Gun control in the US will not stop mass shootings '“ Clive Smith

There's hardly a day gone past this year when America hasn't experienced a mass shooting. The Thousand Oaks shooting in California was number 307 this year.
The aftermath of the Thousand Oaks shootings.The aftermath of the Thousand Oaks shootings.
The aftermath of the Thousand Oaks shootings.

The calls for a ban on guns or gun control get louder with every incident. I can see why, but for me, that isn't the answer.

Lots of nations have high per capita gun ownership. But only one '“ America '“ sees so many lunatics walking into schools and night clubs spraying bullets about.

It has to be the culture.

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Switzerland has extremely high gun ownership without the level of problems the USA has. It's the mindset of millions of Americans. And it's not hard to see why.

The second amendment, on which the American constitution is formed, says American citizens have '˜the right to bear arms.' This was written in 1789 '“ so it's been ingrained in American society for 229 years.

No other country has firearms as one of the building blocks of its society. It's like swearing, cups of tea and sarcasm for the British. It's normal.

And should we really be criticising America for their gun laws with what is happening with knife crime in our own country? You can't just take it away. The gun control or confiscation that people are screaming for will not work.

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Firstly, criminals will not surrender them and those who believe in their second amendment rights won't be giving them up without a fight.

Admittedly walking into your local supermarket and picking up an automatic weapon along with your weekly shop doesn't help matters, but then there are thousands who like to pick up a jar of peanut butter, loaf of bread and an AK-47 and don't feel the need to walk into their old college and start killing their former teachers and '˜school friends'.

You can't put a stop to something that is already out of control. Drugs in this country are everywhere, they're easy to get if you want them '“ they are also illegal. Doesn't stop people using them.

Millions of guns are floating around America, if they were banned people would still get them regardless.'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹

 

Pompey fans can't wait to see rats crawling over 'Arry

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Harry Redknapp swinging into the Jungle for I'm a Celebrity Get'¦Â Get Me Out of Here has caused much mirth, especially among Pompey fans.

Most of us can't wait to see him eating wombat anus or crocodile testicles. Watching rats crawling all over him would be good too. The voting phone lines will be on speed dial.

The jokes write themselves. Harry turning up hanging out of his Land Rover. Wheeling and dealing at the kiosk for a few extra biscuits after declaring he's '˜down to the bare bones'. He's apparently the highest paid contestant to enter the jungle so far. Allegedly, he's got £500,000. I wonder if the money goes to him or his dog Rosie...'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹'‹

 

Christmas advert was no more than a marketing ploy

Christmas adverts have started to appear on TV and each year companies try to make them bigger and better.

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If they haven't released them already, they may as well not bother because this year it's all about Iceland. Its '˜advert' sends an important message, I have no problem with that. But don't pretend this is a Christmas advert, because clearly it's not. It was a clever marketing ploy.

It was originally a Greenpeace video and Iceland has piggy-backed on to this probably knowing it would be banned. Fair play to Iceland's marketing team, it's certainly gained the notoriety they'd hoped for.

There's nothing like getting something banned to make people take notice.