kmcguffee

So, due to the risk of a bad outcome, with the risk completely unknown at the time, you would refuse to take any action? Even an action that may result in saving lives? Do you use this logic in everything you do in life? Do you only help people when there is absolutely no chance of a bad outcome? That just amazes me. What if you do nothing, let the perp go, and he kills five 8 year old girls on his way home. But, as you are Ghandi, it might be easy for you to say: I didn't want to take a chance for the greater good, I allowed him to walk away, their blood isn't on my hands, that was someone elses job to do. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

These statistics should not enter into any decision like this. The person on the scene has to make the decision based on all of the facts he/she knows at the time on whether the robber will use the weapon and whether shooting at the perp will risk hitting innocents. Statistics are nice for determining a particular trend but are useless for determining how a specific situation is going to turn out. You are never going to "know" for sure unless you allow the perp to shoot before you respond. By then, you are too late. He has pulled a handgun and is robbing a store. What other threatening move does he need to make? He will be able to shoot the teller before you would be able to react if you wait for another "threatening move." Good option if you think for sure that the guy is not going to shoot. For a police officer, you can then confront and arrest him outside where there are not as many citizens. Flip side is, what if you are standing there with a concealed weapon, trained to use it, decide not to risk it, and the perp kills the 18 year old teller and gets away. How do you live with yourself then? I've met lots of guys who have shot and/or killed bad guys. I've not met one who seemed to "enjoy" the feeling (except for psycho/sociopaths 0. They feel a sense of accomplishment for having survived or saved others but not for taking someone's life. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Don't forget the white flag.

LOL!! Had to be said. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I'm glad you said that. I attributed the taste of your Army's rations to differences in tastes between cultures. We couldn't finish the ones we were given. I'll take MRE's any day. That story is making me crave an MRE for some reason. That's scary. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Since most dogs can't read they had to draw a picture. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

That was your assessment of the situation, not the cops. Since you weren't there and it wasn't your life in danger your assessment really means diddly. That is called 20/20 hindsight. The cop didn't have all of the information that we have now and he reacted based on the limited information he had at the time. Training doesn't prevent you from getting exciting and adrenaline pumping. In a high stress situation you react like you are trained if that training has become second nature. It doesn't prevent you from being excited. You've been watching too many John Wayne movies. I've been doing this type of thing for a fairly long time. It doesn't work like that. The clarity is the same. The trained person reacts like he has been trained. The untrained person has no training to fall back on. That is the only difference. They don't have time to sit down and analyze the situation. They react. What you are doing is like someone who has never jumped from a plane criticizing you for how you reacted during a malfunction. They just don't get it and won't until they have been in a similar situation. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

He attempted to hit the police officers and possibly kill them. What was to prevent him, at that time, from continuing to try to kill them. He has shown an intent to kill or cause serious injury and he still had the means to do so. Once a person uses deadly force against a police officer or anyone else then they have a right to defend themselves. A car can be just as deadly as a gun. If the kid would have shot at the police officers and they were able to get behind cover without being hit, would you have a problem with them returning fire and kiling the kid then? There is not much difference. Deadly force is deadly force. You can't expect a cop to take chances like that. This isn't a Hollywood movie and it always looks a lot clearer after the fact. In the middle of a situation like that things are confusing and adrenaline is high. If a person puts themself into a situation like that people have to understand that they may very well be shot and die. If you don't want to get shot then don't put yourself into those situations. I say tough shit. The officer did what he thought was best in that situation. The officer didn't start it but he ended it without the loss of innocent life. He did a good job. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

The underdeveloped Marine larynx has trouble with the hard 'H' sound. So it always comes out as ooorah instead of the proper hooah.

I don't carry it everywhere. So, it really doesn't bother me. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I didn't say that Europe as a whole moved towards socialism. I said that some of the larger sountries did. I also didn't mention Communism. Communism is a militant leftist form of socialism. Socialism in its purest form is collective (state) ownership of the means of production and distribution. It's main purpose is to establish a system of cooperation instead of competition and to emphasize the collective instead of the individual. This usually manifests itself as some type of redistribution of wealth through welfare (the US) or other type of social programs. Socialism sounds great on the surface but has some very negative effects on the country as a whole in practice. When you redistribute wealth in a society you are punishing the successful and rewarding the failures. It doesn't really encourage hard work. Some people are not going to try very hard to succeed as long as they have a safety net in place for when they fail. The US has some socialist programs but not nearly like France, Germany, Sweden, or Swizterland. When the EU really gets up and running you are going to see some big time socialism. The UK is already balking at the idea of footing the bill for some of the less prosperous countries. We voted based on our beliefs/morals because they are important to us (at least to some of us). Some felt that they were being crapped on by the "do anything as long as it feels good" crowd. I don't know why it worries you. Socialism, capitalism are beliefs too. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I assume that you know that the bill introduced in congress to reinstate the draft was written by a Democrat. It was written by Rep Charles B. Rangel of New York who subsequently voted against his own bill. The bill was rejected with 402 against and 2 for it. The two voting for the bill were Reps. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) and Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-Calif.). Now, who is trying to reinstate the draft? It is not President Bush. BTW, when you enter the military you sign a form agreeing to recall in time of war. I remember signing it. If I'm called up I'll go. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

