Would you feel safer in a gun-free state? Why or why not?

[u/ParmaProscuitto]

[u/zeehkaev]

I am from Brazil, technically speaking its a "gun free" country, its very hard to get a gun here, of course I am only considering it "legally", even with a gun or permission you really can't leave your house with it, its completely ilegal unless a judge or court allows you.

Yet literally every 15 year old thug in the street has a magnum or something. I feel terrible unsafe and to be honest hate the violence from here, everyone I know was robbed at least once in their lifes and I would feel a lot safer having a gun at my house, since the state is completely unable to remove the guns from the criminals or at least arrest some of them and not release 1 month after.

[u/grey_wolf12 → u/zeehkaev]

The state can't remove guns from criminals if the state is the criminal

[u/BubbhaJebus]

I live in Taiwan. It has exceedingly strict gun laws. It's also one of the safest countries in the world in terms of risk of violent crime. I feel very safe even walking alone at night through dark alleys in the city.

[u/Redqueenhypo → u/BubbhaJebus]

I’ve only heard good things about Taiwan. Based on a friend of mine who recently left there to work in Europe, it’s full of fast trains, Shiba Inu’s, and 24 hour convenience stores where you can file your taxes. Sounds marvelous

[u/MildMannered_BearJew → u/Redqueenhypo]

I've lived in 3 counties so far and traveled to probably 20 or so at this point.

Taiwan is hands-down the best country so far. The infrastructure is like night and day. You really have to go to understand, but we're living in the dark ages here in America. Our infrastructure looks like a man-child with development problems took a crayon to AutoCAD..

Oh also the culture is great, government is great, services are great, the 7/11 are great. Dude the 7/11 I cannot even describe how amazing 7/11 is in Taiwan. It's like a corner store that's open all the time, has good atm, gov services, healthy food, places to eat, and it's clean.

Damn I miss Taipei

[u/Redqueenhypo → u/MildMannered_BearJew]

I saw a picture of a Taiwanese 7/11 once and was blown away by how not disgusting and creepy it was

Edit: A PLUS username

[u/General1lol → u/Redqueenhypo]

I felt safer in the 7/11s in the Philippines than I do in Washington State lol.

7/11s in the US just seem to become hotspots for shadiness.

[u/Wanallo221 → u/MildMannered_BearJew]

Have you tried rural Britain?

You talk about great infrastructure. But I don’t think you appreciate how good ours is…

Sometimes the buses actually turn up. And get this - on the 10% they turn up on time. Occasionally they don’t have the piss of a drunk in the corner. And you still say ‘cheers mate’ to the bus driver as you get off!

[u/hino_dino → u/BubbhaJebus]

I have lived in Taiwan for majority of my life. Studying in the States right now, and I hate not being able to walk outside at night.

[u/Onikaimu]

I live in Japan, basically gun free. Even with a gun murder yesterday I feel greatly safe from gun violence. Now the elder drivers swerving into lanes randomly not so safe.

[u/Cockalorum → u/Onikaimu]

Even with a gun murder yesterday I feel greatly safe from gun violence.

It was covered by the BBC yesterday. A single gun murder in Japan, and it was news all around the world.

[u/SimoneNonvelodico → u/Cockalorum]

Love how people bring up the assassination of Shinzo Abe as an example of why gun laws don't stop criminals.

Sure, one guy had to rig up some kind of homemade arquebus and fire the only two shots it would ever shoot, point blank, straight into a former Prime Minister to kill him, after having been lucky enough to build the contraption without it blowing up in his hands and having gotten close enough to his mark with the weapon hidden. That's definitely not going to gatekeep the whole "shooting people" thing at all.

[u/Almostlongenough2 → u/SimoneNonvelodico]

after having been lucky enough to build the contraption without it blowing up in his hands and having gotten close enough to his mark with the weapon hidden.

Not just lucky, after learning about the guy he was absolutely driven. It's completely incomparable to the impulse shootings we have in the States, Shinzo Abe was responsible for completely ruining this guy's life. This is the kind of killing that would occur with a rock in the absence of any weapons.

[u/nesspressomug6969 → u/Almostlongenough2]

More info on how Shinzo Abe ruined the guys life? I know that he killed him with basically an 8th grade science project, but don't know the backstory.

[u/Fufuplatters → u/nesspressomug6969]

Basically his mom was part of the Unification Church, an international cult, and was essentially giving pretty much all of her income to them. This ruined their lives and knowing that Abe was involved with the Unification Church, he was the target of his resentment. After the assassination, it brought to light how much influence the Church has within the Japanese government.

[u/neko808 → u/Fufuplatters]

To add, originally the guy wanted to shoot the leaders, and realized shinzo abe would be an easier target since he also helps the church.

[u/eatenbyagrue1988 → u/neko808]

Man, it's weird that a former head of state was the easier target compared to head of a megachurch/cult

[u/Fausterion18 → u/neko808]

He thought killing the leader wouldn't stop the church since another member of the family would just take up the banner.

[u/ajagulay → u/Fufuplatters]

His father committed suicide because of the financial strain, then his brother committed suicide because they couldn't afford his lymphoma treatments. Quite literally destroyed their family.

He is actually receiving a lot of support in Japan for bringing the issues to light.

[u/Crandom → u/ajagulay]

Most successful assassination ever. It's completely changed the view of Abe.

[u/tyingnoose → u/ajagulay]

They should make a movie out of this

[u/rainzer → u/tyingnoose]

Not sure if it would be interesting outside of like documentary fans. It's basically Japan's version of the US's McCarthy era. Postwar anti-communist fears and all the Japanese conservative politicians were courted by this Korean nutjob that thought he was the second coming of Jesus cause he said Jesus told him to be anti-communist.

[u/tangouniform2020 → u/rainzer]

For people who don’t know, these were the Moonies.

[u/SubtlyChallenged → u/Fufuplatters]

Thanks for sharing. Was the level of involvement from Abe ever confirmed?

[u/whitetragedy → u/SubtlyChallenged]

The church denied that he was involved with the main church and said only the business branch was involved… and then a few months later half the newly elected prime minister’s cabinet got replaced cause it turned out they were involved. I think one of Abe’s relative that was also in a position of power got fired because of his connections to the church.

[u/Triddy → u/nesspressomug6969]

It's a whole big thing. And by big I mean probably the largest government scandal in the country since WW2. It's a little much to say Abe was responsible, but he was involved.

The Assassin's mother was part of a group called the Unification Church. The Unification Church is not a Japanese movement, is not based out of Japan, and is headed almost entirely by citizens of one country. This is important to the fallout but not so much the reasons.

The group drove his mother into more and more donations, eventually bankrupting and destroying his family.

Abe was a supporter of the group. This wasn't a secret. He spoke at events held by them and gave speeches in support of them. The Assassin saw Abe as the person who allowed the group to gain a foothold in Japan, and he's not entirely wrong.

The reason stops there, but the fallout is also interesting.

