Canadian Man Defends Home From Firebombing, Now Faces Jail

[Billie Bonce]

What kind of world is it where we can't even defend ourselves in our own homes?

Don't forget - there is a large part of the world outside of the North America. And in significant part of that world using (and even keeping) firearms is illegal for most of the citizens. Say, in my part of the world in such case shooting would be illegal (it doesn't mean that nobody would do it, however)

[schlamm]

*

[Aiko]

.we are not a nation of rogues, militant nut cases or insane people-although we certainly have our share of all of them as does every established society.

True, except somehow your share seems to be the largest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gun_ownership

[Duncan Edwards]

.we are not a nation of rogues, militant nut cases or insane people-although we certainly have our share of all of them as does every established society.

True, except somehow your share seems to be the largest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gun_ownership

That's an interesting list but subject to interpretation. That number given for the US is probably close but only about 50% of households have firearms. I notice that Israel is not even on the list but there are many Israelis with an automatic rifle in their closet. As it also mentions in the text I can't imagine how you could accurrately count the private weapons in a place like Yeman. Does this list include weapons held by criminal gangs or just private ownership?

I live in a very nice place less than a mile from the police station. If I thought it were remotely possible to get all the guns out of the hands of those who shouldn't have them I'd be amenable to not having them myself. Unfortunately I don't believe that is in any way possible.

[Mynock]

In certain parts of the U.S. I can see that number being true. However, for an overall general figure, I think it's a little high.
Contrary to what you see on the news, the vast, vast, vast majority of gun owners are not "nut cases". They are honest, decent law abiding folk who use their guns in a variety of ways, but always safely and responsbily.

[Billie Bonce]

This is certainly true Billie, but on that note, please also consider the following: ...

I had no intention to start a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages of allowing people to have or use firearms. I just reminded that... well, that "we have just one world, but we live in different ones".

True, except somehow your share seems to be the largest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gun_ownership

I think this list is more demonstrative: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... death_rate

And returning to the topic, I wonder:
- Who charged the man? I don't think it were the attackers
- Was there any real damage to the house? I didn't notice the mentioning
I don't know Canadian law, but what I see from the article is: they are not sure that he had reasons to shoot. He was inside, the attackers were outside. He didn't aimed at them, but he shot in their direction. What means, he could easily kill somebody in a house across the road. (Probably, this is the reason for charge in "aiming". Wasn't it his neighbors who charged him?) The attackers threatened not his life, but his property. Maybe, in Canada this fact is important to justify, had he right to use firearms or not.

I don't know the details, and I don't know Canadian law, and I'm not a judge. Just some thoughts.

[DangerGirl]

.we are not a nation of rogues, militant nut cases or insane people-although we certainly have our share of all of them as does every established society.

True, except somehow your share seems to be the largest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_gun_ownership

Aiko, don't confuse rates of gun ownership with the number of "rogues, militant nut cases, or insane people." The two categories are most assuredly different.

Also, the title "list of countries by gun ownership" is a bit of a misnomer. Even assuming the figures are correct, it doesn't mean that 88% of Americans own guns, just that there are 88 guns per 100 people. That doesn't take into account individual ownership of multiple guns. I'd say that, in a large number of cases (possibly even the majority), if a person is a gun owner, he or she owns more than one.

[YerK]

I spoke yesterday with a US immigrant from Yemen. He said that at his house in Yemen, they had a heavy machine gun, among others, to help defend their home if needed. He went on to say that many households in Yemen have heavy weapons in addition to smaller firearms.

I am now armed. I just wish I had inherited the paperwork that went with my father's rifle, so that I could break it down and clean it with more confidence.

[MuddyEddie]

I'd say that, in a large number of cases (possibly even the majority), if a person is a gun owner, he or she owns more than one.

That's certainly the case with me, since at last count I had 11 firearms! Well, actually 10 are true "firearms" and one is a pellet rifle (not classified as a firearm by BATF).

Eddie

[schlamm]

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