The NRA: they don't speak for me nor I for them. Other than Ted of loaded pants fame, I can't say much about the leadership of the ILA division. Ted is just a cartoon character and I see no real use in discussing these various persons or what views they may hold. I'm not a member nor a contributor. I don't read their site. I searched it once and failed to find what I was looking for.
"Control is both a myth": The idea behind law, criminology and justice is basically 2 fold. The law sets an example of correct behavior, gives folks something to live up to. It's neither inflexible in it's application nor is it capricious. The law also provides a means to punish those who fail to adequately conform. Here's the key, a system of laws must essentially respect the rights and liberties of the members of the society it governs. The whole point is that those individuals will support the law and the government out of their interest in their own just treatment under the law. Law does not equal control. This is demonstrated by the fact that there are millions of people in prison in the US. Everyone of them was accused of breaking the law and everyone of them was convicted. Doesn't sound like control to me. As far as 'not trying' is concerned, the various states and federal government here have passed in excess of 20,000 laws relating to guns. I'd say they're trying. The point here is that the term "gun control" is a grand misconception. We don't have 'speed control' on the highway other than whatever limit drivers choose to place on themselves. Many folks have taken the term literally and defend such laws based upon the expectation that those laws will effect reduced rates of assault, injury and death. In reality what is required is much more. Society here needs to mature and evolve into a less violent one. Various campaigns for child safety and safe storage in general would help, probably more than any new law.
The US is changing and growing and its people with it. The US, compared to the UK and most of Europe, is a more violent and more murderous place. The UK murder rate for 2013 is less than 1 per 100,000, 9.8 per million according to what I've found. The 2013 US murder rate is 4.7 per 100,000, almost 5 times higher. An interesting fact here: in the US there is a higher rate of murders not involving guns than the overall (guns included) murder rate for the UK. The UK has evolved as culture for centuries at least as far back as the Magna Carta. The US is somewhat younger and, IMHO, in some ways, less civilized. We still have no universal health care thanks to one of our biggest lobbies, the insurance industry. We have little in terms of mental health support/care unless you're rich enough to buy your own.
"antithesis of freedom": So 'Do you know anyone who's a member of a well regulated militia?' According to our most recent Militia Act, every adult in the country (up to a certain age that I can't remember right now) so yes, I do. And 'why is it that Brits and Aussies don't feel "unfree"' I don't know that they do or don't feel free. In fact, I haven't least idea how they feel and neither do I care a bit in regards to the relevance of that to this discussion. People tend to grow where they're planted, so to speak.
But the fact is that in English the idea of 'control' is, in most senses regarding personal behavior, the opposite of 'freedom'. Check the dictionary on that. Here in the US many folks also have a good reason for owning a gun, it's a right.
I have not much understanding for any relevance of the Aussie bikini babes/gun owners with gun safes.
Will new gun control laws mean anything regarding violence, assault and murder? Pick one out and we can discuss it.
Welcome to the group and have a great day.
Edit history
= new reply since forum marked as read