And some people think that ...

[GregM]

Bank of America just announced that they will no longer do business with businesses that are in the gun community.
I quit using my BOA visa that day and will call and terminate that card at the end of April.
I wish I had more that I could stop doing with BOA.

[spacer]

I'm not here for argument or debate, just wanna post this and then I'm gone.

I guess we wouldn't have so many people feeling that they need guns to protect themselves if we didn't live in such a sick society. But owning guns for protection against bad guys doesn't seem to have helped us to heal ourselves of that sickness. We're supposed to be the most intelligent beings the planet has yet produced, but we can't quite figure out how to stop being violent towards each other and killing each other. I wonder if there's any chance that humans will ever learn to live in peace. Maybe it'll be something we evolve into, maybe not. I choose not to have guns, to accept the small chance that a situation might arise where having a gun might have given me a few more years of life, and to try to do my part to help make "live and let live" one of the defining aspects of future human society. One can dream.

Thanks for reading.

[GregM]

Who suggested you could heal sickos by owning a gun?

[GreyGeek]

Bank of America, CitiGroup, the State of New York intimidating banks into stopping business with firearms businesses, and Dick's Sporting Goods Store ending sales of "assault style" rifles and "high capacity" magazines, which is ridiculous, considering that the Parkland psycho shooter used 10 round magazines (the smallest available for an AR-15) and the civilian AR-15 does not have an "Auto" or "Burst" mode selection switch.

I suspect that many (most?) of the 80-100 million gun owners in America who use those banks will switch, and they will, without a doubt, stop shopping at Dick's for anything.

Wells Fargo said that it WILL continue doing business with the gun industry, and the AFT immediately canceled their account with Fargo.

Sen John Kennedy reminded CitiGroup:
"“Citigroup has no business threatening law abiding business owners for exercising their Second Amendment rights. The only reason that Citigroup is even in business today is because American taxpayers bailed them out during the Great Recession,” said Sen. Kennedy. “Instead of imposing its political agenda on the American people, Citigroup ought to be finding ways to help these mostly small businesses grow. Citigroup certainly shouldn’t be threatening their Constitutional rights.”

[GregM]

"Like"

[TWPonKubuntu]

I'm not here for argument or debate, just wanna post this and then I'm gone.

I guess we wouldn't have so many people feeling that they need guns to protect themselves if we didn't live in such a sick society. But owning guns for protection against bad guys doesn't seem to have helped us to heal ourselves of that sickness. We're supposed to be the most intelligent beings the planet has yet produced, but we can't quite figure out how to stop being violent towards each other and killing each other. I wonder if there's any chance that humans will ever learn to live in peace. Maybe it'll be something we evolve into, maybe not. I choose not to have guns, to accept the small chance that a situation might arise where having a gun might have given me a few more years of life, and to try to do my part to help make "live and let live" one of the defining aspects of future human society. One can dream.

Thanks for reading.

spacer; with due respect and acknowledging that you have your own viewpoint of humanity, history does not report that your viewpoint has been either widely accepted or successful.

Yes, there have been various groups which espouse a similar mindset. They've not had a lasting presence.

Such views and lifestyles are frequently interpreted to be a weakness and an exploitable demographic. Those peoples have become targets. Many have been forced to relocate, sometimes multiple times, to escape the oppression from other groups.

If you have spent any time reading the comments of other people, both on this site and others, you'll have seen another viewpoint expressed. "Live and Let Live" is an admirable sentiment, but needs to be backed by a willingness to reject those who disagree, even to the point of armed resistance. That is where the phrase "Live to See Another Day" takes precedence.

Please don't interpret this as an invitation to begin a dialog to convince either I or others to re-aline our viewpoints with yours. That is, In My Opinion, a fruitless effort. Rather look at history and decide if your viewpoint has been successful and why.

You're free to maintain your own hopes and inclinations, so long as they don't include a requirement that others think the same. You will very likely find a set of people who agree with your worldview. At the same time, expect to also meet those who disagree with you. Are you prepared to handle that disagreement? Are you prepared to stand up for your beliefs in the face of forceful, even violent, opposition?

