Gun control is not the American way!

from one Aussie to another, well said. I agree with what you say

 

That's because the image of your employer and government is more important than your own life. Another subset reason of the big picture that I got out of trucking.
It would be nice if driving jobs—in fact all jobs—were more concerned with something called "negative reinforcement" (many people here don't understand behavioral psychology). A removal of restrictions on drivers and workers as they earn reputation and show themselves to be responsible over time would be good for any industry. A driver that has a solid record should be allowed to defend themselves with possession of a weapon; in fact even the removal of driver surveillance. But the industry is too short-sighted for this kind of thing.

 

Well thought out and logical approach. Counter to that is you have to take into consideration population and cultural mix, history, and a whole lot of differences. Not only from state to state, but country to country.

I do commend you on keeping your kid active in a real world sense that keeps them grounded in reality. A lot of todays youth has their reality rooted in social media, especially in the cities. Then take into consideration the over use of laws that restrict youth from being able to freely hang out together without a public (mostly in cities) perception of them being gang or up to no good. The helicopter parents have multiplied the problems that social media brings. Young men and boys aren't able to go out and explore in the populated areas like generations of old here in America. They aren't allowed to wrestle and rough house in fear from parents of injury or lawsuits. This gives them no outlets for the extra energy that piles up inside and just gets turned into full blown aggression then anger then depression. Eventually things can lead down a dangerous path. Whether its via firearm, knife, explosives, etc. the root cause is never looked at. Just the conclusion. It's really not hard to figure out.

There is way too much to unpack however before the whole "we have it better over here" idea. I can find just as many country men and women from your country that would disagree with you. It all comes down to opinions based off of experience and rarely research and encompassing awareness. For example. When people look at the lens of history they only focus on the one story they are looking at...…rarely to never consider what is going on outside of that story. Firearms are a very complicated subject matter in the US because it can't be a one size fits all solution. In cities- sure it can be a negative due to crime- however it can also be a negative to take away that equalizing force away from the non criminal. And before you say it- no it's not as simple of "let them have it, your life isn't worth it". Some criminals want everything including your life. Another thing you don't get to see from click bait media is the amount of lives saved by citizen firearm usage. Either via just the presence of one being shown or the actual use of a firearm to stop a threat. Then you zoom out to more rural areas, where you can go days, weeks, months without the first sighting of law enforcement. You also have dangerous animals to contend with, and also to be able to hunt for food. Which a firearm is as necessary a tool as an axe or a hammer for survival. Many folks across the pond do not realize how vast of an area the US covers and the multitudes of living conditions, cultures, distances etc that there is. We hear it all the time with visitors thinking they are going to see NY, LA, Vegas, and Disney in Florida in a couple of days. Not gonna happen.

Here in the US some want a government to over regulate and control every aspect of their lives- in a sense return to the days of kings and peasants. Others just want our freedoms and to be left alone. One group flees from where they were because their voting habits have created an unlivable condition just to continue the same voting patterns in their new spot because they can't de program from what they are used to. City folk move out to the country looking for quieter slower paced life. 6 mos later they are asking about street lights and closer shops and restaurants. With the invention of social media politics has become the sport equivalent to many. They cheer for whatever team with blind faith and passion and rarely thinking about why. It's just what they are told or how their friends think so they must follow. Everyone in the middle just shakes our head and hope the two sides clash enough to become a stale mate and not be able to screw things up one way or the other in a hurry.

 

Enough drivers have proven that they can't be trusted. Blame the ones that fouled up. Regulations don't come out of thin air.

 

$$$$$$ is why

 

Yep all that and we are far from ideal. Just the other day we had two police attend a call out for a missing person, they were executed with their own guns after being injured by a sniper type attack while approaching the house. It was done by a group of 4 conspiracy types who thought they were changing or showing the world how, what, or should be how it is. They injured a third cop and set the bush on fire in an attempt to smoke her smoke her out. Also killed the neighbour who was with the police.
Still don't know the answer but it went down like lead balloon with community near and far. I think major change is in the wind for social media content. So no doubt that will trigger two camps to flair up while like you say, the ones in the middle try to get on with life peacefully.

It sure would help everyone if the media spent more than 45 seconds on sensationalism. Balanced investigative journalism is as thing of the past if it ever was. But I feel as its almost impossible to get anywhere near the truth these days, not even 50%. Its one side or the other, or just noise.

Think in most countries there is general support for farmers and people on the land to have guns as there is a genuine reason. In Aus we don't have much that is big and dangerous, but do have lots of feral introduced animals or dogs that have turned feral that do damage. There are many parts also that are open and vast so don't believe many have concerns with the man on the land with a rifle. There is wide concern however for hand held and rapid fire weapons, its hard to see a positive argument for them unless you want to kill people. If no one generally has them, no one needs to defend themselves.

I guess it is hard to comprehend. The idea of visiting America to me on one hand is awesome, such a beautiful country with so much to see, but to think potentially every person around me may have a weapon puts me off. Sadly of the 4 people I know who have been to America have all have been robbed, not at gun point though. Maybe just unlucky.
I sold a car to an American who came over and drove it around Australia. He found it weird for sometime, the experience of at least in theory touring for 12 months with no weapon at all. Its just not a thing here feeling one needs top defend themselves. In reality this is probably the most common experience in America for a tourist I imagine, but here its almost a given.

 

The inner cities are usually populated with criminals.
Urban thugs .

In most American cities, if there is a subway system or a city bus route nearby , that area is not going to be safe after dark.

i can give more advice for avoiding being robbed but not in a public forum .

 

That is a very good reason to carry. Thx

 

It’s just sad we have to shove it in the worlds face that we’re the greatest nation that ever existed and we’re #1 and yet, to feel “safe” we need to have a gun on us at all time. It’s a true pity…

 

"I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery." - Thomas Jefferson