The Thread Where We Discuss Guns and Gun Control

[cardgame]

I think police should go back to using revolvers. Having only six shots available means they'll actually have to aim instead of shooting bystanders.

 

[Farm Boy]

I kinda hope that's "unarmed" in the sense that Washington University meant "unarmed" when they defined "currently attempting to chop somebody up with an axe." But I'm not necessarily hopeful.

 

[cardgame]

Apparently cops shoot like 5x more innocent/unarmed than civilians do

even though they're, like, professionals with training and experience and everything

 

[Commodore]

Seems like a lot of them have seemed to prefer AR15s instead of shotguns for the trunk. Seems roundly dippy to me, but hey. There's testosterone to go along with not making the SWAT I suppose.

Nah, it really does have everything to do with the North Hollywood Shootout in 1997. Prior to that incident, it was almost unheard of for any cop outside of a SWAT team to carry a rifle. After that incident though, when it became clear that just service pistols and shotguns put cops in a situation where they could be easily outgunned by criminals, cops started carrying rifles. Hell, some departments even made it mandatory that each cruiser have a rifle in the trunk.

Here in Cincinnati and in some other larger police departments, the patrol officers carry both a shotgun and a rifle. The shotgun is usually kept up front in the cruiser for quick access while the rifle is kept in the trunk just in case some serious stuff goes down.

Apparently cops shoot like 5x more innocent/unarmed than civilians do

even though they're, like, professionals with training and experience and everything

Which is why I am completely okay with the idea of disarming cops, but not regular citizens. The average non-cop citizen is an infinitely more responsible gun owner than the average cop. Plus, your average patrol officer isn't as well-trained in the use of their firearm as you might think. I've had the opportunity to see some police marksmanship training. Suffice it to say, I was not impressed.

Also one small correction to your post that I have to make because it's a something of a pet peeve of mine: Please don't make a distinction between cops and civilians. Cops are civilians. Even though they are armed and like to adopt some military-like aspects in their organizational structure, they are still civilians and not soldiers (even if they do tend to see themselves that way).

 

[Farm Boy]

Well, leave it to Hollywood to take a situation where two criminals were killed and eff everything else up across the country. Seems sort of Hollywood's thing.

 

[cardgame]

Cops are civilians in that they aren't soldiers, but there is obviously a difference between a cop and a regular person that needs a descriptive word, and civilian is the closest fit. Add the para-militarization of police and it makes even more sense.

 

[Berzerker]

You said how could you defend yourself with a tank, not how could a family live out the rest of their lives inside a tank. Tanks obviously have very notable defensive qualities, somewhat fundamental to their entire design, I think you will have to admit. (tanks also have armaments btw)

It's like asking how you could defend yourself with a shield, and then retorting with how a shield wouldn't make a serviceable long term habitation for a family.

Next up - how can you defend yourself with goalposts.

Most people have families to protect, that aint moving the goal posts. And those that dont aint gonna live in a tank for self defense. If someone wanted to kill you a tank wont save your life, it'll be a death trap.

 

[Farm Boy]

Deputy/Officer, as distinct from "citizen" without the distinction?

 

[Timsup2nothin]

I find that "people" and "badged thugs" are useful, widely understood terms.

 

[Lexicus]

Most people have families to protect, that aint moving the goal posts. And those that dont aint gonna live in a tank for self defense. If someone wanted to kill you a tank wont save your life, it'll be a death trap.

Just curious, what scenario are you imagining where someone wants to kill you this badly and a gun will stop it but a tank won't?

 

[rah]

Reaching back to my youth, 'pig' was widely used.

 

[Farm Boy]

Pairs with mope I suppose.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Reaching back to my youth, 'pig' was widely used.

I always wondered if that arose from people reading Animal Farm.

 

[Lexicus]

I always wondered if that arose from people reading Animal Farm.

According to wikipedia it dates from the 19th century and became popular again in the 1970s, I'm not sure the timing is right for Animal Farm to be the cause.

 

[rah]

I think it was mostly because that's what a lot of them looked like.

 

[Lexicus]

I think it was mostly because that's what a lot of them looked like.

They certainly seem less likely than the general population to have necks, but then I work for a building trades union and there are a lot of guys here without necks too.

 

[rah]

And they ate a lot of donuts.
Think back to the stereotype of the Southern Sheriff. Were any of them skinny.

 

[Farm Boy]

Barney Fife, Andy Griffith.

 

[Lexicus]

Think back to the stereotype of the Southern Sheriff. Were any of them skinny.

My stereotypical Southern Sheriff looks a bit like the guy on a Schutzstaffel recruiting poster, so not fat.

 

[rah]

i was thinking more dukes of hazard. I guess I'm too old.