don't want to provoke the gun nuts

What's wrong with me: obesity, tooth decay, anxiety, a few other things.

Unless you meant the exams I am grading, in which case they are due monday.

AND YOU WOULDN'T EVEN FUCKING KNOW

The ability to see that one (or more) is missing is just as valid a method as knowing the exact number that is supposed to be there.

Even if I remembered the count, I'd still know what's missing. I'm just bad with figures.

You have assumed that one of your own does not have a gun safe and maintains his weapons in a safe and sane manner. So basically you can not handle the fact that all gun owners are not totally crazy and obsess about their guns all the time.
How wise of you.
I have two large fireproof and expensive gun safes and I also do not know exactly how many guns are in them. I have lists by serial number in a safety deposit box but I do not have them out inventorying them every day.

Why guns? Why not archery or bowling? I don't get it and never will.

Penis substitute. Thanks for confirming what we all suspected.

Hard to know exactly. Part of it was just growing up a male in this country. Girls played with dolls, boys with toy guns. It's a lifelong fascination. Plus, there is something challenging, mind-clearing, and somewhat relaxing about emptying ones mind and focusing on the target. And there is considerable satisfaction in cafefully squeezing the trigger and seeing that round print on the target. Also, I have a hectic schedule, most of my good friends live far away, and this is something I can do myself if no one else has time to go bowling or whatever. For a long time you could smoke in bowling alleys and I never liked that. At least for rifles, it is always outside.

I think it's time to say goodbye.

is it the gender thing? I refer you to the writings of Joan Scoot who wrote extensively about gender identity being constructed from social norms.

mostly variety. I have various .22 rifles for various ranges and whether I'm shooting open sights or scopes. Plus, mechanically, I like the variety of cowboy style vs bolt vs auto. I admire the mechanical aspects, the wood grain, and just like the variety.

be safe my friend.

I have a set of 4 telescope eyepieces that together cost $2400. Lasgt production run from Carl Zeiss in Germany. I certainly have more regular eyepeices than I can count. And I have five different telescopes each with something special to offer.

The wonderment of some about the mother in Conn is ill placed. She did not have the collection I would have expected of a prepper/survivalist.

If one was stolen, would you even notice it was missing?

Sid

fear and ignorance - and THIS from someone who is "grading exams"

Most of the regular shooters at the pistol range I used to shoot at before I retired were well educated professionals. A lot of engineers and technicians enjoy the shooting sports and reload their own ammunition. I have also know bankers, lawyers, doctors, nurses and even preachers who shot handguns on a monthly or weekly basis.

Many had fairly large collections of firearms and a lot of money invested in their hobby. You don't have to be rich or have a well paying job to enjoy shooting but if you wish to accumulate a number of firearms it helps to have a good paying job and the disposable income to do so. Hamburger flippers usually don't make enough money to go shooting very often.

The gun culture does indeed have a lot of truly cultured people. It's easy to believe in stereotypes but it is somewhat foolish.

is that while some consider it an insult many do not. To prove my point visit:
http://gunnuts.net/

I have often been called a gun nut by a friend and I laugh and say, "I prefer the term gun enthusiast."

And then I would check what was missing.

I buy and sell them (with FBI checks through a FFL dealer) all the time.

Silhouette or benchrest or anything?

partly it's because of the time commitment and partly it is because of the right wing culture. Any road trip to a tournament would become a political argument. I've stopped going to amateur astronomical events (my other hobby) because they were turning into Glen Beck fan clubs.

I shoot comp both with rifles and handguns. I also work on guns, build custom rifles and tune long range comp rifles for others.
My collection makes his 15-16 look pretty small but I would know instantly if one were missing.

Within my safes are weapons I used several years ago but have replaced with newer models or some with newer or different features or different shaped stocks, or even with lighter or heavier frames. Are you suggesting that after not shooting a rifle or pistol for 100 or 200 days you have to melt it down and toss it in a river??? Yes I do shoot archery as well.

Is it possible for you to reduce your inventory and still be able to do what you intend?
Is it possible for you to optimize your selections so that they are more specifically suited to the intended purpose?
Is the purpose marksmanship?
Is it hunting game?
What qualities are you looking for in each application?
Can you selection accomplish the goal and minimize the potential for misuse in any way?

"Is it possible for you to reduce your inventory and still be able to do what you intend?"

Sure.

"Is it possible for you to optimize your selections so that they are more specifically suited to the intended purpose?"

Probably, it really depends on the available ranges. There's one near here that only allows single-shot benchrest. Joining would be a reason to reduce handguns and auto-loaders, but maybe add a .30 cal target model. Won't join though, they want NRA membership.

"Is the purpose marksmanship?"

yes, targets for pistol and rifle.

"Is it hunting game?"

no, I don't hunt. I would upset my wife.

"What qualities are you looking for in each application?"

I'm a bit of a snob. I'm looking for accuracy, quality construction, collect-ability, something that fits my hand well, and is not too expensive to shoot.

"Can you selection accomplish the goal and minimize the potential for misuse in any way?"

they have their own locked room. the ammunition is in a different room. also I only sell through FFL dealers with FBI checks.

that was deliberately designed to reduce lethality?
that was perhaps even designed to be as non-lethal as possible?

there are air pistols and video games, but it's just not the same.

I don't understand why you think this is so important to us.

I do not puport to be a model anything.

finally getting good at the Arabic language.

a long and happy marriage.

free education for my niece.

yeah, I can think of a lot.

Since a high capacity magazine is not needed to target shoot, defend oneself or to hunt, would you have a problem with them being banned?

Who you have a problem with getting rid of gun shows, and allowing only licensed gun dealers to sell weapons so that proper background checks can be done on all buyers?

Would you have a problem with having to have a license before buying any firearm, not just concealed carry licenses? After all, we have to have a license to drive, to marry, even to cut hair!

Would you have a problem with limiting ammo purchases to a certain amount per month?

Some of my auto-loaders use high-cap magazines, but I really think they have to go. The local shop sells those 33-round glock mags which are ideal for a mass shooting. The owner doesn't seem to be aware that there is a 30-round limit in this state.

all for background checks and licensing, although I would caution that no one is a criminal until he commits a crime. The murderer yesterday probably had no record. Include juvenile records.

I like to buy ammo on sale when I find a deal, so a limit would be inconvenient, that's all. There is a limit on pseudofed.

Anyone that doesn't know how many guns they have is a source of potential problems down the line.

but THIS guy takes the cake

if it is a personal insult to call someone STUPID who is UNSURE OF HOW MANY GUNS THEY HAVE then SO FUCKING BE IT

I am not sure the cops would take them.

Do you support my right to knock you out cold if I ever saw you walking around with a gun?

Seeing an armed person, I would feel threatened and would most likely hit you with the hardest nearby object.

You understand that, right?

But don't worry, if you're not carrying a gun, I wouldn't knock you out in self-defense.

It's assault.

Still, best watch your back if you choose to carry in public. It IS threatening and it is NOT surprising that some would defend themselves against a potential attack.

Yeah, if I felt threatened or if I felt my loved ones were threatened, I guess I would.

It is the responsibility of people to make sure they don't make other people feel so physically threatened that they might act in self-defense.

Carrying a gun near children is overtly threatening in my opinion.

and I've known quite a few, male and female. Not to mention plain clothes LEOs.
You sound like someone who shouldn't be allowed to walk American streets. But, you're in Japan, right?

Your LEO friends... did they ever consider, I wonder, if the sight of a gun in the hands of a stranger would be threatening?

Probably they have, and that is why they keep it concealed.

If they showed it in public openly, it would scare people and constitute a reasonable threat to some people.

Or do you NOT agree that a gun-wielding stranger should be legitimately considered a threat?

I guess they figure that not many people are nutty enough to attempt an assault. Most people who are intimidated just move away. Often they will report it to a uniformed cop or security.

But I will try one more time to ask you a serious question.

If you do NOT think that an unidentified, non-uniformed gun-wielding stranger is threatening, how do you expect to be able to reasonably assess an actual threat in the form of an unidentified, non-uniformed gun-wielding stranger?

I'd just preemptively punch everyone, armed or not. After all, people like you are walking the streets. It just seems like the logical thing to do.

And I am being facetious.

I am just feeling pissed about guns.

Sorry if you don't get that.

Good to know you're willing to assault a woman who is doing NOTHING to you.

If we were out with our families and somehow you detected that I was armed and assaulted me with a weapon and disabled or killed me my wife would draw and fire. She doesn't miss often. You would be badly wounded or dead, and charged with the assault. She would walk because her reaction was justified under our laws and either she or I would sue you for every dime you or your estate had.
Somehow I think you need to rethink your stance on this issue. It is not going to go as you think it should.
You are not part of the solution, you are now part of the problem.

could be very threatening to a person.

What if your kids were near?

What if you had been assaulted at gun point in your past?

What if you were just a nervous guy?

Acting in self-defense seems to be a theory that gun nuts say they understand, right?

that walk around the grain silo with a gun in their holster.

I think you might be in for a major league ass kickin. And they would not even need to touch the gun. Norwould they want to. It would be a fair fight I guarantee you.

And a felony assault arrest for you after getting ass kicked.

Let me know if interested. I want it on youtube!

