Guns Galore
 

A bit outdated but a source of interesting facts and statistics: http://www.justfacts.com/gun_control.htm

Firearms make me nervous. I didn't grow up around them, no hunters among friends or family, had cousins who served in Vietnam and they are all ANTI-gun. Personally, I would not want one in my home, but you can have one in your home. I am in favor of strong licensing and safety classes and re-testing/re-certifying every few years rather than automatic renewal of the permit.

Anne
(Then again I think we should take a road test every few years too. There are some really bad drivers out there who shouldn't be allowed to take the cahr to Harvahd Yahd.)

Guns Galore
 

I agree, but I've always thought that this is because the people who would fail the tests are old, and no one wants to be taking old peoples' cars from them. My grandmother should have stopped driving long ago, and is a real hazard, but she sweettalks cops whenever she deals with them, which seems to be disturbingly often. Why the authorities tolerate this, I don't know.

Guns Galore
 

And don't even get me started on her gun collection . . . .

Guns Galore
 

It doesn't seem possible to post actual statistics from articles, but here is a link to a public health professor's page with information about some studies on handguns and injuries.

David Hemenway at Harvard's page

"Firearm injuries are a current focus of Dr. Hemenway's research. In the United States, almost 90 people per day are killed with guns. Yet comparatively little research has been directed toward understanding and reducing gun injuries. Dr. Hemenway is studying the effects of gun carrying; how guns are stored and whether training can improve storage practices; the external costs and benefits of gun ownership; the use of guns in self-defense; gun use among adolescents; guns on college campuses; the relationship between gun prevalence and homicide, suicide and unintentional gun deaths; and the effects of changes in the legal drinking age on youth violence. "

Hemenway is an economist. Anon because I know him personally.

edited to fix code. e/o

Guns Galore
 

Gee this was fun. really really fun.

I will also point out for the last time, but not for the first time, that I never called Soup stupid, I called his opinion stupid, and when I realized that his opinion wasn't what I thought it was, I backed off. And he backed off (and was nice enough not to even ask me for an apology, which I probably owed him). If you can't see the difference b/w me calling somebody's opinion stupid, and somebody else calling 10 million people the lowest common denominator of society because of their personal entertainment preferences, then I am confident that you are as stupid as the opinion that I thought Soup held. What's your deal? Did I steal your boyfriend or refuse to fuck you* or something?

but I like my "righteous tiara" and I will henceforth wear it with pride. Can anyone find me an avatar of a righteous tiara?

*for the record, I will point out that I'm not referring to slave here -- he never asked so I never had the chance to refuse -- and he'll never know if I would have.....

edited b/c my righteous tiara does not bestow upon its wearer the gift of proper grammar usage

Guns Galore
 

My theory: guilt and fear. Taking away gramma's driving privileges is one step away from sticking gramma in a nursing home. Many of the persons in authority have already done so or are contemplating doing so; therefore, having already robbed one senior of her dignity and independence, they are loath to do it again. They are also praying their kids won't do it to them.

You can call me Ray of Sunshine.

Guns Galore
 

I do. Give me the address and I'll break the news to the geezer.

If someone can't drive up to par, they should not be allowed to have a license. Drunk drivers get their licenses taken away because they don't drive up to par, and so should old people (or anyone else who is a holy terror on wheels). At least drunk drivers sober up from time to time. Old people are old and slow regardless of Old Fashioned consumption.

Guns Galore
 

While any reasonably coordinated moron with a short temper can blow someone's head off without being close enough to face the consequences, I imagine that it would be more of a psychological deterrent for some people to really have to look someone in the eye close-up to kill them, as with stabbing or other methods. And aside from the second amendment 'you survivalist gun-nut/you-damn-lefty-wussbag' debate, isn't cutting the number of completely stupid deaths over trivial crap the point?

Christ, buy a Rottweiler or even a pathetic little toy dog with a big voice--it scared off an intruder at my friend's recently, sight unseen.

Guns Galore
 

So you think we should let the geezers* drive and place the rest of us at risk?

*Not all old people are bad drivers, but if someone is contemplating taking driving privileges away, that's another story.

statistics
 

Lets take a look shall we?

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide/weapons.htm

A report by the DOJ.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/tables/frmdth.htm

Chart detailing age, and whether it was intentional, unintentional or unknown.

I was chatting with someone earlier today via im, and I was thinking about what troubles me so much about guns. This will seem simplistic I am sure but to me, the biggest problem I have with them is how easy it is, in the heat of anger, or the despair of depression, to lose control for just a moment, grab a gun and end a life.

There are all sorts of ways to kill yourself or someone else, no doubt, but I cannot imagine anything as sudden and quick as a gun. Especially a gun that isn't locked up in some way, so all you have to do is reach into a drawer, grab it and pull.

My reaction is visceral I am sure, but it is how I feel about it.

Guns Galore
 

I, for one, agreed with your comment on judging people for seeing a movie. I mean, who cares? What makes tennis classier than NASCAR? Must we hate someone because they like Dave Matthews Band? May I scoff at people who visit last year's "in" Caribbean island? Is Morton's a "chain" restaurant, and if so, may I make snide comments about people who eat there?

When you're done with your righteous tiara, I'd like to borrow it, if that's okay, to go with my Lawyer Platform shoes.

Guns Galore
 

This has not been about me, but about you. I do not have a deal. Your deal, apparently, is paranoia. Had you not sniped at me and invited comment, you would not have gotten comment from me. I previously had no opinion of you one way or the other as I, at best, quickly glance at the reality posts Nobody else has demeaned me, especially in such meaningless childish fashion. What is that saying? Grasping at straws? Which leads me into . . .

Are you invoking the (judgmental) community (you recently eschewed) because your argument was weak and you have been exposed for the whiny namecalling child that you are? Are we in junior high where there is more power in numbers than in salient points?

What is the point of this comment? More rubbing elbows with the eliterati for support in this tedious flamefest? I cannot imagine you are truly disinviting slave to your gangbang.

Good day. I do not have any remaining time for this childish nonsense. Back to the daycare center with you. If you tear your tiara, I understand Burger King has some more in stock. Hopefully you can fit one over your giant head.

Righteous!
 

This one has matching slippers.

http://www.mrsmay.com/images/product...cess/tiara.jpg

This one is pretty standard.
http://www.starwedd.com/images/T1506S.jpg

This is the truly righteous one, IMHO. How do you look in a wonder woman outfit? Edited to add: I am not trying to pick you up.

http://toychest.diamondcomics.com/to...oman_props.jpg

Guns Galore
 

Which makes the sweet-talking completely unnecessary.

Guns Galore
 

Yep, I definitely refused to fuck you.

L-P -- you can borrow the tiara if you want, but it might not fit on your head -- apparently I stretched it all out. Too bad I can't do that with bras.