Seat 19A

[burrocrat]

are we so politically correct that we can't call a spade a spade?

i think the correct term is homicide bomber.

if you wanted to commit suicide you would blow yourself up in the desert, with nothing but the sand and rocks as a witness.

if you want to commit homicide, then a crowded public place is a logical choice.

it won't be long before we can't even say terrorist anymore. perhaps 'disenfranchised third world resident' or 'religous idealogue' is the new word of the day.

next we can teach them to play t-ball, where everyone gets to hit, run around the bases, and touch the plate, no losers anymore you know, can't say that without offending someone.

 

[grandma]

are we so politically correct that we can't call a spade a spade?
//QUOTE]

B-
i'tain't us'ns who are `so pll-iticly kerect' - heck - we ain't even hardly pll-itical, much less git the kerrect in there with it! We're t'ones who know what a spade is , and - what its fer ........... We'uns just don't know what's good fer us .. But, they'uns is about t'let us'ns know !!
View attachment 7905

 

[burrocrat]

aahh, spent some time in western pennsylvania have ya?

that's where my kin is from.

i didn't realize yuns wasn't a word for a long time, by then it was too late.

 

[phil]

What's hard to explain is that we live in a highly vulnerable society. We've only seen the plane attacks thus far, but there are many many other places in the US where we are vulnerable as well....trains, rapid transit, buses. Our society had to be fairly open to develop over the years, and we pay little attention to security inside the US.

However, other societies have had long periods of instability. The former Soviet Union had a very long period where internal groups were even fighting guerrilla war in the country, resulting in some severe restrictions on internal travel. I HOPE that we don't have to go that far, but it is a possibility to consider in the US. It would be most regrettable, but it may happen here. Security vs. freedom.

 

[Show-me]

I prefer freedom and the right to carry a concealed weapon. I may not save the day or myself but I have a fighting chance and my own feeling of security.

“You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.” Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto

 

[Silverbird]

I like New Mexico laws: no concealed weapons, open carry. Then everyone knows you have heat, and anyone concealing anything is obviously up to no good. This seperates the bad news carriers from the licensed (naturally you have to carry your license with you at all times). You are not allowed to carry a weapon into a bar, a Church, and a couple other places. This law still exists because there are lots of rattlesnakes in eastern New Mexico.

I like to see what's going on around me - if people have heat, fine, I just want to know. But most people would simply be freaked out if they saw how many concealed weapons would appear if this became the standard; they do not want to know, so this will never become the standard. It's too bad because if someone pulls out a concealed weapon, even if they have a license, you are not going to have time to ask.

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

I like New Mexico laws: no concealed weapons, open carry. Then everyone knows you have heat, and anyone concealing anything is obviously up to no good. This seperates the bad news carriers from the licensed (naturally you have to carry your license with you at all times). You are not allowed to carry a weapon into a bar, a Church, and a couple other places. This law still exists because there are lots of rattlesnakes in eastern New Mexico.

I like to see what's going on around me - if people have heat, fine, I just want to know. But most people would simply be freaked out if they saw how many concealed weapons would appear if this became the standard; they do not want to know, so this will never become the standard. It's too bad because if someone pulls out a concealed weapon, even if they have a license, you are not going to have time to ask.

Open carry is nice, but concealed carry is the way to go. I'd much rather the bad guys assume that everyone they encounter is armed than know who is and who isn't.

 

[James48843]

Open carry is the law in Michigan. No "license" required to open carry. You just do it. Prohibited areas include only places like alcohol establishments, schools, day cares, and financial institutions (you can't open carry into a bank. go figure.)

But for the vast majority of locations, you are free to walk down the street if you like. And more are these days.

"CONSTITUTION OF MICHIGAN OF 1963

§ 6 Bearing of arms.


Sec. 6.
Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state."

That's it.

State law also proscribes that no local governmental entity can regulate firearms in any way, only the state legislature can. So no local ordinances are allowed on the subject.

 

[FAB1]

I HOPE that we don't have to go that far, but it is a possibility to consider in the US. It would be most regrettable, but it may happen here. Security vs. freedom.

Like hell it is.

who said that about choosing security over freedom...and losing both? :blink:

 

[phil]

So what would you suggest? Carrying weapons on airlines?

Like hell it is.

who said that about choosing security over freedom...and losing both? :blink:

 

[Aviator_Guy]

So what would you suggest? Carrying weapons on airlines?