After the assassination, it started coming to light that other politicians had been fundraising at Unification Church events. And then more. And then more. People started asking questions. Questions like, "Why are so many of our politicians being funded by a foreign religious movement?" and "What sort of control is this group exerting on our laws?"

At one point, half of the sitting cabinet and nearly half of the sitting members of the parliament had essentially been bankrolled by this foreign church.

The current prime minister reshuffled the cabinet to get the influence out and appease the public. Only for it to come to light like 2 days later that nearly half of the new cabinet also had secret connections to the group (Tbf there's no indication the PM knew for these ones)

Obviously murder is bad. Hot take, I know. But the event also dropped a hornets nest onto an ant hill and revealed this massive scandal.

No English sources, sadly. It's still a fairly big deal in Japanese news to this day.

[u/Lsrkewzqm → u/Triddy]

20th Century Boys was kind of visionary, in the end...

[u/BoxingHare → u/nesspressomug6969]

Here’s the Wikipedia link.

The sections titled Background and Suspect give most of the information.

Basically, the shooter’s mother had given most, if not all, of the family’s money to the Unification Church (UC), a cult commonly known as the “Moonies” that originated in South Korea. Abe’s family has a multigenerational footprint in Japan’s politics and provided political shielding for the UC. After Abe’s killing, it was revealed that there were many in his cabinet that had ties to the UC. It was also revealed that many in his party, the reigning party for decades, also have ties to the UC, including approximately half the cabinet in power at the time of his death.

[u/similar_observation → u/nesspressomug6969]

Its not just that the assassin blamed Abe, but Abe's family surrounding their ties to the Unification Church from Korea. It claims to be a Christian ministry, but is a doomsday cult that worships a singular founder.

Abe's grandfather had been PM post WW2 and invited the "Christian" missionaries from Korea into Japan. This created the Unification Church's foothold on conservative politics. The two entities have been intertwined ever since. There are Kishi/Abe properties adjacent to Unification Church properties and alike. Prompting question if the family is gaining wealth from the Church.

The ties are so close in fact, Nobusuke Kishi (Abe's grandfather) was a close friend of Moon Sun Myung, the founder of the Unification Church. Kishi even wrote a letter to Ronald Reagan requesting the appeal and release of Moon from US prison after Moon was convicted of tax fraud.

The church drained all the money and life from the assassin's family. His mother having given every penny (yenny?) To the church. His father killing himself to avoid the shame of excessive debt. And his brother doing the same as they could not afford his medical care.

[u/DeLurkerDeluxe → u/Almostlongenough2]

This is the kind of killing that would occur with a rock in the absence of any weapons.

For real, dude was on a mission.

[u/LoneInterloper17 → u/DeLurkerDeluxe]

I've seen what they found in his house, dude was ready to start a whole tech tree from rocks and wood working his way up to muskets like in Ark or Rust or things like that if necessary.

[u/S_XOF → u/DeLurkerDeluxe]

Shinzo could've kept on living, but he made one fatal slip;

He tussled with the ranger with the big iron on his hip.

[u/ElectricMotorsAreBad → u/S_XOF]

(Big Irooon on his hiiip)

[u/SScouty → u/ElectricMotorsAreBad]

This is not something I expected to see quoted today. Thanks for the chuckle.

[u/apathetic-drunk → u/S_XOF]

🎶Big iron on his hip 🎶

[u/Chinoko → u/Almostlongenough2]

Please do correct me if I'm wrong but it's not about Shinzo Abe specifically ruining the guys' life but being a major public figure/politician who is part of the cult organisation that.. took the guy's entire family wealth and indirectly their lives as well.

I agree with your point though, plus it's certainly a complex circumstance you can't expect to repeat elsewhere or in same fashion.

[u/LSqre → u/SimoneNonvelodico]

I think the whole "media converage" argument for why gun violence is so prevalent in the U.S. is disingenuous as well.

One gun death in Japan and it's worldwide news, but there's shootings every day in the U.S.

[u/Scott_Pops → u/LSqre]

I agree that media coverage of your standard gang shooting probably has no effect. "3 people shot overnight, one killed and 2 wounded, in this city".. no more details... the shooters weren't trying to make a name for themselves, at least not among the general public so no that probably doesn't have any affect on the rate of those types of shootings. But compare that to a mass shooting at a school or mall, amd they explain all the details of the shooters life and his story, his name, his picture is everywhere, sometimes even highlights from his manifesto... Don't you think certain mass shooters do it because they know it will get that detailed level of publicity?

[u/Ursasaur → u/SimoneNonvelodico]

I think they were referring to the event yesterday in Nagano, not the assassination last year.

[u/jumpingjackbeans → u/Ursasaur]

See, there's so many they all just merge into one. It's basically the same as the states /s

[u/PerryZePlatypus → u/Onikaimu]

Yeah, elder people driving like they have their eyes closed is a problem everywhere in the world, there should be an age limit on the license, where people would have to take the exam again

[u/rmayerhofer0294 → u/PerryZePlatypus]

Here in America they don’t have a choice but to drive because our public transit sucks

[u/CrazyDaimondDaze → u/rmayerhofer0294]

To be totally honest, I simply hate how USA is conditioned to be a country where you can't do shit if you don't own a car to move around or ask for an Uber or even a taxi. The huge lack of public transportation unless you're from the city is also ridiculous. That means anyone living at the outskirts that needs this or that is kinda fucked; specially if they're elders that arent accostumed to how things work nowadays.

Then again, I'm speaking from my experience as an outsider who lived half a year in San Antonio. I'm aware each state and city is different and whatnot... but I did get a bad aftertaste with that reality check in there.

[u/AvanteHD → u/CrazyDaimondDaze]

As a low income American struggling to make rent every month: if my vehicle goes down not only will i lose my job most likely, but I won't be able to travel to get any assitance due to my foot/knee injuries and cost of transport.

[u/fragglemilf → u/CrazyDaimondDaze]

I have had the privilege of being an American who grew up in a rural area with no public transport and spent most of my adult life in fairly walkable areas.

It drives me (pun intended) a bit crazy when I can't find an alternative to driving. I currently live in a fairly wealthy area in the south and while it has fantastic infrastructure in all other aspects it has almost no sidewalks, 1 bus system that caters to the retirement homes nearby, and 0 bike lanes.

I love where I live right now, but this has always been my biggest complaint about our systems here in the US and while my travel to other countries has been limited, the criticism is extremely warranted, especially because many, if not most, places in the US used to have very good public transport systems in place but tossed them out the window in their early stages.

[u/Lescaster1998 → u/CrazyDaimondDaze]

Not even just from the city; most of our big cities have only the bare minimum of public transit. It's really just D.C., NYC, and a couple of others that have anything resembling a real system.

[u/CrazyDaimondDaze → u/Lescaster1998]

That's what I noticed when I was in Texas for visits. It was odd seeing public transport buses. Literally the cities and everywhere else were filled with vehicles to the brim. And like I said, if you have no cars, you can't do shit. Literally everything feels like an hour or so away, even counting transit times and whatnot. It's ridiculous how USA is designed like this.

Where I live back in Mexico, depending on where you live or your daily life, you don't even need a car. You can simply take public transports to move around... or walk (our walking distances aren't outrageous like in USA and can cover so much more in an hour walking distsnce). The only problem comes in case you overstay at one place and there's no longer any public transport back home (which is usually after 9 o'clock). But that's the only minimal issue.

[u/Artix31 → u/PerryZePlatypus]

In Jordan they made a law that basically allows 65+ yo people to ride the bus for free, but they still use their cars and cause accidents

[u/Justhavingfun888 → u/PerryZePlatypus]

In Canada you need to retake a driving test when you hit 80. I don't know what it involves, but at least it is something. That being said, there's lots of younger people that should not be driving and think the rules don't apply to them.

[u/Justinruin → u/Justhavingfun888]

It's regulated at the provincial level, so they are pretty much all different. Some don't have any age requirement. It's also usually just a written test, eye test, and a video with no actual driving evaluation.

[u/Little__Astronaut → u/Justhavingfun888]

That must be by province because we don't have that in saskatchewan.

[u/gbiypk → u/Onikaimu]

Japan is a country of 125 million people.

It was noteworthy that there was a gun murder yesterday.

That's a pretty damn safe country.

[u/JJisTheDarkOne → u/gbiypk]

I've been to Japan. I can tell you it's 110% because of the culture.

The culture is "don't be a dickhead" and respect people and everything.

Comparing American culture (and even Australian culture) to Japanese culture is utterly different.

Japanese people don't (yes for the most part) even steal. There's basically no graffiti and the place is spotless. Almost an opposite for the US or Aus.

[u/Dr_Ambiorix → u/JJisTheDarkOne]

place is spotless

I've always found it fascinating to see how clean the streets are, but then again they feel very cluttered due to how many traffic cones are littered all over the place and also the "sky" is littered with electric cables and poles etc.

It certainly has it's charm tho, I'm not too negative about it, just fascinated.

[u/yusuksong → u/Dr_Ambiorix]

I saw central Shibuya get absolutely trashed after a Saturday night almost looking like a typical night in a city in the US. Then when I walked out of my hotel at 7am literally everything was cleaned up and the streets were spotless. Respect to the environment goes a long way.

[u/Nickidewbear → u/yusuksong]

Part of that has to do with Shinto culture. The majority of Japanese people practice some form of Shinto Buddhism, with Shintoism being the dominant element even within the syncretism. Shintoism is animistic and, in so far as traditional Japanese gods are concerned, pantheistic; and they strongly believe in environmentalism.

[u/funky_mugs]

Here in Ireland, our regular Police (Gardaí) don't even carry guns (there are armed units). Guns exist, hunting is a sport and farmers might have them for rabbits etc. I feel extremely safe. I don't ever even think about gun violence here.

[u/Stock-Ferret-6692 → u/funky_mugs]

We have 7 guns per 100 people. Which is literally nothing considering the population is like 5.033 million. I’ve lived here all 22 years of my life and have yet to see an armed guard. Or someone owning a gun.

[u/Clarinet_is_my_life → u/Stock-Ferret-6692]

For comparison the US has about 120 per 100 people. There are more guns than people!

[u/Diss_Gruntled_Brundl → u/Clarinet_is_my_life]

Which is crazy since about 32% of people in the US report owning guns. Math is my kryptonite, but does that mean each of them owns like 5 guns on average?

[u/ACBluto → u/Diss_Gruntled_Brundl]

That's probably fairly accurate. Gun owners are often collectors as well, and owning a half dozen guns would not be seen as strange. And for every person who only owns 1 or 2.. there is the super collector who owns a few dozen.

I'm a Canadian, but we still have plenty of guns here - and of all the gun owners I know, I can only think of one that only owns a single gun.

[u/deucemagnet → u/ACBluto]

Also, hunters might have multiple guns for several purposes. Maybe one shotgun for small game, another for duck hunting, a high-powered rifle for deer hunting, and maybe a muzzle-loader for deer in muzzle-loader season.

[u/ACBluto → u/deucemagnet]

Absolutely, and I know plenty of hunters that will have 2 of each of those - either an older one that they didn't like as much and upgraded, or a spare for when a buddy or spouse wants to come along.

[u/GDviber → u/ACBluto]

And often time a side arm as well depending on what you are hunting. A wounded javelena will tear your ass up. Good to have a pistol just in case.

[u/ptrussell3 → u/deucemagnet]

Yes, and also many of us have inherited guns from several generations as well. I have my great grandfather's 1911 from WW1.

[u/spimothyleary → u/ACBluto]

Yes, my neighbor fits in that category, he personally owned about 10 until 6 months ago, then he inherited at least 15 more when his father passed away. Mostly safe queens that have never been fired. So now he has at least two dozen.

Its not that big of a surprise to me, some people collect firearms, others collect sneakers.

[u/Squirrel_Kiln → u/spimothyleary]

Never heard the term "safe queens" before but I love it, thanks for the new phrase.

[u/EddyArchon → u/Squirrel_Kiln]

Safe Queen is a gun you have for no other reason than to have it. There's either something sentimental about it, or it's a collector piece.

[u/GirchyGirchy → u/EddyArchon]

Or you can’t easily/cheaply buy rounds of ammo for it. Looking at you, Mauser 71/84…I’d shoot it if I could.

[u/spimothyleary → u/GirchyGirchy]

220 swift chiming in!

[u/Martin_Aurelius → u/ACBluto]

I'd argue that gun ownership rates are actually higher than reported in surveys. Most of those are conducted by cold-call a la Pew Research. If a random stranger calls you up, what are the chances that you'll honestly answer gun ownership questions. Then there's the "gubbermint wants to put chips in us" types who wouldn't answer honestly. Then there's the "of course I don't have a gun" types who have grandpa's service pistol tucked away in a closet that they haven't thought about in a decade. And that's only accounting for legally acquired guns. I routinely hear 30-40% ownership rates in the US, but I absolutely wouldn't be surprised if it was over 60%.

[u/cjlutera → u/Martin_Aurelius]

So many people own guns in America. And most people don't even consider the spouses who feel they own a gun when really their other spouse might actually own it. But it's the families nonetheless.

[u/Sell_TheKids_ForFood → u/ACBluto]

I'm a gun owner, but would not call myself a collector. I'm a hunter. I have a rifle for deer. I have a shotgun for deer and turkey, and I have a different shotgun for bird and skeet. I learned on a .22 rifle when I was about 7 or 8 and when my father passed that gun became mine. I also enjoy shooting a pistol at a range so I have a 9mm. So I have 5 guns. When I break it down like that it seems perfectly normal to people. If I lead the conversation with "I have multiple guns" that statement comes across differently.

