by Ice.Maiden » 31 Dec 2012, 14:59
Yes, and it's not anything easily solved is it? I'm all for people keeping guns for self and family protection if they don't become trigger-happy, but therein lies the problem, because sometimes a mild-mannered person can explode, so who's to judge who's OK to own one, and who's not? Perhaps the general public should be banned from owning them altogether, with severe penalties for anyone caught with one, but it just goes round in a circle. That'd mean no hunting, no target practice, no gun hobbies allowed at all. It'd be difficult to implement, let alone trying to prevent guns being held illegally.
As for travelling to America, the pilgrims sought the New World where they could practice their religions. Here, King James and the church were as one. If you weren't a member of the church, it was classed as treason against the King, and not just here, but the kings of Europe as well, so these people set sail to find a new life. Those who made it, settled in what's now New York, and were given help and money from US profits. This enabled them to buy a new boat, sail back to England and pick up more people to take back for a better life. Can't say as I blame them. Royal power was stifling in those days. When Henry V111 reigned, religion was chosen on his whim, alternating between Church of England and Catholic rites, dictated by whoever his wife was at the time. To argue against it meant incarceration and often death.
I think the American constitution was drawn up in good faith at the time, but of course, all members of society WEREN'T equal in law. President Lincoln was known as an abolitionist for his stance against slavery, but his Emancipation Proclamation specifically only freed slaves in areas of the Confederacy that weren't under Union control. It was a start though, whereas over here, did you know that slavery only became illegal in the UK in 2010?!! In the 11th century, 10% of the population were slaves, and used as a bartering medium for years afterwards. What with that, and the strict laws laid down by Crown and church, it's no wonder that people wanted to flee.
With regard to gun ownership, it really is difficult. Most people over here are glad that you can't just go out and buy one without tough checks, but it hasn't stopped massacres and individual shootings. These are, however, still quite rare, and there's more to be feared from terrorist activities than wondering if some loony's going to blast your head off. I think if the law was made more lax, this'd change though. We have quite a lot of knife crimes now, and if it was easier to obtain a gun, I'm sure that these'd be used in place of those weapons. Sigh ....