Posted on 07/17/2009 7:32:16 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- The biggest importer of small arms in the world isn't a rogue or war-torn nation. It's us, the United States.
According to a report out this month, we are the largest exporter of small arms too, making America the largest small-arms dealer in the world.
The annual Small Arms Survey says the U.S. "continues to drive the global small-arms trade, remaining the largest importer of pistols and revolvers, sporting shotguns and small-caliber ammunition." Indeed, greater demand for small arms in the United States was responsible for 48% of the worldwide increase in imports from 2000 to 2006.
We aren't talking about tanks or missiles here. This isn't about national defense or our military, which by far is the largest in the world, let's not forget. This is about the right to bear arms -- you, me, our neighbors.
The Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, which produces the annual survey says, "Firearms are also important contributors to crime and societal violence. They are used in 40% of homicides worldwide. The prevalence of small-arms misuse, both in conflict and crime, is leading analysts to examine the economic costs of gun violence, in an effort to assess the cost-effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce it."
In other words, small-arms take a tremendous toll on society. Intervention and all-out prevention can mitigate that loss.
To be sure, there are many defenders of people's right to bear arms, most notably the National Rifle Association. The NRA holds itself out as "America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights."
But what happens when bearing arms actually begins to cost society more than the "right" to bear arms?
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
“But what happens when bearing arms actually begins to cost society more than the “right” to bear arms?”
That isn’t possible you dip$&*^, you cannot put a price on freedom.
Just wait until healthcare is nationalized and the gov’t starts addressing the “costs” of healthcare.
Expect an extra tax on sugar, alcohol, bullets and firearms due to their “cost” to the nation in terms of healthcare.
Then, expect duties to be increased on imported ammunition and firearms on top of a federal tax.
Exactly what is the cost of enslavement by the federal government? Oh, I forgot. Hussein et al are entitled to rule. It’s their birthright! And besides, IT’S WHAT IS BEST FOR US!!!
*Sniff.* Sometimes I am just SOOOO PROUD of my country.
To be sure, there are many defenders of people's right to bear arms, most notably the National Rifle Association.
Isn't the NRA just a group of people like any other “Special interest group”. When it's ACORN or some other Leftist whiner group, it's people. When it's law-abiding gun ownership, it's a faceless entity
FTA:When people get scared .. they resort to self-defense tactics.
That's because you need to maintain parity with the criminals, it wouldn't matter if you're a black belt in Karate if the thug has a gun does it?
FTA:It's interesting that a society such as ours that is domestically conflict free is driving the market for small weapons.
Always amazing when someone can stare at a fact and not get it. It should be freaking OBVIOUS why our society is “Conflict Free”.
USA!USA!USA!
Taxes on ammo?
More and more regulation?
Outright banning?
Registration/Confiscation?
Any thought on how they will justify such action?
'We won so screw you?'
Terrorist attack requiring the imposition of martial law?
Just as with others, we just have to give this flimsy argument its due diligence in response, and it will slip away to the fringes - never to take hold
Think cap n trade for guns, and I think you've got it.
Now if we’d only show a little more innovation. As it is, most of the new designs for firearms seem to come from FN or H&K.
USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!! USA!!
Hey, are we supposed to feel shame at those statistics?
SCREW THAT!!!!!
It makes me proud to know that we ship small arms around the world.
The world would be a MUCH better place if every law abiding citizen in the WORLD had firearms training, and, at the very least, a good sidearm, rifle, and shotgun.
I can promise that the cost of trying to take them away will be a LOT higher, leftdolt (ref to author of article, not freeper poster).
Even Clinton just banned sales of certain firearms. Not close to confiscation or a ban on ammo.
The powder keg is set. Attempted confiscation wouldn’t be like tossing a match on it, though. It would be like tossing a gernade...
That isn’t possible you dip$&*^, you cannot put a price on freedom.“But what happens when bearing arms actually begins to cost society more than the “right” to bear arms?”
One of the "costs to society" of the right to keep and bear arms is the casualty rate among criminals. And another "cost" is the fact that young thugs cannot be absolutely sure that that little old lady is a helpless mark.What happens when speaking freely and printing your opinion begins to "cost society" something? Are you willing to shut up "for the common good?"
Which way to the ovens,,,Goober
Bang
The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.
H.L. Mencken
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