And we wonder why the US are fascinated with guns

[KThunder]

most americans would consider that guy a freak, a dangerous freak.

guns are common and in some places expected (i live in good hunting area) but his attitude is way off.

when i first read this thread i must admit i was a bit offended until your last post. if you truely would consider changing your opinion then consider this:

i have hunted for years and have several guns a 12 gauge shotgun for dear hunting, a 22 for small game and target shooting and an air rifle for target shooting.

they are all kept locked separately from ammo and my children have never touched either. if and when my children decide they want to hunt or learn to shoot i will teach them personally as i have taken safety courses and hunting courses and they will have to take them before they hunt as well. none will before age 12. and none will use the 12 gauge before age 18.

i can honestly tell you that that is roughly the attitude of most of the people that i know that have guns and use them. growing up i remember several times being at friends homes and someone wants to target shoot. so we go to a range and get a short lecture and demo before anyone handles a gun.
probably the only off thing i ever did with a gun was shoot up an old schoolbook at a range on the last day of school. it was a friends book and we took turns shooting it with a 12 gauge shotgun even though he knew he would have to pay for it. i guess he didnt like that class much.

[KThunder]

what exactly do you mean by "gun-crazed"?

i have seen numerous videos of people in some countries firing guns off into the air during weddings and funerals and protests and stuff. there are many countries were you can buy ak-47s, law rockets and stuff almost anywhere but the us isnt one of them.
that is what i would consider guncrazed, here in the us most people use guns for target shooting a couple of times a year,and hunt a few weeks out of the year; i know because i am one of them and have quite a few friends who do as well. it is always done in a responsible manner in a target range. now there certainly are freaks who dont but in my 32 years of experience i have seen none of that.

it is illegal in most places to discharge a firearm in city limits outside of special ranges. and there are laws concerning different types of hunting. in my area it is illegal to hunt with a rifle, that is why i have a shotgun. anyone who wants a pistol or special weapons has to have a permit
by the way i dont think that defending our right to have firearms is gun crazed is it? we control the deer and small animal populations very carefully with hunting. in areas were they dont deer cause millions in car, crop and property damage each year new jersey in particular.