SurlyPIG

I laughed muchly. ;D I particularly liked the rather obvious brit-doing-arab accent.

Indeed, although the range is much shorter than assault rifles. Nevertheless, IMO, shotguns should be illegal as well.

Very well. It thought the connection was a fairly obvious jump to make but if nobody else saw it it must be my pessimism getting the best of me. I take back what I said. My apologies, Edric.

Aah then I'm sure I'm thinking of a different shooting. The one I'm thinking of involved LAPD officers commandeering a local gun shop to take down the suspects and it was no more than a few years ago. What I meant is that it is the reason given in favour of unchecked ownership of assult rifles is usually a cover-up for something more underhanded. For instance, you indicated quite clearly in your post that you only want guns to be available so the populus can "overthrow an unjust and exploitative economic system" and we all know what you mean by that. It seems to me that you are in favour of legalized assault weapons at least partly because it is a means to see your own political goals achieved.Keep in mind that while an armed populus could possibly help safeguard democracy, it is just as possible that it would contribute to a dictatorial takeover fought in the name of safeguarding democracy. Do you seriously believe that it is safer to live in a society where anyone is armed than a society where only those who need to be are armed. The statistics are absolutely clear that if you own a gun it's more likely to work against you than help you in matters of defense. Hell, you don't even need statistics - just use your imagination and common sense! It is highly unlikely that if you are in a situation where you need a gun that you will be able to access it and use it without being killed first. The rare instances where it is useful pale in comparison to how many murders and accidents this type of legal ownership causes. But what if that point is that guns are made so expensive that only the rich can afford them for their army of hired goons to keep there slave workers in line? When I asked where does it end, I mean where does it end with any logically justifiable legitimacy. In matters of life and death, a changing, swaying 50%+1 just doesn't cut it. If assault weapons become legal for a short period of time and then are banned again, we already have a serious problem on our hands. This topic isn't discussing the expiration of an assault weapon ban in Honduras, Edric. This is in the US and it is prudent to debate it on such terms. But in case you didn't notice, what I said about the 2nd amendment and how it should apply in this matter is much the same as you have said above. Interpreting the Second amendment to the letter would mean that all weapons should be legal, from pellet guns to heavy artillery. What I said took into context the time and spirit in which the Second Amendment was written. Very well. Lets cut through the crap. Allow me to modify what I said above. Obviously the authority is granted by the people, but on what justification is that line drawn where it is? And don't just say, "Well that's what the people said so it doesn't matter." It does matter. Why do you, as an individual, choose to draw the line at anything up to and including assault weapons? What is your thought process in that decision?

I must be thinking of a different shootoff then. The one I'm thinking of was in LA and started with a bank robbery I think. There are so many it's getting hard to keep them straight.

The "right" to bear arms is a farce made up by those with a hidden agenda (and by arms I mean weapons intended only to kill people like these assault rifles - knives, martial arts weapons, and even hunting rifles are acceptable). If you don't have the right to kill people, why should you have a right to possess weapons for killing people? Imagine the conversation in a gun shop: Customer: I'd like to buy a high-powered, non-hunting rifle designed for the purpose of killing people please. Shopkeep: Okay, but federal law requires me to warn you that it is illegal to kill people with it. Customer: I understand. Shopkeep: Okay, here's your semi-automatic killing machine. Remember, you can own it, but you cant use it to kill people even though that's the only thing it does. Additionally, if bearing arms is a right, where does it end? The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States gives its citizens "the right to bear arms." There have been many cases of people trying to extend this right to include arms such as assault weapons and beyond. I remember one such case that went all the way to the supreme court involving a man trying to defend his right to own a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. And I must admit, he has a point. If you can own sidearms, concealable pistols, long range rifles and now assault rifles, why not RPGs? Like Dunenewt said, why not MiGs? On what authority does the law draw a line? I say that unless your occupation is one that requires you to be armed, you have no right to be. Hell, even some policemen don't need guns! Just look at the UK. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a place so safe that even the police aren't required to carry sidearms? Then because of the laws in the US you see things like the Hollywood shootout in which the criminals are armed so heavilly that police sidearms are ineffective and they are forced to commandeer more powerful weapons at a nearby gun shop. This is not to say I think the 2nd Amendment is flawed, however. A Constitutional amendment is not necessary. I believe that those who amended the constitution did so only with their knowledge of the the arms of the times without much consideration for what could come. How could the founding fathers have foreseen weapons like P90s and events like Columbine? No, at the time of the 2nd Amendment, the only "arms" available were flint rifles and muskets, so for the record, I support the right of Americans to own flint rifles and muskets. Hell, it was probably only put in there with the spirit that every American had the right to take up arms against the redcoats to defend independance. It's sickening to think of how many people have died because of what I believe to be a misinterpretation.

