Thoughts On "Bowling For Columbine"

Onhwy61, Afghanistan is a tribal society without ever having had a functioning government that represents all it's people. Isreal has only existed since 1948 by U.N. decree and the middle eastern tribes, right or wrong, have tried to destroy Iseal since that time.
Ben, You are correct about historical innacuracies but the overall story is true. "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" has been in our Constitution since 1791.....being necessary to the security of a free state indicates that this concept has been around awhile. This was the first Amendment to the U.S. Constituion which happened long after our battle for independence. We simply don't agree and I respect both your opinions and your freedom to express them.

Likewise Lugnut I respect your opinions......well.......you might have a gun.
:-)

Along with the rights granted us as United States citizens, we also have certain responsibilities to the society that grants us the freedoms we have. We need to focus on the concept of personal responsibility. We are each personally responsible, to a large degree, not only for our station in life; but also responsible for accepting the consequences of our actions. We as a culture need to stop leaning on the crutch of "victimization" and accepting the idea that we are each responsible for what we do in our living. The United States affords each of it's citizens the opportunity to achieve anything; we are only limited by our desire to achieve. If we choose another path - such as a criminal one, we must be prepared to accept personally the consequences. Too often, we put the PC spin on to explain aborhant behavior, we glorify thuggish, criminal behavior from "professional" athletes. Athletes have been given an enormous gift in their abilities. They make millions of dollars, yet we excuse their negative social behaviors because they are "victims". Until the consequences for negative behaviors are as serious (and enforced) as the rewards for positive behavior are given, personal responsibility of the individual will take a back seat to the crutch of victimization. Just my 2 cents.

Lugnut - the deinstitutionalization of mentally ill affected mostly those with delusional disorders (especially people with schizophrenia)who are not statistically more violent than the average person. Sociopaths and related MI/PDs are the more violent ones, but there was never a time when a significant number of those where kept in a mental instiutions. They have always just gone to prison.

Everyone here is armchair quarterback on this subject, which is not too surprising for an audio board. I have similar views with Ben Campbell, but its tough to say without the data in fron of me and the knowledge to interpret it.

I'm with Ben, and could not have put the arguments better. Slipknot also raises a good point. The US has become a nation of people with wide ranging rights, but apparently no responsibilities. The Bush administration demonstrates this on an international level.

I think it's high time we removed all barriers to immigration between Europe and the US and let people vote with their feet.