The U.S. has ten times as many more than Canada, so any and all crimes and/or accidents will be ten times greater.

Unstable or irresponsible gunowners are not a reason to limit access to firearms from law abiding citizens. If that were the case then we need to do the same with automobiles.
Just like anything else,education is the answer. Educating people on the use and care for firearms is the answer.

Besides, if you feel firearms are a threat or danger no one will force you to have one.

Hi Brian --

The national rates are adjusted for population (still much greater in the US). I know what you mean about cars, but both the US and Canada DO have a lot of car regulations, and licensing laws, and mandatory training, and driving tests, and seatbelt laws, and removal of licenses for dangerous driving... and that's for a tool that's meant for transportation, not built to be an effective weapon. Don't you think actual weapons need effective regulation? It does keep down the ridiculous accidents. (And "law-abiding" doesn't mean much if there are no laws). People who have never thought about how to appropriately handle weapons are more numerous than the criminals -- guidelines are helpful for people to realize what is acceptable, "law-abiding' behavior). I agree with you that education is key.

By the way, many Canadians do own guns (there are gun clubs in the cities, and outside those people need them for hunting and critter control among other uses, and marksmanship is a valued skill), and my husband, a US Navy vet who has owned and appreciated a variety of weapons, tells me that he is very comfortable with the gun laws here. His brother, retired from the LAPD, was irritated at having to leave his gun in storage at the border, but didn't mind that he was visiting a country where other people on the street were also not carrying.

I'm certainly comfortable with the laws in my home state, Arkansas. We can get a concealed carry license and have access to just about any firearm we might want.

the regulations in California are ridiculous. Only certain handguns are on their approved list to own. The governing body has deemed more than ten rounds in a handgun is too much and made them illegal. All of their regulations have not stopped criminals from getting their hands on guns of any type they want. The problem is not the law abiding citizen, but the criminals who pay no attention to the law.

Have a look here and do some reading. Thanks!

http://www.gunfacts.info/

What Brians said. If you make gun ownership against the law criminals will still easily get them. That's proven. I believe that has happened in chicago. And even if criminals didn't have guns they would still be violent. I can't exactly imagine vicious Latin Kings or MS13 guys suddenly being compassionate and peaceful due to a lack of guns. Guns were created i nthe 1600s and people were plenty violent before that.
I dont particularly want to be caught in a gun fight without a gun. Now I'm not sure every needs 20 guns for self protection (I only keep a .357 in a copartment under my headboard and an 1873 .22). But it's comforting to have a couple.
Personally I think we should do like the ISraelis and make miltiary service mandatory for at least 2 and a half or 3 years. That would all but solve issues of gun safety. I know in the Army the slightest safety mistake is severely punished (I've seen guys get body slammed for running with weapons on semi haha).
All this being said I do think at least background check should be required before buying guns as well as yearly qualification on a safety course by owners. Wouldn't hurt and it's not a big inconvienence.
About Canada not having as many gun related deaths or violence-Canadians are hoenstly much more peaceful people than Americans. Canada doesn't have places like Compton, or the Ibraville Projects, Newark, Destroit, etc. I bet there is a lower rate of all forms of violence and crime in Canada (yet somehow you guys have a pretty decent military).

One thing that people might think about is the oft touted figure of gun viloence being much lower in nations with strict guns laws and in some places that don't allow people to own guns is where the guns came from in the 1st place.

Or a phrased another way......why is there ANY gun violence in a place where people are:

A-Not supposed to have ANY guns

B-Supply is tightly controlled and there are MANY restrictions and hurdles to jump through.

Good points all around. Gun control is a very difficult issue, and one that I personally can't really make up my mind about. I do agree that gun laws are not going to prevent criminals from commiting crimes with guns, but I think that ignores the fact that there are many legal gun-owning idiots. We've all seen the stories about morons (and /or their children) and guns, and the consequences.

Gun control laws probably have these people in mind, as well. FWIW.

Very complicated issue, though.

I'd also like to state that in places where gun violence has gone down due to laws, assault and murder with other weapons has increased or not decreased anyway. I believe we can do more to prevent acts of stupidity with guns but I'm not in favor of using that as excuse to remove guns completely and infringe on our freedom. To me that means more.