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[Dwarf]

I think the difference in murder rates between the United States and Europe might have something to do with the fact that it's not wise to kick pieces of metal sticking out of the ground in Europe.

Uhm… what.
I haven't even heard even one case of mine-related death in Europe in the least few decades.
Southeast Asia is where it's at.

[thobal]

I think the difference in murder rates between the United States and Europe might have something to do with the fact that it's not wise to kick pieces of metal sticking out of the ground in Europe.

Uhm… what.
I haven't even heard even one case of mine-related death in Europe in the least few decades.
Southeast Asia is where it's at.

It was a joke, I just meant that being site to the two most intense contests in world history(and still within living memory) probably puts a damper on any killing reflex.

Is that still a problem? I was under the impression they've almost all been defused or gone off in that region by now.

And I don't think it has much to do with it, seeing as how certain other countries have the same problem, only much worse, and everyone has guns there. Like, say, Afghanistan.

Actually I think that the Austrian Interior Ministry recovered about 28 tons of old bombs in 2009.

[citation found!]http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2011-01-05/29501/Ice-skaters_find_WWII_bomb

[Sir Pseudonymous]

I don't believe old minefields are the source of the problem, but simply unexploded ordnance. Artillery shells, bomblets, grenades, etc. Which still kill a number of people in France on a yearly basis; they even maintain special bomb squads specifically for the purpose of dealing with WWII era ordnance that's dug up in fields and such.

[LoSboccacc]

as an european, I can confirm the war weariness of the current generation. still, there has been a steady increase of violence between teenagers, just in the recent years, maybe meaning that weariness is wearing off; difficult to say because the mind of a typical teenager is a mess and many many other social factors have changed in the last decade in the life of the youngster so isolating a single cause is not an easy feat.

[Fayrik]

Wait, you've not been practicing with your longbow for three hours every Sunday? Are you sure you should be admitting an offense punishable by beheading on a forum your feudal lord may well frequent?

Well, yeah... I'd better get practicing before the Hammerer turns up.

I used to go absolutely Zen when qualifying for my Sharpshooter 2nd Class.

I wouldn't say absolutely Zen, since I vaguely remember some quote from at least one Zen master saying that absolute Zen is virtually impossible, even to the most trained of minds, but I'd definitely say it's definately some form of Zen that Marksmanship induces.

Oh, and also, on the topic of Europian WWII unexploded ordnance...
I've heard of a couple of bomb-scares around this area of England too, they're all nazi bombs that've missed their targets by miles and then sunk into the mud. Don't think anyone's died, but they are there.

[DJ]

I think the difference in murder rates between the United States and Europe might have something to do with the fact that it's not wise to kick pieces of metal sticking out of the ground in Europe.

Uhm… what.
I haven't even heard even one case of mine-related death in Europe in the least few decades.
Southeast Asia is where it's at.

Bosnia is in Europe, and we got loads of minefields in which several people die every year.

Anyway, I think licence should be required for getting a gun, and getting the license should be similar to getting a driver's licence. Basically, some medical checks to determine you're not a looney, and then a couple of weeks of learning about operating, maintaining and storing guns safely. At the end you have a test on what you learned, and if you pass you can buy a gun. Similar to driving, there should be different licences for different types of firearms. I don't see anything wrong with allowing automatic weapons, but getting a licence for one should be comparable to getting a licence for driving a bus (it's harder than getting one for a personal car, in case you didn't know). Oh, and I wouldn't allow concealing guns.

[Urist is dead tome]

Anyway, I think licence should be required for getting a gun, and getting the license should be similar to getting a driver's licence. Basically, some medical checks to determine you're not a looney, and then a couple of weeks of learning about operating, maintaining and storing guns safely. At the end you have a test on what you learned, and if you pass you can buy a gun. Similar to driving, there should be different licences for different types of firearms. I don't see anything wrong with allowing automatic weapons, but getting a licence for one should be comparable to getting a licence for driving a bus (it's harder than getting one for a personal car, in case you didn't know). Oh, and I wouldn't allow concealing guns.

For the most part I wouldn't mind this for a compromise. Changes I would want would be allow concealed carry, I think they should have only two licenses. One for semi-auto. And one for auto.

And if by storage you mean gun safe and the ammunition locked separately, then I disagree with that.

[DJ]

By safe storage I mean inaccessible to children.

And I think that handguns and rifles are sufficiently different to warrant different specialized courses.

[Leafsnail]

So yeah, while you're talking about guns in America.. It's actually legal to own a bow, over here in England.

It's also legal to shoot a Scotsman with a bow in York.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_fingerprinting

Mhmmm....

You're actually completely right about this.  One handgun in the UK was traced to seven different shootings, including a murder.

Related? I dunno, I guess most people having family members who died violently in wartime might just cause people to think twice about murder.

I'd say this could be related to the way Europe is generally less pro-war (think defence budgets).  I mean, a lot of people here can remember how much it sucked to be a civilian in the middle of one...

Although as far as I know, we don't really have a problem with unexploded ordinance in the UK.

[Fayrik]

Although as far as I know, we don't really have a problem with unexploded ordinance in the UK.

Yeah, it's just the far south.. And you said problem, it's not really a problem. I've only heard of a few bombs being found then remotely detonated. No injuries at all.

It's also legal to shoot a Scotsman with a bow in York.

Hohoho! The joys of our overly complex, and horribly outdated law.
It's a legal requirement, and illegal, lovely!

[Urist is dead tome]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_fingerprinting

Mhmmm....

You're actually completely right about this.  One handgun in the UK was traced to seven different shootings, including a murder.

Did ya ever get that warm fuzzy feeling inside? 'Cause I got that.

[Leafsnail]

Well, since all seven crimes are now solved, just goes to show how risky it is using a gun here.

[Virex]

Anyway, I think licence should be required for getting a gun, and getting the license should be similar to getting a driver's licence. Basically, some medical checks to determine you're not a looney, and then a couple of weeks of learning about operating, maintaining and storing guns safely. At the end you have a test on what you learned, and if you pass you can buy a gun. Similar to driving, there should be different licences for different types of firearms. I don't see anything wrong with allowing automatic weapons, but getting a licence for one should be comparable to getting a licence for driving a bus (it's harder than getting one for a personal car, in case you didn't know). Oh, and I wouldn't allow concealing guns.

For the most part I wouldn't mind this for a compromise. Changes I would want would be allow concealed carry, I think they should have only two licenses. One for semi-auto. And one for auto.

And if by storage you mean gun safe and the ammunition locked separately, then I disagree with that.

Many countries have separate licenses for concealed carrying of weapons. They're usually given to those who can prove they need to have a concealed gun for proper protection, such as guards or jewelers. I don't think there'd be many situations in which it'd be beneficial to let someone with a hunters license carry a concealed gun...

[Urist is dead tome]

Can anyone honestly say that if people had no guns they wouldn't use melee weapons?

[Leafsnail]

Well, they would.  And they'd be much less dangerous.