Comments on: Taxes And Rifles And Books, Oh My! http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/ Sheeple just piss me off. Be smart, talk facts. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:43:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: vsloathe http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-356 vsloathe Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:55:58 +0000 http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-356 Well, I agree arming all our kids isn't the answer. I know many inner-city schools have armed police officers on campus during school hours, which I think is a step in the right direction. I hate seeing the lengths that all public places go to in the name of "public safety" though. Really egregious breaches of privacy, some of them. Have you seen the new "T-Ray" scanners that can look through your clothing for weapons and such? I wouldn't want my teenage daughter to have to go through one of them every day, regardless of the minute chance that might exist for trouble. It's the same argument with airports and terrorism. A modicum and a reasonable measure of prevention, sure. I don't see a need for extremes, in any case. Well, I agree arming all our kids isn’t the answer. I know many inner-city schools have armed police officers on campus during school hours, which I think is a step in the right direction. I hate seeing the lengths that all public places go to in the name of “public safety” though. Really egregious breaches of privacy, some of them. Have you seen the new “T-Ray” scanners that can look through your clothing for weapons and such? I wouldn’t want my teenage daughter to have to go through one of them every day, regardless of the minute chance that might exist for trouble. It’s the same argument with airports and terrorism. A modicum and a reasonable measure of prevention, sure. I don’t see a need for extremes, in any case.

]]> By: perkiset http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-355 perkiset Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:59:11 +0000 http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-355 "How many kids do you think would go shooting up a school if they knew their teachers could be armed?" VS I'm afraid that this argument does not hold water. The problem is not with rational kids that think they can get away with killing people unimpeded - it is kids that have gone someplace that I cannot comprehend and have easy access to weapons. The most recent school shooting was a guy that was, for all intents and purposes, normal and happy. His drugs either failed him or turned on him, and because he had easy access to guns he was able to pull off a shooting spree. Another problem to me is the notion that me having a gun (the collective "me") is in someway a deterrent to my government implementing a hostile takeover of my rights. First, what kind of weaponry do I need to actually effect change and second, do you not thing that the takeover has already occurred - it was digital, silent and utter? The most important aspect of control has been implemented - we are a dumb populace that believes our government. Or at least enough do for those in power to execute what they want. If this was 100 years ago I'd be 100% in agreement with you. But today, the populace, the weaponry, the pharma and the clustering of society make for a very different and potent brew than what we had so long ago. I don't believe that more guns are an answer - that will only exacerbate the problem. “How many kids do you think would go shooting up a school if they knew their teachers could be armed?”

VS I’m afraid that this argument does not hold water. The problem is not with rational kids that think they can get away with killing people unimpeded - it is kids that have gone someplace that I cannot comprehend and have easy access to weapons.

The most recent school shooting was a guy that was, for all intents and purposes, normal and happy. His drugs either failed him or turned on him, and because he had easy access to guns he was able to pull off a shooting spree.

Another problem to me is the notion that me having a gun (the collective “me”) is in someway a deterrent to my government implementing a hostile takeover of my rights. First, what kind of weaponry do I need to actually effect change and second, do you not thing that the takeover has already occurred - it was digital, silent and utter? The most important aspect of control has been implemented - we are a dumb populace that believes our government. Or at least enough do for those in power to execute what they want.

If this was 100 years ago I’d be 100% in agreement with you. But today, the populace, the weaponry, the pharma and the clustering of society make for a very different and potent brew than what we had so long ago. I don’t believe that more guns are an answer - that will only exacerbate the problem.

]]> By: vsloathe http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-352 vsloathe Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:45:52 +0000 http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-352 I dunno. Gun control is one issue where we'd probably disagree Perk (one of the very few, I'm sure). I really do believe in an armed citizenry. Now, I want true peace as you know, but I think that removing the stigma of "if you have a gun you're up to no good" and such is a good thing. An armed citizenry is a polite citizenry, and all that. Also I think it's a bad idea for the government to have the majority of the firearms. A few armed college kids (properly schooled in shooting) would have put a quick end to that whole incident only a short time ago. That's my opinion anyway - most of the time these kids who bring guns to school are poorly trained and would be easily dealt with by anyone who'd had even a cursory shooting education. I know I was taught to shoot from a young age, and I hope if I ever have progeny that I can afford them the same privilege. That said, I understand and completely agree that there are people who just shouldn't have guns and places you just shouldn't be allowed to take them. In light of some of the recent (and not so recent) school violence, I don't think schools fall into that category. I think that you tighten security measures around places like schools, and you are guaranteeing that, should something awful happen, the *only* armed individual will be the one who cleverly snuck in a firearm with malicious intent. How many kids do you think would go shooting up a school if they knew their teachers could be armed? I dunno. Gun control is one issue where we’d probably disagree Perk (one of the very few, I’m sure). I really do believe in an armed citizenry. Now, I want true peace as you know, but I think that removing the stigma of “if you have a gun you’re up to no good” and such is a good thing. An armed citizenry is a polite citizenry, and all that. Also I think it’s a bad idea for the government to have the majority of the firearms. A few armed college kids (properly schooled in shooting) would have put a quick end to that whole incident only a short time ago. That’s my opinion anyway - most of the time these kids who bring guns to school are poorly trained and would be easily dealt with by anyone who’d had even a cursory shooting education. I know I was taught to shoot from a young age, and I hope if I ever have progeny that I can afford them the same privilege.

That said, I understand and completely agree that there are people who just shouldn’t have guns and places you just shouldn’t be allowed to take them. In light of some of the recent (and not so recent) school violence, I don’t think schools fall into that category. I think that you tighten security measures around places like schools, and you are guaranteeing that, should something awful happen, the *only* armed individual will be the one who cleverly snuck in a firearm with malicious intent. How many kids do you think would go shooting up a school if they knew their teachers could be armed?

]]> By: perkiset http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-348 perkiset Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:13:52 +0000 http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-348 roflmao: The baggies can be used to throw up in when you're scared, or alternately as fun practical joke implements for simulating suffocation among your friends. I'd imagine that the kids can keep the guns hidden so that their psychotic classmates won't know that they are armed. roflmao:

The baggies can be used to throw up in when you’re scared, or alternately as fun practical joke implements for simulating suffocation among your friends.

I’d imagine that the kids can keep the guns hidden so that their psychotic classmates won’t know that they are armed.

]]> By: philologian http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-347 philologian Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:43:21 +0000 http://www.perkiset.org/politics/2008/03/04/taxes-and-rifles-and-books-oh-my/#comment-347 Hmm… less books and more guns. It is complimentary. But then what will kids do with all of those clear bags that the schools have made them buy so they can't smuggle guns in? Will they be reimbursed for them? Will there be a gun-checking station? I remember getting in trouble for bringing a cassette player to school back in the 80s. Weird stuff. Hmm… less books and more guns. It is complimentary. But then what will kids do with all of those clear bags that the schools have made them buy so they can’t smuggle guns in? Will they be reimbursed for them? Will there be a gun-checking station? I remember getting in trouble for bringing a cassette player to school back in the 80s. Weird stuff.

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