chriswasmyboy

chriswasmyboy t1_iudh26b wrote

Vermont has low population, but Wyoming has like 10x the land mass of Vermont. I drove through southern Wyoming, I went 90 miles without seeing a house, let alone a town.

Fun fact - 19 states have lower population density than Vermont, including states with much higher population. Arizona has 12x the population of Vermont, but lower population density because of the desert.

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chriswasmyboy t1_iudfv5t wrote

Gun laws certainly can make people more safe. Look at Canada, a country with significant gun ownership. A Canadian has to jump through quite a bit more hoops than an American to own a gun. The process takes a considerable more time in Canada, ensuring fewer people who shouldn't own a gun can't own a gun. However, many law abiding citizens who pose no threat to their fellow citizens are approved for gun ownership. People with mental health issues, drug issues and domestic violence histories are much more likely to not be able to buy a gun.

  • You have to take and pass a firearms safety course in Canada.

  • You have to buy a weapon through a licensed firearms dealer, or if making a private transaction register the transaction through a licensed firearms dealer.

  • Those who wish to obtain their firearm licence must pass background checks which assess the applicant's criminal record, mental health, addiction issues, and any history of domestic violence. The applicant will also need to obtain character references.

  • Assault weapons are now banned in Canada, making it much less likely there will be mass shootings.

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chriswasmyboy t1_iu6gvn1 wrote

>a lot of folks are pissed at the amount of spending we've been doing with regards to what's going down in ukraine - and I am one of those people. However, I believe ukrainians need freedom and putin should eat a dick.

Have to push back hard on this very misguided and wrong statement. We were spending $300 million a day/$100 billion a year on Afghanistan and getting absolutely nothing in return for it. We were/are no safer than we were on September 12, 2001 as regards to Afghanistan.

We are now redeploying that wasted money, and spending an equivalent amount of money arming Ukraine, and supporting democracy in a society that is pro-democracy unlike Iraq and Afghanistan where we wasted trillions. Ukraine is a military beast with our help, and the participation of many NATO countries. It has exposed the Russian military as inept with very old and outdated equipment. It has weakened Putin significantly. A huge amount of Russian military equipment has been destroyed or abandoned to the Ukrainians. All the while, there are no American boots on the ground, and no American blood spilled. The US is admired in Europe for the enormous support we have provided Ukraine, their heroic president and brave people who love freedom. NATO is more united than ever, and with 2 new members in Finland and Sweden when they officially get admitted.

This is the best return on investment the US has ever made with money for military spending. What about this makes you pissed off?

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