>>Again these numbers are off the top of my head but i seem to remember hearing that 50% of guns used in violent crime in Canada were stolen from within Canada. The other 50% were smuggled across the border from the US - I assume that a sizable proportion of those were stolen from licenced gun owners in the US.
>>It just seems obvious to me that the more guns there are in general circulation the more guns fall into the wrong hands.
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>I don't question those statistics at all. I would also agree that we would be safer as a society if the number firearms was reduced by 90%. But that is not social policy, that is magical thinking. I would also like to replace the internal combustion engine with unicorn generated methane ( just seems it would smell sweeter than that from cows :-) But we play the hand we are dealt.
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>The question is : what social policies will reduce the physical threat to those who want to live their lives free from indimidation by sociopaths - however armed.
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>I think the most important component is redistribution of risk.
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>At this point gun control laws only reduces the percentage of guns owned by the law-abiding. If commiting a crime while in possession of a gun - whether it were used or even shown - meant absolutely inescapable and draconian penalties that may have some effect. If selling a gun illegally meant 20 years in prison it would become less profitable. If threatening a citizen with a gun meant better than even chance of instant death - well, that could make it less attractive too.
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>Armed robbers pick their targets. Sure, they go where the money is - but they definitely prefer money that is not guarded with armed response.
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>I'd prefer everyone play nice and no one try to interfere in the lives of others with threats of violence. But in the world as it is, I want the idea of being a bad, violent person to carry with it the fear of death. And I want that to happen often enough to reinforce the fear and make it real.
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>We are in much more danger from thug culture than the gun culture. As Britain's experience currently demonstrates, violence in a culture doesn't seem to have much to do with guns one way or the other. But there can be little doubt that an armed, trained person is an unattractive victim.
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>I sympathize with those who want a less violent society, but I am bemused that those who want guns out of the hands of the law-abiding also want criminals treated with leniency and understanding. The best way to increase gun ownership is to make citizen feel the law will not protect them.
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>The best way to deter the thugs is to teach them fear - real fear - not a short stay in the gladiator academy but the kind of fear that keeps them from preying on the strongest of their peers and causes them to seek the innocent and oblivious.
Being slightly flippant here. How about mandatory gun ownership. That way everybody knows where they stand.