Your post implies that you will not remain here to either explain your views or engage in debate (civilly) with those who may disagree. That way fails to make your convictions believable to others.

That will be the true test of your beliefs...

[vinnywright]

I like my gun's and all guns even the military type , I like to target shoot , I like a dear now and then , AND I like knowing that IF someone or several someones broke down my door(to do me harm) and I could get to one of them (the guns) wile the pit bull was distracting them , I could probably send them to meet their god.

But thats just me and you can do/feel however you like .

<disclaimer> {the "you" in the above statement dose not refer to anyone in particular}

VINNY

[GreyGeek]

Nice pic, VINNY!
A 20g pump is my choice for home defense as well. (Is your's 12g?) I have the plug removed, since I don't do bird hunting, and I have 5 shells alternating between double O and 3/4 oz slug. Nothing puts the fear of God in a thug quicker than the sound of someone they can't see racking the slide on a pump shotgun!

Regarding the Quaker way of life: "Sir, I wouldn't harm thee for the world, but thou art standing where I am about to shoot!" And, when Nehemiah returned from Babylon to rebuild the walls of Jeruselum each worker had a guard armed with lances, shields, bows and mail armor. The common laborers held a tool in one hand and a spear in the other. Each builder had a sword strapped to his side as he worked.

I don't remember who wrote it but "those who convert their swords into plowshares will plow for those who do not".

[GregM]

I don't remember who wrote it but "those who convert their swords into plowshares will plow for those who do not".

Most often attributed to Thomas Jefferson but he never said it.

[woodsmoke]

Contrary to the very elitist and dismissive opinions of the powers that be on either coast, the center of the U.S is not a mire of people hating "them".

The simple fact of the matter is that, just like one has the black gang areas of Chicago there are "enclaves" that have the attitude of "trespassers will be shot".

But the overarching attitude of the midwest is that of the State of Missouri which has two lines:

a) "Don't kick our dog" which was the motto of the "Missouri Batallion" which fought in the Great War; which means, the dog is laying next to the fireor on the porch or wherever and you don't need to kick it. And if you do you will feel the consequences.

It is the attitude of a LOT of people nowadays, especially a lot of the elites that "i can kick you dog and you had not even THINK about doing anything about it".. And these are the people who are adamantly for animal rights.

b) "Show Me". is geenrally stated in the following way: Missourians are known for being skeptical

In terms of "humanity" and "neighbors" and the "new guy that moved into town" it is more colloquilly stated that : "you gotta show me that you are a clod or a doof or whatever before I will believe it". And to restate it again, "The assumption is that you are ok until you show me you are a clod".

And, to show just how far people in the midwest will go to AVOID directly confronting a person who has become a detriment to the community but hasn't really MURDERED anyone yet is the practice of teh 1800's of placing a "burning brand" on the front porch. Well, not really a BURNING brand it was a stick that had been burned and was covered with charcoal.

It was a signal that "if you don't straighten out you will NEXT have a burning stick on your porch when you are away".

And that means of course, that the person would not be killed but just will have no home and so should move out.

woodactuallyplayedYoungMattintheplayShepherdoftheH illsbyHaroldBellWrightandoneofthesceneswas justthatsmoke

[wizard10000]

You know, I stay out of these discussions as my political persuasion tilts significantly to the left, but I haven't heard of anyone on the left trying to repeal the second amendment. Even gun owners agree there has to be *some* regulation (anyone try to buy a antitank missile recently?) but I don't have a problem with gun ownership.

I do have a problem with people who use guns to commit a crime receiving less-than-really-harsh sentences, though. Maybe the solution is to just tack 25 years or so onto your sentence if you commit a crime with a firearm. Also, making gun violence a Federal crime would eliminate the opportunity for someone to get parole.

[Bings]

Right. Every opinion, and even research or conclusions based on research can be called “confirmation bias”, thus that accusation has no strength as a counter argument or dismissal of one. It’s a gun the shoots in both directions, hitting the target and the shooter at the same time.

