Proof gun control works

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I believe that banning guns or restricting gun ownership so that you couldn't own an effective weapon would surely decrease mass shootings and other gun violence.  The problem is that it would take away the right to own a gun for self and family protection or to hunt, etc.  Alcohol is the highest cause of fatal traffic accidents.  We regulate alcohol and driving which probably lowers the number of alcohol related accidents, but how far should we go?  Should we outlaw any beverages with over 3.2% alcohol?  Or maybe we should outlaw alcohol completely, as happened during the prohibition era, which didn't stop alcohol consumption and led to an increase in violent crime.  In the 50s and 60s Americans probably owned more guns than today.  I think all you had to be was 18 years old to walk into Walmart, or whatever, and buy a gun with no registration required.  There were no (or almost no) mass shootings like we have today.  I think people have either become crazy or amoral.

But no one here is advocating the banning of guns in the US (or anywhere else).  Restricting gun ownership is a phenomenally good idea - no one seriously claims that everyone should be allowed to have guns: the mentally unstable, convicted felons, domestic abusers - all of these are examples of people who shouldn't have firearms. More extensive and thorough background checks are sensible and would in no way take away the ability of most people to procure firearms.

As a non-American, I agree with you that people have become crazy.  This largely stems from the viewpoint that gun ownership is an inviolable right that can't possibly be restricted without your whole culture coming apart at the seams.  The idea that EVERYone should be allowed firearms is both crazy and immoral.

Boru