Ron

Right it would be MUCH better to have him detonate whatever he had right then than bother trying to talk to him, or maybe disarm him. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Oh, I agree with you 100%. I think using a saftey device as a replacement for training and procedures is a VERY bad idea. People are still going to do it however and claim they are safe and good jumpers since they bought them. But my only comment was to the blanket statement of don't cutaway below 1,000 feet. As a general rule..Its not a bad one. However, I would rather the people spend time thinking about the situations they could be in rather than just say they will just dump the reserve below 1,000 feet. In my case I knew where I was both with altitude and spot. I also made the choice to modify my E-procedures in that second to make sure I had a Reserve PC launch as soon as possible. I KNEW if I landed my highly loaded spinning main I would have been dead. I also knew that while I was lower than I wanted (Do a search if yall are really interested)..But I also had a pretty good idea that if I had just dumped my reserve I would not have made it either. The preferable course of action is to have well thought out plans for as many situations as you can think of....and practice them. Back when I started guys would sit around and talk about possible things that could happen...I have tried to do this in the last few years and the answers I get are "My CYPRES will fire", or "I have an RSL". The next is to have basic rules and follow them (This whole situation of when can you cut away would never come up...Since you are supposed to know by 1800 feet and exicute by 1600 right?) But we all know that does not always happen. The last, worse way of dealing with this is to just buy all the cool toys and trust they will save you. The BEST course of action is to have plans for every possible situation and practice them...AND have the cool saftey toys just incase you screw up. I hate RSL's. However, I am thinking of getting a Skyhook on my next rig since there is only ONE situation now where I can see a Skyhook being a problem....I am waiting to talk to Bill about it to finalize my opinion on that one issue. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have cut away below 800 feet without an RSL before. It was I think the best option I had at the time....I lived, so I guess I did OK "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

How about in a canopy wrap from a collision? "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

The reserve Slider was packed down. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Isee you would rather just give up... "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Its not snobbery...Its an observation. How many FJC students come back? You could call most of them "Only Jump Students" and you would be correct most of the time. I expect people to quit at anytime till they get 1,000 jumps. Look at the numbers....We have 34000 or so members...I have no idea how many members we have HAD. But we only have about 7,000 in the entire history of the USPA that have made 1,000 jumps. Only 2500 that have made 2,000 jumps. Less than 100 that have made 8,000 jumps. We have around 45,000 "A's" in the history of the sport, but only 29,000 "D's"...amost half. Anyone wanna guess how many people do one jump and never come back? Years in the sport is another example...I have no numbers to state how many have been in the sport 10 years, but just ask around the DZ next weekend, and you will get a good idea. The USPA released a report once that the average jumper stays int he sport 3 years. That makes it very realistic to claim that most are not here for the long haul. But most newbies think they will jump forever, and refuse to think otherwise. So they take anything that does not fit into their mindset as an insult. Its not, but they will take it as one. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Not if he wanted an audience. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I have spent WAY to much time in that building. My Ex-wife Mo, used to handle the tandem records. Niklas Gummeson was my Teammate for years. Before I started jumping a Vector in 02, Niklas and Bill Booth took me through the building showing me all about the rig, how it was made, and WHY they did things the way they do. Little things like how you guys took the three ring and almost 20 years latter were still working on them. How the Reserve PC has no mesh so that it will have enough drag to launch no matter what part of the PC gets exposed. I joked that I wanted dive loops on my reserve risers...Bill made this very somber face. He say me down and explained that in no way would they do that...Even after I told him I was joking, he explained about how important it is to not add anything to such a critical system that has not been tested to the "Nth" degree. When I got my first Vector Bill and I modified my bag to try out a little different line stow method. Louie designed third risers for my Vector, he didn't just slap some stuff together, he really did a good job making them. And when my freebag got some blood on it...Don't ask, not that exciting of a story, Louie replaced it. I have seen the Mink rig, and the other special rigs. Spent some time in Bills office talking about how he came up with the Sigma, and tons of other stories....How he had the first throwout PC stuffed into the pocket of his jeans....First tandem that had him and a friend using a cargo chute packed into a duffelbag. I can honestly say that Bill amazes me everytime I talk to him. I had Niklas hand me the bungie risers as a joke, and I have seen the pile of rigs in the attic...My old teammates is up there. The first time Niklas showed me the pull test machine I played with that thing for about 30 min breaking all kinds webbing. When type 7 goes its like a shotgun...(I think the sewers were getting pissed at me ). I have to say I learn something everytime I am in there. My last cutaway (this past weekend). I had such faith in my rig that when I looked up I thought, "Here we go again". Pulled both handles and never worried about the reserve coming out, I was busy checking my spot. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

So if you saw American cities being blown apart you would do nothing? Now to answer the question: PRE-EMPTIVE? No. Nukes are terrible for offensive operations. A nukes best use is as a deterrent. But if I saw them being launched against us, I would strike back with equal force. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Well Good. I think its stupid to move to a country and not even try to learn the launguage. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I love this part: So? Just cause most don't want to exercise their RIGHT does not mean the right should be taken away from those that do. The the dumbass says this: But the says: So they will admit it has not happend, but they still think it will....Even though NO state where this has been allowed turned to an old west shootout. These people should read more. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If I were the cop in question...I would not have opened the bags after that remark. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

He did not act innocent, and this does not sound innocent "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Very few people are good enough to shoot to disarm or injure only...This includes police. When a person attacks you, and you have a gun, point center of mass (Thats center of the chest) and pull the trigger till the attacker stops attacking. People who claim they are gonna do a leg shot are as full of shit as those that claim that they will do a head shot. You could very well end up dead. If you are going to pull a gun you had better plan on using it to stop the person. If you are not going to use it to stop them...Please don't have one. In this case it seems the shooter was an idiot. If the facts are correct as reported the shooter was not in danger until he tried to stop the moron with the club. If it is only *property* in harms way call the police and don't show your hand. If it is a *person* in harms way, shoot to stop (That means aim center of mass and pull till he stops). I think this guy should have called 911 and keep people out of this jackass's way. If thats what he tried to do and the moron attacked him....good for the shooter. The guy with the axe was a moron. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I think a Tandem before AFF is a great Idea. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

15/ 1:15 / 1 15 Jumps 14 coach jumps and an AFF 1:15 min spent coaching in the tunnel. 1 cutaway. The coach jumps went great, the guy started working with me on Saturday. By Monday and 14 jumps and 30 min of tunnel coaching we went up to do his FS1...He needed 4 points on a 4way. He did 15

Its hard to drive when you lock your keys in the car "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

I agree with you more times than I disagree. Sorry to have upset you about this topic. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

If it was not for the video....I would not believe him. A guy had a mal. He landed and when they found 4 main lines were broken. He also noticed his hook knife was gone. When he opened his hook knife flew up and got caught in his slider. As the slider came down it cut 4 of his lines....We know this since he was wearing a camera, and in the frame by frame of the opening you can see the knife fly up, get caught and start cutting lines.... He performed his E-procedures great, and won my award for the coolest mal I have ever seen. Proof once again that even safety equipment can cause problems. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Im only going to say what others have already said, but it is so important it bears repeating. Don't worry about the KA. There are plenty of KA's all around, and I bet this one KA will come back. It is much better to actually learn the skills needed to do something than just barely meet the minumums. Hop n pops while a great way to work on your canopy skills and build jump numbers are really giving you nothing about your Freefall skill. I would focus on learning what is needed to be safe, rather than just try to get a "Number"....Trust me a lot of jump numbers behind yourname is cool...But the ony way to get big jump numbers is be safe and survive all those jumps..... Don't push it. I am not trying to hold you back, or crush your dream...Goals are great. What I am trying to do is make it so you can make 100, 1,000, 5,000 jumps without injury. Id rather see you make 100 jumps over a year and be ready for more than 100 over 6 mths and get hurt. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

Nice personal attack. Too bad you cannot discuss this like adults when your argument is weak. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

An abortion is not in most cases Emergency care. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

It is also not the religious organizations responsability to provide the means of the death of a child. An abortion is NOT Emergency care. The Morning after pill is NOT Emergency medicine. Therfore the Religious hospital should be allowed to decide what they will or will not do in this case. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

For saving a life in an emergency, not taking a life that is NOT an Emergency. It is a Religious hospital...they need to help save lives, but that does not mean they should be forced to take them. "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334