The bottom line here Antwn after your long drawn out post . . .
Wow, NS, you have the nerve to say his post was long-drawn-out, after some of the screeds you've posted here. I suspect you were annoyed that you had to read all that to see where you could get some traction and argue specifically against it, and you didn't even manage that: The bottom line on Antwn's post, "if you don't like guns, don't own one," is no kind of a bottom line. It's only your eternal, robotic do-loop of a response.
But there is a difference between his long post and most of yours -- he composed his response after thinking it through, whereas you usually take some long thing someone else wrote and paste it in without comment, as if it were self-explanatory.
This is shedding some light on the thing that's been bothering me for a while, though. You feel safer from your fellow citizen if you are armed, and possibly from the government if it does something you don't like and you would prefer, if the occasion arose, to take out the infraction of your civil liberties, as you perceive them, in private vigilantism. The problem here is point of view, and yours is solipsistic to a breathtaking degree. It's all about you, your fears, your rights, your overwrought perception of danger. But how are the rest of US safe from YOU? The more I hear you and read your arguments, the more I don't think you personally should have a gun, and the more I begin to think there should be control laws based not only on disclosure of ownership and demonstration of ability to operate the damned thing commensurate with its potential lethalness, but also on some kind of psychological testing that absolutely rules out paranoia.
Wow, NS, you have the nerve to say his post was long-drawn-out, after some of the screeds you've posted here. I suspect you were annoyed that you had to read all that to see where you could get some traction and argue specifically against it, and you didn't even manage that: The bottom line on Antwn's post, "if you don't like guns, don't own one," is no kind of a bottom line. It's only your eternal, robotic do-loop of a response.
But there is a difference between his long post and most of yours -- he composed his response after thinking it through, whereas you usually take some long thing someone else wrote and paste it in without comment, as if it were self-explanatory.
This is shedding some light on the thing that's been bothering me for a while, though. You feel safer from your fellow citizen if you are armed, and possibly from the government if it does something you don't like and you would prefer, if the occasion arose, to take out the infraction of your civil liberties, as you perceive them, in private vigilantism. The problem here is point of view, and yours is solipsistic to a breathtaking degree. It's all about you, your fears, your rights, your overwrought perception of danger. But how are the rest of US safe from YOU? The more I hear you and read your arguments, the more I don't think you personally should have a gun, and the more I begin to think there should be control laws based not only on disclosure of ownership and demonstration of ability to operate the damned thing commensurate with its potential lethalness, but also on some kind of psychological testing that absolutely rules out paranoia.
Storimeil, you don't know me.
--------------------
ALL4114Christ!
343 Their blood cries out! NEVER FORGET 9/11!
The 2nd Ammendment. The original Homeland Security!
"To those who would follow laws; laws need not apply. Those who would not follow laws; laws will have no affect upon."
Plato
I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C. S. Lewis
I'm not a mind reader, no. So I have to depend on the message you consistently communicate, and also assume that you are aware not only of the content but the impression it makes. You have repeatedly defended not only the right to have a weapon, but also the need to have a weapon, and you have even thanked God that people like me have not been able to take your weapon away (as yet). Does that sound like a man who is not in an awful lot of fear? Enough fear to act irrationally if you perceive a threat -- unless the issue is not fear, but a simple arrogation of power and control to yourself and away from the collective, and you aren't even admitting that to yourself.
I am not trying to be an argumentative b**** and ride your hide over this. It comes down to this, though, and I'm through playing politically correct to your advantage about your rights (not yours personally, but gun owners as a group) if they make the country less safe for me -- that is, if this purported anxiety about your day to day safety is a widespread psychological set among owners and is also the primary reason for owning. I think you may be just a little too confident about your ability to determine who is the criminal or the enemy, and I am simply not easy about the good judgment and forbearance of someone who is so convinced he is in danger from other humans (wild animals is another story altogether) on such a constant and elevated basis that he NEEDS firearms to maintain his quality of life and peace of mind.
Not you? I'd love to believe that. But it's the impression you create.
Lemme send you a gift from New York -- Rudy Giuliani as the GOP's man in 2008.
I am simply not easy about the good judgment and forbearance of someone who is so convinced he is in danger from other humans (wild animals is another story altogether) on such a constant and elevated basis that he NEEDS firearms to maintain his quality of life and peace of mind.
Maybe if you are making 'shine out in the swamps you NEED a gun?
--------------------
"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." Carl Sagan
If only that were true, but I’m afraid that it has gone far beyond making Moon Shine. These days, all you have to do is to practices free speech, and you could disappear.
In fact these days, I’m far more concerned about being shot by law enforcement, just because I choose to wear my hair long. Those odds far out weigh my concerned about being shot by a lunatic, or some criminal.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been leery of anyone, whose arms are bigger than their head.
