pudge's Journal: Gentlemen, Start Your Grandstanding

Today there was a school shooting in Tacoma. One student died, apparently at the hands of another kid, an 18-year old student. Already, certain WA politicians are trying to say that we would be safer with more gun laws.

No matter that none of the laws they are proposing -- closing the so-called "gun show loophole," banning so-called "assault weapons," requiring trigger locks and safe storage of firearms -- would have prevented this killing: it was not an "assault weapon" but a handgun, and even if this gun was taken from someone who didn't lock it up, or was purchased through a "loophole," there's no reason to think the suspect couldn't have procured a similar weapon through other legal means.

This is just politicians exploiting a tragedy to push a tangential agenda. Nothing new there, I suppose.

But this is Washington. The Seattle Mayor said Washington has some of the "weakest" gun laws in the nation. Most Washingtonians think we have some of the best gun laws in the nation, and there's a good reason why the Democrat-controlled state legislature has largely stayed away from gun control legislation: they want to retain control of the legislature.

However, this, and the recent federal election, is cause for me to consider getting an "assault weapon" this year, before it's too late. I bought a gun in December, so we have three for the household (two Ruger handguns, one S&W). I want a shotgun next, but considering the political climate, it may be more prudent to get an AR-15 or somesuch first.

Yup

[StalinsNotDead]

I would go ahead and get any weapon you anticipate being legislated against first.

Slightly On Topic:
When I went to the gun store the first time I could after the federal "assault weapon ban" expired (about two weeks), the fellow that owned the place was astounded at how many people came in wanting to purchase fully-automatic rifles. And how he had to explain that "No. You still can't get those. That law just limited the number and types of features you could have on a semi-automatic firearm." "Well that's s

Re:

[pudge]

Nod, nod, and nod. :-)

Gun laws.

[Talinom]

I used to have a concealed pistol permit, however as I never used it I let it expire. The laws are confusing at best making complience difficult.

However, this, and the recent federal election, is cause for me to consider getting an "assault weapon" this year, before it's too late.

Try the HK-91 [wikipedia.org] if you want something fun. But for ideal home defense get a shotgun.

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[dexterpexter]

I still eye the HKPRO SP89 [hkpro.com]. But the price it commands (thanks to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and the recently lapsed 1993 Executive Order making these a collector's item) makes it a bit too expensive for this lady just now. :)

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[Talinom]

Yum. That looks tasty. Ok, so it probably wouldn't taste too well, but I'm drooling.

Oh, and looking at the Wikipedia page [wikipedia.org] on the gun shows that the law expired in 2004 [wikipedia.org]. The article notes that it is no longer produced and is still in high demand.

I didn't look too hard, but what is the going rate for one of those?

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[Shadow Wrought]

It would appear to be not cheap! [gunbroker.com]

But a very cool gun nonetheless.

Why stop there?

[John M W 321]

Some people insist that the framer's intent was to guarantee barrel loaded, flint and steel fired "arms" in a well regulated militia. But others think that to keep the black helicopters away, you need to keep up with the times- semi-automatic, automatic, teflon coated. But why stop there? Modern "arms" include CBW arms- so why not whip up a batch of sarin, or VX; anthrax, or smallpox; tactical, neutron, or hydrogen? After all, it is the second amendment. We have a right- proven for over 200 years!

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[pudge]

Nice straw man!

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[John M W 321]

Nice hole you blasted in it!

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[pudge]

No need to blast a hole in a logical fallacy. It already IS a hole.

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[John M W 321]

You do keep those handguns locked, don't you? Mine is. Ammo locked separately? Keys on your chain? A unlocked gun is like having a rattlesnake in your home. And I am for gun control, including registration, confiscation for cause, and storage regulation, even more so than I am for drivers licenses that require knowing the rules of the road and good vision. What to do is not the problem, how to do it is. A smart guy like you should be for gun control also, and working out the best way, and maybe not ri

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[pudge]

You do keep those handguns locked, don't you? Mine is. Ammo locked separately? Keys on your chain? A unlocked gun is like having a rattlesnake in your home.

What does any of that have to do with anything?

How I choose to keep my guns is important. But it's none of the government's business. The proposed laws would likely not change anything about what I do, personally. But unlike many people, I oppose laws primarily on principle, not because of how the affect me personally.

And I am for gun control, including registration, confiscation for cause, and storage regulation

The latter is unnecessary, the former is either tyrannical or useless. The middle one all depends on what you mnean by "cause." If "cause" includes natural disasters, then I call that a

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[pudge]

You've been annoying for some time now: making some good points, but then refusing to comment after I raise points that prove you wrong, in whole, or in part. You appeared to be trolling several times. And I was frankly ready to Foe you after this recent post where you dared question my "needs" as if my needs are any of your business, and my wants are irrelevant. That sort of thing I take as a personal affront. But I decided it wasn't enough, I was going to give you one more chance.

But now you are troll