But, if one side of an issue, doesn’t present its views on a topic the other side “wins” be default because it appears that everyone agrees with the vocal side.

Well all know your opinion on gun control and you've posted thread number 849 reinforcing your view in public, which is not opposed by the US demographic of the board which matches your own. Your first news article shows a guy gunning down three teenagers armed with knuckle dusters and knives, big man. The second video shows a women shooting someone dead who was running away. That's actually illegal in a lot of countries because it's not really self defence, it's dispensing arbitrary justice. Secondly, in the first video the guys house is much like a lot of US houses http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-resident.html. Zero fence. I mean, if you are at risk of being burgled a decent fence is way more safer for everyone than waiting till they get on top of you with weaponry. What would have happened if the house was empty, these three would have waltzed in his house and made off with his AR-15, great news for the area.

I'm not a take everyone's guns person by any means but this "defend my house" stuff is horse****. The viewpoint is that it's ok to shoot and kill someone just so your xbox doesn't get stolen and I don't agree with that. Which is an ideological point, much like the US gun control debate. Which is a state control ideology on one side and some big corporation financed scare campaign on the other.

[GregM]

Well all know your opinion on gun control and you've posted thread number 849 reinforcing your view in public, which is not opposed by the US demographic of the board which matches your own. Your first news article shows a guy gunning down three teenagers armed with knuckle dusters and knives, big man. The second video shows a women shooting someone dead who was running away. That's actually illegal in a lot of countries because it's not really self defence, it's dispensing arbitrary justice. Secondly, in the first video the guys house is much like a lot of US houses http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-resident.html. Zero fence. I mean, if you are at risk of being burgled a decent fence is way more safer for everyone than waiting till they get on top of you with weaponry. What would have happened if the house was empty, these three would have waltzed in his house and made off with his AR-15, great news for the area.

I'm not a take everyone's guns person by any means but this "defend my house" stuff is horse****. The viewpoint is that it's ok to shoot and kill someone just so your xbox doesn't get stolen and I don't agree with that. Which is an ideological point, much like the US gun control debate. Which is a state control ideology on one side and some big corporation financed scare campaign on the other.

If you don't mind being killed or your wife being killed or having your stuff stolen, feel free. It's you and your stuff (too bad for your wife, does she know?).
I am going to protect myself and my wife and all the things I have earned.
It's not horse**** it is a right bestowed on me by my creator.
Just don't try to tell me I can't defend me and mine. That's horse****

[GregM]

You know, I stay out of these discussions as my political persuasion tilts significantly to the left, but I haven't heard of anyone on the left trying to repeal the second amendment.

Then you have not been listening

[Bings]

If you don't mind being killed or your wife being killed or having your stuff stolen, feel free. It's you and your stuff (too bad for your wife, does she know?).
I am going to protect myself and my wife and all the things I have earned.
It's not horse**** it is a right bestowed on me by my creator.
Just don't try to tell me I can't defend me and mine. That's horse****

Just 7% of burglaries in the US feature violence. That means that if you shoot a burglar there was a 93% chance he was there just to steal some stuff and get out. As demonstrated by the three people with guns that just ran out when shot at without returning any fire. Nearly two thirds of burglaries are made on empty houses. Having a gun to protect your house from intruders but not erecting a decent fence is irrational under such circumstance. Statistically, if you have a gun in the house it is more likely a burglar will get their hands on it than the householder in the situation.

As for my theoretical wife. I would explain to her that whilst I would fight back if we were attacked personally but that it's only stuff, we have contents insurance and I'd rather guns be kept secure because they are generally more valuable than the cheap Chinese made electronics that are being looted from the living room. Though if you read that article being white, married and well off makes you less likely to be burgled. In fact, not living a crap area and not acquainting yourself with crap people seems to reduce your chances of being burgled by quite a bit.

There was a recent high publicity case in the UK where a 68 year old guy was threatened by a burglar with a screw driver and he stabbed the burglar with a kitchen knife, killing him. I fully support that but overall I'd rather criminals be arrested and be put in a confined slavery than either ritual execution in people's hallways or the pathetic excuse for punishment that constitutes a lot of prisons.