How does the fact that we are trying to elect Christians to office equal fascism? The Supreme Court ruled on passing laws not electing individuals. The first ammendment only limits the congress when passing laws not voters or politician's religious beliefs. Nor does it limit the state to being secular in its application beyond the passage of laws by congress. You need to read it again: Now, where in that does it say that a politican can not be guided in his daily life by religious principles? Or that I can't vote for someone based on their religious beliefs? BTW, it's the Lemon vs Kurtzman case that brought about the Lemon test. The test is (1) must have a secular purpose; (2) must have a primary purpose that neither advances nor inhibits religion; and (3) must not result in or promote excessive entanglement between government and religion Murray v. Curlett determined that forcing a child to participate in Bible reading and prayer is unconstitutional. Lastly, it is spelled Christian not x-tian. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Kind of. Too many people throw around the phrase "separation of church and state" without realizing that the phrase is not in the constitution. The constitution states: That is all it says. It says nothing about the church having no influence on state matters only that congress will not pass a law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the exercise of a religion. Some judges have interpreted it that way but it seems a stretch to me. BTW, some religious practices are prohibited. Some religions practice ritual sacrifice of humans. That is illegal in the US. The right to exercise religion is not absolute. The supreme court has ruled that no rights in the constitution are absolute. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

France http://www.brook.edu/dybdocroot/fp/cusf/analysis/workweek.htm Germany http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20040716-013432-3120r.htm Various other countries working towards the goal of a 35 hour work week: http://www.web.net/32hours/europe.htm Here is an article on vacation days required in Europe: http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=21769 Sixty was a little high but you get the point. Although several men that I have worked with in Switzerland get 60 days of vacation a year. Apparently it is not mandatory but some get it. Everytime we try to do something with these guys half of them are on vacation. Plan your moves now. You guys should know this stuff. Remember, I'm the dumb American. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Not willing to answer my question huh. Sometimes "everything possible" isn't enough. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

That "tolerance and diversity" was achieved through a war that resulted in the largest loss of American life in the history of the US. Do you think the Democratic Party will ever have the intestinal fortitude to fight a war for what they believe in? If they don't change their current leadership I have my doubts. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Good one. IOW, people who have never held a job outside of the classroom. There is a saying among military and law enforcement "Those who can....do, those who can't......teach". That's not a jab at public school teachers either. What's the best way to turn an ultra-liberal into a conservative? Kick them out of their parent's house and make them get a real job. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Europe would have a lot more economic power to influence the US if some of the larger European countries would not have drifted so far into Socialism. They wouldn't need the EU to compete with the US if they would get rid of policies like the 35 hour work week, mandatory 60 days of vacation, and dumping all of your government's money into welfare programs that perpetuate dependency and reward inaction. You've got to work to earn influence in the world. Nobody is going to hand it to you on a silver platter just because you're nice and feel shat upon. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

Just like every dem is not a ultra left elite Boston type socialist, every Republican Christian does not share Pat Robertson's views. When referring to the "Christian Church" do you mean the Catholic Church? There is not a Protestant "Church" in the singular form. Most Protestants, with exceptions, believe in the autonomy of local churches. Therefore, there can be no de facto governance by the christian church unless you are talking about Catholics. They already have a country. The belief, which I hold, that Christians should work to ensure that as many Christians as possible hold public office is not fascist. We are trying to elect people that hold our same belief systems and values that guide their daily lives and decisions. If they start trying to make laws respecting an establishment of religion then I disagree with them. If they start making certain segments of society a higher class than other segments then they are fascist. The fact that they make decisions in office based on their religious beliefs is not fascist in and of itself. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

LOL, good point. The ultra left is going to whine and cry until a Democrat wins. Then, and only then, will they consider the system fixed. I browsed the Democratic Underground site today and they are hilarious and downright delusional. They have convinced themselves that the exit polls by the liberal media, which showed Kerry winning, are more accurate than the actual vote. They are trying to use the exit polls to prove that some type of voter fraud occurred. Those guys need to move out of their parents house and get a job.

Have you been to DC in the last few years? I just returned from my seventh trip there this year. I'm sick of the place. Most government workers do not live in DC. The majority live in Maryland, West Virginia, or Virginia. Mostly Virginia. They don't vote in DC they vote in the surrounding states. So......that is how I would explain the vote. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

A Glock 27 and/or a Glock 22. I qualify quarterly so I don't have a single score. I usually score between 96-100. I sometimes throw a few shooting left handed from the 25 yard line or during the rapid fire portion from the 15 yard line. The rapid fire is seven rounds in six seconds from the holster. I think range standards are too different between states to really compare. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I have a hand held Surefire Taclight and a Streamlight M-3 Tactical Illuminator attached to my Glock 22. I have used both in tactical situations and can recommend them highly. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

I'm sorry, what was Lincoln's party? I think he had something to do with getting rid of that little slavery thing. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin