Texsox

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Apr 17, 2007 -> 09:47 AM) Tex, when does the situation you proposed ever really happen in states with concealed carry permits? As it stands, I'm completely defenseless against those thugs. They can do anything they want and I really can't stop them since they're armed and I'm not. Same situation yesterday at VT. And, really, saying "hundreds of guns" or "everyone has a gun" is just a straw man. Only people who wanted to take the time to get certified and spend several hundred or thousand dollars on guns and ammo would be carrying, not every single person. The only situation I can remember when a "good Samaritan" who was carrying, stopped a massacre like this was a few months back in Utah. Guess what? He was an off duty cop. I don't want a bunch of Rambo wannabes getting in the way of police, confusing the situation, and shooting around me or my family. I'll take my chances with one psycho and law enforcement. More guns ratchets up the violence. Criminals aren't going to stop because you might be carrying, they will just become more likely to shoot. After all they are criminals who are using a gun already. These criminals have already crossed a threshold beyond the smash and grab guys and petty thieves.

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 17, 2007 -> 09:41 AM) One more gun in the hands of a responsible person, easily differentiated from the murdering gunman, on that campus would have stopped this. Fixed. Or perhaps a murdering, psycho with a knife instead of a gun.

QUOTE(StrangeSox @ Apr 17, 2007 -> 09:26 AM) That's just a flawed argument based on emotions and not reason. Besides, its not like they'd be handing out guns at the doors. Only people who really wanted to get CCW permits and pay several hundred dollars for guns would be carrying. Given the amount of armed robberies on campus here lately, maybe these thugs would think twice if they knew their victim my also be packing. I am certain you would feel safer that the paranoid guy who you just accidentally brushed into is now screaming at you and *might* be carrying a weapon. Of course you could pull out your gun to protect yourself. But then three other guys, who don't know if you're some wacko pull out theirs and we have a party! The true thugs know that honest people are hesitant to pull a trigger and kill someone. Texas executes hundreds, has a concealed permit system, and Texas isn't safer than any other state. Y'all ain't taking my guns, but hundreds of guns in that building would not have prevented this and may have made it worse.

QUOTE(hitlesswonder @ Apr 17, 2007 -> 09:09 AM) I don't see how anyone right now can argue against a concealed carry law. You can see the result of guns being banned on the VTU campus. I don't see how there can be any debate on this subject. I would be more than happy to debate. When you leave your classroom and see a guy down the hall carrying a gun, shooting, he quickly turns as he hears you approaching, do you shoot at him? Too bad, you just murdered someone, that's a guy shooting at the *real* shooter. Now picture the scene when you apologize to his mother for killing her son because you thought he was the shooter, or apologizing to a husband because you missed the shooter and killed an innocent bystander. How much regular practice and training do you have with your weapon? Are you looking at the background in case you miss? Imagine twelve people running around with guns when the cops arrive? Who do they shoot first?

QUOTE(Jenksismyb**** @ Apr 17, 2007 -> 08:39 AM) Bingo. It's somewhat ironic, but I agree with the gun control advocates on almost everything except taking away my guns The home protection argument I rejected as soon as I had kids. To be effective, you may have only seconds to wake up and have your gun ready. That means loaded with one on top and no locks. A dangerous recipe with kids around. By the time you grab. load, and unlock it is probably too late. I don't want every hot headed asshole to have a gun next to him while he drives. I don't think someone needs a gun while shopping at WalMart. Hunting, Skeet, Trap, Target shooting, lots of fun, and can be accomplished while your guns stay locked in the trunk between your range and home. And I would encourage anyone who has never shot a gun to find a local range and fire off a few before judging.

I was holding this analogy back a couple years ago but thought I'd toss it out there today. A couple years ago I felt that eventually there would be some great parallels in Bush and Carter's Presidencies. Good, decent men, but largely ineffective as President. Now I'm thinking Carter will be judge better based on the death toll in Iraq. Although I am certain the GOP crowd will point to Iraq in placing him ahead of Carter. Either way, Bush fails in any comparison heading back to Carter. I have and still do think Bush is a decent, moral, man. Starting six months or so after 9/11 his Presidency started to suck and I don't think he has ever recovered, much like the Iran Hostage crippled Carter. There isn't a situation or yard stick from the economy, the US budget, gas prices, etc. that Bush and Co. hasn't blamed on 9/11 and there is probably more truth to that than false blame. Final note, some problems are too big for any one President. Sometimes timing is everything. The Beatles and Reagan benefited from the US population wanting to shed the doldrums and have some fun, feel good about themselves, and kick some ass. Clinton also sparked Americans to don't stop thinking about tomorrow. Being a cheerleader is grossly underrated in a President, but in the final count, it may be the most important thing.

