[Leica] Gun Control

[photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Phil Forrest)]

The intent of the founding fathers of this nation is here:

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That
whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it
is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing
its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect
their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that
Governments long established should not be changed for light and
transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that
mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than
to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are
accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under
absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off
such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

I get a bit choked up every time I read that.

Phil Forrest



On Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:19:53 -0800
"jon.streeter" <jon.streeter at cox.net> wrote:

> The Second Amendment is not about duck hunting.  The idea that
> citizens are "permitted" to own guns for government-authorized
> purposes should chill the blood of any people who value their freedom.
> 
> The greatest threat to safety all people face, as has always been the
> case, is from their own governments.
> 
> The Founding Fathers, who understood this, put in writing that the
> government was foreclosed from abridging a natural right that exists
> independently of laws and governments.  That the US has over 20,000
> gun laws is testament to the discomfort governments feel with an
> armed citizenry.  
> 
> A low crime rate is, on the surface, a worthy goal, but it is
> sometimes, if not frequently, achieved at the expense of freedom.  
> 
> Benevolent government is an oxymoron.  Governments with very strict
> gun control -- few guns owned, all guns registered, guns locked up in
> police departments to be checked out for approved uses -- are
> attractive to would-be despots who, as Hitler put in writing, cannot
> stay in power with an armed citizenry. People throughout history who
> have traded freedom for security have found this out the hard way.  
> 
> Once freedom is lost, it is difficult to regain.
> 
> America does not have a culture of violence.  It has a culture of
> freedom. Movies are not reality, and audiences can tell the
> difference.  There has never been a reliable study to show that
> watching movies with violent themes and content makes people emulate
> the characters in those movies. 
> 
> Hollywood, that is, the entertainment industry, is in business to
> stay in business.  Movies are produced to appeal to a worldwide
> audience -- a worldwide audience, mind you -- based on the experience
> and judgment of people who stay in business by producing a product
> consumers want.  Judging by the amount of money American movies bring
> to this country, not ti mention the extent to which China shamelessly
> pirates American movies, the American business people are supplying
> the worldwide audience with a product they value.
> 
> America is unique in history in several ways, most of all in that it
> began as an experiment by people who were aware that they had created
> something destined for greatness.  In considering what is the most
> important thing a people can possess, freedom must be number one, for
> without it nothing they care about will matter to a government which
> rules over them, not personal safety, not the environment, not
> women's equality, not religious freedom, nothing.  
> 
> Boast about how safe the streets are in your various countries.
> Today.  But tomorrow, when you have ceded your freedom to a
> government that has promised you security?  
> 
> Don't worry, America will, as always, be here as a shining example of
> liberty, and may well, again, send your rescue squad.  
> 
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone
> 
> ----- Reply message -----
> From: "David Ching" <davidhhching1 at yahoo.com.sg>
> To: "photo.forrest at earthlink.net" <photo.forrest at earthlink.net>,
> <lug at leica-users.org> Subject: [Leica] Gun Control
> Date: Sat, Dec 15, 2012 9:18 pm
> 
> 
> I suppose you use your hammers more often than guns. Or had improper
> training. Hence the smashed fingers.
> 
> By the same logic, as you are more careful as you are with guns, you
> are less likely to shoot yourself or others by accident. Same goes
> for the hammers.
> 
> BTW, guns are permitted by the authorities in Malaysia, Thailand and
> several other Asian countries for wild-life hunting especially in
> farmed lands. Will you really need guns to protect yourself from
> other humans assuming all the two-legged do not own guns? But only to
> get rid of dangerous animals? 
> 
> Despite certain civilians being allowed to have guns under strict
> rules, there has never been incidences of mass killings amongst the
> civilian populations here. Obviously guns are too easily available
> despite all measures of gun control in the USA.
> 
> Interestingly it was the armed civilians of pre-Independent America
> who got rid of the English. But today, who are the armed citizenry of
> America trying to get rid off. The drug lords, the mafia, the school
> bullies? Arm the peace-keepers only. Let them do their jobs. Disarm
> everyone else, except farmers and the like.
> 
> And let the rest of us shoot our cameras in peace. 
> 
> For the sake of our children, bite the bullet. 
> 
> David Ching
> 
> H.P. Tel. no.: +84 904684321 (Vietnam)
>                     : +65 92321098 (Singapore)
> 
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