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rikalous World's Cutest Direwolf from Upscale Mordor (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
World's Cutest Direwolf
#118451: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:38:36 PM

Anyone who thinks guns have any purpose other than killing things are fooling themselves
Target shooting, yo. Weapons like bows and swords are used primarily for nonlethal sport these days, so I don't see how it could be an illegitimate use for guns.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118452: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:40:39 PM

Target shooting is practice for killing people. That's not anything I would consider a reasonable justification. To be sure, there are people who do it purely for sport, and exceptions could be made in that area, but it is possible to accommodate that without allowing personal ownership of lethal firearms.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118453: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:43:12 PM

This seems like a discussion for the US culture thread in my opinion.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118454: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:47:20 PM

"Pennsylvania bans bias against transgender people" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0X42M9

This one sounds legit, as opposed to that anti-anti-discrimination thing from (correct me if I'm wrong) North Carolina.

On the flip side:

"South Carolina bill aims to limit transgender access to bathrooms" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0X42GK

Also:

"Obama returns to law school to argue for his Supreme Court pick" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0X41BC

edited 7th Apr '16 1:50:42 PM by sgamer82

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118455: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:48:51 PM

Yay, Wolf. I knew I wanted to* vote for you for a reason.

* Getting pneumonia the week of the election is a bitch.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#118456: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:49:33 PM

To be sure, there are people who do it purely for sport, and exceptions could be made in that area, but it is possible to accommodate that without allowing personal ownership of lethal firearms.

Then again, the British Shooting team has to train aboard due to our gun laws. A special exemption had to be made for the 2012 Olympics.

Keep Rolling On
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#118457: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:49:57 PM

Good on you Pennsylvania. I knew there was a reason I was strongly considering moving there before remembering how poor and unqualified I am.

Oh really when?
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118458: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:50:42 PM

I've said that licensed ranges and hunting areas could rent firearms to customers as long as they returned them upon leaving. That would satisfy pretty much every need.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Demonic_Braeburn Yankee Doodle Dandy from Defective California Since: Jan, 2016
Yankee Doodle Dandy
#118459: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:52:27 PM

Rudy Giuliani to vote for, but not endorse, Donald Trump.

Bernie Sanders: I would apologize for slavery as president.

edited 7th Apr '16 1:55:39 PM by Demonic_Braeburn

Any group who acts like morons ironically will eventually find itself swamped by morons who think themselves to be in good company.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118460: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:55:19 PM

North Carolina is right. Since 2010, not only have the Republicans in the legislature rigged the distrinct map in their favour but have also launched a FULL TEA PARTY PROGRAM - voter ID, state religion, this antiantidiscrimination bill and who has more can add more. And unless a lot of GOP voters bail their party or the courts decide that it's time to cut back on the partisan redistricting, there is little way to halt them.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#118461: Apr 7th 2016 at 1:57:41 PM

North Carolina is actually pretty purple but Tea Party nutters drew the districts up to win them the state government and are now running the state as far to the right as they can.

Oh really when?
darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#118462: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:00:31 PM

[up]This. The latest comparison of partisanship across states shows NC to be the median, in fact.

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118464: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:04:44 PM

Well, Kasich is a nobody and dirty RINO for not fileting immigrants and unions enough and Cruz is waaaaay square peg round hole in NY from what I know.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
ILoveDogs Since: May, 2010
#118465: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:06:52 PM

Remember when Rudy was considered the Republican favorite for 2008?

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118466: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:09:26 PM

Also, about Bernie's apology for slavery: I would endorse that, and even consider reparations. We seriously owe African-Americans a huge debt of moral responsibility.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
AngelusNox Warder of the damned from The guard of the gates of oblivion Since: Dec, 2014 Relationship Status: Married to the job
Warder of the damned
#118467: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:10:53 PM

[up][up]

I miss Rudy.

Inter arma enim silent leges
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#118468: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:20:34 PM

[up][up][up][up]"Ted Cruz hit with 'New York values'; Trump gets Giuliani backing" - http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0X42J7

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118469: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:23:09 PM

Yep, from what I see Cruz has been having foot-in-mouth problems on the way to the New York primary.

I also wonder what kind of boon the Endless Primary must be for the news media in the US.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
darksidevoid Anti-Gnosis Weapon from The Frontiers (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: Robosexual
Anti-Gnosis Weapon
#118470: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:31:19 PM

I can't remember if we already discussed the NY Daily News interview of Sanders outside of the Israeli-Palestinian question, but in case we didn't, I'd like to offer some degree of counter-narrative to the notion circulating through the media that it was a huge fiasco for Sanders. Frankly, I'm a little tired of hearing that meme repeated.

The HuffPo source goes into a wider exploration of errors than the other sources (which focus on the banking question), for those interested.

GM: AGOG S4 & F/WC RP; Co-GM: TABA, SOTR, UUA RP; Sub-GM: TTS RP. I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and security to my new Empire.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#118471: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:33:31 PM

I am however rather unimpressed by that "Clinton is unfit for the presidency" statement.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118472: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:35:36 PM

Yeah, the "Clinton is unfit" statement is really stretching. It is using an unstated assumption as a premise: "A person who accepts Wall Street money is not fit to govern the country. Hillary Clinton accepts Wall Street money; therefore she is not fit to govern."

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#118473: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:37:18 PM

I get the impression a lot of people agree with that statement, though. Like, a fair number in this thread.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#118474: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:41:43 PM

It's a reactionary response to undirected anger. "I suffer from inequality." -> "Inequality is bad" -> "Wall Street is a symbol of inequality." -> "Wall Street is bad" -> "Wall Street gives money to people in power." -> "People in power who take Wall Street money are bad."

A logician would have a field day with that, and this is why I cannot trust Bernie. He's relying too much on rousing populist anger and not enough on the details of governance. Sort of a Missing Steps Plan that starts with, "Capitalize on people's anger to get elected," then moves on to "Win the political revolution," without any clear middle.

edited 7th Apr '16 2:43:25 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#118475: Apr 7th 2016 at 2:46:21 PM

When it comes to gun control, I'd prefer to see someone come out with background checks, mandatory training and licensing, a ban on straw purchases, and maybe bans on high-capacity magazines. (In fact, I'd also be okay with putting an RFID chip in every newly-manufactured firearm, if a scheme like that were technically possible.)

In short, I'd like to see guns face a similar regulatory scheme to cars. Both are dangerous tools with multiple legitimate uses that require training and safety regulations to be used without hurting someone, and the fact that someone under the influence of alcohol or insanity can kill innocent bystanders with either is not a reason to ban them outright. But it is a reason to tell the NRA to shut up so that responsible gun owners don't need to be tarred with their nonsense.


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