DJL

Ok, I changed it. Back at you. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

The culture of crime? So you're saying that the availability of guns has nothing to do with crime and that criminals will choose any weapon on hand? That's fine, I agree with you. It's a weapon of choice thing rather than a cause and effect thing. We'll put a pin in the topic of high capacity semi-automatic weapons with high powered rounds. Edit: To continue... What's going on in London right now is a result of a rise in crime that the city has found is related to the reduced budget and personal in their police force, it's no mystery that if you have fewer police then criminals will take opportunity to do their crime thing. As far as guns go, 65% of the murders in London (a city of 8.5 million people) are from knives. In comparison, New York (a city of 8.5 million people) with relatively restrictive control measures has almost exactly the same crime rate as London but its corresponding gun murders are much higher as a result of guns being much more available in the criminal market because you only need to cross a few bridges to go get one. So, there are two outcomes, that gun control on a national level results in fewer gun deaths and that crime rates remain the same for two cities of the same size. Now, a little bit of history, the NY vs London thing is a topic du jour because New York is thought of as being crime ridden but that's not true anymore. In the last decade murders have fallen drastically while at the same time in London they've risen. NY is currently at a record low in murders with fewer than 340 in 2016, about 300 in 2017 and on track for the same in 2018. That puts New York City at the bottom end of the top largest cities in the US and in the meantime New York State has the third to lowest gun caused death in the United States. So to compare London to New York isn't exactly saying that London is in bad shape according to US standards. However, for UK standards it's unacceptable. They are now making changes to reverse the funding cuts that put them in this situation to begin with. So, what does that say about guns and crime? 7 gun deaths per month is a very good place to be and in any situation everyone would be much better off if their assailant had a knife than a gun. You have a much broader range of options to defend yourself or flee and the wounds are much easier to deal with. Sure, you still have people who want to murder and commit crimes but you've reduced their ability to control a situation and inflict damage. If those criminals had guns instead of knives what do you think the outcome would be? Edit about the cities response: The Breitbart article leaves out that in the long term they're going to return police funding to its original levels. In 2010 the group that came into power in Parliament cut national funding and there was a 20,000 personnel reduction. The result has been a 20% annual rise in gun, knife and serious violent crime across England even as there's been a 9% overall drop in crime. I'm not sure where that leaves you with your statements about gun restrictions having nothing to do with crime. What it DOES do is restricts the ability of criminals and fewer options for what a criminal can inflict reduces their ability to commit that crime. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

It's so funny to watch you when you're losing the debate! Now consider this. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/04/08/nearly-100-years-gun-control-london-adding-knife-control/ Oh for fuck's sake, this will make episode three that I've gone down the London road with someone in the last week. What's your point, Rush? Please state that to begin with and we'll wrap this up before lunch. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

I do not support a ban on anything and I've said that 100 times. Categorize weapons with high powered rounds, high capacity magazines (Most are saying 10 rounds but I think 6 to 8 is better), semiautomatic the same as machine guns. If you need these weapons it's for a very specific purpose and you have to go through the process. I don't care what the weapon looks like, I can't tell from the links you're posting but remove just two, and in some cases just 1 of those three items from a rifle and you're back at a hunting rifle. If you need 9 rounds for follow-up while deer hunting you need to take up bowling. If you're hunting in the African bush, yes, you probably need something way more powerful. What I AM saying is that if you as a presumably law abiding gun owner don't figure out some middle ground then gun violence will continue and the people who want to fully ban weapons will get their way. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Yes. Absolutely. No doubt about it. I have no idea how anyone had the authority to allow them to work without one. That said, I've done work inside of the Capital Building and inside of politician's offices and I was very surprised at the lack of oversight I received. After the glam had worn off I got into the habit of just walking into an office and sitting down at the desk to do my work, I realized in one instance that I was sitting at the desk of the Speaker of the House. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

While having Palin as a running mate certainly didn't help his campaign, there was very little chance of McCain winning in 08. After 8 years of Bush, the country was very tired of the R agenda. I voted for McCain, but I knew from the beginning that he was unlikely to win. Yeah, that's probably true, just like Bush Sr lost after such a long run of R's. Man, remember those days when you didn't get elected because you said "No new taxes" and then had to add new taxes? He should've just said that Mexico would pay for the taxes. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

"President Trump and his daughter, Tiffany, are reportedly trying to repair what is being described as a “damaged relationship.” " Damaged, as in everyone in America knows that he told her mother to get an abortion. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5290905/Trump-asked-Marla-Maples-abort-Tiffany.html "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

It's kind of ironic, considering that she may well have been McCain's way of sabotaging his own campaign when not permitted by his party to select Lieberman as a running mate. I doubt very seriously that he considered the possibility that she would define the new norm for the GOP. He's still kicking himself for bringing her onboard, there were so many better options out there and Obama was not that strong of a candidate until McCain's campaign fell apart under her weight. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

