I agree. Your system is fucked. Make it state-run and secular, and you can weed out the religious nutjobs, like we have done. :shrugQuote:
Originally Posted by SarahG
Printable View
I agree. Your system is fucked. Make it state-run and secular, and you can weed out the religious nutjobs, like we have done. :shrugQuote:
Originally Posted by SarahG
It happened. I'm not revealing the link to the story, although I've been tempted to, simply because I don't want to 'out' myself here. Trish is the one who promoted the theory that my post on this incident was fabricated, and that she is unable to find anything on the web that closely resembles what happens. Great research skills there Trish!Quote:
Originally Posted by BrendaQG
An update to the story is that the perpetrators were caught, and lived just down the street. Two young black males armed with 12 gauge shotguns. They shot him directly in the face nearly blowing his head completely off. His family decided it best to have his body cremated. Turns out some youths around the neighborhood, who knew the perpetrators, reported to police the two had been planning this robbery for a week. None of them thought they were serious and just blew it off as bravado. It was rumored that a chest in his bedroom contained a stash of cash and jewelry. All that was in the chest was a collection of Elvis memorabilia.
An anecdote, let alone one that’s likely fabricated, has little to no relevance on the estimation of probabilities. I’m merely recommending against buying a firearm and keeping it loaded and unlocked in your home. The possibility that you or someone you love will get shot by that firearm is much more likely than the possibility that an armed stranger will attempt to break into your home. The probability that 1) your home is invaded and 2) your firearm is in reach and 3) you actually manage to successfully defend yourself with it is even smaller.
In our discussion in another thread on the 2nd Amendment, InHouston saw his efforts to construct a logical argument collapse before his eyes. As usual, he rested his case and left in a huff. So now he attempts to win, not by logic, but by raising the emotional stakes. What I’ve suggested in this thread is that (judging by his posts after the alleged incident) InHouston was feigning grief and anger in lieu of real human emotion.
Actually, the most likely scenario is that you'll go to work (if you have a job) or down to the grease pit or bar, & come home to find that somebody already broke in & stole your gun. Shortly thereafter, the cops will be at your door wondering why your gun was used to shoot the 7/11 clerk or in that driveby across town.Quote:
Originally Posted by trish
Sorry to interject here, but am i the only person who looks at the Swiss and goes, 'Hmmmm, they have lots of guns but dont go about shooting each other?'
Lets look at some statistics:
1.3-3million firearms in private homes in Switzerland (of these 420000 are registered assault rifles!)
In 2006 there were 34 killings/ attempted killings involving firearms.
Proof if it were needed, Guns don't kill people- People kill people.
I have not long moved back to the UK from southern california, and good god i feel so much safer walking the streets of london, and that is really saying something!
Almost all Swiss males enter the military and are exhaustively TRAINED in firearm safety. When leaving active service, most men remain in the reserves. The reserves are allowed to keep their government issued weapon at home. Military law is very strict in Switzerland, the active military and the reserves are expected to treat their weapons with the utmost respect (e.g. the typical reserve doesn’t keep his weapon in the truck when he goes out drinking, just in case he might need it in a bar fight). To carry a gun in Switzerland, one must have a permit. Such permits are usually issued only to private citizens whose jobs are related to security. This same permit is required for the purchase of a firearm. There are laws (that apply to the military and private citizens) restricting the transport of firearms within Switzerland.
It’s true, Switzerland demonstrates that it’s possible, with proper controls and education, to have an armed populace and a low crime rate. It’s also true that the U.S. demonstrates that without proper regulation and education, people (accidentally or otherwise) will kill people with guns.
afaik they automatically become reservists for 10 years and the military service is compulsory (with the exception of opting for civillian service instead)Quote:
Originally Posted by trish
point is the reason so many swiss have a gun is not becuase they want to but because they have to
and you can be certain that citizens of a country whos only use of military force in the last whatever years was when a group of swiss accidentially marched through liechtenstein during training in a dark rainy night wont store their guns under their pillows
Unless things have changed, and I admit they often do- the swiss were required by law to keep their gov issued fiearm after their service.Quote:
Originally Posted by trish
Maybe that just means that Americans are crazier. Many people in the US seem to be under the impression that they are still living in Dodge City...so they keep their six-gun at the ready...Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesb121
SarahG and muhmuh both point out (in different ways) that I've understated my case. Thanks to you both.