that she's still a bitch. anyway, todays topic is one of m fav's. guns =D i will cite from (hoping my html is right) http://home.comcast.net/~guy.smith2/guns.html#gf while this is technically in breach of copyright, i should hope that providing the above link makes it all better. and various other places. They show that New Zealanders own an estimated 1.1 million guns. There are 222,704 licensed firearm owners. The figures show nine anti-tank projectors, 16 grenade launchers and thousands of machineguns and military-style semi-automatics are owned by members of the public. According to police, firearms were involved in 621 violent offences last year, less than 1.3 per cent of all violent offending. -nz herald/open to the press. Fact: 60% of convicted felons admitted that they avoided committing crimes when they knew the victim was armed. 40% of convicted felons admitted that they avoided committing crimes when they thought the victim might be armed. Fact: Every day, 550 rapes, 1,100 murders, and 5,200 other violent crimes are prevented just by showing a gun. In less than 0.9% of the time is the gun ever actually fired. Fact: There are more guns in the U.S. than cars (228,000,000 guns and 207,754,000 automobiles). Yet you are 31 times more likely to be accidentally killed by a car than a gun according to the National Safety Council141 . . . despite cars having been registered and licensed for almost 100 years. Fact: 0% of kids that get guns from their parents commit gun-related crimes while 21% of those that get them illegally do Fact: Almost three times as many kids (41%) take drugs if they also obtain guns illegally, as compared to kids given guns by their parents (13%). Fact: In the 1950’s, kids routinely played cops and robbers, had toy guns, were given BB rifles and small caliber hunting rifles before puberty. Yet the homicide rate in the 1950’s was almost half of that in the 1980’s. 1996-97 25 deaths Fact: In states without “right to carry” laws, there have been 15 school shootings. In states that allow citizens to carry guns, there has been only one. Fact: In 1982, Kennesaw, GA passed a law requiring heads of households to keep at least one firearm in the house. The residential burglary rate dropped 89% the following year. Fact: 90% of all violent crimes in the U.S. do not involve firearms of any type. Fact: 93% of guns used in crimes are obtained illegally (i.e., not at gun stores or gun shows). (ed - so more restrictive laws on stores and shows are obviously inneffective) Fact: People with concealed carry permits are: • 5.7 times less likely to be arrested for violent offenses than the general public • 13.5 times less likely to be arrested for non-violent offenses than the general public Fact: In Florida, a state that has allowed concealed carry since 1989, you are twice as likely to be attacked by an alligator than a person with a concealed carry permit And the best: Fact: “. . .most criminals are more worried about meeting an armed victim than they are about running into the police all for now. _ra