[jsb1969]

As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, the poorer get pissed and violent (unfortunately amongst themslves). I think the thermometer of approaching peak oil will be measured by violence beginning in the inner city.

http://nytimes.com/2006/02/12/national/ ... r=homepage

[edited by SPG to make thread title more reflective of content]

[Dreamtwister]

This is what happens when you keep your serfs poor and uneducated. Sooner or later, someone will rise up to lead them, identify the real cause of their anger, and then there will be chaos.

[oilfreeandhappy]

This is disturbing. But it only stands to reason. I know that when I have trouble balancing my checkbook at the end of the month, I tend to be very tense and uptight.
Jim
http://home.comcast.net/~oil_free_and_happy/

[smallpoxgirl]

OK...I'm not much of one to complain about the "liberal media" or whatever, but this is just BS:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') large part of the problem, the police say, is simply more guns on the streets as gun laws have loosened around the country. In Philadelphia, Commissioner Johnson said, since the state made it easier to get a gun permit in 1985, the number of people authorized to carry a gun in the city has risen from 700 to 32,000

[o2ny]

More licensed gun carriers just means a larger pool of weapons on the street, and easier access to the guns in a second hand market. It doesn't matter if the original owners are saints, if you put that much weaponry out into the field, it will eventually make it's way into the hands of the bad guys.

But either way I don't think 'more guns' is the root of the problem- there are no jobs available for this demographic besides fast-food, decent education is non-existent, and social programs aimed at improving quality of life for inner cities have been slashed and burned so the wealthy can keep more of their dividend checks. The people out there in these cities- criminals and victims alike, have basically been abandoned, left to fend for themselves in an increasingly dire situation.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('o2ny', 'M')ore licensed gun carriers just means a larger pool of weapons on the street, and easier access to the guns in a second hand market. It doesn't matter if the original owners are saints, if you put that much weaponry out into the field, it will eventually make it's way into the hands of the bad guys.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'S')hit, thats a win win the whole way around far as I can see.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'S')hit, thats a win win the whole way around far as I can see.

[jmacdaddio]

Proliferation of handguns, legal or illegal, has the effect of making any dispute a potentially lethal encounter. The Houston area saw a decrease in crimes like muggings and purse snatchings after the state relaxed rules governing concealed weapons, but there was a dramatic increase in seemingly random killings where the victim was someone who looked at the wrong person the wrong way at the wrong time, or talked to the wrong cowboy's girlfriend at the honky-tonk.

Yesterday I almost witnessed a fistfight break out over a place in line at the grocery store. I'd rather not get wasted over a parking space or a place in line, and it seems that the rising gun violence is of that sort.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jmacdaddio', 'P')roliferation of handguns, legal or illegal, has the effect of making any dispute a potentially lethal encounter. The Houston area saw a decrease in crimes like muggings and purse snatchings after the state relaxed rules governing concealed weapons, but there was a dramatic increase in seemingly random killings where the victim was someone who looked at the wrong person the wrong way at the wrong time, or talked to the wrong cowboy's girlfriend at the honky-tonk.

Yesterday I almost witnessed a fistfight break out over a place in line at the grocery store. I'd rather not get wasted over a parking space or a place in line, and it seems that the rising gun violence is of that sort.

[jmacdaddio]

I don't have a source for the data, but I will see what I can turn up. It's one of the many factoids that have embedded themeselves in my head.

The standard NRA defense here is that illegal guns are doing most of the killing. It's impossible to tell whether a gun used in a random shooting is illegal or legal due to the nature of the crime. If the dead guy is a known drug dealer, it shouldn't be too hard for the cops to figure out who had a problem with him. One stranger shooting another over some offense, real or imagined, in front of few if any witnesses makes detective work difficult. Most of the seemingly random killings are not solved, therefore it's impossible to determine whether the weapon was legal or not.

My point is that easily availble weaponry automatically escalates any dispute to a life-threatening situation. Having words with the guy who stole your parking space at Sam's Club could turn the encounter deadly by assuming that he is armed. If I'm armed and someone who I think is armed is getting angry at me, guess what, I'll start to think I'll need to shoot him before he shoots me.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jmacdaddio', 'I') don't have a source for the data, but I will see what I can turn up. It's one of the many factoids that have embedded themeselves in my head.

The standard NRA defense here is that illegal guns are doing most of the killing. It's impossible to tell whether a gun used in a random shooting is illegal or legal due to the nature of the crime. If the dead guy is a known drug dealer, it shouldn't be too hard for the cops to figure out who had a problem with him. One stranger shooting another over some offense, real or imagined, in front of few if any witnesses makes detective work difficult. Most of the seemingly random killings are not solved, therefore it's impossible to determine whether the weapon was legal or not.

My point is that easily availble weaponry automatically escalates any dispute to a life-threatening situation. Having words with the guy who stole your parking space at Sam's Club could turn the encounter deadly by assuming that he is armed. If I'm armed and someone who I think is armed is getting angry at me, guess what, I'll start to think I'll need to shoot him before he shoots me.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'A')n armed society is a polite society.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '
')Yeah I remember all those western films from the 50s, the desperados were so polite in comparison to the foul mouthed films you get these days.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'A')n armed society is a polite society.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'A')n armed society is a polite society.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'O')ne word. Switzerland.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', 'O')ne word. Switzerland.

[PrairieMule]

Spec-

We don't use swords any more. We use Golden Sabres. I picked up 40 Golden Sabre 147gr hollow point 9mm this weekend.

Interesting topic, being Texan, I can speak of the difference the CCW has made in Texas. I have lived in two different areas of Texas, Houston and Dallas so perspective is coming from a large diverse metroplex not a rural one. After the CCW went into effect violent crime(carjackings, armed robbery, rape) was cut in half. I know this not from a NRA website but rather the Clinton Administration. Back in 1998 when Clinton was stumping Texas for the Democrats he took credit for a 50% drop in violent crime and credited it towards his bill that put more cops out obn the street. I living in Dallas at the time and I can't say I noticed more police presence but I do know with the CCW in play you never knew who was packing.