[u/MidnightMateor → u/ACBluto]

Guns are like any other tool: different guns have different uses. You're not going to use the same gun to hunt deer as you would to hunt coyotes or hunt birds or protect your home. Hell, in my state it's legal to hunt deer with different types of guns in different areas at different times of the year, so I have one for each.

It's no different that having 5 different types of hammers for different tasks.

[u/Erosis → u/Diss_Gruntled_Brundl]

Assuming both of those numbers are using the entire population (including children), it's about 3.75 guns per gun owner.

[u/ezrs158 → u/Erosis]

Anecdotally, the gun owners I know either have one or two OR like 15.

[u/Wumpamuss666 → u/Erosis]

American here, this is pretty accurate. I honestly have 3 guns, but one of them was my grandfather's. There are so many guns here that you end up casually owning guns. I had 2 others that I didn't buy briefly end up in my possession for random reasons. I I had confiscated from a suicidal friend, the other from the death of an uncle.

Sometimes, in America, you just end up with random guns.

[u/OppositeYouth → u/funky_mugs]

Same here in England.

I grew up in the countryside, my friends parents had shotguns. But they were tightly locked up, so even if we had drunken parties, couldn't exactly go midnight bottle shooting.

If I was a young kid in a city, I'd be more worried about knives, basically the only time you might be a victim of gun crime is if you're deeply involved in the drugs trade/organised crime.

But in my dinky ass town, I've never once felt unsafe, even walking home at 1, 2am or whatever

[u/britboy4321 → u/OppositeYouth]

I've lived in some of the theoretically roughest parts of the UK and I've never ever, ever felt unsafe at any time of the night anywhere (I am a guy .. unfortunately that matters :( )

As long as you follow these rules, in order of importance:

1) Keep to yourself. Their business isn't your business, and that includes even stopping and looking at what is happening if some shit is going down. Just walk off, seemingly uninterested. And GOLDEN RULE don't start filming shit!

2) Don't get involved with gangs or drugs, but be polite yet boring if approached (about buying drugs or anything else. POLITELY decline.).

3) Don't be a dickhead (drunk, shouting, fighting, throwing shit). Just get yourself to your destination.

4) Don't flash money or valuables, even phones. Just be a boring, broke-looking dude, walking purposefully somewhere not just hanging around - and no-one will give a shit about you, not even the hardest, meanest MF.

As a man, in my opinion, you'll be safe at 3am in Moss side, or anywhere else, doing the above.

[u/Medic_101 → u/britboy4321]

This is it. From a fairly rough part of Wales and have wandered around the City at night and never felt unsafe. Just don't make eyes/glare/look like you have a problem at people and you'll be fine. If you do happen to catch someone's eye just a simple nod or an "alright" is just fine, and carry on your merry way.

[u/Fadman_Loki → u/Medic_101]

"The nod" is a universal defuser

[u/Idle-Hands- → u/funky_mugs]

Bit different in the North. When I was like, 15/16 me and some friends were hanging out near our houses in like an alleyway network thing beside them and we had about 4 cops rock up with weapons searching are bags and things like that, because they thought we were drinking. We weren't. Wasn't the only time.

[u/OldGodsAndNew → u/Idle-Hands-]

All PSNI still carry firearms as standard I think? Seen some on regular patrol with submachine guns around Belfast city hall a few years ago

In Scotland I've never seen a police officer with a gun outside of an airport, and Glasgow during COP26

[u/liquiiiid → u/OldGodsAndNew]

They carry handguns at all times. There was a police officer shot last year and another almost 15 years ago so think it's definitely a requirement for them. Sometimes you'll see police with assault rifles at events or airports etc but definitely rarely. I remember back in early 2000s having a snowball fight with armed PSNI officers after school and they were having as much fun as we were. They'd patrol the towns and each of them had rifles, just seemed normal when I was young.

[u/d3gu → u/funky_mugs]

Same in England - regular police don't carry them, but we do have armed units. And my faith in them is shaken as murderer/rapist Wayne Couzens was part of one of those units (the guy who killed Sarah Everard).

I don't know about you, but when I do see police with guns it makes me feel all shaky and nervous. Not comforting at all.

[u/The_Seamoose → u/funky_mugs]

I lived in Ireland for the past year and came home to the US this summer. First thing I heard off the plane was a noticed about carrying firearms in baggage. Had a real quick reality check of where I was once again. Can’t wait to go back to Ireland in the autumn!

[u/postcardfromitaly → u/funky_mugs]

I'm an american who lived in England, and people here are shocked when I tell them that police don't even carry guns there. Like, they honestly think that must mean that everything is a free for all. Honestly, people here have such a skewed idea of what feeling safe should actually be like because guns are so ingrained in our culture, that it's hard to even explain.

I felt much safer in England and I wish I could move back there.

[u/vidoardes → u/postcardfromitaly]

I'm from the UK, and not to long ago I had a road rage incident. Some guy cut across me and caused me to slam on the breaks, so I leaned on the horn. A little way down the road he decided to stop in front of me and get out of the car, shouting his head off.

I had my wife and kids in the car and didn't want them involved, so I got it off my car to draw the bloke away. I'm not proud to admit it but I started yelling back. We had a good old shouting match for a minute or two until a cop car pulled up. Two police men got out and split us up, calmed us both down, and then gave us a good telling off and sent us both on our way.

I have a friend who was in a taxi in the US, and watched an identical scene start to play out; one guy cuts up another, horn blasts, people get out of the car.

One was openly carrying on his hip, and the other kept yelling about his wife having a hand on a shotgun in the car; both had kids in the vehicle. Almost instantly a cop car screeched up and two cops jumped out, guns drawn, screaming at the guys to get face down on the floor. They both ended up being cuffed and taken away.

When guns are involved, every little argument turns into a potentially deadly shootout.

[u/Villifraendi]

I live in Iceland, I'm more likely to win the lottery than run into someone with a gun. I feel very safe, but not because there is no guns, mainly because... I'm in Iceland.

[u/warmcopies → u/Villifraendi]

Icelander here as well.

About 36.5k people are registered gun owners and there are estimated to be 87k guns circulating in the country (so roughly 2 per gun owner). That means that at least 10% of the country owns at least 2 guns.

So your lottery chances are slimmer than you thought.

The chances of running into someone carrying are next to none though, so I’m still rooting for your lottery odds!

[u/Villifraendi → u/warmcopies]

That's what I meant, running into a local carrying. I know we use them for hunting, hobbies and collecting. But never seen one in the wild so far.

[u/baron_von_helmut → u/Villifraendi]

Last time I ran into someone holding a gun it was outside my house. It's the farmer who lives next door. We had a great chat. He'd recently lost his ratting dog and wanted me to know there'd be a bit of noise that afternoon.

Top bloke.

I'm in the UK btw.

(edit) there seems to be a bit of confusion which is my fault. His ratting dog died and therefore he needed to go shoot some rats.

