[Steve9930]

Originally Posted by Callaway Guy

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook in reference to gun control. It's not only food for thought to those in favor of gun control; it's also a belief that some of us that have CCL's think of when we are out in a public place nowadays -

"I stand behind you in line at the store with a smile on my face...and a gun under my shirt and you are none the wiser, yet you are safer for having me next to you. I won't shoot you. My gun won't pull it's own trigger. It is securely holstered with the trigger covered. It can't just go off. However, rest assured that if a fanatic walks into the store and pulls out a weapon, I will draw my pistol and protect myself and my family and therefore protect you and your family. I may get shot before I pull that trigger...but, I won't die in a helpless blubbering heap on the floor begging for my life or my wife's life. I won't be that victim. I choose not to be. As for you, I don't ask you to carry a gun, If you are not comfortable, then please don't. But I would like to keep my right to choose to not be a helpless victim. There is evil in this world and if evil has a gun, I want one too..."

A friend of mine also posted this on Facebook. I found it to be a very good short narrative of those of us that carry a concealed weapon. Thank you for sharing it here. I find it also interesting being a veteran and trained in using a weapon, that many would like to now disarm me. This country trained many of us to use a weapon on the battle field, why would people want to disarm us now? We may have some snow on the roof but we are still ready to defend this country and its people.

[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I agree but what else can he really say. The truth is lone wolf self radicalized attacks by an extremist are not possible to defend against. Evil shifts its tactics based on the defending response.

OK, so using that rational:
- simply allow them to build their Caliphate in the middle east and beyond,
- don't focus on intelligence-gathering systems here and allowing them to weaken,
- continue to put limits on the handcuffed Syrian bombing missions,
- continue to not listen to your military advisors,
- continue to belittle our domestic police,
- use 1/3 of your speech - and 90% of your US Attorney General's speech last Thursday to warning US citizens not to hold prejudice against all Muslims,
- do not lead ALL the peaceful nations, including Muslim countries to rebel against this worldwide scurge. Continue to state the 65 country coalition is focused on this effort, clouding the actual truth.


Oh, and after all this - pass the baton to the new president in '17 when this war has worsened even more.

[Steve9930]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

OK, so using that rational:
- simply allow them to build their Caliphate in the middle east and beyond,
- don't focus on intelligence-gathering systems here and allowing them to weaken,
- continue to put limits on the handcuffed Syrian bombing missions,
- continue to not listen to your military advisors,
- continue to belittle our domestic police,
- use 1/3 of your speech - and 90% of your US Attorney General's speech last Thursday to warning US citizens not to hold prejudice against all Muslims,
- do not lead ALL the peaceful nations, including Muslim countries to rebel against this worldwide scurge. Continue to state the 65 country coalition is focused on this effort, clouding the actual truth.


Oh, and after all this - pass the baton to the new president in '17 when this war has worsened even more.

Oh, I don't disagree that the foreign policy is abysmal. The fact is ISIS exists because the administration failed to negotiate a status of forces agreement when he left Iraq. I believe that many of the things you mentioned are already being done. Its frustrating. But if we go back into the area plan to be there for a long, long, long, time and we will spend Billions and many lives will be lost. And we should only go if we are committed to two things, Destroy ISIS Totally and plan to battle the 7th Century Ideology that exists there. To win a war you need two things, the commitment of the American people and the will of the local people in the country to help you destroy the enemy. If you want to see when this all started see if you can rent a movie called "Charlie Wilson's War" it will give you the perspective on what and why we are were we are today.

[billethkid]

Nothing new or any value added to the serious problem even after the CA incident.

Displayed below is a portrait of the enemy confronting us and forever elusive and deinied for some unkown reason by this administration and all it's advisors:

ISIS plot for world domination revealed in chilling detail with plans for education and industry - Mirror Online

Maybe just a one time propaganda production, however validated and made more realistic by the CA attack.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

My personal review of 'the speech' last night.

words were spoken. yawn.

What I find interesting is that he went out of his way to emphasize that we have no solid evidence that this was a terrorist attack or that these people had any connection with a foreign terrorist organization.

This morning, The FBI announced that they are treating this as a terrorist attack and that they have evidence that these people are part of a larger organization.

You mean to tell me that the president of The United States didn't have some information that this was the case?

A lot of what he said made sense to me, by why go out of your way to make a statement that you know with 99% certainty is going to be proven wrong.

More gun laws are not going to change anything. We need to start enforcing the gun laws that we have with maximum sentences. Even with that, more laws aren't going to stop crimes. Laws don't prevent crime. they only serve to punish people who break them. How many laws were broken by the two shooters? They're going to be in big trouble now. We already have laws against murdering people, but people still get murdered. Does anyone think that we need more anti murder laws?

As someone pointed out, a huge percentage of gun deaths in this country are suicides. Does anyone think that those unfortunate souls wouldn't find another way to end their lives?

What was not mentioned is the huge percentage of homicides that are gang banger on gang banger. If you solve the gang problem and you'd eliminate a large number of gun related homicides.

Another point is that although these mass shootings get a lot of media attention and get everyone all worked up, they actually account for a very small percentage of gun deaths.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Thank God France has very strict gun control laws. Imagine what could have happened during their most recent terrorist attack.

If they weren't so strict and citizens had the right to carry, the carnage likely would have ended sooner. Franc's strict laws didn't hamper the shooters at all.

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

Oh, I don't disagree that the foreign policy is abysmal. The fact is ISIS exists because the administration failed to negotiate a status of forces agreement when he left Iraq. I believe that many of the things you mentioned are already being done. Its frustrating. But if we go back into the area plan to be there for a long, long, long, time and we will spend Billions and many lives will be lost. And we should only go if we are committed to two things, Destroy ISIS Totally and plan to battle the 7th Century Ideology that exists there.

