As the chronology of the posts shows, I and others pointed out the FACT that while Norway indeed does have very tough gun laws and a lifestyle alien to Americans (check out the number of violent crimes in 2009 among a population of 4 million), individuals can and do go through a process that allows them a CCW permit, and the cops can carry weapons when cleared with their various command centers. A total BAN, as Alias suggested, would keep civilians from getting guns....period. A total restriction of cops carrying guns would mean that they could not even put in the request for and receive such.
Once again, gunner hype doesn't stand up under scrutiny. Gunners keep putting forth the notion that if more people were strapped, then they could put down people like Breivik. They forget what went down in Tuscon, Arizona recently, where one of their poster boys damned near shot the HERO's who disarmed Giffords assailant. By the grace of God and fast thinking people, additional tragedy was avoided. Lord knows how many more people may had been shot in the cross fire if a bunch of armed citizens with no real situation training had engaged Breivik in a shootout. And let's not forget....cops with a vague description of a shooter taking out people may or may not stop to discern which joker with the gun is the real perp.
Back to square one....Alias is doing EXACTLY what I pointed out...a knee jerk need to minimalize or justify or excuse the significance of acts like Breivik's while "reminding" all who the "real" threat is.
And the beat goes on.