My brother is a 777 pilot for American Airlines and he told me he’s against having any firearm in the cockpit. I know they allow some pilots to carry a pistol if they go through a TSA course, but that’s what he told me. BTW, my brother is a retired USAF Lt. Col (F-4 / F-5 /F-16 fighter pilot) and suggests you keep your seat belts very tight if someone attempts to break into his 777 cockpit!!

Me personally, I think the best weapon for close in hand to hand combat is a good police night stick with a rib splitter. Any fed cops out there know what I’m talking about. I’m a pilot, but I hate flying commercial airliners. I’m not worried about my safety, it just seems like flying was a lot more fun in the old days pre 911. I live about 60 miles from Los Angeles International and I really think I could drive from my house to Las Vegas faster than it takes to fly it commercially!! LOL

 

[Buster]

Instead of guns on board and airliner (bullets pierce fuselages)..I think the Flight attendants and Flight crew along with any Air Marshals should ALL be equipped with stun/taser guns.

 

[nnuut]

Instead of guns on board and airliner (bullets pierce fuselages)..I think the Flight attendants and Flight crew along with any Air Marshals should ALL be equipped with stun/taser guns.

Star Trek transporter GUN!! Just send them to jail, No Get Out OF Jail free Cards allowed!!

 

[James48843]

Muslim Clerics issue a Fatwa against terrorist acts, and harming an American:

http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/01...a-denouncing-terror-attacks-on-canada-and-u-s

 

[Show-me]

Muslim Clerics issue a Fatwa against terrorist acts, and harming an American:

http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/01...a-denouncing-terror-attacks-on-canada-and-u-s

Nice to see them standing up and speaking out. It is a well written Fatwa and it did touch me read it. Very nice!

 

[Bullitt]

As to the question of what the government should do rather than keep playing Terrorball, the answer is simple: stop treating Americans like idiots and cowards.
It might be unrealistic to expect the average citizen to have a nuanced grasp of statistically based risk analysis, but there is nothing nuanced about two basic facts:
(1) America is a country of 310 million people, in which thousands of horrible things happen every single day; and
(2) The chances that one of those horrible things will be that you're subjected to a terrorist attack can, for all practical purposes, be calculated as zero.

....Consider then that around 1,900 of the Americans who die today will be less than 65, and that indeed about 140 will be children. Approximately 50 Americans will be murdered today, including several women killed by their husbands or boyfriends, and several children who will die from abuse and neglect. Around 85 of us will commit suicide, and another 120 will die in traffic accidents.

No amount of statistical evidence, however, will make any difference to those who give themselves over to almost completely irrational fears. Such people, and there are apparently a lot of them in America right now, are in fact real victims of terrorism. They also make possible the current ascendancy of the politics of cowardice—the cynical exploitation of fear for political gain.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704130904574644651587677752.html

 

[coolhand]

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/200599-The-airplane-bomb-plot-Obama-continues-the-cover-up

 

[coolhand]

http://www.infowars.com/inverted-body-scanner-image-shows-naked-body-in-full-living-color/

 

[phil]

I agree with you completely on this one. There is an entire apparatus that has been constructed to protect us from terrorists, but very very little to protect us in other, more important ways. Katrina comes to mind.

It IS political expendience to try to externalize all evil in the US. You got that right.

As to the question of what the government should do rather than keep playing Terrorball, the answer is simple: stop treating Americans like idiots and cowards.
It might be unrealistic to expect the average citizen to have a nuanced grasp of statistically based risk analysis, but there is nothing nuanced about two basic facts:
(1) America is a country of 310 million people, in which thousands of horrible things happen every single day; and
(2) The chances that one of those horrible things will be that you're subjected to a terrorist attack can, for all practical purposes, be calculated as zero.

....Consider then that around 1,900 of the Americans who die today will be less than 65, and that indeed about 140 will be children. Approximately 50 Americans will be murdered today, including several women killed by their husbands or boyfriends, and several children who will die from abuse and neglect. Around 85 of us will commit suicide, and another 120 will die in traffic accidents.

No amount of statistical evidence, however, will make any difference to those who give themselves over to almost completely irrational fears. Such people, and there are apparently a lot of them in America right now, are in fact real victims of terrorism. They also make possible the current ascendancy of the politics of cowardice—the cynical exploitation of fear for political gain.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704130904574644651587677752.html

 

[phil]

I do so hate to bring up old news. Unfortunately, this was shot down by the congress at the time as being too costly. Oh well.

http://money.cnn.com/1996/09/09/bizbuzz/airlinesec_pkg/