h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am thoroughly impressed.
I have an appreciation of the histories, functions, and beauties of the much misused and misunderstood firearm.
I do, however, have difficulty understanding a society that says it is for a child to learn openly about and use a firearm, but it is not for that same child to learn openly about expressing their emotions in a healthy way.
People think nothing about seeing acts of violence everywhere we turn, but they freak out if they see a couple giving each other a fond kiss (as opposed to 'making out in public').
It is true! Children learn what they live!

You'll pleased to note that handling guns, even toy ones, by children is no longer universally appreciated ostensibly due to concerns about terrorism, criminal activity or such.

I think prohibitions against children seeing or handling guns or seeing displays of sex are symptomatic of the extent that tyranny has advanced in the world. Both activities establish local sovereignty or self-determination at the expense of state sanctioned or imperial sovereignty. Both, therefore, are discouraged.

In most urban centres, guns, even toy ones, will get one arrested, if one is seen to be in possession of such in public. (I used to work as a community services volunteer in the city, and saw a youth arrested for pointing a water gun at a passing motorist).
However, in our community, "playing" with guns is a "natural" past time. It is tantamount to a "rite of passage", in 'Hillbillyville'.
For instance, my house was just shot, less than an hour ago. A very rude awakening in the middle of the night! I believe it was my neighbors, who also happen to be 'White Supremists', and do not like us, for many unusual reasons (most of which I believe they do not even understand, or are able to articulate coherently).
These people regularly shoot things - living and non-living, just for 'family fun'. (Especially if alcohol is involved). The horse across the road has bb's embedded in it's rump, as a result of the neighbor's children goofing around today. These children think it is terribly funny to do such a thing, and brag about it to other kids on the ride to school in the mornings.
The 4 year old daughter of these wonderful neighbors, swears like a sailor, as a simple matter of everyday conversation. They all tell one another to "**** off", and I have never heard any one of them say "I love you" to each other.
I constantly tell my children I love them.
Unfortunately, these neighbors of ours are the penultimate of examples of why stupid people should not be allowed to own firearms. They contribute to the ignorance and fear experienced by people in regard to both weaponry, and affection.
I shall inevitably continue calling them all "oxy-morons", even if they don't understand the significance.
Karen

Brandishing anything vaguely gun-like in the presence of the law in Los Angeles has a rather high probability of getting you killed.

Does one actually have to brandish? I thought simulation was more than enough, or even fitting a certain profile.

You are correct, brandishment is not strictly required.

One might conclude then that those most in need of carrying restrictions are the cops.

I would agree with you, Karen. Unfortunately, some of the stupidest people I've seen handling firearms wore badges.

If the only motive for gun control were public safety, that might also argue for the institution, but since, in most cases, the impact of such measures on public safety is minimal if it can be measured at all, one must conclude that the real reason is political control.

In our headlong attempts to control stupid people with guns, we often forget to control the stupid people we elect or who are appointed on our behalf. They, for their own part, have no problem with a disarmed society. It makes the risks of their stupidity, aka tyranny, decidedly less lethal.

In my Portland, where I reside, there was an incident a few years ago wherein a SERT team(local name for SWAT team) member shot himself 3 times in the leg and foot, by spinning a submachinegun around his finger lik a movie gunslinger.

In Portland, where I reside, there was an incident a few years ago wherein a SERT team(local name for SWAT team) member shot himself 3 times in the leg and foot, by spinning a submachinegun around his finger lik a movie gunslinger.