The NRA Reckons Australia’s Anti-Gun Laws Are “A Mistake”; Australia Tells NRA To Go Fuck Itself

[JDPriestly]

21. Fear is the real problem. 60% of gun owners say they have them for personal safety.

If we banned guns nearly altogether, a lot of people woule at first be more afraid, and would cheat on the laws. We have so many guns already in circulation that those that could be sold would become very expensive, very valuable.

But the fear behind the guns could be addressed, the absurd fear that makes Americans feel they need so many guns. And the anger.

My father used to say, "If someone wants to kill me, they will have to bring their own gun."

Maybe if we could convince people that the fact that they own a gun makes them LESS SAFE rather than more safe (statistically probably true but I would have to do the math), then maybe we could make progress on decreasing the numbers of guns in our country.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/165605/personal-safety-top-reason-americans-own-guns-today.aspx

Or do gun-owners lie to Gallup? Do they manufacture their fear and their stress and convince themselves they need guns for safety because in reality there lives are very boring and the guns fool them into thinking their lives are exciting?

Are guns in reality a reason to socialize with others and just something to think about and do in parts of the country in which there is going to church or to a bar and watching TV and not really a whole lot else to do besides work and raise your family if you have one?