I read the website for my local paper 4 or 5 days a week. It's got a fair bit of liberal bias to the editorials, but that's pretty common in traditional newspapers. It's also serving a primarily left-leaning city, so it makes sense their editorial staff would match the readers political disposition.
Once in a while though one of the articles surprises me. It really seems like they don't do much research into a lot of stories, and one I read today really highlighted that. The story talked about the local police department and how some officers were getting raises and the department was getting some new guns. Seems like a pretty normal and dry story for a local beat reporter, right?
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
2012 NRA Meetings and Convention
The 2012 NRA meetings were in St Louis this year and I attended on Friday and Saturday. There were some neat toys, but one thing that really struck me.
The crowd was very skewed to people who are older, male and white. This wouldn't surprise some people since popular media reports constantly call out how old, monochrome and penis-equipped NRA members are. But in my experience at local ranges, gun shops and shooting events that doesn't represent the shooting public.
There's not a time I go to the range when 25% or more of the people there aren't women. At the range I go to the most it's common to stand in line next to a black woman, or a Hispanic dude, or an Indian couple. It's odd to be there and only see white people even though the range is in a predominately white neighborhood. I can't think of a time when I've been there and didn't see women.
The NRA show reminded me of the shooting range 20 years ago- a buncha old white dudes. Hopefully the people who attend NRA events change like I've seen in the general shooting public. The shooting community is better when everyone participates.
Also, the attendees of the show were in general less attractive on average than the general public. Or maybe I just hang out with attractive people or don't go to Wal-mart enough. But it was noticeable enough that my wife pointed it out as well. I found that interesting too.
The crowd was very skewed to people who are older, male and white. This wouldn't surprise some people since popular media reports constantly call out how old, monochrome and penis-equipped NRA members are. But in my experience at local ranges, gun shops and shooting events that doesn't represent the shooting public.
There's not a time I go to the range when 25% or more of the people there aren't women. At the range I go to the most it's common to stand in line next to a black woman, or a Hispanic dude, or an Indian couple. It's odd to be there and only see white people even though the range is in a predominately white neighborhood. I can't think of a time when I've been there and didn't see women.
The NRA show reminded me of the shooting range 20 years ago- a buncha old white dudes. Hopefully the people who attend NRA events change like I've seen in the general shooting public. The shooting community is better when everyone participates.
Also, the attendees of the show were in general less attractive on average than the general public. Or maybe I just hang out with attractive people or don't go to Wal-mart enough. But it was noticeable enough that my wife pointed it out as well. I found that interesting too.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Case for Civilian Ownership of Machine Guns
Many people are shocked when they find out there is a process by which civilians in the US can purchase and possess machine guns. Due to how the country operates manufacturing, we need these provisions. There needs to be a system by which we can permit civilians to possess all classes of firearms.
Unlike communist countries or more totalitarian regimes, the government in the US doesn't control the production of goods. In fact, the government provides very few goods for itself. Most of what it uses is designed, developed and manufactured by private companies. Whether it's light bulbs, pencils, computers, automobiles, buildings or military hardware, the process is the same. The government agency accepts bids to provide goods at a set specification. Private companies compete for these contracts to sell goods to the government agencies.
Why does this process have to do with your neighbor being able to buy a machine gun? Well, all those private companies are owned, run and staffed by regular citizens, like your neighbor. Maybe even you. Maybe you work for a company that makes pencils, or automobiles or parts for tanks. Maybe you work for Boeing and you make fighter jets. Maybe you work for Colt and you make M-16's.
Unlike communist countries or more totalitarian regimes, the government in the US doesn't control the production of goods. In fact, the government provides very few goods for itself. Most of what it uses is designed, developed and manufactured by private companies. Whether it's light bulbs, pencils, computers, automobiles, buildings or military hardware, the process is the same. The government agency accepts bids to provide goods at a set specification. Private companies compete for these contracts to sell goods to the government agencies.
Why does this process have to do with your neighbor being able to buy a machine gun? Well, all those private companies are owned, run and staffed by regular citizens, like your neighbor. Maybe even you. Maybe you work for a company that makes pencils, or automobiles or parts for tanks. Maybe you work for Boeing and you make fighter jets. Maybe you work for Colt and you make M-16's.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Why using a gun in self-defense should be a last resort
I'm sure you've seen the media coverage of the shooting in the gated community in Florida. I'm not going to comment on the event itself other than to say it's disgraceful how the media outlets and other groups have hyped it up and spun it to promote propaganda.
But let's say for purposes of discussion that despite making some bad calls, Zimmerman was justified in using deadly force. I'm not suggesting that he was or wasn't- just asking you consider that he was justified.
Look at his life now.
He has groups offering bounties on him. He's going to be ostracized in his community, and maybe even by his family. Imagine how he's treated at work now. He's had to engage the services of a lawyer and he's at risk of a civil suit for years to come. The financial impact is huge and that doesn't address the mental impact of having killed someone. Imagine the impact of that.
