Comments by "Hobbs" (@hobbso8508) on "" video.
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@toddscanlan2574
It's not a false correlation at all. Both are North American countries with relatively similar GDP per capita ratios, similar cultures and even an exposure to the same media. Very little about the USA and Canada is particularly different, making them quite easy to compare.
There are several issues with your measurement of gun violence in such a short time. You need to take into account the years it may take for some of the illegal weapons to dwindle in ownership, overall crime trends and more. You want to know where had zero changes to gun laws but saw a huge increase in gun violence? That's right, the USA.
Aside from the fact that gun violence is actually very widespread in the US, not just in specific cities, with all 50 states boasting high homicide rates and dangerous levels of gun violence, you also need to take into account the makeup of large cities. Large cities expose people to a wide range of ideas and people, meaning most people in large cities tend to vote democrat. Cities also attract younger populations, who are more prone to crime and also vote democrat. The idea that those cities having high gun violence is caused by democrats is nonsense. What's worse, the guns used in crimes in those cities are sourced from outside said cities. And where are all these black market weapons being bought and trafficked from? Oh right, Republican states. The truth is that gun laws are so lax in Republican areas that they are making it more dangerous, not just in Republican areas (Republican states having higher levels of gun violence as a result), but also in Democrat areas. So the issue is not that gun laws don't stop gun violence, it's that the lack of uniformity of US gun laws is the reason for the high levels of gun violence, proven by the fact that weapons used in these acts of violence are sourced outside the cities, and often outside the state, where they were used.
Of course, if we want real proof that gun laws work then we can just look at any other developed nation, all of which have gun registration as a minimum.
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@toddscanlan2574
"Then explain Switzerland and Mexico."
Switzerland has mandatory military service, gun licensing and registration.
Mexico are not a developed nation, they are officially a developING nation, although I am glad you mentioned them as most of their illegal guns come from the US.
"Also, you accuse me of blaming democrat cities and then immediately blame republican "areas", hypocrite."
But that's where the guns come from. That's just a fact. And worst of all the reason for it is the laws put in place. You seem to be blaming Democrats without an actual cause, while with Republicans we can see the cause plain as day.
"Also you point out that "red" states are responsible for the most violence but conveniently leave out that the majority of violence spawns from democrat run cities with strict gun control located WITHIN these red states."
Right, because the weak Republican laws allow for more weapon trafficking.
"If this had even a modicum of truth to it, then the rural areas with "lax" gun laws would have an equivalent level of gun violence to democrat cities or even higher"
Nah. Crime is just lower in rural areas in general. As I explained before, cities have younger populations that tend to commit more crimes. That's true the world over. Doesn't change the fact that gun violence is high across all 50 states, cities and rural areas included.
"Also, your assertion that criminals are purchasing weapons legally in red areas and then bringing them back to blue cities where the guns immediately become illegal (which defeats the purpose of purchasing them legally) not only makes no sense but is not backed by any evidence whatsoever."
To be more specific, weapons traffickers are purchasing weapons legally in Red areas then selling them illegally in highly restricted areas, a practice that is only necessary because of gun control laws. There are also straw purchases, due to ineffective background checks and a lack of a registrations, all of which is done, again, outside of the cities.
"The majority of gun violence is committed by criminals who have illegally acquired firearms, either through theft or black markets, which due to their illegal nature you cannot possibly blame on "lax", LEGAL gun laws."
Actually they can. Black market guns are almost enitely made up of recently purchased legal guns, usually in private sales in states with no background checks on private sales.
At the end of the day, just look up the stats for where weapons used in crimes originated. You want to know why guns used in places like Chicago are not bought in Chicago? Because of the laws making it near impossible to do so, proving they work. You want to know where they get them from? Gun shops surrounding Chicago either within the state or outside of the state.
Actually what's quite funny is St Louis, literally the most dangerous city in the US, has been stopped from enacting any sort of gun safety multiple times by the state of Missouri. No permits, no registrations, open carry is allowed, concealed carry with a permit, and the result is the higherst homicide rate in the nation.
