To own a gun in Norway, one must document a use for the gun. By far, the most common grounds for civilian ownership are hunting and sports shooting, in that order. Other needs can include special guard duties or self defence, but the first is rare unless the person shows identification confirming that he or she is a trained guard or member of a law-enforcement agency and the second (self defense) is practically never accepted as a reason for gun ownership.
In contrast there is no permit required to purchase a shotgun, rifle or hand gun in Florida. There is no registration or licencing of hand guns either. There is, however, a permit required to carry a concealed hand gun in the state of Florida. On the other hand, it is unlawful for any convicted felon to have in his or her possession any firearm or to carry a concealed weapon unless his civil rights have been restored. It is also unlawful for the following persons to own, possess or use any firearm - drug addicts, alcoholics, mental incompetents, and vagrants.
The contrast here could NOT be more clear. Florida regulates its gun usage in the most practical fashion imaginable. They allow the "good guys" to carry and protect themselves and their families while prohibiting the likely "bad guys" from gun usage. Norway on the other hand assumes that EVERYONE is a "bad guy".
As pictures began to emerge, people could clearly be seen begging for their lives; that being their only means of self defense. Now imagine how much different the scene would have been if the good guys were armed; carrying concealed hand guns for the protection off all those innocent kids.
It took ninety minutes for the guys with the guns to finally show up. Ninety minutes for one "bad guy" to shoot at defenseless unarmed "good guys". Ninety minutes of hell which could have been averted if only the Norwegian government had taken the posture that their people were mostly peace-loving folks who may need to shoot a psychopath or rapist or burgler with a gun - a gun that was pointed in their direction. Let's face it - no law written on paper ever stopped a "bad guy" from aquiring a gun but a gun has been used countless times to stop a "bad guy" from commiting this exact kind of atrocity.
The Norwegian government has blood on its hands with this one. Let the "good guys" arm up so the "bad guys" think twice about this sort of thing. And if they still pull out a piece and begin shooting, make sure the only heavy gun control in place is the one that assures you hit your target before the second victim, or in Norway's case the 76th victim, hits the ground.
Finally, if you're ever in the great state of Florida, be sure to check out any local mall or shopping plaza or island resort with complete assurance that you are safe - because if a blond-haired Norwegian pulls out an automatic weapon and begins shooting he will resemble swiss cheese lying on the floor before he squeezes off the second round. That is the reality of a society which assumes there are more "good guys" than bad and allows them to defend themselves. Learn the RIGHT lesson from this tragedy and perhaps it will not be for nothing.
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