posted on December 8, 2000 06:49:54 AM
Approximately 3 years ago, an in-depth research regarding firearms in America and firearm related violence was done by a university professor. His initial intent was to provide additional arguments and statistical evidence to support gun control issues.
To his surprise, and to his credit for his honesty, he revealed (has written a book) he discovered that as high as 98% of the firearms owned by American citizens have never been used in an act of violence, and that historical patterns and evidence indicate the same or approximately the same percentage of firearms will never be used in an act of violence.
Of course, such facts are ignored by those who prefer to stick with their own emotional and erroneous agenda regardless of the truth.
posted on December 8, 2000 10:46:31 AM
98%? That's quite an encouraging statistic. I sure am glad that only 4 million American owned firearms have been used in violence, aren't you?
Is it possible you are confusing democracy with republic? Democracy is usually defined as government by the people, generally but not always, through freely elected representatives. The U.K, Canada Austalia and Japan all have parliamentary systems of government in which elected representatives, similar to our congress, legislate laws. There are many democratic countries that have, as titular head of state, a hereditary monarch. These include Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, and numerous others, all of which are considered democracies. They in fact would be quite suprise to learn that they are not democracies.
oops typo
[ edited by savoyking on Dec 8, 2000 01:08 PM ]
posted on December 8, 2000 01:17:10 PM
Gee, you'd have thought that Reddeer would have commented.
I do not accept that a monarchy which utilizes a system of legislation which incorporates mechanisms derived from a democracy is a democracy, and insofar as each owes allegiance to a King or Queen, regardless the day to day participation of that royal entity in the governance of the country neither do you.
Would you care to return to the subject of the thread rather than piddle around in misconception?
posted on December 8, 2000 01:21:14 PM
It is my understanding that most vicims of guns know their assailant as either spouses or neighbors or acquaintances. An argument gets out of hand and a sudden moment of rage and a handy gun provide a lethal combination.Having a gun in the home greatly increases one's chances of being shot.
Humanity I love; it's people I can't stand
posted on December 8, 2000 01:23:46 PM
Members of Britain's House of Lords are not elected, but are appointed by the Crown (who is not elected either). I hardly call this democratic representation.
Yes, yes, the Lords' powers are quite limited. But they DO have power and they AREN'T elected, nor are they appointed by anybody elected by the people.
1. Tom Pyle, policy analyst, office of House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.).
2. Garry Malphrus, majority chief counsel and staff director, House Judiciary subcommittee on criminal justice.
3. Rory Cooper, political division staff member at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
4. Kevin Smith, former House Republican conference analyst and more recently of Voter.com.
5. Steven Brophy, former aide to Sen. Fred D. Thompson (R-Tenn.), now working at the consulting firm KPMG.
6. Matt Schlapp, former chief of staff for Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), now on the Bush campaign staff in Austin.
7. Roger Morse, aide to Rep. Van Hilleary (R-Tenn.).
8. Duane Gibson, aide to Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) of the House Resources Committee.
9. Chuck Royal, legislative assistant to Rep. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).
10. Layna McConkey, former legislative assistant to former Rep. Jim Ross Lightfoot (R-Iowa), now at Steelman Health Strategies.
posted on December 8, 2000 02:01:00 PM
Yeah, #9 and 10 in particular look really intimidating.
I guess if you're not used to seeing folks in business suits chant and shake their fists, it would be pretty upsetting. Think of the Queen Mother spewing expletives. Shocking and rather disturbing merely in its novelty.
posted on December 8, 2000 02:12:07 PM
No, HCQ, but they're certainly not a spontaneous gathering of your average Joe Blow citizen out to demand that democracy be upheld and every vote counted. Nope, looks like a bunch of paid partisan loons to me.
KatyD
by the way, #3 looks particularly disgruntled.
posted on December 8, 2000 02:53:37 PM
Yeah, #3 looks even MORE threatening than the skinny one in the red dress. With that glazed look of his, I'd be worried he'd, like, bump into me or step on my foot or something. He looks like he's trying to decide between McNuggets and a Big Mac.
[ edited by HartCottageQuilts on Dec 8, 2000 02:54 PM ]
posted on December 8, 2000 02:57:44 PM
It's a relative thing. What may not threaten a great and massive brunhilde may well have made a florida bean counter feel intimidated.
posted on December 8, 2000 03:13:05 PMKRS...Hi. Where have you been all this time Man! I do believe the place needs to be "hosed down"...
******************** Gosh Shosh!
posted on December 9, 2000 12:07:36 AM
Some people post just to hear themselves. This belief is corroborated by the fact they seldom have their facts straight or are able to comprehend certain subjects that are too sophisticated for them.
The approximated 2% of firearms that may have been used in a violent act did not mean all the acts with a firearm were unjustified, that the weapon was fired, or that a justified death or a homicide occurred.
In 1999, the Uniform Crime Report showed that 1,430,693 violent crimes occurred nationally, that approximately 357673 of the crimes involved the use of a firearm, but that only 1% of the violent crimes was homicide.
posted on December 9, 2000 12:17:01 AM
HCQ---The House of Lords serves as more as "look before you leap" body.
It has the power to delay legislation and by doing so the legislation can be relooked at and re-assessed by parliment and by the public. It can not stop legislation
The Members of Parliment are elected by the British voters