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@toddscanlan2574
1. Again, Switzerland has licensing, registration and mandatory military service, all things the US does not have. Most gun control advocates are pushing for registration more than anything.
Mexico getting their guns from the US is not irrelevant. It's yet another example that lax gun laws increase crime in strict gun control areas.
2. Crime is low in rural areas everywhere. There can be more than one factor affecting crime rates. You are assuming my argument is that guns are the only factor that changed crime rates, which is just a strawman.
3. Yes I can. Current laws do nothing to stop trafficking because the systems in place have been purposely designed to be ineffective. A registry would substantially lower black markets.
4. Nope. The workaround only exists because of areas with lax laws. If the laws were the issue then illegal guns would come from the same area, not outside. At this point however you seem to just be arguing against laws, because people will break them so why bother. Funny you use Japan as an example though, given they have one of the lowest homicide rates, and one of the lowest firearm death rates on the planet.
5. Switzerland does not have similar gun freedoms. As explained, they have mandatory registration, personal licensing and mandatory military service with firearm training. This is so far from the US it's not even funny. You just look at the weapons and ignore the steps they take to secure them. But thank you for agreeing that your mention of Mexico was dishonest, even if it was with another strawman.
Here, this will help:
Gun licensing and registration would substantially drop misuse and black market sales. Registration makes them far more traceable and adds accountability, while licensing creates markers for assessing mental state and knowledge. Switzerland has both, the US has neither. So yes, let's be more like Switzerland, great idea.
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@toddscanlan2574
1. Licensing creates a way to check both weapon competency and psychological state, reducing both accidental and on purpose shootings. Interview were people show intent are also useful for weeding out people looking to misuse a firearm. Registration allows for far more stringent tracing of guns. Private sales without a record of registration would be against the law, and therefore liability of weapons would be tracked back to those original owners. As a result the initial sale in the gun trafficking issue would be illegal, not just the final sale, discouraging the original seller. Straw purchases would also be cut as tracking guns to straw purchasers would be far easier. And finally is the military service, which is just a layer of weapons training, discipline and respect for guns. Add it all together and you see less crime as a result.
As for other factors, no I'm not ignoring them, I'm just pointing out how gun laws play a role. There is a direct link between lax gun laws and gun crime, that's just a fact. By admitting that guns being trafficked out of the US is a border issue you are agreeing that US cities are getting guns trafficked into them in areas with no border checks. Really shot yourself in the foot there.
2. Again, gun control can reduce gun violence is not the same argument as gun control is the only factor that effects crime. You are strawmanning my position and acting foolish.
3. The fact that guns are trafficked from areas without registration is proof. I don't need you to believe me, obviously you're beyond help.
4. Yeah, that's not how gun laws work. While they can stop firearm purchasing in gun shops, it's basically impossibly to stop black market sales when people can travel literally 30 miles to obtain guns to sell. That's not the fault of gun laws, that's the fault of weak laws in other areas. You are proposing a checkpoint getting in and out of a city, which is just silly. As for Japan, you are using anecdotal evidence. He also wasn't Prime Minister at the time. Do you want me to list all the CURRENT US presidents to get shot? Certainly makes your argument look silly yet again.
5. Your point is wrong. Many European countries allow guns with proper licensing, registration and sometimes training. Switzerland just has more, not lax laws. As for Mexico, oh dear you appear to be backsliding. I'll let you figure out why the US always has to be compared to developing nations just to look half decent.
6. The serial number system is just not the same as a full registry. We track weapons sold, but only using paper records and only in gun shops. Private sales don't need to be tracked at all in most states. As I explained, registration adds far more accountability. And yet again, you use the argument of "it won't be perfect so don't even try" which is just a fallacy.
7. Agreed. You don't understand gun laws and want to live in a fantasy land where guns are ethereal unstoppable magical machines. It's insane, and you're an embarrassment.
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