[ridesthemiles]

Australia is well armed

Not their citizens---- Mandatory turning in of personal guns a few short years ago. While many are buried in back yards, not enough, IMO.

[KangarooJacqui]

While many are buried in back yards, not enough, IMO.

Many of us were not armed to begin with, and were quite content that way.

Just what is it with this "arming of the masses" thing? Look at how badly it's turned out in places like the Solomon Islands and Iraq, just for example...

And there's plenty of people I know personally whom I'm glad don't have guns...

JMHO

FReegards, KaJac

[MadIvan]

Jacqui is right - Americans are operating under the assumption that firearms are essential to freedom because it was men with private arms who formed the basis of the revolutionary army. Freedom in the American experience, thus comes from the barrel of a gun.

However this model is part of American history - and there is not necessarily a clear extrapolation to other countries. Nor is there a clear extrapolation to modernity - to be honest, citizens with private arms are going to be no match for the coercive power of the state these days. There is certainly a role for firearms in crime prevention - but a lack of firearms does not necessarily equal a lack of freedom.

Regards, Ivan