Canada blames violence surge on US

Scotsman.com News - Canada blames violence surge on US:

"It was the 52nd shooting death this year in Ontario's capital, almost twice as many as last year, and raises the total number of murders to 78 - not far below the record 88 of 1991."

We were staggered as the guns came out as soon as Katrina hit. Even mild mannered grannies were getting guns. The best explanation I have heard for it , is that the USA was founded on pioneers and sharp shooters and so it's a part of their history to be gun wielding "law-abiding" citizens. It's part of the frontier heritage. That I can understand to an extent. Then they have "heroes" such as Al Capone , Jesse James...the gun wielding notables we all know about. So it's part of their recent history. In a populated city , though, where our life style leads to a number of people with stress related behaviours...guns and people can only cause heartbreak and despair. Sorry, but I really do not think the average citizen needs a gun. Guns kill. It is too easy to pick up a gun and kill someone. Canada seems to be in the grip of the same young people mayhem as we have elsewhere in the world. No one has been spared as far as I can see. Kids are all too ready at the moment to kill themselves and others and it is very perplexing - up to a point. I don't know that adults have given them a world to feel safe and happy in so they will always follow the laws of uproar and mayhem as young people do. Boundaries and discipline re establish the norm. Punishment is not about punishment - it should be about restoring calm and safety. Gangs are merely a way of young people giving themselves some power and strength and these gangs just take off and run amok. We get what we accept. If we have created conditions whereby our young people wish to kill, maim and destroy, then first we shall have to shut the behaviour down and then, we shall have to discover why young people think this is "civilised" living. My other thought, is we keep having gangs all around the world wreaking havoc in the suburbs. Round 'em up, train 'em and send them of to Afghanistan and Iraq. They can use up all that high energy in places where we need soldiers, then the ones who don't want to be there can come home and see their families.