The right to bear arms

[Paulclem]

No- you're right. 105mm. A typo.

[qimissung]

Here is another article, very even handed, written by a man who owns and sometimes carries, guns:

http://harpers.org/archive/2010/08/h...is-a-worn-gun/

It's called "Happiness is a Worn Gun: My concealed weapon and me." It won't solve the problem or resolve any arguments, but it really is a good look at the mindset of people who believe in guns (p.s. they are not all as crazy as Alex Jones!).

[Emil Miller]

Here is another article, very even handed, written by a man who owns and sometimes carries, guns:

http://harpers.org/archive/2010/08/h...is-a-worn-gun/

It's called "Happiness is a Worn Gun: My concealed weapon and me." It won't solve the problem or resolve any arguments, but it really is a good look at the mindset of people who believe in guns (p.s. they are not all as crazy as Alex Jones!).

The amusing thing is the way the he describes how the anti-gun lobby is viewed by gun carriers and their.... "resentment toward the airy-fairy elites who can enjoy the luxury of musing, sipping tea, and nibbling biscuits while the good people of the world have to work for a living and keep their guard up."

There's more than a grain of truth in the description but for real airy-fairyness, England beats the US hands down.

[Sancho]

^Gotta admit, you guys are some biscuit nibblers over there.

?...Switzerland is a country awash with guns, nobody knows how many because there is no licencing there. But random shootings and domestic shootings hardly ever happen. Somebody in America should look very closely at Switzerland and find out why.

?...However DISCIPLINE is anpther factor, when do we start with that? How is that learned/taught, the self discipline to curb yout natural inclinations and engage with society as it is, NOT how you'd like it to be...

I've been thinking about these comments. And what I've decided is, America is not Switzerland - and never will be. (Thank god) We're much bigger with a lot more diverse population. It's not that we lack discipline. (although we probably do) It's that we've got an innate suspicion of the rules. We don't look at laws and societal norms as something to reveled in or admired, but rather we look at them as something to try to get around. (I do anyway) And in this respect, I think we resemble Ireland more than England. I also think that, as a nation, we are relatively open to change. It's not usually pretty, but we do change, and this may be one of those times.

Anyway, have you ever stood on a street corner in Switzerland or Germany waiting to cross? Even if there's not a car for miles around, pedestrians will obediently wait for the light to change before stepping off the sidewalk. Now compare that to Manhattan. I'm getting a mental picture of Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy banging his hand on a Yellow Cab: "Hey-ay-AY! I'm walkin' here! I'm walkin' 'ere!"

I found the clip:
http://youtu.be/c412hqucHKw

Incidentally, a few years ago I was crossing a street in Stuttgart. It was probably eleven at night and not a car in sight. The light was red, but I went for it anyway. I know, I know, gutsy move. An old lady standing on the curb next to me, patiently waiting for the light to change, said to me, "Tsk, tsk, vhat vill the children think?" I'm not sure how she knew I was an English speaker.

[Delta40]

I thought Happiness is a Worn Gun was an excellent article. He gave a wonderful social context to the gun in America and I can really appreciate how a shift in attitude will be so difficult to achieve, especially when people with concealed weapons are tacitly considered to be 'guardians' endowed with the grave responsibility of protecting citizens who choose to live in 'condition white' mode. I believe this man because his honesty speaks out when he alludes to the hollywoodness of it all, how carrying a weapon alters his own outlook on life, revealing how crime data cannot definitively be ascribed to gun ownership and most of all, his growing concern about the informalities involved in obtaining a license to carry a weapon. Despite being pro-gun, he offers up points for everyone to mull over. Now he beats Alex Jones hands down....

[prendrelemick]

i agree with you Delta, an honest reasonable article. He is absolutely right about the allure of guns, I love the combination of tactile beauty and precision engineered functionality of mine. Every 5 years a policeman comes and asks me why I need them. What I don't tell him is that I think they are aesthetically beautiful, a coming together of oiled metal and polished walnut, I just like owning them.


Sancho: Crossing roads is difficult, you have to know which social group you belong to. The young rebel (ignorers of lights). The "setting proper example to minors" group. The "too busy to wait" group. Or like me, "the lights are just another example of this benighted so called progress thing and I want no part of it" group of old gits.

[Delta40]

Dan Baum has expressed concerns and a certain amount of insecurity as a citizen of his country. It's a common ground for people and invites discussion where everyone, progun or not can voice their concerns without attacking one another.

[Emil Miller]

Now this is what I call a very interesting video, I love the guy who says one of the weapons is ideal for targeting zombie craniums with small brains.

http://youtu.be/VM393EyIx-o

[YesNo]

I forgot about the zombies. Here's another educational video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=fw1A2vCsL0U

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

....He is absolutely right about the allure of guns, I love the combination of tactile beauty and precision engineered functionality of mine. Every 5 years a policeman comes and asks me why I need them. What I don't tell him is that I think they are aesthetically beautiful, a coming together of oiled metal and polished walnut, I just like owning them...

Aesthetics absolutely, that along with the historical and sentimental value I attach to mine.
There's something special in holding and firing a piece of history. In fact it's looking like we will be doing just that this weekend, since we postponed the Gurgle new year's celebration. There will be plenty of fireworks, bonfires, burning of the Mozartgeist and yes...shooting. This time I'll blow the dust off the old M1 Carbine. My brother will likely bring his 1894 Swedish Mauser.
The beer cans, pumpkins and feral zombies that happen to emerge from the woods, don't have a chance

Now this is what I call a very interesting video, I love the guy who says one of the weapons is ideal for targeting zombie craniums with small brains.

http://youtu.be/VM393EyIx-o

I forgot about the zombies. Here's another educational video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=fw1A2vCsL0U

Great videos!
I'm reminded of the scene with the reporter from Night of the Living Dead.
The best part is from 1:30 to about 2:45...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxue16WMP2s

[Emil Miller]

[QUOTE=Gilliatt Gurgle;1199357]Aesthetics absolutely, that along with the historical and sentimental value I attach to mine.

There's something special in holding and firing a piece of history. In fact it's looking like we will be doing just that this weekend, since we postponed the Gurgle new year's celebration. There will be plenty of fireworks, bonfires, burning of the Mozartgeist and yes...shooting. This time I'll blow the dust off the old M1 Carbine. My brother will likely bring his 1894 Swedish Mauser.
The beer cans, pumpkins and feral zombies that happen to emerge from the woods, don't have a chance

Beats playing whist.

Great videos!
I'm reminded of the scene with the reporter from Night of the Living Dead.
The best part is from 1:30 to about 2:45...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wxue16WMP2s

It's OK if you live in the wide open spaces but there's not much room in England to contemplate long range rifles, especially in London. I haven't yet seen a zombie, that's if we discount those who spend most of their spare time in front of the TV, but looking at some of the sights shambling along London's streets, I get the impression that it's only a matter of time.
In which case I would seriously consider the Zombie Slayer for close quarter use.

[Emil Miller]

All's well that ends well.


http://youtu.be/GGOmtyTJ2f0

[prendrelemick]

But not in Albuquerque.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21110435

[YesNo]

All's well that ends well.


http://youtu.be/GGOmtyTJ2f0

I understand the clerk was shot as well as one of the robbers. The robber was killed. It was all recorded and the police quickly found the other robber. It makes me think that if the clerk did not have a gun, the robbers would have been caught based on the recorded evidence and no one would have been shot. This didn't really end well.

[cacian]

But not in Albuquerque.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21110435

Why did I read that as burlesque?