Originally posted by lazs2
beetle... you are getting the answers... you just don't like em.
The problem is that they're not answers to the question I asked.
The gun card is being way overplayed in the case regarding the armed villains' targeting of folks driving rental cars in Florida. Guns are like a god to you guys, and are worshipped in the same way that some people worship their god. Something bad happens? It's not the fault of the gun/the god - guns don't kill people, only people do that - God's will and all that. Something good happens - like retagging of rental cars? All glory to God and the hallowed gun! Guns be praised! They're saving tourists' lives in Florida because the villains no longer know who is who, who has a gun and who does not.
Of course, it's bollocks. What those villains were after was
tourists. Why? Because if they've just arrived from overseas they're likely to be carrying large sums of cash, credit cards and other monetary instruments. US Rental cars are not used solely by tourists. They're also used by Americans - businessmen doing business more than 1000 miles from home for example. And an American businessman, having heard about the way occupants of rental cars were being targeted, would have armed himself against that threat, wouldn't he? Or are you about to tell me that you're not allowed to carry guns on an airliner on a flight within the US, even if it's in your checked luggage along with your nail scissors and other sharp objects? If it's so vitally important to be armed, why's that then?
Of course, a rental car being driven away from an airport location is a good place for a villain to look for rich and easy pickings in the form of a confused foreign tourist. But such a car is no less likely to be driven (if you guys are to be believed) by an armed American.
Which brings us back to European rental cars, many of which can be seen driving around with those bright orange rental car signs. Steve claims that everyone is an equal target. I say that's bollocks for the reasons given above: Those cars are driven almost exclusively by tourists, many of whom will be carrying wallets, cash, credit cards. A far better prospect for a criminal than a beat up old Peugeot or Seat driven by a local resident of modest means.
...and yet, despite the orange signs, those cars are not being targeted by armed criminals.
So why's that then?
remember... what happens here happens there in a couple of decades... you are just behind. that should be obvious to anyone.
I agree entirely. Which is why, when you described the typical American police shootout, I said I would leave Britain when that happens here. Note - WHEN, not IF. When Britain's problem with guns gets as bad as the situation in America, it will be time to leave.