Bring one of those farmers to where I live with a gun and I think it would be a different story entirely.

Let them stay in Kansas and I have no problem.

Just keep your guns out of my sight and I wouldn't hurt you.

I liked the old "good ol' boys are tougher than y'all" chestnut you dragged out too.

You should consider serious help or anti-anxiety medication before you start an altercation with an armed person and get yourself (or a bystander) injured or killed. Hell, for all you know it's could be a plainclothes officer (detective/lieutenant) you're about to assault.

Those who defend the right to walk around with a gun are afraid and it is hilarious to see it exposed.

because YOU FEEL THREATENED demonstrates THEIR fear.

Are you fucking serious?

You're whining about being afraid of a person defending themselves with their hands when you can't see that a loaded gun is the REAL threat?

Hilarious.

I am trying to expose the stupidity of the country and system you live in.

The fact that you cannot answer how YOU would distinguish between a real threat is a true indication of the madness of the country that YOU live in.

Can you imagine this guy trying to tell a judge why he assaulted an off duty LEO who is required to carry a weapon at all times.
He would be playing buba with the big boys for a while. I bet he would not like that culture either.

Just the mere suggestion that SOMEONE might feel the need to defend themselves with their bare hands against a person wielding a gun is enough to cause outrage!

I find it hilarious to see how some feel when even a fraction of the shoe is on the other foot.

Someone legally carrying a gun for no reason!

I am saying that a loaded gun in the hands of an unknown, non-uniformed person is, by any rational consideration, a real threat in a country with 200 times the gun homicides of 22 western nations combined.

If you do not think so, perhaps YOU are the irrational one.

Unknown, gun-wielding, non-uniformed person.

Think about it.

Not crazy about it, but no, I would not assault a security guard.

But if you don't think an unknown person with a gun is a threat, how do you expect you would be able to defend yourself or even IDENTIFY a crazy person when they come into the mall or your place of business with a gun.

So inured to guns that you have lost the sense of reasonable threat assessment and self-preservation.

THAT is funny and sad.

A badge that says "security". Perfectly legal!

And you feel safe with him, but an off duty cop in civilian clothes with a gun on his hip gets a punch in the face from you, the Sugar Ray of te DU!

You are looking a little silly at this point!

Answer the question.

Is a non-uniformed gun-wielding person a reasonable threat?

If not, how would you assess a threat?

I submit that, in your ignorance and unpreparedness, you wouldn't recognize a threat until a gun barrel was placed against your head.

Need to think arguments through BEFORE starting them!

I live in a country that has intelligent policies regarding guns.

No one has talked about any wielding a weapon except for your statement of using one on someone else. Wielding is a statement of manipulation, handling, moving or using. This entire discussion has been about you detecting someone mealy carrying a gun.
So stick to the parameters of this discussion as you defined it and quit trying to change things because you can not support your own statements or answer very valid questions in any acceptable manner.

Hoyt once said that is someone spotted someone carrying a concealed weapon that they should restrain them until law enforcement arrived. This is almost as funny

You made an attempt at a reducto absurdem argument, and failed miserably.

At least it appeared to be an academic argument, while Hoyt seemed quite serious.

No one so far has been able to address the question. Once again...

Is it reasonable to consider a gun-wielding stranger as a potential threat?

A holstered/concealed weapon is not considered a prima facie threat under US law. Its presence may or may not be legal but that does no allow a non-LEO to take action.

Brandishing a weapon (waving, intentional display) can be crime, depending on the circumstances, as could be discharging it.

Gotcha.

Glad I don't live in the US anymore.

The law does not endorse an attack first, figure it out later approach.

If you have any concern, approach mall security, call 911, get the hell out of there. Using your best harai goshi is not the answer, even in Japan.

Anyone at any time if they see something that they are unsure about should bring it to the attention of someone who can do something about it. That is fair and reasonable. Attacking the object of their suspicion is not. In the US or Japan.

There are any number of stories about visitors to a nearby Starbucks freaking out because they caught a glimpse of a concealed weapon...the cop shop is around the corner. Newbies there will often seek out a uniformed officer who will calm them down..."that Det. Smith, he is fine"

As I said, it's a hobby. I only carry them in a case while unloaded.

But you would understand, right?

"i don't like violence, so i'm going to threaten you"

looney toons...

Not me.

I know a bunch of people who carry by permit. Not one of them has ever shown me or voiced the potential for violence that you just stated. And you would call them nuts because they own and legally carry a weapon. If a totally legal activity can cause you to have a possibly lethal violent reaction then it you that need help, not them.

in the wake of a massacre of children...and you're fucking grading papers.

I wonder how many others will brag about the number of guns they own.