Ok, I didn't mean to start the exotics argument again. Really I was only trying to argue the licensing thing. We've argued the exotics topic before, and even though I would debate the merits of the ban on exotics (which we have to great lengths before
![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
), it is one thing to make a law that says you can't own exotics. My biggest problem is when the government realizes that the first law is being broken (which every law is at some point), and they start making new laws to try to "fix" the fact that people are breaking the original law. It would be like saying the some people are still owning exotics, so now nobody can own any snakes. Well, hello! Why would someone who is already breaking the first law, obey the second, or third, or so on. That's the one extreme, but I think everything else is just various degrees of the same logic.
Not to change the subject (and it is related), but as far as guns go, I strongly disagree Nicole. I think all you have to do is look at the crime rate before and after sweeping gun bans to prove you are wrong. I've seen the numbers for Canada, the UK, and yes even good old Australia. All of their crime rates skyrocketed after major gun bans took effect. As someone who carries a handgun on a daily basis, I would say that you are mistaken about them not having any usefulness. My gun has saved my life, the lives of my family, and my property more than once. I've have yet to have to pull the trigger in those circumstances, as the mere fact that I had it in my hand was enough to solve the threat. Maybe it's a nice Disneyland fairy tale idea that the whole world is free of guns, and everyone gets along. Yet one only needs to look back through human history to see that the reality is far different. In the lack of some equalizing force (like a gun), the strong dominate the weak. Often in quite brutal ways. I would not like to be young, old, sick, weak, or a woman in such a society.
To sum it up, when my wife goes to the grocery store after dark, I worry. I worry much less knowing that even some 300 pound gorilla of a thug would have a very hard time dealing with her if he tried to infringe on her personal freedoms. She is armed. She is competent. She is safer. Without her gun, she is a victim waiting to happen.