Why is it that the most aggressive supporters of access to guns can neither spell nor write intelligently?

They also seem to have difficulty with basic arithmetic.

Case for gun control proven?

J D S, Cardiff, Wales UK

So Eugene - Im puzzled - please explain why that by telling us that violent gun crime is prevalent in both the USA and Venezuala can it show that its therefore sensible that guns should not be controlled. Surely it shows the opposite? If there were more guns in Venezuala then even more people would die. Naturally if there were less guns in the USA then again less people will die.

Hand guns are made for one thing only - killing - and no remotely civilized country should allow anyone to own one for any reason.

martin, london,

Gun laws, the bible not being taught in schools, etc, etc. I don't think anything could have prevented this tragedy. Unfortunately its one of those things that happens in human nature, people do sometimes lose their mind for whatever reason. Restrictions on gun ownership will only take the guns out of the hands of good law-abiding citzens while the criminals keep theirs. 60 deaths in a nation that outlaws carrying a gun only shows that these sorts of laws do not work, you think guns weren't forbidden in Northern Ireland during the troubles? Also alcohol is involved in far more deaths that guns each year, should we ban that? Same goes for cigarettes? You may say people choose to drink and smoke, but what about the passive smoker, or the child that gets hit by a drunk driver?

Stuart, Belfast, Northern Ireland

To Ezra, Las Vegas, your comment is hilarious. Are you seriously comparing guns with cars!?!?!?!?

A brief explanation of the differences:

1. the primary purpose of a car is transportation.
2. people driving cars sometimes cause ACCIDENTS and people can die as a result but I don't often read in the paper that a person jumped in their car with the express reason of using that car to commit murder.
3. the primary purpose of a gun is to KILL.
4. people use guns to KILL.

Wake up!!

M.Chat, London, UK

Gun-control laws will not solve the problem. Worldwide, there's no relation between density of gun ownership and ownership regulation and the murder rate in a country. The key factor is the cultural mindset. While Americans still think that the Marlboro man is the epitome of manliness and that any good citizen has the God-given right to blow someone else's brains out to defend their own turf then the problem will never be solved.

Ad, Hamburg, Germany

South Africa changed its gun laws - now we have higher crime, rape & murder; you're restricted on defending yourself even in your own home, & even police & security guards are restricted in gun use as well. Britain has so-called strict gun laws - yet a teenager, still on the loose, shot & killed 11-year-old Rhys Jones; gangs of killer Brit kids run around with guns shooting someone, adults or youngsters, every other day or week.
This particular incident is not about guns, but about an unstable, emotionally immature 20-year-old who wasn't vetted properly for his job.
America does have a problem with these frequent multiple-murder random killings - something's wrong that needs to be addressed within American society, perhaps it's the desire for 'TV fame' even if you're dead. Otherwise, I think the Americans are good people, we should be glad to have them around.
"Living the Bible" won't solve the problem, it never has, & there are more religions than just the Bible.
Very sad.

Lindsay, Cape Town, South Africa

It's not so much the guns that are the problem; it's the ease with which someone who is in a mentally fragile state can get access to guns. People having guns because of the 2nd Amendment to protect themselves is fine if that's the law, but surely there should be tighter controls on people being able to get guns? Yes, criminals are going to have gun and thus having your own gun can be a good self-protection measure, but many people have guns who frankly shouldn't have that amount of responsibility.
I also disagree with the statement "Be thankful that Americans know how to use weaponry so that we can continue to fight your wars for you.", not only because this is clearly wrong, but also it crystalises an attitude among several gun-supporting individuals that lends the gun lobby a gung-ho atmosphere. It is completely counter-productive, because the arrogance of the statements will cause people to ignore any sensible argument you have.

Tom, London,

Ordinary citizens should not own guns. Only cops should have guns, so that horrors like Crandon do not happen. Wait, the mass murderer in Crandon was a cop...well that worked, didn't it

Pat, Plymouth, Wisconsin,

The statistics speak for themselves. Here in Europe where it is hard to get a gun, we have many many less deaths per capita then the USA. It isn't 1776 anymore and things have changed. DISARM now and maybe your great great grandkids will have a chance. Maybe not. I moved to Europe from the USA(several years in central WI) because I couldn't take it anymore. I do hope you all wake up eventually

Carl, Amsterdam, NL

It is not clear how "government schools" can teach "morals". Fifty years ago we were taught English, History (Ancient and Modern), Biology, Geography and Math. We were expected to pass in all these subjects. In the English class we learned about Samuel Taylor Coleridge, learned his Xanadu lines by heart. We were taught that he wrote those lines under the influence of Opium, which destroyed his talent, and prevented him from finishing the work.

