Random Thoughts Thread

[A Horse With No Name]

And people wonder why they think Americans are insane. 

[A Horse With No Name]

I am amazed this prototype survived, if you watch no other videos, watch this one. 

 

[oldshurst442]

31 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

And people wonder why they think Americans are insane. 

I do not think that Americans are insane because FAKE Christians brandish AR-15s in sermon...

I think Americans are insane:

1. Because a faction of dumb phoquing Americans have faith and follow FAKE pastors in FAKE churches practicing a FAKE religion under the guise of Christianity.  And then all the rest of the idiot Americans have the phoquing balls to include ALL the religions as being bad JUST because shytty factions of snake oil salesmen have taken control over their phoquing dumb ass country.    Spare me the talk about magic men in the sky with the LEGIT religions.  Just because FAKE phoquing prophets...ie humans, took aspects of religion to feed their greed and hatred and to bamboozle phoqueheads, that has NOTHING to do with the religions itself.  Mega church,  TV evangelists, mormons,  evangelical phoquetards and everything else the United States of America calls a religion that is said to be Christian but  BLATANTLY DEFIES ANYTHING REMOTELY that defines Christianity is the problem that plagues the well being of the US. Including the phoquing Pilgrims that came over the phoquing Mayflower that called themselves the Calvinist Protestants...    And do NOT get me started with the original bullshyte Anglican and Protestant churches of merry 'ole England to which one of the two was invented or altered because fat phoquing King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife but couldnt.  He ended up decapitating 2 of his other wives...   This phoquing problem with religion in the US starts right there...in merry 'ole shytty England.  The rest of the religions of the world are pretty OK Id say.   So I find it insane that Americans are phoquing clueless about who is phoquing them royally.  (pun intended) 

2.  I find it insane that Americans are hit with gun violence at EVERY junction in everyday life and then see phoquing insane people brandishing guns "peacefully", like this phoquing idiot, and then be surprised that gun violence hits them at EVERY phoquing junction of everyday life.  

3. And then do NOTHING to stop gun violence. Not even as much as to quell it a little bit.  But use excuses to quell gun violence by adding...more guns to the equation...

4. I find it insane that Americans actually believe that America is the ONLY nation that has gun culture and are free to own guns.  I also find it insane how Americans are so phoquing IRRESPONSIBLE with gun ownership and how they parrot nonsensical phrases from all those snake oil salesmen that continue to help them kill  themselves...   And are proud of it. THAT last part is truly the insane part. The pride of continuing to kill oneself...from within.  From their fellow American neighbour... 

[oldshurst442]

1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

I am amazed this prototype survived, if you watch no other videos, watch this one. 

 

A front wheel drive Oldsmobile 442?   Hmmmmmm....  Yeah...it may have a more plushy ride than a regular Cutlass and it could  be called a baby Toronado because of it, I guess,  but I think Ill pass on wanting a Cutlass 442 with FWD. Even with a 455 powering the (front) wheels.  Id happily own a Toronado though. 1966.   Retomodded as I feels like I would want disk brakes at the front as a minimum.  

I like the fact that the wheel base is 2 inches longer than the normal Cutlass coupe though.  You could see the added 2 inches makes for an even better looking A body.  

That colour is AMAZING!!!  

I saw this episode yesterday.  I try not to miss any Jay Leno's garages... 

[ccap41]

50 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

Spare me the talk about magic men in the sky with the LEGIT religions. 

The joke is on you. No religion is "legit". There are just some with more money than others. 

[ccap41]

53 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

And then do NOTHING to stop gun violence. Not even as much as to quell it a little bit.  But use excuses to quell gun violence by adding...more guns to the equation...

Genuine question here. What do you think should be done about gun violence? I, too, believe there is an issue, but don't exactly have a good solution. I'm all fine with background checks, FOID cards(firearm owners identification) and waiting periods. IL has all of those already and has for as long as I can remember. 

What are you and everybody else's' solutions? I'm open to opinions. 

[G. David Felt]

57 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Genuine question here. What do you think should be done about gun violence? I, too, believe there is an issue, but don't exactly have a good solution. I'm all fine with background checks, FOID cards(firearm owners identification) and waiting periods. IL has all of those already and has for as long as I can remember. 

What are you and everybody else's' solutions? I'm open to opinions. 

Excellent question and one I think is answered by our own history during the world wars. It seems that our own Military had a clear rule of no guns for populations other than those that go through special training for hunting. Japan is a perfect example of this; the violence is minimal and mostly done with things that are not gun based.

The days of wild west frontier are over and as such we really do not have a need for guns in the way it was viewed back at the start of our country 249 years ago.

Second Amendment needs to be amended to include REQUIRED Training, Required Gun Safes for those that choose to buy a gun. Required review to understand the need to own a gun which includes mental check. 

