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10715. alistairconnor - 2/20/2013 3:40:36 PM No north/south gradient in Europe.
Among EU countries, the highest death rate is the Netherlands (slightly north of centre), followed by... Finland and Portugal.
(I'm tempted to say : bang goes that theory) 10716. iiibbb - 2/20/2013 4:18:27 PM There may be other factors in Europe given the culture and population densities.
The North American continent is a little more homogeneous.
The pattern holds in South America, and in the Asia/South Pacific islands. Russia doesn't count because all of those deaths are on the western side... nothing in Siberia.
So I don't think the theory is meritless...
and Oh snap!, it's seasonal too.
So it's good thing you didn't say bang!... it was pointed at your face :P 10717. iiibbb - 2/20/2013 4:19:59 PM Double snap 10718. thoughtful - 2/22/2013 3:39:49 AM NOVA had a program on what makes a rampage killer and there was an interesting quote: we need to make mental health care more readily available than guns..... 10719. iiibbb - 2/22/2013 4:01:00 PM I saw one proposal in the news the other day (no link) where some people are proposing liability insurance for guns as a means to prevent gun violence.
Now aside from the fact that it makes no sense (my homeowners/renters policy covers my firearms liability), and just seems like a way for some 1 percenter to make a shit-ton of money.
How does insurance prevent anything?
This is what passes for common sense gun control? Democrats had better be careful how feverish they get to take these massacres out on the people who had nothing to do with them.
10720. iiibbb - 2/22/2013 4:03:28 PM People I have discussed with this have said the insurance is to cover what happens when the gun is stolen. Why would I keep a policy on a gun that is stolen? How long would I have to pay for it after it was no longer in my possession?
That's not how car insurance works... I'm not liable for something some car thief does with my car after it is stolen. 10721. arkymalarky - 2/22/2013 4:15:52 PM I think it's an excellent idea. I've personally known of several accidental deaths involving other people's guns. 10722. arkymalarky - 2/22/2013 4:16:37 PM You should be at least as responsible for your gun as you are your car. 10723. iiibbb - 2/22/2013 4:32:48 PM Homeowners/renters insurance covers liability in general for accidents...but I guess there are people who don't have that.
Not sure how you would insure criminals.
What happens after the gun leaves my possession by theft or otherwise? I'm going to cancel that policy. So there will be a number of uninsured guns out there.
At the end of the day the coverage is likely to be pretty inexpensive.
10724. Wombat - 2/22/2013 5:31:26 PM You are also going to report the gun as stolen, one hopes, and provide information about it (make, model, serial number) to law enforcement, correct? 10725. iiibbb - 2/22/2013 6:49:50 PM I would insured or not.... what does insurance do to prevent accidents or crime? 10726. judithathome - 2/22/2013 7:27:44 PM Democrats had better be careful how feverish they get to take these massacres out on the people who had nothing to do with them.
Am I allowed to get feverish about the sequester? Republicans seem determined to punish the public when we had nothing to do with that insane proposal...which BOTH parties voted for in order to force themsleves to act sensibly...now, they can't even accomplish what that crazed thing was supposed to force them into...I had nothing to do with that but if I decide to fly somewhere after sequester goes into effect, it may take 4 hours or more to get onto the plane...which will be flying in air with far fewer air traffic controllers.
Same with gun laws...you have to look at the whole ball of wax, not just some niche support from gun owners who live in fear of the government.
10727. iiibbb - 2/22/2013 7:37:12 PM Judith, I think the economy/sequester is the Democrat's mandate right now. They should hammer the Republicans hard over it. I think that adding gun control to the ball of wax, creates instability in the mandate. Which could mean no solution to the economy/sequester come 2014.
I'm do not want to trade a budget fix for gun control. That's not why I've been voting Democrat. 10728. iiibbb - 2/22/2013 7:39:57 PM It seems though that my understanding of politics was wrong. It's not about having platforms and finding compromises... it's creating stalemates until the party has an advantage and then getting as much shoved down the throats of moderates as the party possibly can get away with. 10729. judithathome - 2/22/2013 10:57:32 PM Well, you just nailed what politics TODAY is all about...and will be about until Republicans gain the Senate and the Presidency.
Then, everything will be just ducky because they can do what they want...which, if they allow the sequester to go through, will be what THEY want because they have shown since Obama was elected...it's what they want to happen.
Everyone seems to forget that this "compromise" of the sequester was so bad, it was believed that no one in their right minds would vote FOR it to happen...funny, in that the left gave credence to the right that they would SEE it was madness to let it happen. As usual, giving too much credit to the right that they would do the sane thing and come together to defeat it.
10730. robertjayb - 2/24/2013 12:07:02 AM Sunday, Bloody Sunday...
WASHINGTON (AP) — Guest lineups for the Sunday TV news shows:
ABC's "This Week" — Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.
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NBC's "Meet the Press" — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood; Govs. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., and Bobby Jindal, R-La.
___
CBS' "Face the Nation" — Education Secretary Arne Duncan; Govs. Martin O'Malley, D-Md., Bob McDonnell, R-Va., Jan Brewer, R-Ariz., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa.; Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and Tim Kaine, D-Va,
___
CNN's "State of the Union" — LaHood; Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.; Gov. Daniel Malloy, D-Conn.
___
"Fox News Sunday" — Govs. Jack Markell, D-Del., and Scott Walker, R-Wis.; Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla.
Wonder if Holder and the ever-vigilant justice department will be commended for bravery in taking on Lance Armstrong after cutting infinite slack for Wall Street criminals.
Interesting priorities.
10731. alistairconnor - 2/25/2013 10:40:23 AM iiibbb: "There may be other factors in Europe given the culture and population densities. "
Centuries of war leading to maturity in public attitudes and public policy. This leads to a willingness to accord a monopoly of violence to the public authority, with the concession of that fraction of theoretical freedom.
There may well be a biological or anthropological tendency to higher levels of violence in warmer climates. The European example shows that this can be overcome. I don't believe in any sort of exceptionalism, beit Jewish, American or European. We're all human, and we are all capable of getting along together peacefully. 10732. alistairconnor - 2/25/2013 10:50:15 AM 
Is there anyone here who would oppose taking their toys away from these sociopaths?
10733. iiibbb - 2/25/2013 5:01:44 PM Can you take their toys away without impacting mine?
That's the rub. People like me greatly outnumber the asshats IMHO... and it seems those in favor of gun control want to use a very heavy handed government to squelch the asshats with very little consideration of how that heavy hand impacts other people and seemingly no recognition with the precedent such a heavy hand makes.
Some gun controllers are so rabid about it they literally don't care how it impacts other people... but of course those are the ones who are for prohibition... which I tend to consider with almost the same regard I hold the asshats in the picture 10734. robertjayb - 2/25/2013 6:06:23 PM The Founding Fathers on the Second Amendment
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788
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"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …"
Richard Henry Lee
writing in Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republic, Letter XVIII, May, 1788.
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"The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full posession of them."
Zachariah Johnson
Elliot's Debates, vol. 3 "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution."
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"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …"
Samuel Adams
quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, August 20, 1789, "Propositions submitted to the Convention of this State"
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The Founding Fathers on Arms
"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington
First President of the United States
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"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."
Thomas Paine
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"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
Richard Henry Lee
Rather more than "toys" I believe.
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