Ghost Guns

[MThuntr]

I've never been ghosted by gun before...happens weekly on Tinder though

 

[AvidIndoorsman]

3) SPF Irish

I wouldn't let that kid exercise his/her 2A right... probably mobbed up

 

[BuzzH]

Did I miss the post were someone offered a good explanation about why cracking down on guns without serial numbers is bad?

Because anything to do with the 2nd and gun regulations is not a good move by the D's.

They, D's, need to drop it and quit worrying about these gun issues. We don't need new gun regulations, they don't work as has been proven time, and time again.

The 2nd amendment is not going to be changed anytime soon, time for the narrative to change.

IMO, as a society we just have to learn to deal with the fact that a majority of Americans want easy access to firearms with as few restrictions as possible, or even any restrictions for that matter.

What we have to give for that Freedom is kids getting killed in mass shootings at schools, mass shootings in work places, concerts, and gun violence to continue. No way around addressing those, other than 2 ways: 1. building caskets and burying the dead. 2. Demand our politicians get serious about the real issues of the why, mainly mental health and pulling people out of poverty (see Ben Lambs post).

It's one or the other of those options as creating more gun regulations is a waste of everyone's time.

I don't live in fear of gun violence, but I'm aware of it and realize, albeit a small chance, I and the people I care about in my life could be victims of it (some have been) as part of living in a free society. Goes with the territory.

The true fixes aren't easy, and has been pointed out, corporate profits in health care, higher education, for profit correctional institutions, etc. will always take priority over the needs of the people. There is no stomach for a vast majority to want to truly invest in fixing these issues...none at all. IF there was, we'd be making the changes (and more gun regulations is NOT the fix)...and we just aren't doing it. Partisan divisions only ensure the status-quo will stay entrenched...wasting our time on gun regulations when we should be investing in our Citizens via health care, education, and quality of life for everyone.

 

[1_pointer]

Unless you're a kid who can't afford it and it's that, service industry or grab a gun.

There's lots of stuff folks decide they "can't afford". The JUCO/Community colleges/trades around here have a very low price hurdle and that is been my experience elsewhere. YMMV, but I still don't see "free" juco/trade school increasing gradution numbers nor lessening crime numbers.

 

[schmalts]

So does anyone really think this will make a difference? Like right before someone is to the point they are going to commit murder they stop and think "hmmm I better not, this gun has a serial number on it" Once again, I am saddened that the root cause of murder rates and mass shootings is not the main focus. Until then, keep a good supply of body bags

 

[1_pointer]

You already do pay for other people's healthcare. That's why your insurance keeps going up, and it's why medical bills are sky-high. Every uninsured individual who gets medical treatment but can't pay means extra money out of your pocket, but without the benefit of lower risk pools that single-payer would give you.

I thought one of the main points of the ACA was to remove or so greatly reduce uninsured folks so as to it not being an issue?

 

[Ben Lamb]

There's lots of stuff folks decide they "can't afford". The JUCO/Community colleges/trades around here have a very low price hurdle and that is been my experience elsewhere. YMMV, but I still don't see "free" juco/trade school increasing gradution numbers nor lessening crime numbers.

Reservations, inner cities & other impoverished areas that are severely underserved in this regard would be the logical place to focus, but I think there's been some data collected by states that offer similar programs (KY & WY, iirc) that show these kinds of programs do lead to increased graduation rates & better outcomes for people who get their AA.

When I went to JuCo, it was around $400 a semester. It's now about $2K for a full course load. When you're struggling to put food on the table, pay rent, insurance, etc, that becomes a barrier you can't cross.

Add predatory student loans on top of that (if you qualify) and it becomes even more problematic to climb out of debt after you leave college.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I thought one of the main points of the ACA was to remove or so greatly reduce uninsured folks so as to it not being an issue?

Federal appeals court has struck down the individual mandate (personally, I'm not a fan of it). Currently, about 10% of Americans (30 million of us) don't have it.

 

[mplane72]

Because anything to do with the 2nd and gun regulations is not a good move by the D's.

They, D's, need to drop it and quit worrying about these gun issues. We don't need new gun regulations, they don't work as has been proven time, and time again.

The 2nd amendment is not going to be changed anytime soon, time for the narrative to change.

IMO, as a society we just have to learn to deal with the fact that a majority of Americans want easy access to firearms with as few restrictions as possible, or even any restrictions for that matter.

What we have to give for that Freedom is kids getting killed in mass shootings at schools, mass shootings in work places, concerts, and gun violence to continue. No way around addressing those, other than 2 ways: 1. building caskets and burying the dead. 2. Demand our politicians get serious about the real issues of the why, mainly mental health and pulling people out of poverty (see Ben Lambs post).