I personally took this as a dire warning, and recall often worrying about it. My schoolfriends didn't, and when they were exposed to GI's R&R, they threw caution - intellectual and physical - to the winds. It was their mini-marketing schemes for reselling narcotics (rather than Use, per se) which put them beyond the pale, in my book. Dosing oneself with unknown substances is silly enough, but what IS friendship? A business opportunity?

It really is a question of whether parents can be bothered parenting, not what's in the curriculum.

Dion Per Sona, Cardiff, UK,

Gun control in the US IS the issue. To still tie the ownership of guns to a piece of paper ("the right to bear arms") that was written hundreds of years ago remains a ridiculous, centimental mistake.
This has contributed directly to the mass over supply of guns and the countless innocent lives that are lost every day in the US.
Get a grip and get into the twenty first century people! If you do not do something then you have no right to weep when this happens to those dear to you.

grant crawford, Dubai, UAE

"There is no need whatsoever for civilised people to carry guns these days; arguments can be settled peacefully." - Not all people are civilized and ready to be reasoned with. Not all murders are the result of simple arguments.

"The wild west era had more gun incidents/death and was a more religious era." - No it didn't and no it wasn't. You watch too much telly on your side of the pond. Try reading a history book. You'll find that the vast majority of the population had guns and that gun violence was rare outside of warfare. Two reasons - 1. Everybody is nicer when everybody has a gun. 2. The gallows.

Finally, where's the article pointing out that an off-duty cop just shot a slasher on the streets of New York? http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/2007/10/07/2007-10-07_woman_fights_for_life_after_psycho_goes_.html

You want to solve the violence problem then please do, but until everybody plays nice there is no logical argument for disarming the honest law-abiding citizen.

J.S., Pocatello, ID, USA,

Gun control works... Just ask Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Pol Pot, etc, etc....

In 2004 and 2005, while having the smallest population, obviously, Washington DC and it's total gun-ban was still able to take the title for:

#1 in Violent Crimes
#1 in Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter
#1 in Robbery
#1 in Aggravated Assault
#1 in Motor Vehicle Theft

Just another tidbit to prove that GUN CONTROL WORKS!
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/US_States_Rate_Ranking.html

Andrew, West Jordan, Utah

Gee, I guess cops cant even be trusted with guns.

Faye, USA,

I feel very sad for the family and friends of those deceased by this tragic accident. Conversely, I am appalled by the condenscending British comments against America. You constantly use every tragedy publicized to one-up us. Grow up, please! Please note that this is not directed to all the Britsh people...for those with whom it does-you know who you are.

Does any sensible person really believe that banning guns in America would solve our problem? OK, let's see...drugs are illegal in America. Does that mean nobody uses them anymore? Is there anyone who honestly believes that America could simply ban guns to solve this problem? These people going on shooting rampages are derranged; bottom line. America has some serious social issues, no doubt; let's focus on those...

My thoughts and prayers for those touched by this tragedy.

Renee, Woodbury, MN, USA

Quote: "Guns dont kill people. People pulling the trigger do."
Melissa, Crandon, WI

So wouldn't it make sense if these people had no trigger to pull? The American gun lobby said that students should be armed so that this wouldn't happen. Can you imagine how many more deaths would occur if all everyone carried one. More guns = more gun violence. Less guns = less gun violence. And if you argue this is not true then you are wrong.

julian, portsmouth, uk

You guys know, I can agree with you a lot about banning guns here in the USA, but it will never happen. It's way too ingrained into the mindset here. I own a handgun and an assault rifle. Both have been collecting dust, locked up. I only wanted them "just in case" there was a looney running around with a gun. You really can't trust most gun owners, cops or not. The gun lobby here is powerful, but the 500,000,000 firearms that civilians own are even more powerful. A lot of us hate guns, but feel conflicted about giving up that right, especially when you have nuts like Bush in office who is already stampeding on our other rights. I think it would be more likely that we could raise the gun ownership age to 25 and mandate safety classes annually and require ownership permits with psych evaluations.