It's not, but it just seems like you're exploiting the attention drawn to the date to push forward an anti-American, pro-communist agenda. Good. My apologies. Rejection of what? I don't dispute that it occurred and that it was obviously a terrible, tragic mistake. Open-mindedness? I know a fair amount about this event, and it has already been discussed in this forum at length. That's why it seems questionable to bring it up again. Call me a right wing extremist, call me closed-minded, or call me a conservative putz, (I really don't care) but that's just what I think when I read this thread.

Not exactly. I added the word timing and changed rant to insinuation so as to avoid misinterpretation of my meaning. Last time I checked I am entitled to do that. You have no reason to complain anyway, seeing as how your post came well after I edited mine and thus you would have ample opportunity to alter your post accordingly.

My favourite part of that game was seeing Chara (6'9"/2.06m, 270lbs/123kg) taking Martin St. Louis (5'9"/1.75m, 180lbs/82kg) into the boards. By itself it was cool but the fact that it was St. Louis getting squashed made it even better. And by trainer do you mean coach?

Don't tell me you didn't pick up on it, you said yourself the irony was thick enough to cut with a knife. Maybe I'm just connecing the dots too much but whatever. Secondly, yes. Any other of the 365 days would have sufficed, especially seeing as how this topic has been discussed at length before.

Kill Bill was just too wierd for me. What kind of movie mixes insane amounts of violence with Japanese anime and southwestern music? Wierd.

You mustn't mention those names. Them and that other one. It still stings too much... >:( Brodeur took a puck to the thumb in the game against Slovakia and sprained his wrist. Luongo had some big skates to fill. I'm surprised our game against Slovakia wasn't better. I still liked it though. Gaborik is fast as lightning and Chara is just hilarious to watch.

Well, if and when that mass invasion occurs, the ban can be lifted at that time. Indeed that would happen. Double-edged sword.

The NRA is claiming that it well help keep America safe from terrorism. ;D I wonder how that works...

Duke Leto, read this first then re-read my post and your reply. Second, I am, rather obviously, a centrist-libertarian and not a right-wing extremist. Third, it just seemed inappropreate to me, but then again I don't speak ill of the dead during their funeral and that sort of thing. It strikes me as another exploitation of that dreadful date, no better than any of the browbeating RNC speakers that work it in every sentence. But, hey, if I'm wrong, good. I just don't like to see that kind of thing and I didn't say anything last time it happened so I did this time.

LMAO ;D This thread makes me laugh (at its humorous presentation, not Mahdi's misfortune of course [hyuk-hyuk]). I'm glad my sis is an accountant. She knows all the tricks for screwing over CCRA.

Eeeeww. Mental images of "barely legal swine" smut is a hard thing to forget.

Well, it will be a Finnish-Canadian final in Toronto (just what I was hoping for). The Czechs clearly outplayed us in the semifinal yesterday but we squeaked in somehow. Hopefully our sub-in goalie Luongo will be a little sharper in the final, though it's Finland's defensive game we have to worry about. I believe the final is set for Tuesday. I'll be watching like a hawk! The world cup is my favourite blend of hockey: international tournament with NHL rules. May the best team win!

Pretty disrespectful timing Edric. It stinks of a "you got what you deserved" insinuation.

For crying out loud Ninja connect the dots before making a jackass of yourself! Japan may have a similar quality of life with Israel (China and Saudi Arabia don't, really) but Israel is often grouped in with European countries because of it's proximity and cultural origins. A very large portion of Israel's population is made up of European emigrants, the same is NOT so for China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. But I don't suppose you actually care that what you said makes no sense whatsoever as long as you got a chance to make a ridiculous, sweeping, bigoted and arguably anti-semetic statement.

I once saw the world RPS "champion" interviewed on CBC. He played a best-of-three match with the woman who interviewed him and was swept two games to none. Shows you how meaningful it is.

I don't think those are the drivers.

How were you able to install two drivers? I've always been able to install one on top of the other.

Westwood gave away many T-shirts similar to those as tournament prizes. I had two at one point, but I think they had fremen snipers on the back.

You and I (unfortunately, for us) have the same video card. Is there any reason why you need the new drivers installed? Almost all of the difference in them is just support for newer games like Doom 3, and with a TNT2 we won't be running that any time soon. Barring some registry tinkering that I have no idea how to do, I'd reccomend just rolling back to an earlier driver. Hell, I'm still on 44.03! However, it might be a more serious problem if other video settings aren't retained every boot. Do you know if it's just the media center icon that changes back every time you boot, or do other settings as well?