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| Michael wrote:
> GT Tick wrote:
>
>
>
> ---
> "It's a sign that the lack of gun laws in the U.S. is allowing guns to
> flood across the border that are literally being used to kill people in
> the streets of Toronto," Miller said.
> ---
>
> Hmmmm... while that's probably a big factor (almost all of our illegal
> handguns do get here from the USA), what's actually at fault is the
> importation of gang cultures from the US, Mexico, Central and South America,
> the Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe, southeast Asia... not to mention
> their positive feedback impact on pre-existing gang problems of our own.
>
>
There is a lot of truth to the saying that "If guns are outlawed, only
outlaws will have guns." The problem with banning guns is that you
can't stop the criminal element from obtaining them. It would become
more expensive for them to obtain them, but they will just sell more
crack to pay for it. The honest, law abiding citizen would turn in his
"illegal" gun(s), but does anyone think for even a moment that the
criminal element would do the same? I think not.
We have been unable,here in the US, after all the years of the "War on
Drugs", to stop the flow of drugs into this country. Why would it be
any different with guns? The fact is that our borders are porous.
Anyone can cross/smuggle whatever/whenever they want with a little
research & observation. Some might get caught, but others will succeed.
I don't claim to have the answers to the problem. I think background
checks are ok to a point. The problem is that no convicted criminal,
with a brain, is going to go through that.
I think that stricter enforcement of existing laws & harsher
consequences for committing a crime with a gun would be a start.
I don't know the answer to the gang issue. It seems to me to be rooted
in poverty. The lure of easy money selling drugs, the gang "protecting"
you/your turf and of "being someone", a tough guy.
I've read in the past about how the draw was that the gangs gave the
individual the feeling of "family" that they didn't get at home. I'm
not so sure I buy that. I think it all boils down to the money aspect.
Kids see the gang-bangers driving around in their tricked out cars,
wearing their expensive bling-bling and think to themselves "I want that
too!". Except instead of actually working for it, it is much easier to
join the gang & the drug distribution chain.
Perhaps the lack of family supervision, one parent, two jobs, trying to
make ends meet, contributes to the problem, but I don't beleive its the
root of the problem.
Maybe its because I'm getting older, but I seem to notice that todays
youth have a distinctly lower respect/regard for authority than we did
when I was growing up. Not just the gangs, but kids in general. I have
seen a lot of "Yeah, so what?" attitudes when it comes to discussing
consequences with kids, whether it is school or legal related. They
just don't seem to care. Perhaps that is coming from home, I don't know.
Maybe it boils down to the morals (and I don't mean bible-thumpin', hell
fire and brimstone) of the parents of today or the lack of taking the
time to teach and reinforce them to our kids. I'm talking about the
basics. Don't steal. Don't hurt someone. Be honest. Respect one
another.
I know the schools try, at least here, to introduce these, at least in
elementary school. But at that age, who do kids look up to the most?
The parent(s). If its not reinforced at home, its just another school
lesson, to be flushed & forgotten.
Ah well, I've rambled on enough, I'll get off my soap box now. Who
wants it next?
Alex
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