"In short, its version of an assault weapon is "a semiautomatic rifle that has the capacity to accept a large capacity magazine, detachable or otherwise." There are other aspects, including rifle additions and types of magazines. As defined by the village, the term also includes semiautomatic pistols, semiautomatic shotguns, conversion kits and "any shotgun with a revolving cylinder."" I don't agree with the inclusion of pistols and think the term should state the type of bullet it chambers. Basically anything as or more powerful than .223 or 5.56NATO. I own a 22LR that holds 15 rounds and I think we all know that while it could inflict a quantity of damage that the injuries are a far cry to what someone could do with .223 rounds. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Sarah Palin running as VP is what made it so obvious to me that the GOP had swung so far to the Right and that's when I stopped voting 100% Republican. I vote for very few R's now but it looks like more of them are coming back to the center. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Wow, Sarah Palin's blog. Looks like they're trying to ban assault weapons like we've been talking about. What's your point? "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Ok, if you say so, even though just about everyone on this board who you call a lefty owns guns. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

I agree that he's embarrassing but I'd rather the country not turn into something resembling The Handmaid's Tale. I'll take an idiot/ass any day of the week. Besides, at the pace of government he'll be there until 2020 anyway. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

That shooter was not a man, did not us an AR15, was not a Trump supporter, she was left wing and, if all the above criteria were met, so few people were shot. Short story? The left and its media could not use that story to push the gun ban agenda. I'm not sure what her political tree hugger side has to do with it but one of the biggest issues with AR15s is their ability to inflict a massive quantity of damage in a very short time. In this case two people were only injured. The state's laws concerning the type of firearm someone is able to get restricted this person to the type of weapon she used, granted it wouldn't have been difficult for her to go to another state and get a more powerful weapon. As far as more restrictive measures on guns, this shows that even with those restrictions in place a "law abiding gun owner" attempted to kill people. So, I'm not sure what agenda you don't think this is pushing but it supports some and supports some others. Much like the Maryland shooting that occurred right after the Florida massacre local restrictions impacted the type of weapon in use and the results of the attack. So again, what's your point? "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

And Cohen could face disbarment over the process. And if he’s facing the loss of his livelihood, will he still feel that famous loyalty to Trump? Or will he return the favour and throw Trump under the bus by proving that he did know all about it? This is so much fun. What, a lawyer paying off someone on behalf of another person without their knowledge or consent? Doesn't sound fishy to me. Fake laws! Fake laws! "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Sorry, again, what is the Left disappointed about? "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

So it is better to leave a mentally unhinged halfwit in power??? It makes more sense to me to have a constitutionally-prescribed method for the sane members of government to remove an insane member. YES! Good God, do you want Pence at the helm? Even Trump calls him a zealot. At least Trump's worst crime is that he fucks up a few things and in the end he gets nothing done. Granted a trade war could have dire effects but I think he'll figure out a way to back down and call it a win. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Oh man, never knew that existed. And there's Cameron just nodding along with it. That's it, I believe in God now, the banana got me! "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Some states require a gun safe if you own more than X weapons. I'm a big fan of that. Here's my collection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cun-LZvOTdw "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

I'm still confused. In what way do you see Bill defending anyone? In any case I agree that better pre-employment checks should have been done here. How does that affect gun background purchase checks? Are you trying to make a case against Wasserman or against background checks? I don't know if this was the original reason for the post, but you can bet that the next time someone suggests a database of gun owners this will be called out as an excellent reason not to. A legitimate concern about gun databases is letting criminals know who in their neighborhood has guns to steal. I think that's really an issue that's not an issue. There are all sorts of ways of figuring out who has guns and that doesn't change the fact that gun owners need to take the steps to keep their weapons safe from robberies. My weapons are not in a safe but there are two people on this planet who know where they are and they would never be found in the course of a robbery without the use of an xray imaging device. Besides, the big ole "The house protected by Smith and Wesson" sticker can be a dead giveaway for some folks. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

By this point we're all up to speed that DWS helped to rig the DNC in HRC's favor and we therefore couldn't field a candidate capable of taking down Lord Cheeto. She has no love for us and this episode is proof that background checks are needed for all sorts of things, especially those related to the safety of Americans. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

There's this concept in fad in Christian circles right now that the complexity of things like DNA and laws of physics as it relates to entropy are proof that only a concerted effort in the form of intelligent design could create life as we know it. It's a new version of the idea that if you can't understand it then the only answer is God. It of course, does nothing to prove that the Christian God is "the maker" and doesn't address that all of the previous superstitions have been disproved as we learn their scientific reasons. It also doesn't address the counter argument that it opens up that if life is created by God and there has to be something to create something then what created God (See the Turtle of enormous girth...) "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Unfortunately, the exact opposite is happening as far as how China is aligning itself. If our diplomatic and economic relationship with China is hurt any more we could very well see China entirely release its sanctions against North Korea. They'll be more than happy to let NK continue to exist as a military buffer state between themselves and US allies in the region. Much of their economy lives off of trade with the US but a trade war will force them to seek other economic partners. If those partners are advantageous for them it will be very difficult to regain the trade relationships that we've lost. Diplomacy is a house of cards, very difficult to build, very easy to destroy. Edited to add article about China publicly joining with Russia militarily against the United States: http://www.newsweek.com/china-military-tells-russia-weve-come-support-you-against-us-870070 "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

Edit because my response was weirdly phrased. Good to hear that they were not killed. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

It's Ok to just say that you believe what you've learned and what you've read. There really is no proof for faith because faith is the expectation that something will occur in the future. There is literally no way to prove that the afterlife will be according to the Christian bible, you're just making a wager. "I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher