barmar Posted June 23, 2015 Report Share Posted June 23, 2015 Tell that to a million or so Rwandan who were slaughtered with machetes.A single person went on a machete rampage and killed millions of people? I doubt it. "Mass killings" doesn't include when there are massive numbers of perpetrators (like an army or militia). It also doesn't include serial murders (e.g. the Unabomber). It's one person killing multiple people at about the same time, like Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon, and last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenberg Posted June 23, 2015 Report Share Posted June 23, 2015 Laws and attitudes interact of course, and somehow we have to change both. Take everyone's favorite example, George Zimmerman. What sort of moron follows someone around if he thinks that person is, or might well be, dangerous? Answer: A moron with a gun who has bought into the idea that the gun will keep him safe. I have known people like this, probably most everyone, at least here in the US, has known someone like this. They are by no means prepared to defend themselves without a gun and they way overestimate their ability to defend themselves with a gun. Even if they are successful in their defense they are apt to go to jail. Me, if I saw someone who I thought was dangerous, maybe because I think in stereotypes, maybe because I know something about him, maybe a lot of reasons, I would not follow him. I sure as hell would not get out of my car and follow him down a path. Not carrying a gun makes you smarter. A guy carrying a gun does not have to act stupidly, but it seems to be a good deal more tempting. I gave up hunting in my early 20s. I came to the remarkable conclusion that I was not really a re-incarnation of Daniel Boone and I looked a bit silly pretending that I was. And I am not Matt Dillon either. Not even Clint Eastwood. As mentioned, many of the things in the comedy routine occurred to me and no doubt to others. A guy breaks into my house. I tell him to hold on for a bit while I go unlock my safe, get the gun out and load it. No, it doesn't work that way. Mostly if you really want to use a gun for protection you first have to load it and then go out and do something so stupid that you need to fire it in self-protection. Anyway, we need to find some way to deal with this. Not for my safety, I can pretty much avoid the problem, but it can tear neighborhoods apart. I'm off to the West Coast tomorrow, so do your best to work this out in my absence. I expect a full solution on my desk when I return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barmar Posted June 24, 2015 Report Share Posted June 24, 2015 I'm off to the West Coast tomorrow, so do your best to work this out in my absence. I expect a full solution on my desk when I return.A homework assignment during summer break? Sigh... or "What I did on Summer Vacation: I solved the problem of racial tension in America. Oh, I also went to the beach, that was fun!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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