed for.

The Present talk in the usa around shooting sprees and military style weapons is a misdirection we have them here with sporting guns. The real issue is the uncontrolled hand guns They may have been a good idea in the wild west but really is crime that high you need to carry a gun just in case at all times Not according to the NRA crime is low Why carry a gun? How many cases are there where a armed citizen has successfully stop a criminal with a gun compared to how many gun crimes and murders there are.

Well, the Swiss seem to manage so maybe if the yanks can’t control themselves they should have their toys taken away from them until they learn to control themselves.

The Swiss are compelled to own guns but their gun laws are striter than the US. You can have both – it isn’t all or nothing which both the anti-gun and pro-gun crazies would suggest.

There are reasonable measures to ensure safety that still allow civilian gun ownership. I remember several recent cases where young children have shot another child over a playstation game or some other trival matter. That wouldn’t happen if gun safety were trained into people. Like, simple things, keep your gun AWAY from where children might get hold of it. Keep you gun unloaded etc

I have not looked it up recently, but allowing people to carry (& compelling them to own) guns, seems to result in less problems.

I first heard about this after seeing it on Holmes. I did not believe it, but looked it up and found more than one example. I have not looked recently, as I seldom bother debating anti gun people now days.

Which is why you universal background checks and better reporting of gun-sales can help limit the flow of guns to, well, stupid crazy people.

(I have not looked this up in recent times, so maybe they have repealed those laws.)

What your saying appeals to common sense, but may not be born out in reality. Gun debates are fueled more by emotion than reason.

If everyone, or if half the people were armed, without the required training they’d be shooting in a panicked fashion at everything that moved. Not good…

But at least he did not go to another country and kill thousands and destroy the infrastructure, in “defence” of god knows what.

Whomever it was would need to be well trained and well vetted but no I do not like the idea. For example – the recent Houston school shooting was because a kid was carrying a gun for “defense”. He got into an argument and pulled his gun and shot someone.

You are happy for the government to have guns for “defence”. Do you oppose individuals having guns for defence ?

If so why?

Of course, civilian deaths are serious indeed. But this has nothing to do with authorities giving up their guns, national defence is important. Your point should be about not getting into pointless wars

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Newtown-dad-to-lawmakers-Change-gun-laws-4228992.php

http://blogs.artvoice.com/avdaily/2013/01/29/bauerle_alqaeda_besties/