[u/AnotherThrow97531 → u/baron_von_helmut]

I like how you thought "top bloke" needed to be followed up with "I'm from the UK btw"

[u/baron_von_helmut → u/AnotherThrow97531]

Good point.

[u/Feistybritches → u/AnotherThrow97531]

Lmao. Agree. I thought they were an Icelander as well until I read, “top bloke.” I was instantly like, oh, wait no… we’ve switched over to the UK.

[u/El-hurracan → u/baron_von_helmut]

A lot of people don’t know that guns are legal here but are extremely regulated.

[u/PsychoticDust → u/baron_von_helmut]

I live in the UK and this story is wild to me. I've lived here my whole life and, apart from police on rare occasions, I have never seen anyone with a gun.

[u/Important_Stop_2790 → u/PsychoticDust]

I grew up in the UK countryside, suffice to say my experience was very different.

It was all legitimate use but shotguns were a very common sight.

[u/AbeRego → u/Villifraendi]

As an American: outside of hunting or target shooting, I've only seen a gun "in the wild" once. I'm sure I've been around them in public, but most places advise you conceal a firearm when not doing one of the aforementioned activities. Despite what reddit might lead you to believe, most Americans aren't strutting around with a six shooter in on their hip, or an AR-15 slung over their shoulder lol

[u/poppysong → u/Villifraendi]

I went to Iceland. I adore it there! So lucky you get to live there

[u/EcoOndra → u/poppysong]

It's also free of mosquitos

[u/izwald88 → u/EcoOndra]

But midges....

[u/Jgibbs2 → u/izwald88]

Yeah the no mosquitos thing is a trap… midges are almost worse

[u/Mannagun → u/Jgibbs2]

What the hell is a midges?

[u/Observite → u/Mannagun]

Also called no-see-ems. Tiny, flying bugs, like mosquitoes, but their bites last around a week or so. Itchy af.

[u/LieutenantCrash]

I live in Belgium, very few people have guns because you need a license and a good reason. And those people know how to use them safely. The only real guns I've ever even seen are those carried by cops and once at a friends house who's dad goes to the range (he was cleaning his weapon).

[u/dhoffnun]

I'd feel safer in a culture that didn't fetishize violence.

Overgeneralized, the tool makes only so much difference in the face of a sick culture. That said, if dangerous tools are readily available, they will be used - especially by a sick culture like this one. If those tools are more efficient, they will do their task more efficiently. These are all factors.

[u/HerrBerg → u/dhoffnun]

I'd feel safer in a culture that didn't fetishize violence.

This is pretty true. Little Billy can't see a booby (my state literally a case where a woman was charged for being topless in her own home because her stepchildren saw), but it's fine for him to witness casual violence and horrifying sights on the regular.

[u/mrcassette → u/HerrBerg]

First time in the US I remember seeing a movie on TV and they blurred a bum crack but proceeded to show very graphic fight scene with stabbings, blood and then an execution. Oh, and the swearing was (very obviously and poorly) dubbed out, "melon farmer" style.

It's a strange old thing.

[u/Blenderhead36 → u/dhoffnun]

The thing that always gets me is attitudes shown to sex and violence.

You can have bloodless carnage in with a PG-13/T/14 rating.

If you say, "fuck," too many times in a comedy, it goes to an R rating.

If there's an unobstructed shot of breasts, that's also straight to R, and more severe nudity will get you flirting with the dreaded AO/X rating.

The thing is, most people swear. Most people will have sex. Very few people get in fistfights regularly, let alone exchanging pistol fire, and those that do are left traumatized by it.

It feels like our priorities are messed up. I get not wanting to show kids content that they aren't ready for. But nudity and swearing are stuff they'd acclimate to eventually, and violence isn't.

[u/Everestkid → u/Blenderhead36]

Our movie ratings in Canada make more sense. Like the US we have five (technically six but you're not seeing the sixth at a normal theater) but the way that they're split up makes more sense.

• At the bottom you've got G. This is the same as an American G, and it's pretty much exclusive to animated films. It's genuinely difficult to make a live action film so inoffensive that it gets a G.

• Next up is PG. This runs effectively the full gamut of an American PG to PG-13. If it's a live action film it's almost certainly at least PG. I genuinely cannot think of an exception.

• Next is 14A. You need to be at least 14 to see the movie, or be accompanied (hence the "A") by an adult if you're not. This is what Americans would call a "soft R" - raunchier comedies, more violent action movies. Basically, once there's visible blood or sex scenes more explicit than two near silhouettes rolling around on a bed, it's 14A. And it can be pretty lax, too - Deadpool was 14A, despite having beheadings, torture scenes, and some pretty explicit sexual stuff.

• Then there's 18A. You need to be 18 to see the movie or be accompanied by an adult, and some provinces require you to be at least 14. This is what Americans would call a "hard R" - horror movies, basically. Once you start showing gore, it's probably 18A.

• The final rating is R. A Canadian R is an American NC-17 - you can't see it unless you're 18, period, and basically nothing ever gets this rating. The only three movies I can think of that got this rating are Monty Python's Life of Brian, (because you see Graham Chapman's penis for a few seconds) Scarface and Reservoir Dogs (for violence, and the gratuitous swearing probably doesn't help). But those have since been demoted - Scarface and Reservoir Dogs to 18A, and Life of Brian all the way to PG. To get an R nowadays you have to make something truly deranged.

• Technically there's the A rating, but that's straight-up porn.

• Technically technically there's E for Exempt, but that's basically just documentaries and music videos.

[u/Oodalay → u/dhoffnun]

You can show a dead body on TV, but not a nipple.

[u/shawnisboring → u/Oodalay]

Tangentially related, but I love this anecdote. The show Hannibal is super bloody and gory, like to a degree where you'll be shocked it was on OTA network TV, kind of bloody.

The story goes that there was a scene with some bodies on the ground, but they were nude and the TV censors had an issue with the exposed butt in this pile of bodies. Their solution was to cover up the ass in blood and they were greenlit to air the episode.

[u/Storm_Sire → u/shawnisboring]

I'll always remember watching Heroes and they show Claire in the morgue with her chest splayed open and all her organs visible. But when she wakes up and puts her chest back together they have to cut away because boobies.

[u/Thursday_the_20th → u/dhoffnun]

This is a great point. In pro-gun echo chambers they like to paint the UK as some kind of dystopian police-state in which knife gangs rule with impunity. The actual fact is that the US beats the UK on per-capita knife crime by almost five times, according to an FBI study from 2016.

A country where knives are pretty much the only weapon of choice for murders still beaten by a country where knives are a bad choice because you’re very likely to be bringing a knife to a gun fight.

So really it’s not the guns that are the root problem, or even the knives, it’s the layers upon layers of culture built around this concept that the US is still the Wild West, where home-shopping channels sell Bowie knives, where people shoot through their door because someone knocked on it, or shoot them in their car for turning on their driveway.

It’s a terribly complex knot that’s hard to untie because when everyone is so amped up on paranoia from castle doctrine and no duty to retreat and concealed carry being the one person to withdraw your guard is a poor decision despite being a step in the right direction.

