You guys and your guns...

[Jason]

I would hope we continue the debate in a manner that does not include personalities. I will criticise the use of guns, but try not to criticise the individuals.

I would welcome that.

I would apologize for my response to mistermack, but that would be hypocritical. Disrespect of veterans I cannot countenance..

Shall we continue in a more objective consideration of the issue then?

[Blind groper]

I hope, Pord, you were not offended by my using your avatar as an example of the gunfighter fantasy. It was not meant as a personal criticism, but merely to illustrate a point.

You have to admit, though, that the photo you use is pretty much directed at that image.

[Jason]

Surely it is. There is Clint wielding dual Colt Navy's. A surer image of 'gun culture' in Hollywood you couldn't hope for. It is, however, not representative of any reality I've ever known or studied. What it is representative of is a certain representation of the will to live,, or more specifically, the will to live in the face of adversity through intelligence, guile and ability - at least that is how I interpret it. The point is that the 'Spaghetti westerns' and 'westerns' in general are works of art, good or bad depending on personal taste. What I draw from them is not 'gun worship'. It's been a long time since I've gotten over juvenile 'gun worship'. Guns are to me merely tools - either in plot development or real life. Nothing is neatly two dimensional.

So no. I do not take personal offence at what you wrote.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I don't have any respect for mistermack's opinions, so his tripe doesn't bother me.

[Gallstones]

The horror! Clint Eastwood---Noooooooooooo!

I think it's cool.
I had an online personality once. People not only thought I was my avatar, I had men and women flirting with me cause I was so handsome. It was not only an interesting--although inadvertent--social experiment, it was a blast while it lasted.

Do ya feel lucky?

Are you going to bring back Dmitri?

No.
I still have a folder full of avatars but I'm over him now.

Damn. I had a semi already.

Sorry to deflate you---or did you mean -automatic?

[Jason]

For you sugar, it's full auto with selective fire.

[Gallstones]

For you sugar, it's full auto with selective fire.

How is it you're still single?

[Blind groper]

Did you ever see the Hot Shots Part Deux skit on body count? The most violent Hollywood clip ever, except that it is not to be taken seriously. Makes fun of the gun culture need for blood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a0L3Z1A-RM

While this was made purely for fun, there is a serious message here about the love of guns, and the associated love of power over life and death.

[Jason]

For you sugar, it's full auto with selective fire.

How is it you're still single?

Fear of being placed on safety maybe..

[Jason]

Did you ever see the Hot Shots Part Deux skit on body count? The most violent Hollywood clip ever, except that it is not to be taken seriously. Makes fun of the gun culture need for blood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a0L3Z1A-RM

While this was made purely for fun, there is a serious message here about the love of guns, and the associated love of power over life and death.

Anyone who has ever been seriously in power over life and death does not take it so lightly in my experience. It's an ugly thing and you hope you never have to be there again. This is the difference between fantasy and real life.

But then perhaps you're speaking to the juvenile crowd who gets a hard-on over this type of thing? I'm quite sure they are a minority among gun owners.

Edited.

[Blind groper]

Pord

While I am not a veteran, I am extremely aware of the attitude of responsible veterans. My father fought in WWII, and I learned an enormous lot from him. He hated war, and his attitude towards guns was decidedly ambivalent. While they were an essential tool for him and his soldier friends, they were also a symbol of the evils of war.

Any soldier who has not learned to hate war is probably a psychopath. It is a terrible thing.

[Jason]

Yes.. well I don't want to restrict this to people with a service record. That's why I edited my post.

I am glad your father imparted the wisdom to you of acknowledging guns as tools. Tools are not in and of themselves good or bad. Surely we can agree on that?

[Gallstones]

Did you ever see the Hot Shots Part Deux skit on body count? The most violent Hollywood clip ever, except that it is not to be taken seriously. Makes fun of the gun culture need for blood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a0L3Z1A-RM

While this was made purely for fun, there is a serious message here about the love of guns, and the associated love of power over life and death.

Oh FFS!
There is no need, no hunger, no longing for blood.

I do rather enjoy the idea of having power though--and my experiences of having it were sans guns.
I've got natural weapons.

[Jason]

I've got natural weapons.

Pics or they didn't happen.

[JimC]

I would hope we continue the debate in a manner that does not include personalities. I will criticise the use of guns, but try not to criticise the individuals.

I would welcome that.

I would apologize for my response to mistermack, but that would be hypocritical. Disrespect of veterans I cannot countenance..

Shall we continue in a more objective consideration of the issue then?

mm went way over the top, and did not contribute in any useful way to an amicable debate. BG and I may have our differences of opinion with the "other side" in his thread, but I think both of us have tried to be reasonably measured...