I’m a bit leery about requiring firearms training classes to buy and/or carry a gun. The gun control crowd might try to do the same thing South Africa did, and severely limit the number of classes that are held, and the number of students that can attend each class.

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Election 2008 – Addicted to Placebos

Might? Did you notice what happened with the program to have airline pilots carry?

The states which require classes typically have the classes run by private enterprise. This seems to work out well.

If the government is running the classes, you can expect them to be expensive, cumbersome, and rare.

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In case you were wondering, yes, there really ARE more idiots these days....technology has made natural selection obsolete.

Alas, I am poor and have not been able to purchase a gun yet. Because I tend to think of them as tools rather than weapons which causes me to forget and get kicked out of bars, I also no longer carry a knife. At home, in addition to a knife collection, I have a club which stays by my bed. It is the best tool I currently have for defense. When the time comes that I can purchase a gun, I'll likely carry since I was taught from a young age to think of them as a weapon and not make the mistake I make with knives.

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During the journey we commonly forget its goal. Almost every profession is chosen as a means to an end but continued as an end in itself. Forgetting our objectives is the most frequent act of stupidity.
-Friedrich Nietzsche, The Wanderer and his Shadow

All good socialists have villas in Southern France. That's not the point.
-Eurosocialist

My wife teaches at 34th & Paseo. I used to live at 37th & Warwick. I'm a regular visitor to the "hood" for myriad reasons. In fact, I'm looking at a house at 4th & Benton. Never felt a reason to be strapped. . .

I've got many friends from down your way. An attorney in Jackson, a newscaster in Cape, some other folks down in Sikeston, New Madrid, Kennett, Hayti, & Portageville. I know those haunts well. . .

BTW, I am married to my cousin. What's wrong with that?

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

I've been to Wyoming MANY, MANY times. I can understand carrying a firearm to fend off some cantankerous wildlife, but the people are so amiable I couldn't imagine that the crime-rate is very high.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

I have used handguns on many occasions, for target shooting and in the forces.

I do not own a handgun (they are banned in the UK after a school massacre). I did not agree with the ban. You have never been allowed to carry as a civilian. In fact you cannot carry a knife at any time. My best mate had a knife in his car when he was stopped and searched by the police (brake light). He was put in jail for 2 nights and is facing a criminal charge of being in possession of an offensive weapon. Whilst I think this is mental, the law is a good one - no-one should be allowed to carry a gun/knife on their person regardless. If I carry a knife then sure enough one-day I'll come across someone with a machete

I do own an air rifle and 2 air pistols that I use for target shooting on an irregular basis.

Can I ask though, why is it that so many people posting require to have a gun/knife in their possession. Is the crime rate so bad?

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'They'd rather be alive than free, I guess. Poor dumb bastards.' Private Eightball - Full Metal Jacket

The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected
- Sun Tzu, the Art of War

Is it true that British police dont carry handguns?

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It all comes down to this on election day: Are you a racist, or do you look down on spastics?

You can take the boy outta' the hood, but you can't take the hood outta' the boy.

Nice to hear he's living the "clean life", but he should always be viewed with some level of suspicion...

I absolutely believe I can act with a clear mind in that situation. One should not be carrying a firearm otherwise...

It was a pretty integral part of my training. I not only had the weapon grabbed, but also did the grabbing. For every move, there is a counter-move...

Huh?

I have absolutely no doubt in my ability to adequately control my sidearm.

None...

Well, I'm not all too concerned with what you would give a second thought to. I am absolutely confident in my abilities with a firearm, and have been through training for escalation of force and the use of deadly force...

Criminals are, more often than not, pussies. They rely, in large part, on the ability to "scare" their victim.

I don't scare easily...

If I felt threatened enough to draw my weapon, I wouldn't say a word. I would draw my weapon and fire. Like I said earlier, once I make the determination to draw my weapon, the decision as to whether or not it's going to be fired has already been made...

I suppose the person could try to throw a rock at me...

I'm not even sure what that means...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Someone who carries a weapon, and is unwilling to fire it, shouldn't be carrying a gun...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Yes and no. The general duties police officer doesn't routinely carry any firearms at all. There are specially armed patrols in some forces (notably the Metropolitan Police in London). In Northern Ireland (part of Britain) all police carry firearms on duty (they used to prohibit women officers but I think they carry now). Scottish police are generally unarmed, but I believe they have armed units.

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"There were no D-Day Heroes in 1973" - Cold Chisel Khe Sanh

The Ada County Sheriff in Boise, Idaho offers classes, and I believe they are free. But you don't have to take them, you just have to prove that you have had firearms training. This includes, but is not exclusive to: military service (DD214), hunters safety classes, and private concealed carry or defensive shooting lessons, and there are plenty of instructors. Then you pay your fees (about $56 dollars), and wait approximately 90 days for the background check, etc. But the class the sheriff's office offers is free (I think) and does not even involve handling an acutal firearm!

My wife and I are going to get CCW permits, because we camp a lot, and it would be easier when doing so to keep a firearm in the glove box than locked up in the back of our vehicle. Keeping a gun in your glove compartment is considered a concealed weapon, hence the need for a permit. So my wife is going to take the Sheriff's class, and I am just going to show them my army discharge papers.

I carry a knife on me at all times, but that is just because they are so handy. It's not the crime rate, it's convenience.

What I find funny is how civilised we have become in such a short time. Hard to believe that a mere three hundred years ago people (men and women) carried a knife on their person at all times. Odd, that now we find someone who regularly carries one uncommon.

Odd post for an anarchist! Idaho is a great place. I could tell some stories about Mountain Home!!!!

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

It is an odd post for an anarchist. But I'm an odd anarchist, so it fits. In my youth, I would not have bothered with a permit, but now I'm married to someone who is a bean-counter, not an anarchist. So I have to cross my eyes and dot my tees now, if you know what I mean.

And I have clients in Mountain Home, and have done a lot of boating in that area, so I know what you mean.