>>Why the insult to Americans and the reference to their IQ?
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>I agree it was unnecessary.
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>> Are you so sure about the advantages vs. disadvantages of gun ownership? Are you an authority on this subject or just espousing an opinion?
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>Did you read this message? Message #1328853
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>>18 teenagers have been stabbed to death in the UK this year. That's about one every 10 days. Plus the 2 French students who were brutally tortured and stabbed to death and finally burned just a few days ago. What is the cause of this violence? Certainly not the accessibility of guns since they have no gun control problem to speak of. Clearly violence is not a weapon per-se problem but a complex social problem.
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>About the "What is the cause of this violence" question you ask, I think that is what Walter is saying, that instead of trying to find the cause of the violence the answer coming from gun partisans is to have more guns.

Exactly, fighting the symptoms with a drug that really does not work and more importantly does not address the cause.

Symptom: Someone broke into your house.
Action: Buy a gun (As if that would prevent anything for the next time)
ShouldBe: Improve your locks and/or buy a alarm and make sure the criminals can't see precious things through the window.

Symptom: You get robbed
Action: Draw your gun and get someone killed (most likely yourself)
ShouldBe: Be cooperative, increase your chances to survival, and go to the police afterwards

Symptom: Your neighbourhood is unsafe
Action: Buy more guns
ShouldBe: Organise with your neighbours and talk to the major/police how to get your neighbourhood more safe.

Symptom: You see kids carrying a gun
Action: Do nothing
ShouldBe: Report to the police.

I can't see why anyone should argue that being the ultimate goal. Sure not easy to reach, esspecially from the current status quo, but isn't this something every nation should strive for?