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

{[caer csd] glad to know all went well for Marv, thanks G7}

'An armed society is a polite society'?

I'll never understand those of the Americans who think it's a human right to own a gun - not when most cases of people shot to death in the US are accidental, commited by 'ordinary' law-abiding citizens, sometimes by members of the own family (quoting a US coroner with 20 years of practice).

'Guns don't kill people - people kill people' - yadda, yadda, heard it too many times - how come more people are killed each year in the US than in all of the European countries added together?

I don't necessarily agree with arming everyone, T. However, an implied threat often stops bad situations.

[Amy]

I'm glad to hear that Marv is doing well.

Guns, I don't like 'em. I subscribe to the avoidance technique for handling threats. I'm quite happy to run away and report an incident to the appropriate authority.

That implies that I trust those authorities to handle the situation properly. I do not real feel all that confident. But I still would rather hope that the system works the way it is supposed to.

well, maybe it's the born-and-bred american in me that is inclined to agree with Gw7en. however, i also think the screening process that one undergoes to buy a gun should include an intensive IQ test.

one has to take into account the fact that those who aren't careful enough with their guns are the ones who have accidents with them. i grew up in a house with guns, and my father taught me both how to handle and respect them. we've never had anything close to an accident, and i've been handling them for years. it's when people get stupid and careless that accidents happen.

It's not just accidents though. I think it is significant that it is the British police who are some of the most verocious opponants of arming... the police (we have this debate (quite rightly) when some poor copper gets hurt in the line of duty). The police feel, I gather, that thier being armed would 'force' criminals to arm themselves (more than they are already), leading to... well, you can imagine.

In short, I don't think that a gun can disuade people from coming after you, it just means they come after you with a gun. It just ups the anti.

I'm not saying that America could go back realistically to a situation before evryone and his dog had a gun, but I'll jolly well fight to keep them out of Britain for as long and as far as possible.

{[caer csd] My Dad inherited a Boer War vintage rifle, few months later there was an amnesty by the Metropolitan Police for guns, knives etc. So he thought he had better phone the local nick and see what he should do about the rifle. He was visited the next day by an firearms officer, who ensured that the rifle was disabled and safely stored in the attic. Dad said the officer was very helpful and even advised him where to go should he want to restore it to working order and the necessary lisencing forms he would require.

However Dad completely forgot to tell him about the two Naval swords, Gurkha Kukri and Army sword he also has in his attic!}

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[Amy]

thank you all for the kind thoughts, they are a reak help. I am likely not going to be able to post muh this weekend but will do so as I am able.

marv

*Sends good thoughts to Marv*
Just took a look at your user page - I like Pratchett and Pink Floyd, too!

Thanks for the welcome, Caerwynn - and that sounds like ~my~ dad!

I've pretty much given up on finding the Pullman thread for the moment, though I ran across part of it. I'll take up the search in the States in a few weeks, where Internet time is free. I'd like to join the conversation, though, if I may.

*Sends good thoughts to Marv*
Just took a look at your user page - I like Pratchett and Pink Floyd, too!

Thanks for the welcome, Caerwynn - and that sounds like ~my~ dad!

I've pretty much given up on finding the Pullman thread for the moment (), though I ran across part of it. I'll take up the search in the States in a few weeks, where Internet time is free. I'd like to join the conversation, though, if I may.

Indeed you may!

And good to hear that everything is as well as can be expected on the Marv front!

[Amy] *waves to Nora* pats Marv, but not on the knees*

Marv

T. i occasonally conversed in franglais too, and will be sad to see it go...

Thanks all, doing a little better than I was this morning. I missed one of my pain med doese and was in a great deal of agony this morning.

Nora, welcome to the conversation. Hope to chat more soon.

A pity pain killers take a while to kick in - unless you get an injection, of course...

Nora, I think the Pullman conversation was weaved into the usual threads of conversation, and I'm afraid it'd take quite a lot of backlog trawling to find the postings - nice to see a new face though!

Does anyone have any idea about where my self-refilling bubbly bottle is? Odd - those jellos didn't look civilized enough to me to appreciate that kind of beverage...

sea, isn't this a bit like what you did?
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one of my friends dads has shells lying around his house...i *think* theyre disarmed...but im not sure...