Quote Originally Posted by ThisYouWillDo View Post
I don't know why you suddenly started talking about ancient modes of transport, but I have been referring to this post which clearly relates to 21st century statistics.

I find it hard to believe that the USA still collects statistics on deaths caused by chariots (especially as they have never been used there, not even motorised ones - except, perhaps, in Hollywood), and because of that, I feel somehow you've snookered yourself. Perhaps you were too engrossed in reading The Illiad to realise that my questions about the statistics you quoted were put in the (quite natural) belief that you were talking about cars or automobiles as those words are generally understood in the modern era.

But no matter.
Hey. I introduced the statistics. YOU asked about the original intent of cars. I pointed out the first cars were war chariots (by definition) I didn't bring any chariot statistics, I just answered your question as to the original intent of cars.

So don't act like I started the chariot conversation. I was making a point that there are things in our lives far more dangerous than guns. You wanted to bring the intention of the thing into play... so I pointed out cars were once pure weapons.

BTW, You should read the Iliad too. (Or again.) It has a lot of good theological perspective too.



The right to bear arms is an anachronism.
So you think... but you have to grow up in the US to understand the emotions behind the issues. I'm sure there are anachronisms you enjoy in your country that many people treasure... and far be it for me to say it's out of date... a royal family for example.

What is a "varmint rifle"?
Quote Originally Posted by Merriam-Webster
Main Entry: var·mint
Pronunciation: \ˈvär-mənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: alteration of vermin
Date: circa 1539
1: an animal considered a pest; specifically : one classed as vermin and unprotected by game law
2: a contemptible person : rascal; broadly : person, fellow
A gun for eliminating pests as defined in the first definition.

I infer that your family suffered at the hands of an oppressive (European?) regime, for which I am sorry. As you have mentioned it here, I assume you anticipate a response. And it will be brief. It seems your family possessed firearms, but that did not help them when the oppressors took the guns away and deported them. So, yes, the argument does seem ridiculous.
The issue is that they gave up their guns... and later gave up their liberty and their lives. Perhaps if they'd still had their guns... their oppressors wouldn't have been so successful.

Unnecessarily so. Aren't you better than that?
Usually. I guess what I really should do is walk away because EVERY thread he starts he wants to use solely as a political stump. He even started one today and has stated the bounds of the conversation. His right I guess... but he'd be getting his ass reamed on a regular basis if he were doing it in a political forum instead of this supposedly sexual forum. We're much more polite.

I guess I forgot where I was...


Corporal punishment is as barbaric as capital punishment. As I said before, it demeans the person meting out the beatings as well as the poor sod who receives it. In any case, what form of corporal punishment is suitable for someone who kills a classfull of students? 1,000 lashes?
Geeze, Why do you always go to the extreme!! Who said lashing? Warbaby is in favor of a good spanking for misbehaving children. Maybe they'd have a better understanding of bad behavior begets harsh consequences. Because children who NEVER face some form of penultimate punishment from their parents just wear their parents down until they give up.

And then they go through life thinking they can do whatever they please without consequence.

I agree with you that psychiatric services are a must. That implies that the death penalty will not be imposed, and I heartily applaud that.
NO!! The question was what could be done to prevent the incident. That is what both Warbaby and I were answering. You obviously think we're talking about how to deal with it after the fact...

I hate having to defend myself against things I didn't say.


You cite an example of a lunatic using a car to kill children instead of a gun and ask, if guns should be banned because of these university killings, why cars shouldn't also banned as a consequence of this act. I tried to answer that question earlier, when you responded with the statistics I have pasted at the top of this post. Cars are, as you say designed as modes of transport, not as weapons. Guns, on the other hand have no purpose other than killing. Although that does include hunting (and like many other liberals, I would allow that, even though, in this day and age, hunting in America is a recreation rather than an essential for life - so maybe I wouldn't allow it after all).

And, supposing that happened; what would the consequences be compared to bannnng guns? No food or materials could be moved faster than a horsee could pull them. The economy would be ruined at a stroke.

No-one would die as a result of car accidents, but the number of people trampled by horses is likely to rise.
My gun/car comment was to point out that, in my opinion, the gun is not the problem. People are. But that argument is always discounted by gun control enthusiasts in their zeal to take away my rights.

If half the effort and money that goes into the gun control lobby (which rarely gets defamed the way you like to defame the gun rights lobby) maybe there'd be more progress in the field of detecting psychotic behavior. (See!! I can make inane comments with the best of them.)

Now, if guns were banned, what would happen? Apart from a few job losses, nothing!

You cannot reasonably put that question, Ozme.

TYWD
As I pointed out earlier, you don't understand the issue. What would happen? You would turn, literally, a hundred million law-abiding citizens into criminals overnight. They wouldn't turn in their guns.