# Just in case you thought all the bad gun stories came out of the US... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 5, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230 "2008-11-05T06:35:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/21 "2008-11-05T22:17:50Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > He certainly didn’t tell his mother, but on a different occasion she found the live artillery shell that he had hidden in his closet. He was devastated when she forced him to get rid of it. He didn’t throw rocks at it until it blew up? I knew guys who were dumb enough to do that. I wasn’t entirely joking about modern kids’ lack of initiative. Not that ours COULD get something past my wife and I, but it’s that they don’t even TRY that pisses me off. One of them rode to school on the back of a friend’s Harley without asking permission a few weeks back, which had promise, but afterwards she told me about it. :rolleyes: Good communication with ones offspring is overrated. ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/22 "2008-11-06T01:39:44Z")
Oh, shit! _High powered_ rifles! Ruuuun! What a terrible pitting. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/23 "2008-11-06T04:08:21Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > So beyond your “Guns are inanimate objects” hand wave, you have nothing to contribute? > > Seeya in MPSIMS! I can’t get worked up about other people’s phobias. This is supposed to be the modern, rational world and many people behave like superstitious peasants when they encounter a firearm. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/24 "2008-11-06T06:20:43Z")
> [@mks57](#): > > This is supposed to be the modern, rational world and many people behave like superstitious peasants when they encounter a firearm. Sometimes that’s the best way (tongue in cheek). Remember the “intelligence test” in Neal Stephenson’s novel Quicksilver (I think). A band of refugees are trying to pass through a country in conflict. At a checkpoint the soldiers take each person individually to one side and show them a gun. If they knew what the gun was and picked it up and aimed down the sites, or otherwise checked it for ammunition, they were immediately drafted into the army. The more intelligent travellers feigned ignorance and tried to use it as some kind of shovel and were allowed to go on their way. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/25 "2008-11-06T06:45:30Z")
> [@jali](#): > > Is it not outrageous to you that an 8 year old child found a GUN in a park? I don’t know about him, but it’s not outrageous in the slightest for me. It’s more disturbing that some idiot left them there, but it is not _outrageous_ to find them. I cannot fathom to see how you can think that it is. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/26 "2008-11-06T06:56:44Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > So beyond your “Guns are inanimate objects” hand wave, you have nothing to contribute? > > Seeya in MPSIMS! Do you have anything to contribute, other than fear mongering? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/27 "2008-11-06T07:21:11Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > Does it really, really matter? Yes very much so. Without ammunition a gun is about as dangerous as a pipe, because it’ just a fancy pipe with a handle at that point. If they were loaded guns I’d be up in arms over this too, but you look pretty silly getting worked up over unloaded guns. Oh noes children were exposed to no danger at all! You have a fucking agenda plain as day. Spin spin like Rush Limbaugh. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/28 "2008-11-06T07:47:02Z")
I swear, though I don’t have a cite, that I read in an online British newspaper a couple of months ago about a murder that took place in which a knife was used, and some politician was screeching that “We have to get these knives off the street!” My memory of this is clear because the sentiment is so stupid, given that there are knives in every kitchen of every home. Still, it does show this apparently human desire to ban inanimate objects in an attempt to forestall human behavior. ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/29 "2008-11-06T08:05:56Z")
Holy crap, a few things I’d like to mention, there just isn’t that many guns around in Australia. To the the poster who mentioned getting ammunition, probably a lot harder than you’re imagining, certainly not from dad’s sock draw. I understand the sentiment of posters saying that a gun isn’t dangerous without ammo, or disarmed, but you have to remember, there are only 3 people who have guns in Australia, cops, criminals and farmers. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/30 "2008-11-06T14:19:48Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > You do realize that they are inanimate object built for the sole purpose of forcibly injecting large pieces of metal into animate objects, don’t you? > > But fuck it, if he would have killed himself with it, it would have been the parents fault. You gun-nuts sure cover your excuse bases well… > > :rolleyes: Don’t confuse _function_ with _purpose._ As an inanimate object, they only have function. It takes a human will to give them purpose. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/31 "2008-11-06T17:08:32Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Yes very much so. Without ammunition a gun is about as dangerous as a pipe, because it’ just a fancy pipe with a handle at that point. > > If they were loaded guns I’d be up in arms over this too, but you look pretty silly getting worked up over unloaded guns. > Oh noes children were exposed to no danger at all! You have a fucking agenda plain as day. Spin spin like Rush Limbaugh. It’s worse, not only were they unloaded, they were inoperable, "De-Mil"ed, unfireable even with ammo. The bayonet was the only thing dangerous there, and that no more than the knives in Mom’s kitchen. One a gun is de-MILed it is so much scrap metal and a few spare parts. ---