To win a war you need two things, the commitment of the American people and the will of the local people in the country to help you destroy the enemy.

.....

You forgot this key point:

Highest officeholder in the nation actually believing and stating that the enemy SHOULD be destroyed, and doing it.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

A friend of mine also posted this on Facebook. I found it to be a very good short narrative of those of us that carry a concealed weapon. Thank you for sharing it here. I find it also interesting being a veteran and trained in using a weapon, that many would like to now disarm me. This country trained many of us to use a weapon on the battle field, why would people want to disarm us now? We may have some snow on the roof but we are still ready to defend this country and its people.

But the gun haters see us older folk that carry as loose cannons that will wildly discharge our weapons. That is far from what will happen. Those with ccl's that do carry (and why wouldn't they) will be a first line of defense against these nut cases with weapons.

[Justus]

It's probably too simple an idea to say that anti-Second Amendment folks should identify themselves so that when the terrorists come around, they know who are sympathizers and who we crazy gun-toting cowboys are. This way, I'm sure no harm will come to them. A little lapel pin, perhaps, or small sign in a window saying "No Gun Zone" would suit me just fine.

[Justus]

Originally Posted by Cathy H

begin by re-instating the national law to stop selling automatic military rifles to anyone; then offer buy-back for assualt-type rifles now out there (like they did in Australia); stop all gun-show sales that do not do back-ground checks; strengthen the background check system for all gun purchases; do not allow ownership of multiple guns; introduce new gun safety technology in gun manufacture. 32000 americans die from gunshots every year. your cheap shot at our President was not appreciated.

Australia's violent crime rate surged after they removed guns from the general population. And you've obviously never been to a gun show or you'd know that you cannot buy a weapon at any one of them without a background check; they are also well-monitored by the authorities.

Every fascist government has disarmed its citizens. If you've read about the African villages that have been annihilated recently, you know that Boko Haram, a radical Islamic group, does it before a massacre...it's the only way to ensure no resistance.

Closer to home, the government went door-to-door after Hurricane Katrina and confiscated the legal weapons of law-abiding citizens before they were forced to evacuate to mass shelters. Thugs still were able to smuggle weapons into the shelters and used the against the defenseless. There were rapes, robberies, beatings as a result...thugs doing what thugs do best.

[Steve9930]

These discussions can go on forever but I thought I would lend a few thoughts before this ends.

1st in this day and age you have to be vigilant. When in large crowds be aware of what is going on about you and where the exits are located. Loud popping noises today are probably not fireworks.

2nd if you decide to exercise your 2nd Amendment Rights get some training and practice with your weapon so as to be proficient. Remember once you fire that weapon you own that bullet no matter where it eventually comes to a stop. Many of the gun ranges, the NRA, and a other places provide firearms training.

3rd Be aware of what is going on in the neighbor, as I doubt there are people in this area planning an event you may hear something from someone else. Law enforcement can be very discreet about looking into something. See something, say something.

Remember your security is your responsibility. In most cases law enforcement shows up to write the report. They can't be everywhere instantly.

[tomwed]

Before the terrorist attack in Paris I flew to NY. I was one of the first people to board. I got confused because my assigned seat was in the back of the plane. When I sat down I noticed a briefcase under the empty seat next to me. I quickly got the stewardess because that's what you're supposed to do if you see something not right. She saw the bag and told me the owner was in the back bathroom and thanked me.

It's peculiar to me why I first thought bomb instead of bathroom. And before 9/11 I probably would not have said anything.

[goodtimesintv]

Originally Posted by tomwed

Before the terrorist attack in Paris I flew to NY. I was one of the first people to board. I got confused because my assigned seat was in the back of the plane. When I sat down I noticed a briefcase under the empty seat next to me. I quickly got the stewardess because that's what you're supposed to do if you see something not right. She saw the bag and told me the owner was in the back bathroom and thanked me.

It's peculiar to me why I first thought bomb instead of bathroom. And before 9/11 I probably would not have said anything.

Bravo for you. We all should speak up. This is one example of why people fear doing so. If this were said today, the U.S. Attorney General would already be prosecuting him for saying an honest, harmless personal observation that speaks for many across the nation....and everyone knows and can see his openness every day on television.

"[Liberal commentator Juan] Williams responded: "Look, Bill, I'm not a bigot. You know the kind of books I've written about the civil rights movement in this country.

But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous."

NPR Fires Juan Williams 2010
NPR Ends Juan Williams' Contract After Muslim Remarks : NPR

[Cedwards38]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Does anyone think that changing gun laws or if by some way all guns were removed from the populace and all things like gun shows were abolished that we would not still have the extreme problem that is so frightening in this world?


Our all inclusive morality is making it easier. Our foundation of religious freedom is making it easier. Our fight against all hatred and our acceptance of diversity is making it easier. Our very politeness and being raised to be fair is making it easier for an ugly and horrible ideology to spread and sneak around and lay waiting to kill us, the infidels.

I don't know, but other advanced and developed countries that have taken some steps to control guns have more success than we do in avoiding gun violence.

http://www.newsweek.com/gun-control-...untries-379105

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I don't know, but other advanced and developed countries that have taken some steps to control guns have more success than we do in avoiding gun violence.

http://www.newsweek.com/gun-control-...untries-379105

The history of the frontier and myths around it still resonate within American culture. Growing up in Reno, Nevada sure gave me different attitudes towards rifles/handguns than those I have heard from people who were brought up in more urban areas like Chicago, DC, New York City, etc.

It was different though in the Twin Cities to a certain extent as many people there still seemed to hunt/fish/camp and the like.

There does not seem to be any simple solution to this but watching out for one another and getting back a sense of community in many areas. That seems like a matter of local governments, organizations, etc., and not something done by bureaucrats.