Edit: Someone has informed me my stat about the knife crime is outdated and I was wrong about it being 5 times higher.

It’s more like 8 times higher.

[u/Tom-Nook-98]

I'm from Switzerland and we have a lot of guns. They have a much different status than in the US. Most people have served in the army and know that they aren't a toy or something to show off but a deadly weapon that needs to be treated with respect. Switzerland is very safe and I feel safe there too. I moved to Austria where guns aren't as prevalent (but still exist). I don't feel a difference. In the US it's not the existence of guns that would scare me but the huge amount of maniacs who are ready to shoot anyone before asking questions.

[u/fantsukissa → u/Tom-Nook-98]

It's similar here in Finland. Hunting is fairly common so there are lots of guns. But getting a gun permit is difficult and legislation for storing guns is strict. So the chance of getting shot is almost non existant.

[u/king0fklubs → u/fantsukissa]

Same here in Germany.

[u/Lurker_81 → u/fantsukissa]

Same in Australia. There are plenty of guns around, but laws for ownership, licensing, transport and storage are strict.

The only people who carry guns are police and a few security guards. Apart from those, you could go your whole life without seeing a gun if you lived in the city.

If you live in the country, guns are very common and you probably grew up using them. But most people are very conscientious about them and don't think of them as toys or symbols of masculinity or something.

I feel very safe in both of these environments, and on the rare occasions I have seen people being stupid with guns, I and others have refused to spend time with them (when they are using guns).

[u/plain-plainsman → u/Tom-Nook-98]

I'm an American that has served in the military, I also hate how some people treat guns here. I think a weapon safety course in school or something would be beneficial

[u/Vast_Republic_1776 → u/plain-plainsman]

We used to have things like that, some rural schools still have shooting teams today

[u/ukezi → u/Vast_Republic_1776]

Loads of schools had gun ranges in the cellar.

[u/gsfgf → u/ukezi]

The fallout shelter/rifle range/art room.

[u/Hawaii5G → u/Vast_Republic_1776]

A few high schools near me have trap/skeet teams

[u/DaxDislikesYou → u/Vast_Republic_1776]

We had an air rifle team in the early 2000s. Are they using .22lr or what for the shooting teams that you're aware of?

[u/presentlystoned → u/DaxDislikesYou]

Yes, they use .22's. But I'd also say it's not only rural schools. Some suburban and one city school I know of still had a rifle team as of this year

[u/Balgaire2814 → u/presentlystoned]

My son is on a riflery team in a large southern city. They still have them. They use pimped out air rifles that shoot .177 pellets.

[u/Vast_Republic_1776 → u/DaxDislikesYou]

I’m honestly not sure what exactly they used. I graduated in 09, from a semi rural area, and was shocked to learn that a much younger family friend was on his schools rifle team a few years later

[u/chuckmilam → u/plain-plainsman]

I think a weapon safety course in school or something would be beneficial

Absolutely. We teach fire safety, household chemical safety, we NEED to teach gun safety. Too many kids get their gun handling ideas from movies and TV, and tragic consequences ensue.

[u/oswaldcopperpot → u/chuckmilam]

At driving courses. Car accidents are what 6 MILLION per year with 40 thousand deaths in the US alone.
EVERY SINGLE day I have to take evasive action because someone's driving like a pure idiot. Don't understand a damn roundabout, have no idea what to do on Blinking Red, feel like grocery store parking lots mean they have the right of way at all times, and on and on.
A driver's license should require a full blown week long course. A 90% on your test EVERY SINGLE renewal.

[u/levis_ceviche → u/Tom-Nook-98]

I live in Austria and I agree. There are many guns in Austria. It is actually quite easy to get a gun, but the laws for storage and carrying them are pretty strict.

The thing with the US is how they view their guns and gun culture that scares me. Guns are such an emotional topic which they really shouldn’t be.

[u/marunga → u/levis_ceviche]

Btw: It is easier to get a gun in Austria than it is in Switzerland (at least in most Kantone).

[u/Creepy_Candidate_ → u/marunga]

Be over 18 and not a criminal. Thats all you need for buying a rilfe in Austria. Still nearly no gun violence...

[u/Deezus1229 → u/Tom-Nook-98]

In the US it's not the existence of guns that would scare me but the huge amount of maniacs who are ready to shoot anyone before asking questions.

Exactly. I live in the southern US and everyone I know owns a gun. That alone does not make me feel unsafe. But the culture around guns here makes me uneasy.

Edit for clarification

[u/braddo84]

This might be the most American question ever haha.

I’m English and live in Australia. Both countries have next to no gun crime (especially Aus) and you have to have a licence to legally own one in both.

I’ve felt perfectly safe in both countries (and that includes living in London).

When everybody is in the same boat, you aren’t naturally worrying whether somebody has a gun or not.

[u/proffi2000]

Northern Ireland here. Despite my region's reputation, I have never seen a gun here outside of a policeman's holster, a museum or a dedicated clay pigeon range. Luckily, gun safety isn't a concern for me.

[u/fortyeightD]

I live in Australia. We are not gun-free, but we are low-guns. I feel safe.

[u/Friendly-Chef9396 → u/fortyeightD]

Same! I moved to Aus from South Africa and it’s complete polar opposites

[u/mrspreto → u/Friendly-Chef9396]

To be fair, we have strict regulations in SA. But the corruption and crime is so bad you can buy a gun from the police station's back door.

[u/I_am_nova696969 → u/mrspreto]

I thought you meant South Australia for a second and got so confused lmao

[u/Nerd-Teacher → u/fortyeightD]

Aussie here too. I dont ever think about guns or gun related crime. I mean 0% of the time. I feel safe.

[u/raggedtoad → u/Nerd-Teacher]

Well wombats are the real threat. Hit one of those buggers going 100 and your car is totaled, or worse.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_MUSIC → u/Nerd-Teacher]

I was in the coles car park when a massive loud bang went off, sounded like a gunshot. Not a single person around me flinched. It turned out to be fireworks. That’s when I knew we live in a safe country.

[u/ivegotnoclue84 → u/PM_ME_YOUR_MUSIC]

I said this to my partner when we were talking about gun violence in America. If a gun would go off here in Australia, we wouldn't give 2 thoughts about it because we wouldn't think it's a gun shot. It's nice to know that we are safe and naive lol

[u/Rogue_Jellybean → u/ivegotnoclue84]

Car backfiring or fireworks, pretty much

[u/ALadWellBalanced → u/Nerd-Teacher]

I dont ever think about guns or gun related crime. I mean 0% of the time. I feel safe.

This is where I'm at (also Aussie). 0% worries about guns and gun crime here. Never crosses my mind.

You jump online and you see some of the posts from gun people and they are weird. They make owning guns a huge part of their personality and seem to live in some fantasy world where they're going to need that gun at any given moment.

