GUNS?

What are you going to do?

About what?

????????

Have your guns--I will get rid of mine. if one wants change, they must begin it.

If I get rid of my guns, I won't have to worry about some sick person getting them.

How would a sick person get them? You lock your doors and windows, right?

12/15/2012

Alice..

Why would you have guns in your house ?

Not needed, to me only brings trouble,

bad vibes...

Cheers.Joe

LC,

What is your point? Mine is that there are too many nuts with guns

We can't get rid of all guns, but we can do background checks and try to

control gun violence better. I personally would like to be more like the UK.

I can wish.



Joe,

You are so right.

The guys used to target practice.

The gun issue has been around for a long time and it is a sensitive subject. I believe in gun control, not elimination. Guns are killing tools. A 90 pound weakling-coward can pull a trigger. For some, acting tough requires a gun. Some like to show them off and even have gun racks in the rear window of their pickup trucks. In the days when people hunted for food, guns were required. Since that is no longer the case, the use of guns are limited and require control to insure that the person is trained in its use. Safety is paramount. Secondly, there should be a valid reason to own one. Accidents happen, but most often can be avoided with caution and care. Having a gun in the house doesn't make one safe. It increases the danger when/if there is a break-in. The burglar is already committing a crime and has the advantage. Hesitation and fear on the part of those being burglarized makes them vulnerable.
I feel safe where I live. Even so, I have a small axe behind the front door as a weapon should it ever be required to defend my family. I don't want to kill anyone, but wouldn't hesitate to inflict enough damage to stop them until the police arrive.
We all have our opinions and plans in mind should an emergency arise. My plan suits me. It may not be the right plan for someone else.
We talk about security. There is no place on earth where one can be 100% secure at all times. Even mother nature can cause death. Living in fear is not living. Taking reasonable precautions is prudent. If you need barriers and guns to protect your home, I think it is time to find another neighborhood.

Good points, Abe.

How about drugs? I wonder how many of these shooters are on Prescription drugs?

The media speculates wildly-- why no mention of drugs?

Hiya All,

I am for gun control, but generally do not shout it from the hills, because the discussion always goes back to the same points of Constitutional right, safety etc. The next part of such conversations usually focuses on violence in movies, rap music etc.

Here are my thoughts. First of all, the Constitution asked for a "well armed militia and not for nutty Tom, Dick or Harry to have a gun. Second of all, dope dealers or pimps are not the ones who run into schools or malls blasting people - they are too busy taking each other out.

Someone mentioned that we should empower people more and make them feel better about themselves. I think that is one thing that is wrong with us today. We teach our children that there are no losers and try to eliminate competition out of their young lives.

When I grew up there was competition... it spurred me on to do better... it prepared me for life, because real life is competition. If one does not strive to be the best - they may not get the job that they seek, or the college spot that they want, or the recognition that they seek. Besides, the let down for a child these days - if he/she is taught that being first does not matter and then they grow up and realize it does - has to be tremendous.

I have worked in the school system for many years - and we are not raising the strong people that we used to - unless the parents step in - which parents are not what they used to be either. My mom and dad used to whip my butt when I did wrong and, yes, it wasn't pleasant - I did not like it at the time - but when I grew up, I understood that it was not easy for them. I have raised my son much the same way that my parents have raised me... and he just recently told me that he appreciates the way that I have raised him - which for a parent there is no better compliment (imo).

So, what set this nut off to go on this recent shooting rampage? Who knows? It could have been as simple as the kids woke him up in the mornings when they ran past his house to go to school. Does a nut really need a reason? Maybe this one had one, maybe he didn't - one thing is certain - if he would not have had access to guns - he could not have went on his rampage.

The horrible part is that everybody is sad, everybody is praying, everybody is crying, and in the end - we will forget and the next nut will go on a rampage.

My heart goes out to all the victims and families, too. Please, don't misunderstand, but unless the laws change, I honestly think that we do not have the right to feel this way, because in essence it is our fault that these things happen. If we narrow it down to the nitty-gritty, our inability to regulate guns better is why they end up in the hands of these nuts - and why are we incapable of regulating them? Because as a society we are scared and paranoid. We think that we need guns to be safe... when all the statistics show that exactly the opposite is true.

Yes, rampages happen in other countries, too, but they do not happen with the frequency that they happen in the US. Besides, if our right to have arms would really protect us - than how come the teachers were not able to fire back? How come the people at the mall were not able to fire back?

Well, because the right to own a gun does not really protect us. People in their right mind - generally - do not take a gun to the mall to go Xmas shopping or to school to teach. So, the right to bear arms only enables those who want to do harm to others.

Enough of my morning rant,
I need a coffee refill and am looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Huggles,
Katja

Quote :

If you need barriers and guns to protect your home, I think it is time to find another neighborhood.

Like I asked Alice, where is this utopian neighborhood where there is never crime? Not "safe," not where I "feel" safe, but where I know for sure I'll never need to defend myself? I bet the Petits thought they lived in such a place.

Guns do not make me feel safe. First off it needs to be loaded, I would not have a loaded gun in my house.
My grandchildren might get hold of it and shoot each other, themselves or us.
Homes with guns are not safe. It is an Illusion.