david, Indianapolis, IN

Mr Zeeb please tell me who you are fighting wars for.
If you meant WW2 I do believe Germany & Japan declared war on you.
If you meant Iraq .That one is being fought for Mr Bush & Cheneys oil interests.
Give me a Break.
Incidently i own 12 guns .But they are for competition & sport not for protection.
Brian.

brian lee, medina, USA Ohio

I believe the main problem involving guns and the USA is not the right to carry them but the way they are valued and worshipped by many Americans, as well as the political belief that violence is the best solution to any problem.

Thaís, Sao Paulo, Brazil

America - YOU ARE INSANE Get rid of your guns. Look to countries like England and Australia that have tougher gun laws and read the statistics. It doesn't take a lot of brains to figure it out.

Jo, Sydney, Australia

Look at the difference between the amount of gunfire killings in Britain and in the US. It's appalling.

What I don't understand is why it seems so easy to lay your hands on a gun in the US. I've got to admit that whenever I think of the US, gun crime is one of the first things that springs to mind for me.

The world's going slowly (or not so slowly) mad.

Carly Jones, Caerhun, Gwynedd

So Eugene - Im puzzled - please explain why that by telling us that violent gun crime is prevalent in both the USA and Venezuala can it show that its therefore sensible that guns should not be controlled. Surely it shows the opposite? If there were more guns in Venezuala then even more people would die. Naturally if there were less guns in the USA then again less people will die.

Hand guns are made for one thing only - killing - and no remotely civilized country should allow anyone to own one for any reason.

martin, london,

Theres only one problem with banning guns in any country. If you ban them, then only the criminals will have them.
If a criminal is determined enough to get his/her hands on a firearm, they will get one.

I do agree that it would more than likely lessen deaths. But how many people own guns and stick within the law? Only using them at shooting ranges. Perhaps it should be made more difficult to get them, not impossible or illegal.

A classic case of the few spoiling things for the many.

Mark, Kingswinford, U.K

James Zeeb, The world today is very different to the 237 or so years ago that you so knowingly describe. Clearly the tragic Virgina Tech incident has taught you nothing as to the seriousness of gun crime in modern day America. Excuse me if i dont appluad your view of americans superiority when using weaponry given the number of 'friendly' fire incidents in Iraq.

Sands, London,

Oh, dear, dear me, there's no stilling the feeble voice of the liberals! Venezuela has very strict gun controls. Obtaining a gun permit can be more complicated than studying a university career. And believe it or not, it has a higher crime rate than all of the US states combined and more gun-related deaths per Week-end than Irak. Next subject, please.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

50 fatal shootings from a population of 60 million, compared to 10,000 fatal shootings from a population of 300 million says alot.

Yes, criminals will always be able to get guns and they will likely kill with them, but if you point a gun at someone who's pointing a gun at you, someones going to die. Are your material possesions really worth your life?

Ordinary people have no use for guns.

S Handley, Essex, UK

Clearly, US is not a real civil society anymore. To carry guns as Constitutional right??? Gimme a break. That's probably their understanding of English language is as poor as their lack of everything else that is good and admirable. There must be still some sensible Americans around, but NRA will make sure they are silenced, by guns if needed. How such an 'Association' is legal is beyond me and I guess, millions of others too.

John Tring, Singapore, Singapore

Making it easier for deranged and unstable people to get guns leads to trouble.

The argument that more guns would lead to fewer deaths is an absurdity, and has been proven false.

If the constitution is no longer relevant, change it. Countries do that all the time.

William Zan Zinger, Newport,

Obviously, it is an operator error. The guns themselves were functioning properly.

Julie, Houston, Texas

Gun control works, ask Stalin and Hitler.
The South Africa government has changed the laws and owning a gun for self defence is becoming almost impossible.
At the same time crime, rape and murder cases are higher then it have ever been in the history of this country.
"Fear the government that threatens your guns"

Dr Johan Nel, Pretoria, South Africa

The United States is a far different environment than the small, but populus Britain. Rural areas of the United States traditionally have very little crime. One of the reasons is the deterrent of armed citizens made safe within their homes by their guns. If an intruder breaks into a rural home, it could be an hour before a police officer is able to reach you. The tradition of private citizens bearing arms in America, ironically made necessary 237 years ago by an occupying, and oppressive British Army, has served the people of this nation well. Denying private citizens the right to own firearms would not have prevented the deaths of these unfortunate young people. Be thankful that Americans know how to use weaponry so that we can continue to fight your wars for you.

