We’re Number 1 (Duh!)
A story published in Reuters today noted the USA as the most heavily armed society in the world, on a gross scale and per-capita scale. Apparently, we have enough firearms to give 90% of our population a gun, and U.S. citizens own 270 million of the world’s 875 million known firearms. Second up per-capita is Yemen (wtf?), Finland, and Switzerland.
What is more interesting to me is the fact that we have such good registration of our firearm ownership. Sure, we’ve got a lot of guns lying around and we’ll shoot the shit out of you (and each other) but at least we’re open about it.
Yeah, but as far as shooting into the air goes, we’re neck and neck with Iraq.
Telepathy, duh!
Correct, but it sure would be hard to defend oneself and ilk without firearms.
Pat Kilkenny prevents genocide because Pat Kilkenny is genocide.
I think there’s more to the US not suffering genocide than the firearms density.
Sean – we actually have very little registration compared to most countries. It is mandated by law that the State Police, who conduct the instant background checks in Oregon, and the BATFU who attempt to prevent firearm ownership nationally, must destroy the record of the transaction recorded by form 4473 that everyone must complete when buying firearms from a FFL dealer. Most states, like Oregon, thankfully have no form of registration what-so-ever. I think the best form of openness regarding private firearms is open carry.
Also it is interesting to note the article mentioned that most think Africa is awash with firearms, actually has very little, about 1 per 100 people, while the US has approximately NINETY times the firearm density. Time and time again it will be proven that private ownership of firearms will prevent a monopoly of violence over a population and save it from genocide.