[u/space_monster → u/ALadWellBalanced]

People always rationalise their reasons for carrying guns - I've see dozens of different 'reasons' on reddit - but most of the time they do it because of the way it makes them feel. It's emotional.

They're basically just security blankets for insecure adults

[u/rawker86 → u/Nerd-Teacher]

I’m 37, I’ve seen exactly one civilian-owned gun in my life. Suits me just fine. I’ve also never walked away from a situation and thought “that would have gone better if one of us had a gun.” Let the Americans think we live in a police state, I like it here.

[u/OneValuable9138 → u/fortyeightD]

I’m an Australian and I own guns (family farm). They sit in a locker gathering dust, I don’t give a shit about them. Big difference between us and our American cousins, there is no gun culture here.

[u/Christopher135MPS → u/fortyeightD]

It’s very easy to get a gun here in Australia. A half day safety course, an application to a weapons permit, and an application for each individual weapon you want to by (permit to acquire).

What’s different is in Australia, the gun must be locked away at all times unless it’s in active use at an approved range, or private hunting area. Ammunition must be stored separately. Criminal charges can and will result in you losing your right to possess firearms. Lots of people have guns in Australia, often for no more reason than “it’s fun to shoot them” - but we don’t have people carrying them around 24/7. They’re not sitting in bedside drawers, loaded ready to fire. Toddlers don’t accidentally shoot their parents because it was in their mothers purse which they left in the back seat.

[u/rainflower72 → u/Christopher135MPS]

Also want to add that necessary checks are put in place in order to obtain a gun. You have to have a genuine reason to obtain a gun (such as for hunting, collecting, business or sport, etc, which I think is reasonable), you have to provide proof of that reason (such as a membership to a club or collector society or proof of employment). You also do your safety course (which I read online is multiday? but I don’t know for sure as I do not have first hand experience). They also check for criminal background and your mental health.

Personally I have no issue with this kind of gun ownership in Australia because I know that most people who regularly use guns have gone through these hurdles and have legitimate reasons to own a gun.

[u/dannyr → u/rainflower72]

And we don't fuck around with it.

Hell, our most gold medal awarded Olympic shooter lost his ability to hold a weapons license, and had all his guns confiscated, because he was charged with Domestic Violence.

He wasn't threatening to misuse his weapons but we don't want to risk anything

Edit: I haven't named him because the charges were dismissed and his weapons later returned but it blew his Rio Olympics chances.

[u/sonofeevil → u/Christopher135MPS]

That's about the crux of it. "Self defense" is a shitty excuse to own a firearm in Australia and our laws reflect that.

No home intruder is going to wait for you to unlock your ammo safe, unlock your gun safe, reinstall your firing pin load your rim fire rifle (Because that's probably all you're licensed for) then start taking shots.

And if your guns aren't stored like this then they are not stored safely and are more of a risk to your family then any home invasion or robbery ever is.

[u/Pristine-Cheek-2914 → u/fortyeightD]

The fact that one gun massacre happened and the government immediately changed the law should something America needs to think about, they have them so frequently that's it basically just a weekly occurrence

[u/splitconsiderations → u/fortyeightD]

I've done the course for my firearm permit, and I'm waiting on the final police approval now.

We have good storage laws (every state requires a metal safe now). All permit holders have to undergo training, between 3 and 8 hours depending on local laws.

Even if the police and TAFE are processing things instantly, it takes at least 3 months to get your first gun. A month to be approved for training. A month to get your training certificate approved. A month to get the first gun on that permit type approved for purchase.

And frankly, I'm glad for it. My state in particular, with the longest training course, has the lowest homicide and suicide and accident rate with firearms in the country as a result. Would I change things? Some stuff, yeah. Wild pigs are dangerous, and I'd like to see the (basically) farmer only C class be allowed bigger guns (with strict ammo capacity, ~5 rounds). But our laws are mostly spot on.

[u/Markus_H]

I live in Finland, where guns aren't rare, but getting shot by one is. I don't think that the guns are a problem, but rather guns in hands of maniacs. Also the gun culture here is very much based around tactical shooting sports for reservists as well as hunting, and not associated with street culture.

Most men get to play with all kinds of guns in the military to the point of boredom, so the novelty or any kind of cool factor wears out.

[u/kasakka1 → u/Markus_H]

Yeah most of the time in the military I felt like "man I wish I didn't have to carry this heavy rifle around" rather than "oh this RK62 is so cool, can't wait to go shooting!"

[u/NicInNS]

So, I live very close to where Canada’s worst mass shooting took place in 2020. My niece’s kids lost their aunt and uncle (on the father’s side) to the gunman. One of the victims waitressed at a restaurant we eat at. The man drove thru our town during his time evading the police.

And yet, I still feel extremely safe. This type of thing is so rare here, it barely crosses my mind to need a weapon.

[u/StabbyPants → u/NicInNS]

i wouldn't say he was evading police. rather, he was killing his way south and the cops just didn't do anything

[u/NicInNS → u/StabbyPants]

True…they def had their heads up their arses. My sister was sending me messages about it the evening before, and I woke the next morning to her messaging me that her grandchildren’s aunt and uncle had been killed, and trying to get in touch with my mother (who doesn’t have a cell phone), who always went for early morning walks in town. Chilling.

[u/StabbyPants → u/NicInNS]

Rcmp waited 8 hours to alert anyone because they didn’t want to cause alarm, after ignoring the fake cop car for a year

[u/LowEffortOutlaw → u/StabbyPants]

I have a different theory about that, I know a former RCMP member who tried to advocate for better mental health services for officers and getting transfered from shit posting to shit posting and passed up for promotion until he eventually quit.

I think the RCMP knows what kind of mental health problems they've been sweeping under the rug for decades, when the reports first started coming in they were worried it actually was an officer who snapped and went on a rampage and went into coverup mode until they could confirm that the gunman was not an RCMP officer.

[u/StabbyPants → u/LowEffortOutlaw]

This is horrible and very plausible

[u/IamGimli_ → u/StabbyPants]

after ignoring the fake cop car for a year

...and the repeated complaints of violent assault against spouses and family, the multiple reports from various people that he had illegal firearms in his possession.

To be fair though, this isn't just an issue of policing. It's a social issue. Cops won't do anything in those circumstances because they know that, even if they do, the courts will throw it out and now they'll have another disgruntled member of the public to deal with.

We as a society have to demand better from all levels of the system, from front line policing to lawmakers and politicians through the courts and penal systems.

Instead we seem to settle for politicians that tell us "guns bad m'kay" and keep restricting our ability to own them without any results to show for it decade after decade.

[u/ptwonline → u/NicInNS]

Canada has one of the higher guns per capita in the world, but about 1/4 of the USA.

For the most part there is just a different attitude about guns, and a lot less attitude about being independent and fighting institutions, and less fear-driven extremism leading to people to people going on rampages. It happens, but is less frequent.

