ATTN. SPECOPS AND GECKO45 my secret username is CIDDECEP and I am your S2. My authorization code is Six Wun Quebec Oscar Fife. Your presence here is tactically dangerous and compromises our overall mission parameter. Cease and desist all activity on this board. Our "enemies" are deft at computer hacking and may trace you back to our primary locale. You have forced me to compromise my situation to protect your vulnerable flank. This issue will be addressed later.

While turning what was once a crime (marijuana use or possession) into a legal act will eliminate the instances of crime for that act (obviously, since it's no longer a crime), don't kid yourself into believing that anyone in the drug trade will suddenly pick up their newspapers and look for a legitimate job. Criminals do illegal things for profit because they are more profitable than the same amount of effort in a legal enterprise, and they feel the benefits outweigh the risks of getting caught. Legalizing drugs will not completely eliminate the illegal drug trade, nor will it put any significant dent in the violent crime rate among career criminals and the collateral damage their activities produce.

Old data on defense uses of firearms, from 1995: http://www.guncite.com/gcdgklec.html I haven't done the research recently but since concealed carry permits are available in more states now than 1995, I might be inclined to think the defensive use has gone up, or at least been maintained with population growth. The problem with data like this is, generally a victim that deters a crime with no witnesses might not even report the crime ever happened. You'd be surprised how many failed crimes don't get reported, regardless of the reason for the failure. Child deaths, 12 was off the top of my head. It ranges depends on how you view the data. Here's the stuff I've found for 2002/2003. If you count all firearm related deaths (which include intentional homocide, accidental police shootings, suicides, etc) they're only 2.73 times more likely to die from motor vehicle. If you only count accidental deaths, they are 50 times more likely to die by automobile. Sorry for spreading misinformation. http://www.childdeathreview.org/Nat'l%20Data%20Webpage%202002_files/US2002.pdf http://www.childdeathreview.org/2003%20Data/US2003.pdf I personally find it interesting how consistent the data is from year to year.

You also don't hear about the over 2 million crimes stopped every year from law abiding citizens using their right to self defense. Or that those children are 12 times more likely to die in an automobile accident. Just accept what the media and the government tells you and all will be well.

'Yuppie sports', that (aside from perhaps biking) grew directly out of survival and exploration skills? As opposed to stick-and-ball sports that serve no purpose except for recreation and exercise? I guarantee I've learned many more useful skills through camping, kayak fishing, climbing, and hiking than any sport involving a ball. REI might market to the urban wannabe adventurer, but the products they carry are actually quite good and the sports they promote are far more intriguing than any spectator sport.