It's one or the other of those options as creating more gun regulations is a waste of everyone's time.

I don't live in fear of gun violence, but I'm aware of it and realize, albeit a small chance, I and the people I care about in my life could be victims of it (some have been) as part of living in a free society. Goes with the territory.

The true fixes aren't easy, and has been pointed out, corporate profits in health care, higher education, for profit correctional institutions, etc. will always take priority over the needs of the people. There is no stomach for a vast majority to want to truly invest in fixing these issues...none at all. IF there was, we'd be making the changes (and more gun regulations is NOT the fix)...and we just aren't doing it. Partisan divisions only ensure the status-quo will stay entrenched...wasting our time on gun regulations when we should be investing in our Citizens via health care, education, and quality of life for everyone.

Thanks.

Assuming your serious I agree with the over arching theme of your statement. I do however wonder how long that status quo will hold.

 

[BuzzH]

Thanks.

Assuming your serious I agree with the over arching theme of your statement. I do however wonder how long that status quo will hold.

Absolutely serious...

 

[Hydrophilic]

Oh, come on now...you just need to take personal responsibility for getting cancer, dementia, or just bad genetics.

Its perfectly fine to have to lose your house, life savings, file bankruptcy, etc. to have to pay for your medical care...'Merica.

"That is capitalism after all"
-Corporate America*

*but we can have socialist bailouts

 

[Dakotakid]

I'm not trying to stir up political discord, but I saw on the news that Biden is planning to introduce some gun control executive orders. One of them is to eliminate "ghost Guns". Other than they are described as guns assembled from separately ordered parts by a hobbiest, I'm not really clear on what this is. Supposedly they don't have serial numbers and because of that are "difficult to trace". I was under the impression that the receiver always comes with a serial number. The only gun I ever built does.

I think I must be missing or misunderstanding something. (???)

looks like you have stirred up everything from health insurance to fascism.

 

[ImBillT]

Splitting hairs between the quality of healthcare (try even defining that) in the USA and CA/UK/EU means very little to the people who lack any coverage. Any one of them would take Canadian or UK healthcare in a heartbeat. Under those systems you pay in while you're employed and able to contribute with the knowledge that you won't be thrown under the bus if you lose a job.

That isn’t splitting hairs.

Most of our “poor” have government to government subsidized healthcare, and did before Obama Care as well.

 

[ImBillT]

I get that, it just seems like a cop-out. Government is all bad, because people are all bad, so government should stay out of people's lives and hope their badness doesn't inconvenience others. Just because there is no such thing as a perfect government doesn't mean that we aren't called to do what we can to improve things. And when people of faith drop the ball on taking care of the broken and forsaken, it falls on government to do it.

It’s not a cop out. It’s the reason that socialism always fails, and they always complain that the reason it never worked is because the right people haven’t been in charge yet. The right people will never be in charge.

Don’t fall for the trap that Christianity or God have ever asked you to use government to take from those who have and give to those who do not. Charity is not socialism, and taxation is not giving. As Christians we are supposed to help others, in God’s name, by our own choice. Using government to take from those unwilling to be kind, or compassionate or “contribute” to society may or may not be be a good thing, but it is by no means commanded any where in the Bible.

 

[1_pointer]

Reservations, inner cities & other impoverished areas that are severely underserved in this regard would be the logical place to focus, but I think there's been some data collected by states that offer similar programs (KY & WY, iirc) that show these kinds of programs do lead to increased graduation rates & better outcomes for people who get their AA.

When I went to JuCo, it was around $400 a semester. It's now about $2K for a full course load. When you're struggling to put food on the table, pay rent, insurance, etc, that becomes a barrier you can't cross.

Add predatory student loans on top of that (if you qualify) and it becomes even more problematic to climb out of debt after you leave college.

I don't think there is a lack of opportunity nor do I see cost as being too much of a hurdle at the level you posed. And to relate to the OP, I definitely don't see "free" JUCO/trade school lowering crime enough to matter or be worth the cost.

That said, I do not think education is really ever wasted. But also recognize that not all gets the same outcomes (ie salary and benefits). Heck, I have a minor in Greek/Roman art and architechture.

 

[jt13]

Oh boy, lets drag religion into this thread too

 

[longbow51]

No, but the rise in militias does have a corresponding rise in gun violence, and that's the cause dujour of the gun control crowd and I think a case can be made that manufacturers are helping fuel the rise through their use of marketing. The NRA went full idiot on this over the last few years, exacerbating the problem and that was funded by manufacturers.

