sinker

So you've seen the light... looks like all those bodyslams have done you some good... now if you'd just move to a respectable state, you'd REALLY start livin! -the artist formerly known as sinker

you're totally right... he could try it... but think a minute... the overwhelming majority of criminals are looking for easy targets, convenience, easy ins, easy outs, little to no resistance. They want easy targets. This young man didn't know if my was was unarmed. He didn't know how many kids I have or what ages they are. He DOES know that I'm up late w/ no lights on... Most criminals will not take a chance w/ someone they know who is not an easy target. There may be that odd duck (billvon is a duck, I hear) who wants a challenge, but that's very rare. And, if he tries it, I'll likely be ready. -the artist formerly known as sinker

did marc's dad find out about the incident? did marc get properly trained on gun handling following that incredibly dangerous incident? -the artist formerly known as sinker

i've never had a bottle of ber... what's it like? -the artist formerly known as sinker

[sarcasm] yeah... no bias against guns in the news, is there. [/sarcasm] what really burns my ass is that if that young man DID try to harm me and I shot him in self defense, he could sue me and has a fairly decent chance of winning. And God forbid if he died, his family would definately sue and could ruin me financially. Of course anyone can sue, but the fact that criminals and their families actually WIN lawsuits where law-abiding citizens justifiably defend themselves to me is just insane. -the artist formerly known as sinker

sorry, i'll go hock my gun now... *turns w/ tail b/t legs, walks away sheepishly... seriously though, I honestly think this event REALLY changed this guys life. He and I talked for a long time after the cops left. He'd never come face to face w/ the reality of his own mortality. He kept talking about how he always thought how invincible he was, young, strong, never got caught, etc. However, that night, he realized what shit his life was, that I was willing to possibly kill him in order to protect my beloved family. He said it made him feel small and insignificant, not big and macho, like stealing made him feel. We shook hands as he left. My wife even woke up and came and introduced herself to him. Not a typical encounter w/ a would-be intruder. He was very polite as he left, haven't seen him since. I hope he truly has turned his life around. -the artist formerly known as sinker

i don't think you're being argumentative at all, no worries man. I could see his hands the entire time, the weather was warm and he didn't appear to have any sort of weapon. This was confirmed when the cops came. They searched him and he was not armed. Of course, I couldn't be sure of that at the time, but it was a chance I was willing to take. As soon as I jumped out at him, which appeared to startle him, I demanded his arms up, and he complied. I also told him to kneel, which he also did. Although I was not pointing my gun directly at him, it was at low-ready position, . It was clear to him that charging (before he was kneeling) would have resulted in being shot. Him trying to overpower me was not an option he had. He was getting closer to my children's rooms and I wasn't about to let him try to ingress the house there. Likewise, I was not about to enter my children's bedroom and wait for him to try to enter there. If he would try and a struggle insued or I was to shoot him, I would have unnecessarily involved the kids in the trauma. As it happened, I had the element of surprise, I didn't think he was armed, and he readily complied with my commands, seeing that any resistance was futile. These types of scenarios play out in America ALL THE TIME. In almost ALL cases, just the presence of a gun that can be used in self-defense is enough to prevent/deter/thwart a serious violent crime. Many people have tried to research the frequency of these events, I'd say the most accurate would be John Lott... I don't recall the numbers he has come up w/ but I thik it's like 1.5-2 million times per year that these scenarios occur. -the artist formerly known as sinker

i'm glad your entrancing eye avatar is back. i like it when it watches me as I type -the artist formerly known as sinker

Interesting story. How was it he didn't run when he saw you with your firearm? our house is on a slope... he was looking in the basement windows, and coming up the slope towards the back door, which is on the main level. he was half-way there, facing the back door and out I sprang as he looked into our dining room window, cathcing him totally off guard. He was outside of the range of our motion sensor light, but as I burst out the back door, the flood lights came on, lighting me and him up. he saw the gun and me, since he was facing me, and he didn't have anywhere to go. He was about 10-15 feet away at this point. I think he was totally stunned. It was very late and I didn't expect to see anyone awake. -the artist formerly known as sinker

but note how deftly the sink-meister has moved in and has engaged said trawller into non-asshat discussion... several dizzy.commers have already died from cardiac arrest I'm told. -the artist formerly known as sinker

see, I knew two assholes like me and you could have a logical, coherent conversation!! ya know, my wife has always been against guns. it took a lot to convince her to let me have one. but I did a lot of reading, a lot of research, dug through the rhetoric (on BOTH sides - the left and right) and came to the honest conclusion that the BEST way to defend my family is w/ a firearm. And in another time and another place, maybe it would be something else... but guns have been demonized. Yet they are just another tool that can be used for good or ill. I choose to use them for good, namely to protect myself and my family. And they are indeed a great deterrant (sp?) I've drawn my weapon on one prowler, an 18 year old man who I spotted looking into our windows late at night. No shots fired, the gun was never even brought up to his level. Just the sight that I was armed was enough for him to piss himself. We called the cops, who came and had a nice conversation w/ him and me, and I honestly think his burglarizing days are done... I mean, this man says he saw his life flash before his eyes. I didn't press charges, the cop left, and the young man and I had some chocolate milk... we had a great talk and he cried and cried... I honestly think that the man had a conversion from crime. -the artist formerly known as sinker