The problem with this speculation is all the what ifs. In the preceding weeks and months would other kids have been killed in separate incidences because more guns were on campus. We'll never know. We also don't know how many would have been killed in this situation in crossfire and mistaken identity. The last thing several cops have told me in this situation do they want to hear are innocents are also carrying guns and shooting. That causes them to hesitate and possible put themselves in greater risk trying to figure out who is the bad guy and who is trying to help

Let's put this into perspective regarding lock downs etc. With staff, the campus population is approximately the size of Highland Park, Niles, Northbrook, or Oak Forest. Do you really expect the police to lock down those cities if they come upon what looks to be a domestic murder? Can you imagine the reaction from local businesses?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 07:48 PM) Well that depends on how much action the President takes to influence the economy. Not all fiscal tools are at the disposal of just the federal reserve bank. Things like tax rates are the control of the President and Congress, while things like interest rates, and banking reserve laws are the behest of the Fed Bank. Even not doing something, is doing something. Like almost everything, the President receives way to much credit or blame.

I do not believe a well armed militia means any American has a right to own a firearm. They are not part of a militia. So I think it is wrong to hang our hats on the Constitution. I don't believe the framers of the Constitution had Joe Sixpack with an arsenal of guns in mind when they were writing. They were thinking of men hunting for food and an all-volunteer army ready to defend the country. Of course at that time, the country could not afford a standing army. I believe there are some firearms that should be banned, fully automatic for one. I believe it is wrong to take my guns away because some people use them in crimes. Those people are criminals, I am not. I have never committed a crime with a gun or otherwise and should not be punished. Anymore than prohibition to end drunk driving.

Listening to the coverage it appears that the first incidence was almost a classic domestic murder, and really no way tit foreshadowed the second. It also seems that it may turn out to be two different tragedies, linked only by time and location.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 12:15 AM) This reminds me of the days of Beastly. I miss the kid Nice catch Abo, I thought we'd been down this alley before, I couldn't remember who.

I wish I had more positive thoughts, but as I heard that this is now the deadliest in US history, my first thought was someone will see that as a challenge.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 16, 2007 -> 12:07 PM) Um, I hate to break this to you BS, but the very first thing on the list is a complete lie, unless by strongest economy every, you mean in recession within 6 weeks. Actually looking over that the great majority of the economic figures are either a result of the recession he inhertited, or as a result of 9-11. I always like when facts are distorted, or just made into out right lies. Which begs the question, should Presidents ever receive credit or blame for the economy?

another Maxxim list?

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 09:48 PM) Aloha, Don. Alas, you can now enjoy your eternal rest while I'm stuck here with friggin' Tiny Bubbles probably going through my head all night now. What does Ho have to do with your home brews? Isn't that a function of the yeast?

QUOTE(Soxy @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 12:51 PM) Hahaha Best cubs joke I've seen in a very long time.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 15, 2007 -> 08:37 PM) Not to really stir the pot... but... do you really know King's history beyond the "history books"? I'll go away now. There was and is only one Jesus.

I was going to mention technology and the internet. On a personal note, titanium. Helped my golf game and my backpacking.

Noon start, University of Texas- Pan American Broncs vs. the Panthers of Prairieview A&M Weather bright sunny in the 70s, slight breeze. 2-3 Pitchers duel with the winning run coming across in the top of the ninth. Seeing some of the player's moms from out of town, who drove down for the game. Decent refreshments. Great friend to share it with. Maybe 100 fans. Kids running and diving for souvenir balls. The Broncs mascot working the crowd, ok, trying to get the hot sorority girls to dance with him on the bleachers. Free parking, $5 tickets, sit anywhere there isn't someone already sitting. Cheesy college/minor league cheers, example: Announcer dude: Now batting for the visiting Panthers, number 22 Vince McQueen Fans: WHHHOO? Announcer: McQueen Fans: Cares! And then his mom adds, I Do! The sound of balls slapping into the leather, the *ping* of aluminum. OK that part sucks.

To Don Ho's family and friend To Kid,

I might not move back by then. It would be about the time for an Olympics in the US.

What would you do today if you knew you could not fail?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Apr 13, 2007 -> 06:54 PM) I disagree, but whatever. You'll always see it that way. Which part are you disagreeing with? A. That it is going poorly or B. Bush won't admit it?

It's has settled in with me on this simple fact. If what Imus said was this damaging, how did anyone survive No Black signs on pools, bathrooms, bars, hotels? Let's start a dialog on the lack of opportunities for blacks in higher management. Let's look at the average amount of money spent on educating our poor versus our wealthy in public schools. Why would we choose to waste this much time over a piss ant comment and make it seem like God himself made the comment? If I was King, I'd be crying in my grave. These girls are harmed by these words? Damn, King would have them standing proud, standing tall, and telling Imus he "ain't getting in their heads". Instead we have some opportunist enablers telling them how it will harm them and the entire community. Sharpton and Jackson are handing them a damn crutch when they should be handing them a hammer and telling them to build something from that comment. And I'll be honest, I was a huge fan of Jesse's in the seventies and eighties. If you have a chance to go back and read some of his campaign speeches he was dead on with many of the economic problems that would facing Americans in the coming decades. #1 was outsourcing being a bigger threat than foreign companies moving to America. Now he's a detriment. A one speech caricature of himself. I place him alongside Teddy Kennedy .