For years, Virginia had been known as the gun supplier for the east coast. Of the amount of guns confiscated in crimes in New York, they found that 40% came from VA. I believe it was so bad that VA gun dealers were being sued by NY, or by victims of crime in NY. Now VA has a '1 gun a month' purchasing rule but that does not apply to gun show purchases. No limits on # of guns there, no background checks either. Quite the loophole.

The guvner just "signed an executive order mandating that the names of all Virginians required by a court to receive mental health treatment be turned over to State Police for inclusion on a data base of people prohibited from buying guns."




>I know for a fact that you can buy ammo and hunting accessories. I haven't actaully *seen* guns in the stores for a while (I haven't really looked) but I would think that I would notice if they weren't there anymore.
>
>>Now I am going to check in Walmart and see if rifles are still in the fishing and hunting section. I remember when Kmart pulled them years ago. There was a lot of media attention on Kmart after Columbine. I remember when Rosie was a spokesperson for Kmart and she left over it. I can't stand Rosie nowadays, but I thought at the time that Kmart stopped selling weapons. I guess that was only in populated areas and they still sell them in more rural locations. I guess either they never actually got pulled or it was just temporary...
>>
>>
>>>We still have them in Kmarts here, and Walmarts too.
>>>
>>>>Years ago Kmart used to have a hunting section. Not for years though. Men used to take their sons there to buy their first hunting rifle (which believe it or not, was typically around 12 when I was growing up). Boys had bb guns of course, but not usually their own rifle until 12 or so. Then it was a bonding experience to spend time (lots of it) with their dad learning to handle and shoot a gun.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>It's not really all that important - suffice to say that there are many stores of some sort or other selling guns. What I meant more was like the hardware floor of a large department store. I've seen on films (not stage sets) large stores that hold a gun section.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Where? Show me ONE! A hardware store selling guns? Never seen one. :o) Really Terry, there are areas of the country where you can find guns at gun shows and pawn shops (rural North Carolina, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, et al) but it really isn't something available around every corner (except the illegal ones in the major cities sold by the crims)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>The latest year where statistics are available is 2004:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Deaths population Rate per 100,000
>>>>>>>>>>29,569 293,656,842 9.95
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>All Races, Both Sexes, All Ages
>>>>>>>>>>http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate.html
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I won't dispute that we have the highest death rate by firearms. I just do not see prohibiting the sale of firearms to law abiding citizens the answer. It will never stop criminals from having them. I would rather see:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Stricter gun purchase/license laws:
>>>>>>>>>> no weapons sales to anyone with a history of mental illness or misdeamer crimes (anyone with a history of a felony already cannot get a weapon legally)
>>>>>>>>>> no weapon sales without a certificate of training from an approved firearms training site
>>>>>>>>>> no weapon sales without a 60 day waiting period (cool off time and background check)
>>>>>>>>>>Strictor enforcement:
>>>>>>>>>> severe prison terms for illegal sales and usage
>>>>>>>>>> severe prison terms when firearms are accessible to minors
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Wait a minute! So restricting the sale of guns to only elligible people is preferable to stopping it altogether?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Does not compute.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Anyway, point is made, there's nowt you guys are going to do about it so long as there are so many people earning a crust from their sales, while there's a gun lobby.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I wish it was just the gun lobby. A lot of Americans truly believe gun ownership is one of our most fundamental rights. You have seen a sample of that in this thread. IMO it's nuts but that doesn't change the facts of the matter. The reason the NRA is so powerful is that so many Americans agree with their positions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Oh sure, sure. I fully understand that. Now just think how many gunsmiths, hardware stores, etc. selling the eveil to the people would go out of business. I imagine they make up a large propn. of the lobby too. Let's face it, half the US is in the lobby.