ok, I'll be serious back atcha... shooting a high performance gun IS a helluva lot of fun, isn't it! why I have a gun on my person while on my property -and by my bed when I'm asleep- instead of a baseball bat or a knife or any other weapon, is that the most common weapon used by an intruder here is... you guessed it, a gun. My having a gun helps to even the playing field. Also, with a gun, I have more of a chance of neutralizing a threat from a distance than trying to do so w/i arms reach. W/i arms reach, I can be overpowered by an intruder who is perhaps high on drugs, or who is stronger and more awake than I am. Also, I don't fancy the idea of sticking a knife in someone. I'd much rather make a little hole w/ a bullet. Also, if there is more than one intruder, I can conceivably take out more than one w/ a gun whereas w/ a bat or a knife, my chances of doing the same are more slim. I'm an excellent marksman. My father was a career cop, now retired, and he and I would go to the range all the time. My house has an alarm system that, when set at night, allows the kids to get up and pee w/o setting it off, but intruders from the outside trip the system. I also keep a "surefire" brand flashlight w/ my gun, which is powered to 120 lumens. It is positively blinding and helps reduce the likelihood that I would accidentally hurt an innocent person. thanks for the serious post. having an honest, logical discussion w/o either of us lowering into insults and rhetoric can have positive results. -the artist formerly known as sinker

ummm dude they lost..................bad...............like 4 game sweep bad arthur, young man, that was my conciliatory post to slappie, who no doubt was disappointed by his beloved astros' loss in the series. still, he has a lot to be proud of by their incredible journey to the championship. -the artist formerly known as sinker

why are you so happy having inaccurate views of Americans? Wouldn't you like to be seen as a bit more intelligent than that? Hoorah! Go Astros!!! -the artist formerly known as sinker

why are you so happy having inaccurate views of Americans? Wouldn't you like to be seen as a bit more intelligent than that? -the artist formerly known as sinker

and the move to Speakers Corner begins if it saddens you don't watch it. smack 'im up arthur! -the artist formerly known as sinker

you get sad? -the artist formerly known as sinker

do you put your combat trousers on and rumage around in the dirt, trying to kill rabits? we got ourselves a real live militiaman here folks... yee haaaa as usual, you unbutton your knickers, pull them down, and show us all who you REALLY are... -the artist formerly known as sinker

Go YOU!!! Congrats girl... -the artist formerly known as sinker

I missed the posts about gun banning in this thread. I kinda like your thoughts on keeping it on your person instead of locked up...I'm still mulling it over. But I do get the impression that you are not one of those showing off their weapons at the DZ. i guess I mispoke... not gun banning per se, but anti-gunners... thanks about the gun on person thing... I couldn't live w/ the thought of one of my kids getting hurt w/ my gun accidentally. if it's not on my body, it's in the safe. I'm the only one w/ the key. and no, I NEVER show off my gun at the DZ... in fact, most people don't even know I carry. I wear baggy clothes and the piece is small (yet potent). If someone knows you carry, that's one less advantage you have over a potential threat. -the artist formerly known as sinker

if you're in the UK, then I'm laughing my "paranoid" american ass off at you. B/c you're crime rate is through the roof largely B/C your country will NOT allow it's people to defend itself w/ guns... and until recently wouldn't even allow people to defend themselves in their OWN HOUSES w/ any weapon from an intruder. Do you know how popular crossbows and bow and arrow sets have become in your England? Very. Wonder why? B/c civilians can't defend themselves w/ guns... violent criminals in England roam freely and w/ relative impunity knowing that they can attack just about anybody w/o the real possibility of being hurt. Think I'm paranoid? Again, I don't give a fuck. Think your country is w/o guns? Dig your head out of the sand. Your pompousness bores me. -the artist formerly known as sinker

purrrrrr-fect. -the artist formerly known as sinker

A little too much Jesus in your Corn Flakes this morning? no, just too many gun banning slags pissin in my flakes is all... -the artist formerly known as sinker

I'm not getting involved in this argument at all, but I'm curious - do you seriously walk around your house with a gun all the time? just about. it's small, very easily concealed, comfortable to wear, and I have 4 kids... I do not want to keep a gun around the house unless it's locked up... and what good is a LOCKED UP gun when a perp breaks in??? -the artist formerly known as sinker

Drive fast, speed turns me on! you're a walking bald-bodies, long-haired, indian juke-box. who can blow himself. -the artist formerly known as sinker