I grew up in a small city and have lived in Toronto for over 25 years and I don't think I've ever seen a civilian (non-police) in Canada actually handle or carry a gun in-person except for one dumb-ass friend when we were both 13 showing me his dad's handgun. When out in public or in private at home guns are pretty much never on my mind at all. It's something we hear about on the news from time to time, and that's about it.

[u/bigelcid → u/NicInNS]

That's terrible to hear. Where did the shooting take place?

[u/NicInNS → u/bigelcid]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Nova_Scotia_attacks

It kinda got overshadowed by all the Covid shit that was beginning to explode at the time.

[u/Hudre]

I live in Canada, never seen a gun outside of military or police.

I have also never really felt unsafe as a default.

[u/FlarfenGarfen → u/Hudre]

I too live in Canada but do see and handle firearms more regularly than most because many of my friends are active hunters. But we all have appropriate education // licensing and the guns are never outside of their lockers unless they're being taken to a gun range or for a hunting trip.

But i also don't feel unsafe in Canada because of gun ownership.

[u/SeskaChaotica → u/Hudre]

One of the many reasons we moved to BC from Texas. Had an active shooter incident at my husband’s workplace. A kid brought a gun to school where my niece attended. And we moved before this, but I lost my little cousin in Uvalde. We feel much safer up here.

[u/GrumpiestOldDude]

I moved to Germany from the U.S. and I don't just feel safer. I am safer in literally every sense. The chances of me or my family being the victims of violent crime are much lower.

[u/Heiminator → u/GrumpiestOldDude]

Fun fact: The city of Baltimore (population 600k) has more gun murders per year than the entire nation of Germany (population 84 million)

[u/StabbyPants → u/Heiminator]

yup, sounds like baltimore

[u/Bigred2989- → u/StabbyPants]

"Dying is the only way to get out of Baltimore."

"So how'd you get out?"

"I died."

[u/karmaon420 → u/Bigred2989-]

"Bodymore, Murderland"

[u/Kempeth → u/Bigred2989-]

I was thinking about posting something like that but didn't wanna be that guy...

[u/Bigred2989- → u/Kempeth]

I am that guy.

[u/johnnybiggles → u/Bigred2989-]

Sup, my guy.

[u/arodynamicfalcn → u/Bigred2989-]

What's this from? Sounds cool

[u/Bigred2989- → u/arodynamicfalcn]

The Expanse.

[u/unfulfilledsoul → u/Bigred2989-]

And The Expanse is very very cool.

[u/ZS_1171 → u/unfulfilledsoul]

I was recommended The Expanse. Where could i watch it?

[u/earlyviolet → u/ZS_1171]

Amazon Prime Video is the primary place because Amazon actually produced the show, but you can also rent/buy it on other platforms like Google TV.

[u/GarroshHeckscream → u/ZS_1171]

I would recommend reading it. The show is cool, but the books are very cool.

[u/fvckmynam3 → u/arodynamicfalcn]

The Expanse. Dope ass character named Amos talking to another dope character Prax about his background

[u/Bombadook → u/fvckmynam3]

Amos ended up being my favorite character. Took the meathead trope and gave him so many layers. S-tier character development. Love the Expanse.

[u/cheez0r → u/Bombadook]

+1. The complexity of his character is astonishing, so much more so than Alex or Holden by comparison. Naomi is similarly much deeper as a character just based on her backstory.

[u/WoahThereBookaroo → u/cheez0r]

A big part of that comes down to Wes Chatham, Amos' actor. He did a bunch of research on victims of abuse (especially in childhood) and interviewed people so that he could gain a greater understanding of their mannerisms, habits, and though processes. And he nailed it!

He's far more handsome than Book Amos but that's forgivable.

[u/RabbitWithFlamingEye → u/Bombadook]

I ate up every interaction between Amos and Avasarala.

“Don’t call me Chrissy, I’m the member of parliament, not your favorite stripper.” “You can be both.”

[u/HabitatGreen → u/RabbitWithFlamingEye]

Man, I love Avasarala (and Bobbie and Decker, and well, too many to count). I love Amos as well, they are such great characters and acted extremely well.

I started reading the books after the series, and I was quite surprised (and disappointed) Avasarala was not a part of book 1 (she and other noteworthy characters started showing up in book 2). I'm actually quite glad the tv serie moved Avasarala to earlier. I think it both fits as well as just gave more screen time to a bad ass side character.

[u/graveybrains → u/Bigred2989-]

He is that guy

[u/FIFA16 → u/StabbyPants]

Bodymore, Murderland.

Aaaand I need to watch The Wire again.

[u/gbird8295 → u/FIFA16]

Watched it for the first time a few months back and couldn’t stop. Truly a masterpiece

[u/CaneVandas]

US Citizen. Retired Military. Politically Liberal. Gun Owner.

I think the biggest problem in the US is not so much guns but gun culture. It's how the gun lobby and an entire subset of the population has romanticized a tool for killing.

We have a lot of problems in this country between media radicalizing the public against each other. Inadequate mental healthcare. Financial inequality. It is a breeding ground for violence. But then you add in a culture that makes highly efficient killing machines easily accessible to these same people and you have a recipie for disaster.

I have my guns. They are locked up. I am fully trained on how to use, and maintain them. I don't want my kids getting hands on them. I don't want a thief getting hands on them. They are present for their intended purpose and I hope I'm never put in a position where I have to use them.

Gun philosophy in the US has merits but has one unavoidable key flaw. People, as a collective, are unreliable. I can ensure that I am trained and responsible. I can make sure my family is trained and responsible. But I have no control over anyone else. If my neighbor is an idiot or having a mental health crisis what will they do with having access to a tool that kills easily, at range with very little effort?

[u/BaconReceptacle → u/CaneVandas]

Same here. I was taught to shoot responsibly when I was 12 years old and I have owned firearms for decades now. No one has ever had a close call handling firearms at my house nor has anyone pulled a firearm in defense or otherwise. And you're going to have to be a safe cracker or have some explosives to get at my firearms. But yeah, I'm not too sure about other people I meet from time to time. And the culture today is definitely one of the biggest issues around the proliferation of gun crime.

[u/what_mustache → u/CaneVandas]

I cant believe how many pretend "gun experts" have told me on here how they keep their guns unlocked next to their bed. But it's totally safe because they trust their kids.

Then you ask "do your kids have friends over the house...do they have gun safety lessons in their past...do you check their gun safety credentials before they come over"

It's nuts. Your kid's friend is more likely to shoot someone than you needing to wake up blasting some guy in your bedroom.

[u/MinneEric → u/what_mustache]

First of all I’m always blasting some guy in my bedroom

[u/Available_Camel]

I live in the UK, in a very openly liberal city which is completely gun free. I never ever feel unsafe at any point other than when I’m walking home at night. But I’m not scared of being shot or stabbed at all. There’s never that fear here.

[u/LucasBastonne]

Depends where, but most likely not. I live in Czechia, people can own guns, lots of people own guns, yet we are in top 10 safest countries in the world. It's the people who are the problem, not weapons.