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U.S. Gun Control Laws Criticized Abroad
Fox News ^ | April 17, 2007 | PAISLEY DODDS

Posted on 04/17/2007 2:00:23 PM PDT by Sopater

LONDON — The Virginia Tech shootings sparked criticism of U.S. gun control laws around the world Tuesday. Editorials lashed out at the availability of weapons, and the leader of Australia _ one of America's closest allies _ declared that America's gun culture was costing lives.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the government hoped Monday's shootings, allegedly carried out by a 23-year-old South Korean native, would not "stir up racial prejudice or confrontation."

While some focused blame only on the gunman, world opinion over U.S. gun laws was almost unanimous: Access to weapons increases the probability of shootings. There was no sympathy for the view that more guns would have saved lives by enabling students to shoot the assailant.

"We took action to limit the availability of guns and we showed a national resolve that the gun culture that is such a negative in the United States would never become a negative in our country," said Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who staked his political career on promoting tough gun laws after a gunman went on one of the world's deadliest killing sprees 11 years ago.

The tragedy in a Tasmanian tourist resort left 35 people dead. Afterward, Australia's gun laws were changed to prohibit automatic weapons and handguns and toughen licensing and storage restrictions.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist
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No one asked you...
1 posted on 04/17/2007 2:00:24 PM PDT by Sopater
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To: Sopater

...and how’s that working out?


2 posted on 04/17/2007 2:01:22 PM PDT by steve8714
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To: Sopater

Here’s a message to foreign critics of U.S. gun laws from Whitney Houston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcmw0ufHoBo


3 posted on 04/17/2007 2:03:11 PM PDT by 3AngelaD
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To: Sopater

This from the country that brought us the IRA!


4 posted on 04/17/2007 2:04:10 PM PDT by mountainlyons (Hard core conservative)
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To: Sopater

I’m sorry ... I don’t remember anyone asking your sorry ass


5 posted on 04/17/2007 2:04:22 PM PDT by clamper1797 (Fred Thompson / Duncan Hunter or Duncan Hunter / Fred Thompson ... either way is OK by me)
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To: Sopater

Ask Australia how their gun grab helped thier crime rate....


6 posted on 04/17/2007 2:05:07 PM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: Sopater

How ‘bout this? You guys stay over there then.


7 posted on 04/17/2007 2:06:01 PM PDT by statered ("And you know what I mean.")
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To: Sopater

I thought the murder rate in Australia had sky rocketed after law abiding citizens were asked to give up their guns. My guess is that the citizens in some of these counties who have allowed themselves to be disarmed have begun to question the wisdom of that decision. This may be a chance for the leaders that encouraged the disarmanent to say “ see what might happen here if we had not taken your guns!”


8 posted on 04/17/2007 2:06:46 PM PDT by BeckB
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To: Sopater
...declared that America's gun culture was costing lives.

I agree.

But not as this idiot means it.

By allowing the MSM to demonize us, by allowing government to exceed it's authority and create more disarmed victims, the "gun culture" here in America hasn't done enough to protect itself. It needs to stand up and fight back. Enough of this liberalized socialist insanity that demands we all be disarmed.

9 posted on 04/17/2007 2:06:46 PM PDT by Dead Corpse (What would a free man do?)
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To: Sopater

Unless the article is written in German or Japanese, in deference to the most recent delusional societies to try to create empires by force, I will dismiss this as the babbling of morons...


10 posted on 04/17/2007 2:07:04 PM PDT by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: mountainlyons
When England was afraid of an Nazi invasion, members of the National Rifle Association in the USA sent thousands and thousands of guns to Great Britain to help stave off a German invasion.
11 posted on 04/17/2007 2:10:23 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Sopater
world opinion over U.S. gun laws was almost unanimous:

They interviewed the whole world?

12 posted on 04/17/2007 2:13:20 PM PDT by Rodney King (No, we can't all just get along.)
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To: Sopater

Gives them something to do.


13 posted on 04/17/2007 2:13:54 PM PDT by Unicorn (Too many wimps around.)
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To: unkus

Maybe we need to send thousands of nappy headed girls to satisfy all of the world killers so they can not be blamed for shootings.


14 posted on 04/17/2007 2:14:03 PM PDT by mountainlyons (Hard core conservative)
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To: Publius6961

You would think that Europe above all would understand that freedom is not free. Episodes like what ocurred in Blacksburg are the price you pay for the right to bear arms. But the right to bear arms is one of our best weapons against the totalitarianism that birthed WWII. And we had better hold on tight to that because freedom of the (idiot) press isn’t working very well right now.


15 posted on 04/17/2007 2:14:49 PM PDT by RatRipper
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To: RatRipper

Well said.


16 posted on 04/17/2007 2:15:54 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Sopater
America's gun culture SAVES lives. Foreign idiots watch too many Hollyweird movies and haven't the foggiest idea about life in this country. They should refrain from offering unwelcome advice. Its none of their damn business!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

17 posted on 04/17/2007 2:16:32 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: Sopater

A few years ago, I made some German friends over the Internet (a gaming clan). Inevitably, when my Americanism became a topic (when I talk to folks abroad, it ALWAYS comes up) they let me know that visiting America is dangerous because we have raging gun battles in the streets all of the time.

No, I am not kidding. Their image of America was taken from U.S. films and their hyperbolic if not dishonest media.

While the Dems like to think that GWB has poisoned our image abroad, Hollywood has done such a fine job of doing it themselves well before President Bush even entertained the idea of becoming president.

APf


18 posted on 04/17/2007 2:19:06 PM PDT by APFel (Regnum Nostrum Crescit)
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To: APFel

Right on. And the liberal media will be the first to have their empty of all reason heads sawed off by the Barbarian Muslims.


19 posted on 04/17/2007 2:21:26 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Sopater

“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself! They are the American people’s Liberty Teeth and keystone under Independence. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurances, and tendencies PROVE that to insure peace, security, and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indespensable. The very atmosphere of firearms EVERYWHERE restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of HONOR with all that’s good!”

President Geo. Washington, in a speech to Congress. 7 January, 1790


20 posted on 04/17/2007 2:23:29 PM PDT by Chena (I want a President who will also be tough against liberalism. (Kevin McCullough))
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