> Hi, Tim Richardson!
> I read your message from 13.01.2016 13:37
> 
>   ak>>>> It's easy - most Americans are afraid each other. So, no chance
>   ak>>>> to live without guns. ;=)
>   TR>>> Not true. Most Americans are watchful of their `government'.
>   TR>>> And the main reason for the Second Amendment guaranteeing all
>   TR>>> American citizens the right to keep and bear arms was to keep an
>   TR>>> armed citizenry able to resist and overthrow a tyrannical
>   TR>>> government.
> 
>   ak>> Small arms is useless for that purpose.
>   TR> What makes you think all we've got is `small arms'?
> 
> If the army use tanks, bombers, satellite, drones, spying equipment 
> where can buy it? If you catch a tank it will be destroyed by a bomber 
> withing minutes.

Tanks and bombers are pretty much useless in an urban environment - unless
the government wants to alienate the rest of the people.  They're pretty
much useless in jungles and forests, too.  We should have learned that in
Vietnam and you should have learn ed it in Afghanistan.

Small arms, however, are very useful in such an environment.  So are knives
and garrots.  
> 
>   TR>>> to defend yourself against anyone who would do you harm or rob
>   TR>>> you of your property.
>   ak>> It is actual only in a country full of bandits. ;-) Watch
>   ak>> carefully and shoot first! It's not a big distance from the wild
>   ak>> West. It doesn't look as a civilized country, either.
>   TR> We (at least *I*) don't care what it looks like to outsiders. We
>   TR> get that kind of talk from a lot of foreigners; `we aren't
>   TR> `civilized' '!
> 
>   TR> Yeah well... we like our guns, and we don't give a hoot in hell
>   TR> what foreigners think about that.
> 
> Such thoughts are probably spoken not only by the foreigners. There are 
> many Americans who think that if people do not feel themselves safe 
> without feeling guns with their buttocks there is something very wrong 
> in such a country.
> 
>   TR>>> Not all citizens are allowed to exercise that right, however.
>   ak>> Who are not allowed? Is there a certain database of those who are
>   ak>> not allowed?
>   TR> Yes.
>   TR> Convicted felons, some misdemeanor convictions, and those who have
>   TR> been in mental institutions are usually caught in a background
>   TR> check for a firearm purchase.
> 
> If a person hasn't been in a mental hospital during his life it doesn't 
> mean he is healthy mentally. That is the way how nutcases acquire 
> submachine guns.

Submachine guns and "assault rifles" are just bullet hoses.  They are
notoriously inaccurate.  An experienced shooter can do far more damage -
from a much greater distance - with a scoped big game rifle, and have
little
"collateral damage."

> <skipped>
>   TR> So... the only persons allowed to carry loaded firearms in
>   TR> California are cops or criminals. Cops carry all sorts of guns, and
>   TR> criminals don't obey gun laws. So the common law-abiding citizen is
>   TR> on their own.
> 
> Do you think it would be good if people also carry sabers and daggers?

Sabers no, but a lot of people carry knives and razors.
 
> It is even less powerful weapon for self-defence than guns.

Not up close and personal they aren't.
 
>   TR>>> All the mass shootings that have occurred that get the democrats
>   TR>>> hot about gun confiscation have pretty much occurred in `gun free
>   TR>>> zones'.
> 
>   ak>> Do you think that teachers in school should keep his holster
>   ak>> opened? ;-)
> 
>   TR> A large segment of Americans are ex-military of one sort or
>   TR> another. I am a Vietnam veteran, have been in combat, and I know
>   TR> when and when not to open fire.
> 
> In Vietnam American soldiers created rains of bullets without thinking 
> to much. It was enough to hear a rustle behind the trees. 
> 
> <skipped>
>   TR> People don't need cops or some other organization to `teach' them
>   TR> firearm safety. I've been around weapons since my father first let
>   TR> me try his 12 gauge when I about 11. I went through the Army, a
>   TR> war, and many years living in states where handguns were commonly
>   TR> carried by everyone. I've never shot anyone I didn't intend to
>   TR> shoot, never had a firearm `accident', and never `went off the deep
>   TR> end' with a gun.
> 
> Yes, it a cultural phenomena.
> 
>   TR> Here in the states I've used a handgun to prevent a few incidents,
>   TR> take a few people into custody, and been deputized twice to aid
>   TR> deputy sheriff's who were working alone in rural areas who needed
>   TR> backup.
> 
>   TR> The vast majority of people this president is referring to when he
>   TR> accuses us of `clinging to God and our guns' are just as
>   TR> responsible and experienced with firearms as I try to be.
> 
> But anyway, allowing school teachers to have guns is a bad idea. ;=)

A century and a half ago in this country it was quite common for students -
ages 10 to 13 - in rural schools to carry pistols to and from school.  Yet
there was none of the mayhem then that there is now
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