JC
--------------------
We’re all poets, only some of us write it down. JC 9/27/08
Anyone who has the courage to disagree, deserves all do respect. JC 4/28/08
Life is a loosing battle, so you might as well live it up. J.C. 3/29/08
Life should be like skiing, you have the most fun on the way down. J.C. 8/17/07
Take their word for it, and that’s just what you’ll get. J.C. 3/19/07
Only the truth is worth the ultimate sacrifice. J.C. 1/26/06
Compared to the far right, the far left is somewhere in the middle. J.C. 2/22/06
I’ll be the first to apologies, as long as I get one back. J.C. 3/7/06
It’s a happy man, who can laugh at himself.
If you’re looking for a new experience, don’t hire someone with a lot of it. J.C. sometime in 1990
I posted this elsewere, but feel it belongs under "gun control" as well.
Subject: Stun Gun
STUN GUN .. ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS..
Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. This was submitted by a guy who purchased his lovely wife a "pocket Taser" for their anniversary. Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000 volt,pocket/purse sized taser. The effects of the taser were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety .... WAY TOO COOL!
Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.
Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?!!! There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4" in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!"
What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best..... I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION@!@$$!%_!@*!!!
I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!"
Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: There is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative.
SON-OF-A-.. that hurt like h_ _ _!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.
I'm still looking for my testicles? I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return.
May those who love us love us And those who don't love us May God turn their hearts, And if He doesn't turn their hearts, May He turn their ankles, So we'll know them by their limping.
I'm not a mind reader, no. So I have to depend on the message you consistently communicate, and also assume that you are aware not only of the content but the impression it makes. You have repeatedly defended not only the right to have a weapon, but also the need to have a weapon, and you have even thanked God that people like me have not been able to take your weapon away (as yet). Does that sound like a man who is not in an awful lot of fear? Enough fear to act irrationally if you perceive a threat -- unless the issue is not fear, but a simple arrogation of power and control to yourself and away from the collective, and you aren't even admitting that to yourself.
I am not trying to be an argumentative b**** and ride your hide over this. It comes down to this, though, and I'm through playing politically correct to your advantage about your rights (not yours personally, but gun owners as a group) if they make the country less safe for me -- that is, if this purported anxiety about your day to day safety is a widespread psychological set among owners and is also the primary reason for owning. I think you may be just a little too confident about your ability to determine who is the criminal or the enemy, and I am simply not easy about the good judgment and forbearance of someone who is so convinced he is in danger from other humans (wild animals is another story altogether) on such a constant and elevated basis that he NEEDS firearms to maintain his quality of life and peace of mind.
Not you? I'd love to believe that. But it's the impression you create.
Lemme send you a gift from New York -- Rudy Giuliani as the GOP's man in 2008.
All right, let me reiterate and let me be be dead serious, if that's what you want. I don't know if the last few posts were a backup force or an attempt to jolly me off the ledge, but even though I love you guys and thank you sincerely, I'm not biting for it.
In the spirit of "NOT BEATING THE SAME DEAD HORSE", I shot a perfect 100 in the prone position (one of the two goals I set for myself when I started shooting competition) and shot a 440 out of 500 for 19 over my average. I guess I'll have to set a new goal now. Even though we shoot against other teams, I look at it as shooting against myself to keep improving my average.
--------------------
Hoka Hey! The more Liberals I meet, the more I like my dogs!
I posted this elsewere, but feel it belongs under "gun control" as well.
Subject: Stun Gun
STUN GUN .. ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS..
Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. This was submitted by a guy who purchased his lovely wife a "pocket Taser" for their anniversary. Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000 volt,pocket/purse sized taser. The effects of the taser were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety .... WAY TOO COOL!
Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time, I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.
Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two AAA batteries, right?!!! There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4" in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy AAA batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!"
What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best..... I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad. I decided to give myself a one second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION@!@$$!%_!@*!!!
I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!"
Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: There is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative.
SON-OF-A-.. that hurt like h_ _ _!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs.
I'm still looking for my testicles? I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return.
Still in shock, Numb nuts
Maisky, I love this story. It sounds like it may be a good method for men who are considering a sex change. Not that I am. JC
I'll accept that as a VERY reasonable approach to gun control. Congratulations Dog Shirt. Good shootin' and an excellent attitude as well.
Yes, me too. The time and self-discipline that it takes to become really excellent at something is correlated with deliberation, respect for the medium, and impulse control. Gun owners should all be this skilled and this willing to prove it, whether in competition or to the authorities.
In the spirit of "NOT BEATING THE SAME DEAD HORSE", I shot a perfect 100 in the prone position (one of the two goals I set for myself when I started shooting competition) and shot a 440 out of 500 for 19 over my average. I guess I'll have to set a new goal now. Even though we shoot against other teams, I look at it as shooting against myself to keep improving my average.
Outstanding! I wish you lived closer to me. I'd take you on. You'd probably blow me away on the range but I like the challenge. It would only improve me. I don't compete anymore due to time constraints but I do try to make it to the range at least once a week. My neighbor who recently took up shooting get me out. He just brought a 9mm. It's a nice piece. He's getting very good. I took him several times to the range before he got his gun and recently took the canceled firearms course that Florida requires you to take before you can carry. He's really excited. He was afraid of the guns at first but after about the third trip to the range, I could see the fear turning into respect for the guns. I think he'll give me competition some day!