aloha Tink. Hey, Ahnold used a ton of old style stuff too. Can even google the list. We need more Dirty Harry's.
Just busting balls here but your idea on limiting sales to local game is like not being allowed to open a surf shop in Kansas.
Buford Pusser voice, "boy, what you doin wid dem bOwads on u rOOf deh ?"
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There was indeed an armed rebellion in America's history. Similarly Australia was a prison for violent criminals. Neither tells the whole story although there is truth to both.
I can sympathize with those who don't want the government to dictate how they can protect themselves in their homes given how poorly the government does many other things. There is the joke of somebody doing 70 mph through a neighborhood with a speed limit of 35 mph and the government response being "We'll fix that! We're lowering the speed limit to 25 mph!" Can't remember where I heard this joke. Maybe here? Anyway it seems apropos.
OTOH I am baffled by the fanatical resistance to any gun control laws at least among some camps. The authors of the 2nd amendment could not have imagined how society has become today. The affordability and availability of firearms is probably 1,000 times greater than it was in their time and the lethality of each firearm is also probably 1,000 times greater today than it was back in the time of muzzle loaders. Plus, it was an amendment. Why not amend it again if doing so was such a good idea in the first place? Sacrilege, I know. I am not really going there, just expressing my belief that some people hide behind the 2nd amendment.
I'm sure that there were always crazy people. I think that the good old days to some degree just seem that way because not every heinous crime in a small town made the news coast to coast a couple of generations ago. I do think that a couple of generations ago it was much harder as an individual to amass the amount of firepower seen in the last few mass shootings. That has to be a large part of the problem. The design of the AR15 and similar guns with multiple high capacity banana clips is part of the problem. I have difficulty imagining my semi-auto Marlin 60 (hugely popular since 1960) with a tubular magazine being part of the problem so demonizing semi-autos seems to validate the complaints of the pro-gun side.
At least in my sons school. There was ZERO discussion when they came in or the next day about anything. Kids got used as tools and photo ops then put back away.
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The authors of the 2nd amendment could not have imagined how society has become today.
As several people pointed out, Constitutional Amendments are not carved in stone. It's one of the fallacies promoted by thr NRA.
The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1920, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcohol. It's what many people wanted at the time. When it didn't work, the 21st Amendment was passed in 1933, effectively repealing the 18th Amendment. In the short span of 23 years 2/3rds of the states approved both the prohibition of alcohol, and its legalization. Times change. People change. Amendments, believe it or not, change.
I wish Hawaii would attempt gun insurance first, that may solve the problem without waiting 20 or 30 years for 2/3rds of the crazy states to get on the bandwagon.
I said, ‘Wrong, Justin (Trudeau), you do.’ I didn’t even know. ... I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.’ - President Donald J. Trump, 3/14/18
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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quote:
Originally posted by RWR
At least in my sons school. There was ZERO discussion when they came in or the next day about anything. Kids got used as tools and photo ops then put back away.
Yes, there is value in protest, but also yes, kids can and did get used as tools or pawns in situations like this.
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Plenty of countries had armed rebellions, and only in one case did it lead to the unbelievable ease with which a nut could machine gun a class of six year olds. Some people want to put a stop to this, others are fine with it - until it happens to them, I can only assume.
One train of thought seems to be that guns are needed to stop a theoretical tyrannical government, hence the need for more and more firepower.
A bizarre fantasy. I think history has shown that a bunch of civilians will never beat any actual army. I can't think of a single counter example.
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"It is a socialist nation with cradle-to-grave welfare."
No, it is not. Have you ever been there? Let me guess!
Yes it is. I've been there and have friends and relatives there. Search "Is Australia socialist?" Also check Centrelink and Bulk Billing.
"Australia did not come about by a violent revolution from an authoritarian government."
So?
Hence the reason for the 2nd Amendment is the U.S.
"There are over 11 million illegal aliens in the U.S., which would be over 44% of the Australian population if they were there."
That is a ridiculous comparison. You might want to compare percentages instead of absolute numbers if countries have such a large difference in population. Anyway, what about illegal aliens? Do we need guns so that we may shoot them?
I would want guns to defend ourselves from these 11 million criminals in our country in addition to the citizen criminals. Australia doesn't have that problem.
"There are over 40 million Africans in the U.S., which would be over 160% of the Australian population if they were there."
Africans? Dear Sir, whatever do you mean? South Africans?
People of African ancestry.
"The majority of homicides were committed using firearms."
Wrong. Check your source. In reality only 14% of murders in Australia are committed using firearms. The difficulty in obtaining a gun has probably led to the overall decrease in the murder rate. Hey, something we could do with here in Hawaii.
http://theconversation.com/three-charts-...ates-79654
I'm right. My data are newer than yours. Also, read the last sentence in my OP. I will now emphasize the word "before." It is not difficult to obtain a gun, although it is not as easy as in the U.S. Your handgun that you bought must be stored at a Sports Club where shooting is allowed. Your rifle and shotgun can be stored at your residence in a safe that is bolted to the floor. So when I want to shoot someone, I just unlock my safe.
The topic of my post was the difference between Australia and the U.S., not gun control in general. The reader can form his/her own opinion.
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"...Amendment IN the U.S."
Old Croc, i don't think paul is up on his indigenous history. Just let him rant off.
Lets keep our keiki safe here.
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quote:
Originally posted by PaulW
I think history has shown that a bunch of civilians will never beat any actual army. I can't think of a single counter example.
Really? Maybe you were joking. What about the American revolution or the Vietnam war? I am sure there are many many many other examples.
