Most folks who own a gun, have never had to use it to defend themselves.

Then why have it in the first place, if almost no one has to use it?

Because it makes people feel special, to have the concept of 'life and death' in their hand. Its a petty ego issue. I think its pretty pathetic honestly, I have never needed a gun in my home.

I would be dead today if one of my parents didn't own a gun. And if some asshole breaks into your house looking for shit to steal, and ends up shooting, or slicing you, and your defenseless family up, remember your words.

I should rectify my journal. It's not meant to be a bash.

It's just something I don't understand. Maybe that's because I'm Dutch, I don't know. I find it strange that (most) Americans fight for their right so dilligently, they simply forget the rest of the problems in their own country.

And yes, it's good to read you didn't die, and yes, I'm glad to read your parents defended their family. It really isn't meant to be personal.

I'm really trying to understand the situation, but so far it does not compute, at all!

My apoligies if I have offended you personally, that was not my intent.

Apology accepted. your words kinda struck a chord, but I understand now.

I personally believe that you should be allowed the right to own a gun, for it is the most effective in dispatching any would be assailant that tries to hurt your property and your family. I hate guns. I hate that they are needed, I hate that we need locks on our doors, and antivirus programs on our computer, but there are people out there who want to hurt you. they want to kill you just to watch you die, and I personally feel that I should be given the right, no the privilege to be able to defend myself properly against such threats. Otherwise I have to rely on my government to keep track of every single criminal in the country. and even you, who are in another country can clearly see how wonderful a job our government does at that.

Now we're on the same page. I understand your point of view.

I know that here in the Netherlands everyone I speak to hopes that the bill passes. When I look at my own country, the general populace does not own weaponry of any kind (granted, criminals do, and a handful of nincumpoops who deliberately break it), and we're fine with it. True, USA and the Netherlands are very different, but I don't understand why the gruesome things that happen in USA never happen here. Not that I want them to happen in both countries, mind you!

I really hope there's a middle solution possible, but i can't see it.

You are definitely not alone. Us Americans have got ourselves in a hurry. We are loud, we more than not have a tremendous false sense of entitlement, we are morally backwards praising the rich and famous instead of the Wise and honorable. there are so many problems and so many are unwilling to try to change the way things are because that would mean walking out of our comfort zone. It really does not compute to me either. It's fucking chaos.

I just do not see the point in banning anything. People will still get them. And honestly i would rather they be able to track what is there and be able to trace it back to the ones responsible for its use than a whole lot of illegally obtained crap that they cant follow back to its user. If people really want to kill with guns, they will and then banning will have been for naught. Worse still is what these people will turn to to accomplish what they want. I would much rather face an assault rifle than a bomb.

Its.because we are such a fucked up society that banning anything will just simply.not work. In a smaller society such as yours where your people can be closer like yours are, its easier to prevwnt.things like this. its easier to spot the warning signs. But in a massive one like the states, it will never happen. It is unrealistic to expect bans or laws to ever truly make these things go away. Especially with a media that thrives off of the sensationallizing of these people. These monaters who should instead be punished and foegotten