Why does no one just state the obivous?
it isn't the presence or absence of general gun ownership, it is the way the guns are USED. But perhaps this is a little too obvious to be understood, or believed.
The Middle East was mentioned, and while there are large numbers of guns, the primary use is commiting violence, for a politically or religously inspired purpose.
Swirzerland has lots of guns in the hands of its citizens, but their primary use is sporting and for militia purposes.
It isn't the tool (and it never was), it is the use to which the tool is put.
There is nothing on earth (including ideas) that cannot be mis-used by someone with the intention of doing just that.
And the only answer some people can come up with is to treat us all as children. And particularly incompetent children at that. "You can't have that, because you might get hurt, or hurt someone else." That is what a parent says to an irresponsible child.
While there are a lot of children (who inhabit adult bodies) in the world, I do not grant anyone the authority to arbitrarily decide I am one of them. If my actions indicate that I am, then I am. But until and unless that happens, I am not, and should not be considered as such.
That to me is the most irritating thing about the whole gun control issue. That some people, because they won a popularity contest and got elected, or because they went to the "right" schools, or because they made a lot of money, or believe in the "correct" political philosophy, that they believe that they have a God given right and authority to decide whether or not I am a competent, responsible individual, and requiring me to prove it to their sastisfaction in order to allow me to exercise my right to make my own decisions!
The concept is prior restraint, and I find it abhorrant! Bad enough in an oligarchy, but in a society that claims to uphold freedom and liberty it is the very death of those concepts.
If you have enough money, you can go to someplaces in the world, and own and use any tools you want. You just have to pay for the privledge.
Misuse the tools, and money may get you out of the consequences. On the other hand, it may not.
or there kid will not play. A rule brought on because of a few parents that get out of control. When I read or hear of things like this I just cant belive how the majority is made to suffer with no real punishment to the trouble makers. 