James Zeeb, Greenville, USA/Illinois

Why is a Deputy who is only 20 Yrs. old allowed to carry a gun?That was the mistake here you allowed a child to carry a gun and he lost it when he saw some one else with his Girlfriend? If what I read was correct and he was only 20 then he wasn't even old enough to drink let alone enforce the law with a gun! The only gun control needed here Tom, is keep guns out of the hands of Minors who donot have the mental capicity to handel that responsability !!!

W.C. McCombs, Cocoa , Florida USA

The ordinary person has a right to defend him or herself. If the good citizens are not allowed to bear arms. The guns will continue to fall in the criminals hands. What are home owners and citizens with a lick of common sense, when an armed criminal opens your front door?
It is illegal for felons to have a gun. Yet they still do, by breaking the law.
Let the people speak.
With this horrible attrosity, and a legal gun shooting, from the hand of an officer of the law. Law officers will continue to carry weapons. How officers are trained and selected for duty, may have contributed to this sad sad incident.
Lin

Lin, Belleville, Ill.

Yeah, more gun laws would have stopped this one alright....... Last time I check police officers have guns. Should we take away theirs too??? Maybe we should try to figure out, and fix, the real reasons people committ these terrible crimes

Scott, Small Town, Wisconsin

I'll make you brits a deal: you quit trying to tell us Americans what gun laws we should have, and we'll quit pointing out to you how your crime rates have gone up since you disarmed yourselves.

Bruce Thomas, Boistfort, Washington, U.S.A.

The nanny state has taken care of the gunfire murder rate, but at what loss of personal freedom. I'm not talking about the freedom of owning guns but all our freedoms that have disappeared along with the guns.
I read on one Forum a woman saying she was afraid to let her infant cry for fear the neighbors would call the police and she would be placed on the Child Protective Services list as potentially a unfit mother.
You can't get off that list.
She is far more afraid of our own government which is exactly why those Americans don't give up their guns. They literally out gun their own army.
I'm currently living in America and am amazed at their attitude towards their own government. They still have that "Don't Tread On Me" attitude.

Frank D Aylesworth, Fullerton, California USA

stuff like that flips me out.someone who's job is to protect. Someone who had choosen that job, had it in him to kill so many people like that, even taking a gun out in a place where there was young children, that poor 14yr girl. I feel sorry for all of them

casey, brick,

A sheriff's deputy in a small town of 2000 DOES need a gun. Who would be there to stop a crazy like this from killing people? Gun control would unfortunately only stop law abiding citzens from obtaining firearms legally, not the gang bangers who buy them on the street anyway. What needs to happen is a crackdown on current gun laws. When convicted of a crime with a gun, you should get the max time allowed by law. Send a message that we won't tollerate this.

Scott R, Louisville, KY

I am saddened to hear of the loss of these lives. I am also saddened that the author used this as an opportunity to bring up the subject of gun control. Tell me, what new gun controls laws would have kept a gun out of this man's hands? He was a Deputy Sheriff!

Chrispin Barnes, New Orleans, Louisiana

Guns dont kill people. People pulling the trigger do. The corruptness of police in our Northwoods towns is the issue. It may appear to outsiders that gun control is the issue. However, as an insider to this issue I can state with total affiramtion that "good ol'e boy" police practice is the true issue. Why was an unstable 20 year BOY permitted to be a sheriff? HMMM do you think that possibly his family had ties to local law enforcement?

Melissa, Crandon, WI

America! America! open your eyes! Open your mind! and open your heart to God! Since they don't want anything with God in the schools thing are worst! I cry for my country! I pray for my country.

