I live in the USA and would like to ask you about life in Canada. Are there any gun-control laws in Canada, and are people allowed to own guns? What about the "inner-city problem" -- do you have the same issues as we do here in the US, where in the downtown areas of big cities there are poor youths who do drugs and kill others, and it's not even safe to be there?

What about the societal norms and issues when it comes to violence, alcohol, tobacco, sex, and nudity -- especially when compared with US culture?

Any information would be appreciated, thanks.

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Gun control = yes
Allowed to own gun = yes

Inner-city problem isn't that big of a problem here in Canada because;
a) we have a better social safety net
b) Canada doesn't have the Mega-cities like the U.S. has
c) Canada doesn't have the urban ghetto (though it seems as though they are starting to develope now -- 25 years after the U.S.)

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What about the societal norms and issues when it comes to violence, alcohol, tobacco, sex, and nudity -- especially when compared with US culture?

Canadians and Americans share the same values to most of those. Exept Canadians don't need a 9mm in their pocket and a kevlar vest to feel safe, and alcohol is taxed up the ying yang up here.

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It is much more difficult to obtain hand-guns here in Canada, however it is possible.

The innercity problem isn't that big of a problem yet! There are always bums and that but downtown Toronto is very much safer than would be any US city.

Alcohol: you must be 19+ to drink and you are not allowed to drink on public property.

Tobacco: 18+ to buy smokes

Violence: used when needed here in Toronto, BUT in general Canadians are very friendly people and know how to have a good time.

Nudity: women can legally go topless, anywhere. Full out nudity is only allowed on Toronto's nude beach; but there's lots of homo's so i'd stay away from there if your not into fudgepacking.

Sex: What do you think the CN towers symbolizes?? This is the city of sex man! (toronto that is)

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Originally posted by Eugene Are there any gun-control laws in Canada, and are people allowed to own guns?

you're NOT allowed to own hand guns, (correct me if I'm wrong), but you can have hunting rifles at home, but they need to be licensed.

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What about the "inner-city problem" -- do you have the same issues as we do here in the US, where in the downtown areas of big cities there are poor youths who do drugs and kill others, and it's not even safe to be there?

Seeing as there's 3 major cities in Canada Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, sure there's problems.. but on a lesser scale than in the US

I've lived near Toronto's argubly worse neighborhood (therefore argubaly the worse neighborhood in Canada), but I never truely felt unsafe.

I'd say the biggest problem now would be bums that dont have homes.

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What about the societal norms and issues when it comes to violence, alcohol, tobacco, sex, and nudity -- especially when compared with US culture?

Societal norms in the states are wacked, especially when you have hardcore religous groups, NRA, etc..

Alcohol.. now that's a joke, 21 in the USA.. unbelievable, yet you can vote, get drafted etc. In Canada is 19 for most provinces (and 18 for a few)

guess the only major social difference really is that Canada is slightly more socialist than Americans (free healthcare.. although crappy). University education is generally cheaper... although it'll get out of hand like yuo guys if no one does anything about it!!!

We have high taxes, because we have a *huge* debt to pay off.. think of the population of New York (?.. maybe a litle more), spread out in the largest country in the world, needing to built its infrastructure (ie. highways)..

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Originally posted by itikia Sex: What do you think the CN towers symbolizes?? This is the city of sex man! (toronto that is)

gimme a break.. Toronto has some of the COLDEST women EVER

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Originally posted by sylphin Alcohol.. now that's a joke, 21 in the USA.. unbelievable, yet you can vote, get drafted etc.

Yes indeed, this is outrageous.
And these laws are strictly enforced here in the US.
For instance, when I was 20 yrs old, I was kicked out of a club for drinking beer. Can you imagine that?!

The problem I have with the USA is that this country is extremely Puritan and has draconian laws when it comes to sex/nudity, alcohol, and lifestyles -- even though it's supposed to be the 'Land of the Free.'

For instance, you'll get arrested for drinking beer on the street; pornography is strictly prohibited in many states, and adultery is a crime in some of them; many people here are ultra-religious (esp. in the Bible Belt) and will not tolerate anything. There is never any nudity shown on TV here; this is strictly forbidden and people get really angry! And then there's Pres. Bush's infamous "drug war..."

