Beetle,
I fail to find the point behind what you were saying? Is it that you feel the rest of the Americans that own guns are evil people just aiming to gun every one else down, or that the Bush administration is solely responsible for the rise in gun sales, you like to hike?, or is it that Europe is a safer / better place because there are less guns.
Point by point,
As a gun owner, I have never, nor do I intend on doing anything illicit with the weapons I own, my sole purpose for owning 95% of them is to enjoy going to the range and the ilk, the 5% I have for self defence are inspired by the wonderous latin americans that live in this area who would rather beat you with a pipe, or shoot you with a stolen gun to get the $200.00 in your pocket... guess that's my fault too.
The Bush administration has done less for gun ownership than the previous administration. If you think his refusal to resign into law the rediculous Clinton inspired attempted ban on assault weapons was wrong, maybe you should look at that law. The "ban" Clinton put into law did three simple things, drove the price up on weapons imported before the the time frame of the law, 1989 I believe. Allowed the gun dealers to sell at higher prices, to rake in more prices and thereby import more weapons for sale with an even better profit margin, it also spawned a whole generation of changing assault weapons in subtle ways so to beat the ban, done mainly by European and Chinese gun companies. Lastly, it also increased the crime rate for such weapons, not because they were used in crimes, but because they were stolen more often reflecting there higher "street value."
Glad you like to hike, it is a relaxing sport, and while trying at times gives a great sence of accomplishment.
I really do not feel Europe is in any way safer than the US, as a point of fact, there are sao many places in Europe that I would not feel safe, even in a damn Abrams tank. At least in the US, I understand the playing field, I know that as a general rule, South Central discluded, that I am not going to be jumped, and / or shot so long as I follow a simple guideline of covering my actions, having a plan, and not acting like a gawking tourist. Ohh, and another nifty little tidbit, the use of weapons last year in crimes in my area alone was committed by 58% illegal latin americans, 21% imported eastern eurotrash, the rest, just americans... I wonder where the problems really exist....