Nelson Choto, Rohnert Park, CA

My best friend's wife, her youngest son and his mate, and their DOG were shot and murdered, in their beds, by a lunatic with a gun (who also shot his mother, and then committed suicide). They had guns in the house to "defend" themselves.
Why were they murdered? Because the lunatic with the gun was able to shoot out the lock on the front door. If he'd not had a gun, he wouldn't have got in.
Here in Caracas, there are 50-100 deaths every weekend, most of which are caused by guns. No guns? No murders.
Guns are deadly weapons, designed to kill, so whoever holds a gun MUST be (and often is) prepared to kill.
If you do not have a gun, you may be able to beat your victim to death, but it is unlikely.
The so-called Gun Lobby have brains like snails and truly believe that the Wild West still exists . They are an anachronism. There is no need whatsoever for civilised people to carry guns these days; arguments can be settled peacefully.

Clive Britcher, Caracas, Venezuela

Here is yet another tragedy of a deranged person perpetrating crimes and Tom Baldwin blaming it on guns! As for the "powerful American gun lobby" and their claim for a constitutional right to possess firearms, the 2nd Amendment's Declaration of the People's right to keep and bear arms IS the law of the land and has been for over 200 years! Your claim of just 50 deaths in 2005-06 caused by the use of guns in Britain with some of the tightest gun control laws in the world proves the point that gun control does NOT work. Since instituting such Draconian gun laws in Britain, the violent crime rate has skyrocketed, and the use of guns has increased. There are estimated to be 300 million guns in the USA with a population of 300 million people, but the violent crime rate, using guns, has dropped in the last 10 years due, in part, to conceal/carry laws passed in 45 States. Gun control is not the answer. Increased help for severely emotionally/mentally ill people is a start.

steve ovcharchyn, Chicago, IL /USA

The wild west era had more gun incidents/death and was a more religious era. Maybe the perps were very religious. I see any attempt by religious people to cash in on tragedy as a poor reflection on the belief systems they espouse.

nita, tunbridge wells, uk

Just yesterday, here in the Philippines, a senseless act of road rage resulted in the shooting deaths of two people by a young lawyer. Now I read of murders commited by another individual who is also involved in a job that is connected to upholding the rule of law. Forget all the excuses; these two incidents were murders, pure and simple. Why did it happen? Bottom line; the perps had easy access to guns, so they didn't hesitate to use them. They didn't think. They didn't care. Anyone who claims that the presence of more guns will prevent such crimes is dangerous. Such individuals don't want to resolve differences non-violently; they want the oppurtunity to kill whatever ails them. Don't fool yourself by saying you'll never succumb to the temptation. Responsibility? One killer was a lawyer. The other was a cop. Both were young persons with young person tempers. Both had guns. I regret that my country "apes" American values and behavior.

Tony Navarro, san juan, Philippines

In our present SOCIETY, many things are going to go wrong. With "Government Schools" not teaching morals - what else can you expect? As CRIME increases and more and more people are killed, it is ONLY A SIGN OF THE TIMES. How can we STOP this? We can't now. There was a time when this "foolishness" could have been TURNED AROUND, but not now. Sad - no one reads the Manual on Life: The BIBLE! It tells about this various issue and what is about to happen! Have you read this book lately?

Mr. Dave Davidson, Bennington , Kansas

no one with a good heart needs a gun a sheriffs deputy in a small town of 2000 does not need a gun....people drive autos in a manner inspired by nascar where everyone goes round and round in a left turn .which makes no sense except for horse races.cult movies include huge amounts of gun play and weak individuals see some one on the screen get even. they then want to get even to "show em!" and when guns are easy to obtain the kiling starts.

fred bashara, norfolk, virginia

Well... we can be assured that in situations like this its not because there is a gun involved. Its because there is a human with some sort of mental instability. What if all of the young people at that party had a gun? You think the crazy jealous Sheriffs Deputy would have made it out alive? I think not. Just like at V-Tech if any of those 32 kids had been armed that situation would have been a lot different. We have to stop blaming our problems on objects and start seeing the real source of the problem. We dont blame cars for killing 6 times as many people as guns,heart attacks, and cancer put together every year. So why do we blame guns? We need to blame the people.

ezra, las vegas, NV

This has little to do with guns in and of themselves. I would look to the mental "well"-being of the deputy that went nuts as to the cause of the innocent lives lost.

Tate, Atlanta, Ga

Now's not the time to debate gun-control. It's time to mourn and bury the deceased.

Rick, New York City, USA