It seems, Ian, to be another aspect of the basic philosophical differences between a focus on the rights and wellbeing of the individual as being primary rather than a focus on the collective rights and wellbeing of the community/nation. Both, of course, assume wisdom in the ones exercising these rights - and that is where any system can fail.

I grew up in a household that had all different types of guns. When us kids were growing up, we were taught how to clean, handle and shoot some of them. We were also taught to respect what they could do and not to point them at anyone.

If someone is bound and determined to harm one person More...

The right to bear arms also has to do with the responsibilities of citizenship. The second amendment connects the right to bear arms with the 'security of a free state,' which suggests that an obligation of a citizen in a democracy is to defend that democracy.

ditto,ditto,ditto to your last comment,BJ!!!!!!!!

Brenda Ann Spencer (born April 3, 1962 in San Diego, California, United States) wounded eight children and one police officer and killed Principal Burton Wragg, and head custodian Mike Suchar, in a shooting spree at Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego, on Monday, January 29, 1979.

The More...

BJ - No country can claim to be free of violence. The issue seems to be about the level of violence and the conditions that foster it. The ready availability of weapons is only one of many factors, but it certainly can't be discounted. A deranged person who is able to readily obtain an arsenal of More...

What I was trying to get at is that we as a culture have fallen down on the job as parents and role-models. Too many parents want to be their child's friend instead guiding them into adulthood with morals. A lot of young people are not prepared for failure of any kind. I was taught that you win More...

Fair enough, BJ. Most countries that have gun control legislation don't prohibit private ownership of guns, but have licensing provisions and laws about proper storage of guns, etc. Of course, that doesn't stop the criminal element who will always find ways of obtaining weapons illegally - but More...

Judy, I understand where you're coming from. This country is gradually passing and enforcing more laws governing gun ownership. I don't see laws being passed anytime soon in regards to fertilizer. The main reason is that agriculture and ranching are major industries here.

No one I've More...

I had a student some years ago, Becky, who seemed to have the potential to do something really dangerous. As is often the case, he came from a dysfunctional family. When I learned of his early death in an accident, I'll admit that I almost felt a sense of relief that he could no longer harm anyone More...

And what are the greatest threats to that democracy, a gunman or a totalitarian government? The gunman is certainly a greater threat to my personal safety, but the government is a far greater threat to my freedom and dignity as a human being. That consideration informs my choice.

Great exchange everyone. Ian/B ... I still like the 'Preventation is better than Cure' philosophy
I note Judy/Bendigo comment 'As is often the case, he came from a dysfunctional family' and pose the question, 'what constitutes a dysfunctional family?'

or what constitutes a 'normal' family?
God jaz - that is a tough one as we are all products of our past, it is how we choose to live in the present and the future that is our own personal 'challenge'. One would hope that a moral sense of what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and More...

scuse spelling above...dysf/idio..oh hell too tired to type now.

What’s the greater threat to democracy? Surely it’s not an either/or question. A single gunman in a given context can act tyrannically, but so too can a government to which too much power is ceded. The real question for me is, what can we do to arm ourselves against tyranny in any form? In More...

From studies in history, the second ammendment was in response to the United States having to militarily through England out of this country. I don't think there are any groups that would actually attack the US Army, Marines, State/National Guard, or Navy. As cited earlier, there are sufficient More...

Ian/B, Anne?Vermont and others: I was not attaking the 2nd Amendment, only trying to raise the piont the the sale of firearms should be restricted. What does the average American need with a semi or fully automatic weapon? Why was the fellow in Virginia able to walk into a store and purchase a More...

Sorry for the spelling mistakes.

CG: Refer to the previously posted (penultimate page) tirade, somewhat in the style of Eric Idle, concerning spell checkers. And as far as walking into a store and buying a Glock, I doubt seriously that he did. The news I read indicated that the serial numbers had been filed off. That makes it more likely that it was a back street alley purchase.

Jeb-they are saying that he (the gunman) filed off the serial numbers himself and they were able to raise the numbers and he had the receipt on him for the glock the store owner remembers the sale and he passed all the VA. gunlaws.but so much more is coming to light today he has had a mental More...

Jeb, Informational only item...not trying to debate the issue. I read and heard that a shop owner was describing the shooter as a calm, clean-cut individual and didn't present a picture of one who was planning on committing an act like this. Apparently not looking like a bad guy is enough to not More...

Thanks for the update. My information was obviously old enough to render it useless. And, I suppose, if I were to be planning a crime of any sort and needed to purchase equipment to carry it out, I would try to present myself in the least suspicious way that I could.

...jeb - packing a golf bag, skoal firmly ensconced and walking like John Wayne? innocent as a lambikins - I'd sell you anything.

He had been planning this for quite awhile. He bought one gun then waited a week and bought another. In VA. you can't purchase more than one gun a week (absolutely ridiculous law!). He had no problem with the background checks as he had no record. His hospitalizations were overnight. He wasn't More...

Billy you forgot to say the immortal words...
I'm a sapiosexual, what's your sign?

silly me...note new avatar - explains everything...

I got in trouble last night at the library. I saw this very pretty lady reading a high level book on philosophy and walked up and asked if I could have a sapiosexual relationship with her. My jaw still hurts.

Just saw this in response to Virginia Tech, et al: GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE - People who are anti-social, mentally disturbed (and possibly evil), and who have easy access to guns due to lax gun control laws, kill people.

Well, there you have it, Bill. Wrong place and wrong time. The lady was obviously there under (you never said what color her hair was) false pretenses. Had you engaged her in a debate on Spinoza's arguments against Descartes' dualistic theory, you would have discovered her to be an imposter and More...

Bill/Texas: Boy, do I want THAT bumper sticker!


Jeb/ks: LOL And you know this because????

Kathy:
I had three semesters of philosophy safely tucked away when the professor and I came to a disagreement over some arcane point of epistemology. He accused me of being a (imposter) so out of outrage I changed my major to Business Admin. That is how I became acquainted with the concept of exchange for goods and services. Thought I was going to tell you about picking up chicks didn't you?

Jeb/ks: I certainly did! My disappointment knows no bounds.

Aren't all points of epistemology arcane? Philosophy vs. Business Admin? hmmm...think you made the right choice.

When I was in college, uni, I took some philosophy classes and once in a coffee shop after class we had a very heated discussion between a group of realist and a group of idealists. It got so heated that the campus police were called, they ended up being philosophy students too, but they were absurdists, they arrested the waiter.

Thank you Bill! I have always admired the clarity of thought shown by the absurdist camp. I was about to leave a message for Rosemary to toss a kibble. The hounds seemed to be asleep under the porch.

Ok questions for all to ponder
Are you afraid of getting old?
And
Would you prefer to live in the retirement home or live with young people?

Maybe can add
what are you unable to do now that you are older that you used to be able to do when young?
what are you able to do now that you couldnt when younger?

well jeb here i am with some philosophical lexicons!
i know not many words mentioned in the list,but still the definitions are worth learning!and the application of the word in terms of short sentences is really a bonus...With a little practice these terms can become an important part of your More...

Good kibble, Rosemary.
I look at getting old much the same as sitting in the dentist's chair. I keep telling myself that this too shall pass. It will get worse, but it will pass.
Over the last few years, I've enrolled in some classes of interest at the local college. Being around young More...

ap:
I am waiting impatiently for you list. If it's as good as the engineering list is should be awesome.

hi all