H.R. 2038, Is this for real?!

[Peregrin Toker]

1. Irrational fear of weapons..

I thought hoplophobia was a fear of shields?? (IIRC, "hoplon" means "shield" in Ancient Greek)

[Coyote]

"Hoplos", I thought, was Greek for "weapon"....

But as for the right-wing-left-wing issue, seriously-- ALL politics in America is more conservative and to the right than the general political spectrum in Europe. Our most leftist Democrats, perhaps the Kennedys for example, are sorta centrist in Europe and would actually be seen as somewhat right-of-center.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

"Hoplos", I thought, was Greek for "weapon"....

But as for the right-wing-left-wing issue, seriously-- ALL politics in America is more conservative and to the right than the general political spectrum in Europe. Our most leftist Democrats, perhaps the Kennedys for example, are sorta centrist in Europe and would actually be seen as somewhat right-of-center.

That's frightening.

[darthdavid]

Back on topic.

What's next? Will they be banning pellet guns. I know rocks. They'll ban rocks because you can throw the heavy ones to kill people.

[UltraViolence83]

Why not ban paintball and violent video games? Oh, and don't forget any given Quentin Tarantino movie.


GOD I fucking despise anti-gun shithead cocksuckers. It would seem that some people need to read the Constitution.

[Peregrin Toker]

Back on topic.

What's next? Will they be banning pellet guns. I know rocks. They'll ban rocks because you can throw the heavy ones to kill people.

Slippery slope fallacy.

But as for the right-wing-left-wing issue, seriously-- ALL politics in America is more conservative and to the right than the general political spectrum in Europe. Our most leftist Democrats, perhaps the Kennedys for example, are sorta centrist in Europe and would actually be seen as somewhat right-of-center.

Really? I once recalled Ted Kennedy as being described as slightly left-of-center by European standards.

Most European left-wingers are most of all akin to sane versions of Ralph Nader.

That's frightening.

Well, we Europeans think it's frightening that the American right-wing consists of people who consider Bill Clinton to be a communist.

[FaxModem1]

So, how much of a chance does this thing have of being passed? and if it does, how long will it take to pass and be in effect?

[The Duchess of Zeon]

"Hoplos", I thought, was Greek for "weapon"....

No, "Hoplon" is Greek for shield.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Back on topic.

What's next? Will they be banning pellet guns. I know rocks. They'll ban rocks because you can throw the heavy ones to kill people.

Well, while we're on this slippery slope, why not speculate that all male infants will undergo mandatory amputations to remove their forearms? After all, if they ban rocks, we'll just find something else to throw at each other.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Well, we Europeans think it's frightening that the American right-wing consists of people who consider Bill Clinton to be a communist.

Bill Clinton wasn't a commie, and neither is Hillary--she's just an opportunist--but a considerable portion of the Left in America espousing a basically communist agenda? Absolutely.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

That's frightening.

Well, we Europeans think it's frightening that the American right-wing consists of people who consider Bill Clinton to be a communist.

I think you're blurring the lines between moderate and extreme right-wing views on that one, Simon. In my experience, it's the extremists who think Clinton was trying to eradicate the rights of citizens in order to facilitate a shift to socialism. Moderates like myself tend to view him as someone who would have -- and should have -- wound up like every other sleazy used car salesman.

[Coyote]

Actually, there have been tales of travelers going through Heathrow Airport in England that have had BB guns and Paintball guns confiscated, even those locked in luggage and declared...

Supposedly after the Dunblane killings the UK Biathlon team (the one with the skiing and shooting events combined) had to practice outside the country because the laws would not permit them to use their weapns for practuice. I dunno the veracity of that one, though, its sounds farfetched.

[Edi]

Actually, there have been tales of travelers going through Heathrow Airport in England that have had BB guns and Paintball guns confiscated, even those locked in luggage and declared...

Supposedly after the Dunblane killings the UK Biathlon team (the one with the skiing and shooting events combined) had to practice outside the country because the laws would not permit them to use their weapns for practuice. I dunno the veracity of that one, though, its sounds farfetched.

It's true, was in the news here when it happened. The Brits have always been pretty anal about airport security, which is a good thing usually, though they sometimes do go overboard.

My mom had a runin with that some 25 years or more ago when she brought some glass candle holders from Finland as a gift for her English friends, and she got stopped and questioned about them. she had to take off the giftwraps and everything before they let her go. Might have had something to do that they were roughly a foot long cylinder shape some three and a half inches thick and solid glass, so they showed as dark objects shaped like dynamite sticks in the X-ray machine...

Edi

[Peregrin Toker]

Well, we Europeans think it's frightening that the American right-wing consists of people who consider Bill Clinton to be a communist.

Bill Clinton wasn't a commie, and neither is Hillary--she's just an opportunist--but a considerable portion of the Left in America espousing a basically communist agenda? Absolutely.

Which "basically communist agenda"??

Sharing ideas with communists is not the same as actually being a communist - just like there are many left-wing politicians who have adopted libertarian and conservative ideas.

I think you're blurring the lines between moderate and extreme right-wing views on that one, Simon.

Well, the Republican party of Germany was once on the verge of being banned because their viewpoints were considered too extreme. Then again, I don't know whether they have any connection to the Republican Party of the USA.

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Well, the Republican party of Germany was once on the verge of being banned because their viewpoints were considered too extreme. Then again, I don't know whether they have any connection to the Republican Party of the USA.

I highly doubt it. Anyone here even suspected of holding similar views in this country wouldn't have much of a political career.

Witness Trent Lott -- he said something nice about a guy who supported something anti-PC decades ago, and just that compliment to the wrong person was enough to get Lott the bum's rush.

[Peregrin Toker]

Well, the Republican party of Germany was once on the verge of being banned because their viewpoints were considered too extreme. Then again, I don't know whether they have any connection to the Republican Party of the USA.

I highly doubt it. Anyone here even suspected of holding similar views in this country wouldn't have much of a political career.

Views similar to whose, and in what country?? (yours or Germany??)

[Raoul Duke, Jr.]

Well, the Republican party of Germany was once on the verge of being banned because their viewpoints were considered too extreme. Then again, I don't know whether they have any connection to the Republican Party of the USA.

I highly doubt it. Anyone here even suspected of holding similar views in this country wouldn't have much of a political career.

Views similar to whose, and in what country?? (yours or Germany??)

Views similar to those held by the GRP.