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Originally posted by USMC_Greg Inner-city problem isn't that big of a problem here in Canada because; a) we have a better social safety net

well, in the USA we have "welfare," which is pretty much the same, and it's broad-based. I'm sure all of those bums are on welfare. Yet in spite of this, our inner-city neighborhoods are so dangerous that you wouldn't want to be there alone in the evening and at night!

A person I knew was murdered when he was delivering pizza to a bad downtown neighborhood, where a group of drugged-up bums wanted to rob him and he refused to give them the money...

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There are not many parts of canada where you would not visit unless you had a gun. Gun Control is strictly enforced, tho most canadians are not armed and i stress most canadians feel safe. I don't speak for everyone. Here you need a license to own a firearm and need another license to buy ammo. Most clubs that are 19+, check id's really carefully then you won't be booted from a club unless you are underage and they find out. We really tax cigarettes here in ontario, taxes just went up again.....(it should be pointed out, i do not care tho because i do not smoke). A pack of smokes is now about 7-8 bucks (my smoker friends tell me). The tax, i cannot stand is the one just added to booze, coz heineken has just got 3 bucks more expensive on 24's. Bloody Hell, my friend bought a 12 pack of BUD light for friends at the beer store, it ran him about 19 and change. I mean, taxes on alcohol are nasty here. But i do point out, with our weak dollar, you still save on booze here if you were to visit. Rofl....there is cdn culture?......never knew that. But we take EXTREME pride in canada. Like 8 million ppl watched the Canada vs. Usa Olympic Men's Hockey Final, where we kicked your asses. After that, was PURE CANADIAN PRIDE!, ppl dancing in the streets for the helluva it. Feel free to pm me eugene....i'd be happy to answer any more CANADA questions.

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Originally posted by USMC_Greg Gun control = yes Allowed to own gun = yes Inner-city problem isn't that big of a problem here in Canada because; a) we have a better social safety net b) Canada doesn't have the Mega-cities like the U.S. has c) Canada doesn't have the urban ghetto (though it seems as though they are starting to develope now -- 25 years after the U.S.) Canadians and Americans share the same values to most of those. Exept Canadians don't need a 9mm in their pocket and a kevlar vest to feel safe, and alcohol is taxed up the ying yang up here.

yeah we do...maybe not the size of NYC or Miami, but we have big cities man. And we have ghetto problems too...have you ever been to Toronto?

Itikia: You gotta be 19 to buy both booze and smokes.

Here in Montreal, there's some very poor areas but not violent as in the states. I never felt insecure at ANY hour downtown or anywhere else, you can ask any Montrealer about that, we're very proud about it. We party till 3am with alcohol and till noon if not more without.

Over here drug control is almost non existent, police does nothing at people smoking a joint, its a joke.

Alcohol is 18+, but let met tell that's a joke too... if you look old you get in clubs no question asked. Tobacco is 18+ too but that I don't give a shit I don't smoke :P

Toronto sex city?? haahah LMAO, I wonder why my TO people come over here for the contact dances in the so many strip clubs I even saw a reportage on Playboy TV that Montreal is the sexiest-horniest city

There's no such thing as a Canadian culture, maybe a little sparkle of it, but its mostly a mix of Indian, German, Irish, French, English, Arabic, Spanish, Italian etc etc cultures... Our biggest cities like Toronto and Montreal have something like 60-70 differnts spoken languages.

Canada is a melting pot where none of the ingredients loose of their taste...

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ok, quebec must be the only SANE place in all of north america... lemme explain..

all over america, the drinking/smoking age is 21 (except for louisiana or something, right?) and in canada, the drinking/smoking age is 19.... but you can own a GUN at 18... wtf is that? you can own something that can potentially KILL someone, but you can't consume products that could potentially kill yourself... lame.

of course, in quebec, drinking age is 18... very cool... props to quebec. don't ever separate... we need a voice of reason in this crazy country.

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... we need a voice of reason in this crazy country.

so you're saying your country is crazy?!
Try mine!

About the strip clubs: some of my friends have been to Montreal, and they say the strip clubs there are the best! So yes, I've heard about those contact dances!

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