I thought I would make a thread and talk about something now that splits a crowd. Gun Control. As we all know, the issue of guns is a hotly debated topic in America, today I thought I'd address the issue and hopefully offer a decent perspective to help to have people better understand this incredibly important issue, and what the most effective steps that can be taken to tackle the issue of gun violence. Let's start off with myself, I come from a country which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the world: Australia. I know in saying that some of you may think I'm trying to say all guns should be banned and confiscated but that is not the case. Hear me out here In 1996, in response to the deadliest mass shooting in our history, the Port Arthur Massacre, the government lead by conservative Prime Minister John Howard, with practically unanimous support, passed the National Firearms Agreement, learn about it in detail here. https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/Firearms/Documents/1996%20National%20Firearms%20Agreement.pdf In the aftermath of passing this law, homicides and suicides by firearms dropped significantly, and there is no evidence that there has been any parallel increase in non-firearm related homicides or suicides. Let's gets to the main point, could the USA [i]learn[/i] from Australia and other countries? Yes, definitely. [b]BUT![/b] before you get angry I haven't finished yet. Could America adopt the Australian model? The short answer for that is [b][u]no[/u][/b] it cannot. Why? It is very complicated. I will go into better detail why the Australian (or any country with massively stricter laws) model would not work in America. I can see you asking me "if you're saying they won't work in America how could've they possibly worked in Australia?" Well, I will go into better detail now. I will first go into saying Australia and America have a roughly early similar history, in that we were founded and colonized by the British. And sadly, occupied the lands from and vastly endangered the native population. While we do share this roughly similar early history we came up very differently from the USA, while we are technically still part of the British commonwealth, we are largely independent and do not rely on the British much, if not at all. So while we were granted this amnesty peacefully, America of course had to fight for it. What I'm trying to get across is that Australia and America are vastly different cultures with different people that have developed very differently in our histories. So what does this have to do in regards to our gun laws, well the thing is, unlike America we never had a constitutional right to bear arms to begin with and don't have a 'Bill of Rights'. We also don't or ever had a massive gun industry and powerful gun lobby like the National Rifle Association (or as I like to call the National Redneck Association). All jokes aside, when the law passed, people didn't really put up much of a fight if not at all, while in America guns are culturally significant and and is split right down the middle on the issue. The laws worked in Australia because we never had these barriers and didn't have anywhere near as many guns as the USA does or a powerful industry, we basically went 'yeah alright that seems fair enough really' and went with it. So why exactly won't they work in America? Well the thing is. -There are far too many guns in America for a total ban or mandatory buyback to be effective, they'll be illegal but they won't disappear. To gather them, it would require to literally tear down houses as they can be hidden easily, that just wouldn't work. -Too many people love guns, given their cultural significance a total ban would result in massive civil unrest and could even end in civil war, just like how slavery was fought over. Prohibition didn't go well either. I understand that many people in America know about guns and respect guns, I have no doubt that most gun owners a good law-abiding people, but the thing is, the system is flawed, far too many people are getting guns easily who shouldn't have them, so what solutions are there? Well here's the best I can think of: -Extended and Universal Background Checks. Right now there are too many ways to get around the current background check system and it remains too easy to obtain a firearm. -Close the Gun show loophole. Technically a private sale loophole, this allows people to purchase a firearm from private sales without a background check. This is not a myth like some people claim, it is real, it's been proven, and is dangerous. -Assault Weapons ban. You'll still be able to exercise your right to bear arms as you always have, but military grade firearms, firearms that are clearly designed for prolonged combat and warfare, have no place on the streets. With these you'll still keep and be able to use guns like you always have and have sensible legislation. But of course there's the problem that any legislation that is suggested, people believe that they're gonna have their guns taken away from them etc. Gun Control doesn't necessarily have to mean ban guns, but the problem is that there needs to be [b][u]something[/u][/b], it doesn't even need to be a ban. [u][b]anything[/b][/u]. but I will say this, this is gonna kinda be a rant but I encourage you to listen. [b][u]Nobody[/u][/b] is coming for your guns, ever, even if the government wanted to do that they can't, for reasons I specified above, it can't happen, it is impractical. There is no 'slippery slope', there is no 'liberal conspiracy' to take away firearms, it isn't possible. The point I'm getting at is that you can continue make the same arguments as you have been for decade after decade, will you succeed? No you will not, I dare say it's inevitable that some kind of legislation will come, I mean this in a genuine way, but the fact still stands that gun violence is a problem despite what anyone says. While the Australian model wouldn't work there still needs to be something, things can't stay the way they are forever. There needs to be a give-give on both sides, there can't be laws that benefit one side more than the other and that's exactly how it is right now, the gun lobby can continue to block legislation all they want, but until there's sensible legislation the debate will never end and more people will continue to be killed because of a lack of action. I hope I offered a helpful perspective and encourage civil and genuine discussion on the subject, and hope that people would understand better and to encourage sensible legislation in shaping a better future for all.