Was this the best possible outcome in this situation? I think we'd all agree that for Zimmerman it was not.
That's the point I'm trying to make here. If you have to shoot someone in self defense, your life is going to suck in ways you likely don't imagine right now. You'll likely be arrested and processed by your local police department. Maybe you'll even have to post bail. They will certainly take the gun used as evidence and you're unlikely to get it back, even if there is a trial. You are going to be subject to civil suits and your legal bills required to fight those could easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars. If the event makes it into the press you will likely experience scrutiny by peers and employers, perhaps even resulting in losing your job.
But let's say for purposes of discussion that despite making some bad calls, Zimmerman was justified in using deadly force. I'm not suggesting that he was or wasn't- just asking you consider that he was justified.
Look at his life now.
He has groups offering bounties on him. He's going to be ostracized in his community, and maybe even by his family. Imagine how he's treated at work now. He's had to engage the services of a lawyer and he's at risk of a civil suit for years to come. The financial impact is huge and that doesn't address the mental impact of having killed someone. Imagine the impact of that.
Was this the best possible outcome in this situation? I think we'd all agree that for Zimmerman it was not.
That's the point I'm trying to make here. If you have to shoot someone in self defense, your life is going to suck in ways you likely don't imagine right now. You'll likely be arrested and processed by your local police department. Maybe you'll even have to post bail. They will certainly take the gun used as evidence and you're unlikely to get it back, even if there is a trial. You are going to be subject to civil suits and your legal bills required to fight those could easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars. If the event makes it into the press you will likely experience scrutiny by peers and employers, perhaps even resulting in losing your job.
Options
It's a great big world out there and very rarely does a single approach work best for everyone. From education to financial matters to wardrobes, there are many different philosophies that work well for different people. As people travel on their path through life they select the approaches that work best for them. Some people are cut out to be mathematicians and other people musicians. Some people enjoy both. Humanity varies in size, physical ability and mental acuity. We are raised and educated by disparate methods and philosophies that offer similar results. This is what makes people interesting- we are amazing in our diversity.
So it seems odd to me when a society imposes a single stricture on all people. We don't think all people should be pet owners, or commute a certain distance to their job or only shop at a specific store. In many matters society is very accepting of variations. Accepting of many approaches that is, until it comes to adult romantic relationships. Most societies on this planet have very strict definitions of what an adult romantic relationship should be. People who don't adhere to this norm can be ostracized or worse.
In the first world we are raised in our youth to believe there is a single way to find fulfillment and happiness in a Relationship. (capital "R" intended) One day we will find our prince or princess, the only person in the world that is right for us, a soulmate. We will fall in love and enter into a lifelong committed monogamous relationship and live happily ever after. We see it in stories for children and adults, in movies, in school and religious teachings.
Except this almost never works.
So it seems odd to me when a society imposes a single stricture on all people. We don't think all people should be pet owners, or commute a certain distance to their job or only shop at a specific store. In many matters society is very accepting of variations. Accepting of many approaches that is, until it comes to adult romantic relationships. Most societies on this planet have very strict definitions of what an adult romantic relationship should be. People who don't adhere to this norm can be ostracized or worse.
In the first world we are raised in our youth to believe there is a single way to find fulfillment and happiness in a Relationship. (capital "R" intended) One day we will find our prince or princess, the only person in the world that is right for us, a soulmate. We will fall in love and enter into a lifelong committed monogamous relationship and live happily ever after. We see it in stories for children and adults, in movies, in school and religious teachings.
Except this almost never works.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Why I'm a libertarian, part 2
Because both ruling parties support the TSA, an agency that does nothing for safety, costs a ridiculous amount of money and is an affront to civil rights. This pleasant graphic points out many reasons why they are worse than useless.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Why I'm a libertarian (notice it's an "l", not an "L")
It's simple really. Throughout history mankind has shown us a number of things. One of the biggest is people cannot be trusted with power. People who gain power over others trend towards abusing that power. Governments given power trend towards tyranny. I think this 10 minute youtube video really highlights the common forms of governments and how they evolve. The first time I saw it I thought "YES! Why don't more people get this?" and promptly made my daughter watch it.
Topics like this should really be a syllabus for classes in high school. I think how our world governments work is much more useful to people than remembering which general won which battle in some war 200 years ago.
Topics like this should really be a syllabus for classes in high school. I think how our world governments work is much more useful to people than remembering which general won which battle in some war 200 years ago.
Monday, March 19, 2012
All Hail the Police State, part 3
You remember that division of government we didn't have until a few years ago and got along fine without? Today's hope for the future is brought to us by the Department of Homeland Security, who just inked a contract for 450 million rounds of pistol ammo. That seems like a lot to me.
Shotgun selection
This is a pretty decent video comparing the two most popular shotguns in the US, the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500. I agree with the reviewer, both are good choices, it really comes down to personal preference.
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