I have no problem with guns, gun ownership, I have a problem with the current NRA and all the crazy gun nuts that think there should be no rules or requirements for gun ownership. As such, the bulk of gun violence happens in Red states. So maybe there needs to be better education and stricter requirements about gun ownership.

@oldshurst442 Brings up a good point on other countries and since I mentioned Japan where I went to college, here are their requirements, heavily dictated by McArthur after the surrender to the U.S. from WWII.

Gun ownership in Japan is highly restricted, governed by strict laws that prioritize public safety and minimize gun violence.

Legal Framework
The Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law, enacted in 1958, regulates all aspects of gun ownership in Japan. This law has undergone numerous revisions to tighten restrictions and ensure public safety. Key points include:

Types of Firearms Allowed: Only shotguns and air rifles are permitted for civilian ownership. Handguns are completely prohibited, with no exceptions for self-defense or hunting. 

Licensing Process: Obtaining a firearm license in Japan is a rigorous process that includes:
Background Checks: Comprehensive checks are conducted to assess the applicant's history and character.

Mental Health Evaluations: Applicants must undergo psychological assessments to ensure they are fit to own a firearm.
Mandatory Training: Individuals must complete training courses on firearm safety and handling. 

Storage and Transport Regulations: Firearms must be stored securely, typically in a locked safe, with ammunition stored separately. Transporting firearms requires them to be unloaded and stored in a locked case. 

Greek Requirements:

Gun ownership in Greece is regulated by strict laws, requiring licenses for various purposes such as hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense.

Legal Framework

Gun ownership in Greece is governed by Law 4171/2013, which outlines the requirements for obtaining a gun license and the types of firearms that can be owned. Citizens are allowed to own firearms for specific purposes, including hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense, but must adhere to strict licensing requirements. 

Licensing Requirements
To obtain a gun license in Greece, applicants must meet several criteria:
Age: At least 18 years old for hunting weapons and 21 years old for other firearms.

Background Check: No criminal record or history of mental illness.

Medical Examination: Pass a medical and psychological evaluation.

Training: Complete a firearms training course.
Legitimate Reason: Provide proof of a valid reason for owning a firearm, such as hunting or self-defense. 

Types of Firearms Allowed:
The law permits ownership of various firearms, including hunting rifles and handguns, but prohibits fully automatic weapons and certain other types of firearms. There are limits on the number of firearms an individual can own, and firearms must be stored securely. 

Public Opinion and Recent Developments
Public opinion in Greece generally favors strict gun control measures, with many citizens supporting regulations to prevent gun-related violence. Recent incidents involving firearms have prompted discussions about potential changes to the licensing framework, including stricter requirements and enhanced background checks. 

Statistics on Gun Ownership
Estimates suggest that there are approximately 1.2 million legal firearms in Greece, alongside an estimated 800,000 illegal firearms. This indicates that about 20% of the population may own firearms, which is relatively low compared to other countries. 

In summary, while gun ownership is permitted in Greece, it is subject to stringent regulations and licensing requirements aimed at ensuring public safety. The ongoing discussions about gun laws reflect a cautious approach to firearm regulation in the country.

[oldshurst442]

56 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I'm open to opinions. 

No you are not. 

But just to entertain you. 

You have access to the internet?

OK...google on how other countries deal with gun ownership.

Do not do the lazy thing like you did with Charlie Kirk... Only look at what looks good for you and is all happy for you to look at.  Dig deep.  Deeper than what 'research' you did with Charlie Kirk to come up with such a useless answer as to why you thought Charlie Kirk was a good debater and a good semaritan.

Charlie Kirk said that he is comfortable with a few gun deaths a year JUST to keep the freedom of owning guns a right for American citizens...

As it happens, a Greek guy got shot in a Starbucks in Laval (a Montreal suburb city just north of the island. Montreal is an island) 3-4 days ago.  Early.  Almost noon. It had people inside. Innocent people.   42 year old thug.  He was part of a mafia gang of some sort. Did contract work for the mafia. What mafia? Italian mafia? Who the phoque cares? He sold drugs. Extorted money. Possibly did murder for hire also.  Called himself Bob the Greek.  Now he is no longer Bob the Greek but Bob the dead phoquing Greek.   Good phoquing riddance but I digress.

Well...it starts with the community and the society.  

The Laval community was disgusted by this blatant disregard for human life. For public safety.  The cops also. Nobody liked the fact that gun violence happened. In public. Where innocent people were.  Our society does NOT want guns to go away. It is ALSO our RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS TO OWN guns. But OUR society also does NOT want gun violence to continue.  We do NOT have any NRA type factions dictating to us that we should have open carry laws.    

We are NOT immune to school shootings. In Montreal, we have had 2.  