Also, an intruder might use your gun against you.

Quote :

My grandchildren might get hold of it and shoot each other, themselves or us.

That's your problem, not mine.

Quote :

Homes with guns are not safe. It is an Illusion.

Your perception, not mine.

Quote :

Also, an intruder might use your gun against you.

My problem, not yours.

You are so right.
As I said, "Guns do not make me feel safe."

The way I feel is not your fault!

LC,



I am so glad you came back here. You liven things up!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/i-am-adam-lanzas-mother-mental-illness-conversation_n_2311009.html

Thank you, Shelagh
That says it all.

12/16/2012



I think this subject should be closed, we've had

enough horror....Time to get onto lighter subjects.

Cheers..Joe

.. such as--your horror book?

Maybe Joe is right. The last couple of days have been very tense.

So tense that I did a very foolish thing that night.

I was late getting unglued from my computer, but still had a bit of shopping that had to be done. My list was ready, and the program had bounced it onto my phone, so I set out, hoping to get it done quickly. It took me forever to find a parking place, I had barely entered the store when I got a call from Dave. I knew that he needed to touch base after what had happened less than a hundred miles from his home, in a similar community. I quickly told him that I was shopping and would call him back.

The lines at the checkout counter were a clear indication that the season is upon us. I was glad that my little app had helped me to find everything I needed, and when I finally got done and out to my car, it was pitch black. I groped around to make sure all of the bags made it into my trunk, wheeled the basket to the nearest "cattle guard" - forgive me, I'm a Texan - groped for my keys and turned on the lights for my trip home. Made it; unloaded the trunk; put stuff away, and vegged out for a bit before I remembered I needed to call my son.

Picked up the purse, went through it and through it again before it hit me that I had not closed out my grocery list and put the phone away. I had left it sitting in that little cup compartment of my grocery cart.

Luckily, as I have too often told you, I live less than a mile from a super-duper supermarket, where I shop so often most people recognize me, even if they don't know my name. The cart had been moved, so I went directly to the service desk and waited as calmly as I could since there were several people ahead of me (I mean, give me a break?? it was my only bleeping phone!!)

When I finally got to a clerk - a very young man - I mean my children are in their 40's so this guy could easily have been my grandson - or even great, God forbid.

I was very cool, on the outside; I explained what had happened, and the young man gave me a serious nod, and asked what kind of iphone.

An iphone iphone. I answered.

Yes, he nodded, but what kind of iphone.

I don't know....OK I've had it for several years; it's an old kind. It's ...black.

Are there any distinguishing characteristics? (At this point, my crone's intuition kicked in. This young man had my phone and he knew it was mine.)

Are you giving me a hard time, son?

He looked too innocent. Then I got it.

OK, I said, when you hit the little button at the bottom of the phone, you see my wallpaper - a picture of Russell Crowe. He grinned, then, pointed an index finger in a "you got it" gesture and went through a side door and quickly came back with my phone.

Here is the pic that saved my sanity and that young man's life:

from Zimbio)

Then I told him, You can be amused and my son can be embarrassed all you both want, but tonight is my proof that this ( I pointed proudly to my wallpaper), was a good thing to do. He couldn't help but laugh as I left.

The current wallpaper was taken recently on the Red Carpet at the recent premiere of Les Miz in NYC. The buzz cut is required for the movie he is currently filming: Helprin's Winter's Tale (He's playing the villain, Pearly Soames. At least his patriarchal beard from Noah is gone. )

The one that blew Dave's mind was this one:

Taken last spring at the Red Carpet at the Bafta Award ceremony.

It was still on my phone when I went to NJ. Dave picked up my phone for a reason I forget, and said, in genuine shock, "Mom! You have a picture of Russell Crowe as your wallpaper!!"

"I do not." I replied, "I have a picture of my muse."

"That is no muse. That is Russell Crowe.

My muse looks a bit like Russell Crowe," I admitted, as innocently as I could. " Does your muse look like Lyn, or does she still look a bit like Julia Roberts?"

He gave an almost imperceptible start, along with enough honesty to look embarrassed.

"Well, you won't see a picture of Julia Roberts on MY phone."

That's very wise, dear," I assured him.

"Hummp,." was all he said.

It's fun being a crone.

Is that light enough, Joe?

Annie

12/17/2012

Ann...

I was laughing so hard, I'm glad you got your phone

back, but dealing with young ones who work in stores I

know the feeling..I used to leave my cellphone on my car

seat until a friend told me are you crazy ! They'll break your

car window, so now I make sure it's in my pocket I put it on

silent mode...

Cheers..Joe...

So, your muse amused the young man. Quite right.

“One failed attempt at a shoe bomb and we all take off our shoes at the airport.
Thirty-one school shootings since Columbine and no change in our regulation of guns.”
~John Oliver

I loved Obama's speech. he'd be a great pastor also.
Joe, anytime you want a different topic, feel free to begin it.
Ann, Loved your contribution.

Abe, We are not wise.

12/17/2012

Alice..

Check out the topic " The Heart Of Christmas," By

Matthew West, the song is beautiful, the video is

beautiful, I have it under Chatter Box..

Cheers..Joe...