**Author:** ![AllWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@AllWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/32 "2008-11-06T17:28:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It is interesting that the OP cited the only site I can find that _didn’t_ mention that the guns were incapable of being fired. Sorry, that wasn’t by design. But it does make the pitting fairly pointless - as has been pointed out, the kid found a bag of metal. Nothing more. So now I change it to a pitting against littering, wastefulness and the pointless destruction of perfectly useful tools. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/33 "2008-11-06T17:41:11Z")
> [@firstname](#): > > … there are only 3 people who have guns in Australia, cops, criminals and farmers. I think you mean “kinds of people”, since otherwise I’d have to ask, when is that one cop going to catch that single criminal? And how busy must that farmer be? But there are a few other groups that have guns: there are some hunters, there are some gun clubs, and of course there are armed forces that are supposed to defend Australia from invasion. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/34 "2008-11-06T17:46:47Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I swear, though I don’t have a cite, that I read in an online British newspaper a couple of months ago about a murder that took place in which a knife was used, and some politician was screeching that “We have to get these knives off the street!” > > My memory of this is clear because the sentiment is so stupid, given that there are knives in every kitchen of every home. > > Still, it does show this apparently human desire to ban inanimate objects in an attempt to forestall human behavior. Knives in the home are fine. Knives being carried around on the street, not so much. A street hoodlum whose only knife is at home is rather less dangerous than the same hoodlum shivved up to the eyeballs, yesno? There’s some stupid sentiment going on here, but I think you may have misjudged whose. :rolleyes: Meanwhile, “bad gun story in Australia” - kid finds unloaded inoperable gun in park, authorities notified, no-one hurt or in danger of being hurt. “Bad gun story in America” - kid gets keys to daddy’s gun cabinet, enough firepower and ammunition for a small revolution, burns half his school. I know which I’d prefer, if I had to take a kick in the balls as well. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/35 "2008-11-06T19:33:04Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Yes very much so. Without ammunition a gun is about as dangerous as a pipe, because it’ just a fancy pipe with a handle at that point. > > If they were loaded guns I’d be up in arms over this too, but you look pretty silly getting worked up over unloaded guns. > Oh noes children were exposed to no danger at all! You have a fucking agenda plain as day. Spin spin like Rush Limbaugh. To be fair, a child finding a gun doesn’t mean that the child is capable of appropriately finding out if it’s loaded or not. They _could_ find out the hard way, compared to an adult finding a gun or guns. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/36 "2008-11-06T19:39:45Z")
Sounds like most Australian adults couldn’t find out the safe way, either. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/37 "2008-11-06T19:48:41Z")
I’d rather my kids find a bag of inoperable guns at the park than a [used hypodermic needle](http://www.keyetv.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=6a127c87-e8a4-4a22-b7df-805165c0cf86). ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/38 "2008-11-06T19:59:54Z")
Or used condoms, though we’re getting fewer of them since my wife chased the carnival out. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/39 "2008-11-06T20:57:58Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Was there ammunition near them? Guns without amo are pretty harmless. If you find a gun lying around, though, isn’t it basic common-sense gun safety to treat it as if it were loaded? A de-miled gun would still look like a functional gun to someone who was not familiar with guns, right? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230/40 "2008-11-06T21:33:16Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > Can’t you see that these questions have NOTHING to do with the debate. It doesn’t matter if the bag was zipped up or if there wasn’t ammunition, IT WAS A BAG FULL OF FUCKING GUNS FOUND IN A PARK BY A CHILD… Probably left by some guy who forgot to turn in his banned guns and was afraid of being prosecuted. Australia never shoulda banned all them bad, bad guns. These would now be safe in someone’s home. > [@Anne Neville](#): > > If you find a gun lying around, though, isn’t it basic common-sense gun safety to treat it as if it were loaded? Yes. In fact, _any_ gun should be treated as if it were loaded until you have personally confirmed that it is not. However, this here story is in Australia - where, if we’re to believe **firstname** , there just aren’t many guns at all. There being so few guns, it follows then, that almost nobody knows how to properly and safely handle one. Or teach anyone else how. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-in-case-you-thought-all-the-bad-gun-stories-came-out-of-the-us/471230.md?page=3)