But yes, pathways to the middle class are what is needed. Not more gun control.

People are buying more cars too, and there's a rise in gun violence. Just because two things are trending upwards doesn't imply correlation, much less causation. If the militias were linked to 350 shootings a weekend there would be no other news. Likely defunding police, eliminating violent crime task forces, and ignoring anything less than murder by some prosecutors might be more closely related.

 

[kylemcintyre67]

It’s not a cop out. It’s the reason that socialism always fails, and they always complain that the reason it never worked is because the right people haven’t been in charge yet. The right people will never be in charge.

Don’t fall for the trap that Christianity or God have ever asked you to use government to take from those who have and give to those who do not. Charity is not socialism, and taxation is not giving. As Christians we are supposed to help others, in God’s name, by our own choice. Using government to take from those unwilling to be kind, or compassionate or “contribute” to society may or may not be be a good thing, but it is by no means commanded any where in the Bible.

I used to believe this high minded silliness too. The last year taught us that all those voluntarist/ libertarian ideals are hot garbage. When push comes to shove and it is time to buckle down and take care of our neighbors we won't. Let's all stay home for a bit so we can protect the at risk people in our lives, nope not going to do that. Hey here are some rudimentary safety measures that will allow us to function as a society while still protecting the vulnerable, hell naw, muh freedumbs are more important than your child's life. The society we live in will not engage in the most basic and unobtrusive safety measures to protect themselves and their families, why would anyone expect them to do for others?

 

[ImBillT]

I used to believe this high minded silliness too. The last year taught us that all those voluntarist/ libertarian ideals are hot garbage. When push comes to shove and it is time to buckle down and take care of our neighbors we won't. Let's all stay home for a bit so we can protect the at risk people in our lives, nope not going to do that. Hey here are some rudimentary safety measures that will allow us to function as a society while still protecting the vulnerable, hell naw, muh freedumbs are more important than your child's life. The society we live in will not engage in the most basic and unobtrusive safety measures to protect themselves and their families, why would anyone expect them to do for others?

A) it’s not high minded silliness.

B) I did not claim that it would solve all, or even any, problems. I simply addressed the issue of Christians believing that God or the Bible instructs you to use the government to force others to help those that you believe need help. It absolutely does not. Taking money from the richest man on earth, and using it for the most just cause on earth, still has absolutely ZERO value from a Christian religious standpoint. God and the Bible do not call on Christians to use someone else’s time or money for charitable purposes.

C) I absolutely believe that other than avoiding close contact with others while I’m sick, there is nothing I could do to prevent a person from catching Covid-19. If I literally don’t believe that I’m causing harm, then the issue is not selfishness, it’s belief.

D) I further believe that if you believe you’re vulnerable, it’s on you to stay home, not on me. It would be just as selfish for the “vulnerable” to expect me to impoverish myself for their good, as it would be for me to ask them to risk their health for my well-being. It is entirely possible for me to go about my business, putting only those at risk that choose to place themselves at risk. What happened to personal responsibility, and why am I responsible for keeping you safe? Me going about my business as usual while having no symptoms is completely different from me chasing you around and holding your mouth open while I cough down your throat.

E) I brought a few concerned customers various items they didn’t want to leave their homes to get.(I did it free of charge, it’s just that 99% of my human interaction is with my customers, my wife and my child) One of my customers gave me a package of N95 masks(I used to use them in heavy dust) and a case of toilet paper. I gave the N95 masks to another customer that works at the hospital and had been reusing his mask for weeks. He gave them to some nurses whose masks were in worse shape than his. My church had volunteers that helped people who weren’t getting out get what they needed and they offered that to non-members as well. I don’t know how many people they helped how much, but I received calls asking if I needed anything or knew anyone who did for quite a few months. ASSUMING PEOPLE WHO DON’T BELIEVE THE LOCKDOWN WAS THE RIGHT THING ARE JUST A BUNCH IF SELFISH TURDS WHO NEED TO BE REGULATED BY A TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT WHO KNOWS BETTER IS COMPLETELY INCORRECT.

The point of the above isn’t to argue about covid, it’s to point out that seeing people ignoring the lockdown or mask order isn’t necessarily an issue of selfishness.

 

[VikingsGuy]

Just because two things are trending upwards doesn't imply correlation, much less causation.

One of my favorite websites:

Spurious Correlations

Correlation is not causation: thousands of charts of real data showing actual correlations between ridiculous variables.

www.tylervigen.com