[velodrome]

To the European - I previously visited Europe and one thing I remember is the Europeans love to smoke cigarettes. If Europeans are so clearly educated in chemistry they would clearly not inhale something that contains formaldehyde (used in rat poison and bug spray) and other toxic chemicals.

Also, I suggest asking your father or mother if they understand what "Dihydrogen Monoxide" actually is. The article does not mention the age of the callers...I'm willing to bet they are elderly people.

[mschuster91]

What's cigarettes for us, is alcohol and firearms in the USA, especially the firearms part, given the near-anarchist position in the USA, and the abolishment position prevalent in most of Europe.

[spindritf]

> What's cigarettes for us, is alcohol and firearms in the USA, especially the firearms part

Since we're on topic of science and ignorance, no it's not.

>> Using cross-sectional time-series data for U.S. counties from 1977 to 1992, we find that allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons deters violent crimes and it appears to produce no increase in accidental deaths.[1]

This whole thread denouncing ignorance is full of depressingly ignorant opinions.

[1] https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=10129

[mschuster91]

What about the gang-related murders and gun violence in the "black" regions of cities? The multiple school shootings which happen EVERY YEAR in the US? And still nothing, absolutely NOTHING happens on the weapons control laws?

I can't even remember when the last gun-related school shooting was here in Germany.

[velodrome]

This is just a symptom of what is actually wrong with our society. It has nothing to do with skin color. We have a lack of opportunity for young people coming from a poor background. People do fall between the cracks...

Also, let's be fair. Germany is not one to talk about gun violence. Last I remember, Germany was an aggressor in both World War I and World War II. Both wars accounted for roughly a 100+ million dead or wounded. Could you explain how "weapons control laws" could have prevented these wars? Don't get me wrong, I am for gun control...but really, it is not going to help until we fix other, more immediate socio-economic issues.

[moconnor]

Is this sarcasm? Gun related shootings have been happening regularly in Germany. Search for "amok" in German language news sites.

[mschuster91]

By far not as regularly as in the United States. Just take the list from http://www.rp-online.de/panorama/die-schlimmsten-amoklaeufe-... - most of these are US based.

Or, take the list at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoklauf_an_einer_Schule#Deutsc... - six in the last 11 years, way more (and especially: much more violent!) in the US!

[dasil003]

I'm a Brazilian-American living in London. Binge drinking here is worse than any of the 5 North and South American cities I've lived in.

[veemjeem]

I still think the europeans drink more than americans. The germans have an entire week of festivities focused on beer; I don't recall the americans having anything similar. Their drinking age is lower, and you can always find beer/wine dispensers at local bistros where you can just fill up your cup without showing any ID.