Anyway, we keep on REMEMBERING the first one where WOMEN were murdered JUST because they were in engineering school.  Our school shooter was one of the first incel phoques to come around.  This happened on December 6 1989.  1989.  1989.   Ecole Polytechnique massacre it is called. 

We KEEP on REMEMBERING the victims.  We keep on REMEMBERING the cause and WHAT to do to ELIMINATE this kind of behaviour.

YOUR society puts Charlie Kirk on a pedestal. 

Did you do your research on Charlie Kirk to see what kind of misogynistic phoque he really was? What kind of bigoted rhetoric he was spewing. The hatred he lead people to have?

Well...it starts from that. 

PHOQUE the laws...

Change YOUR society.  Change your attitude about gun violence as a society. Start with that.   

Trump putting ICE agents in your cities, having Charlie Kirks and fake phoquing priests garner AR-15s, having the NRA say that teachers need to start carrying guns to protect themselves and their students need to be changed. Reverse THAT ideology.  Start with that... 

Edited 45 minutes ago by oldshurst442

[ccap41]

17 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

Second Amendment needs to be amended to include REQUIRED Training, Required Gun Safes for those that choose to buy a gun. Required review to understand the need to own a gun which includes mental check. 

I'm fine with all of that, but you're saying the government should be allowed inside my house to check for my gun safe? Or if something bad happens they can then check and see if you had a safe or not(which would be too late)? 

How do you go about a mental health check? Because, I think this is easily the most important aspect and issue here. Do you have continued checks yearly? every X years? 

IL has concealed carry training(which I've gone through) but they do not have training to just buy a gun. I'm not opposed to some form of training prior to purchasing your first firearm. 

20 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

I have no problem with guns, gun ownership, I have a problem with the current NRA and all the crazy gun nuts that think there should be no rules or requirements for gun ownership. As such, the bulk of gun violence happens in Red states. So maybe there needs to be better education and stricter requirements about gun ownership.

It's wild in some states. So I obviously work in Missouri and live in Illinois (I've said this before) and therefore I've had coworkers live in MO. We've talked about this in the past and its insane how easy it is to buy a gun in Missouri. Anybody can just go buy a gun and walk out with it that day. In Illinois you must have a FOID card prior, 72hr (or a week - I think it's changed sometime in the last 10 years), and there's a background check prior to the waiting period. 

14 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

OK...google on how other countries deal with gun ownership

I'm not asking what other countries do. I'm asking what YOU would do about the problem. You're very vocal about the problem but you don't state what you would do to fix it. It's easy to say there's a problem but offer no solution. 

And yes, I am open to ideas. Why wouldn't I? 

[oldshurst442]

22 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

Excellent question and one I think is answered by our own history during the world wars. It seems that our own Military had a clear rule of no guns for populations other than those that go through special training for hunting. Japan is a perfect example of this; the violence is minimal and mostly done with things that are not gun based.

The days of wild west frontier are over and as such we really do not have a need for guns in the way it was viewed back at the start of our country 249 years ago.

Second Amendment needs to be amended to include REQUIRED Training, Required Gun Safes for those that choose to buy a gun. Required review to understand the need to own a gun which includes mental check. 

I have no problem with guns, gun ownership, I have a problem with the current NRA and all the crazy gun nuts that think there should be no rules or requirements for gun ownership. As such, the bulk of gun violence happens in Red states. So maybe there needs to be better education and stricter requirements about gun ownership.

@oldshurst442 Brings up a good point on other countries and since I mentioned Japan where I went to college, here are their requirements, heavily dictated by McArthur after the surrender to the U.S. from WWII.

Gun ownership in Japan is highly restricted, governed by strict laws that prioritize public safety and minimize gun violence.

Legal Framework
The Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law, enacted in 1958, regulates all aspects of gun ownership in Japan. This law has undergone numerous revisions to tighten restrictions and ensure public safety. Key points include:

Types of Firearms Allowed: Only shotguns and air rifles are permitted for civilian ownership. Handguns are completely prohibited, with no exceptions for self-defense or hunting. 

Licensing Process: Obtaining a firearm license in Japan is a rigorous process that includes:
Background Checks: Comprehensive checks are conducted to assess the applicant's history and character.

Mental Health Evaluations: Applicants must undergo psychological assessments to ensure they are fit to own a firearm.
Mandatory Training: Individuals must complete training courses on firearm safety and handling. 

Storage and Transport Regulations: Firearms must be stored securely, typically in a locked safe, with ammunition stored separately. Transporting firearms requires them to be unloaded and stored in a locked case. 

Greek Requirements:

Gun ownership in Greece is regulated by strict laws, requiring licenses for various purposes such as hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense.

Legal Framework

Gun ownership in Greece is governed by Law 4171/2013, which outlines the requirements for obtaining a gun license and the types of firearms that can be owned. Citizens are allowed to own firearms for specific purposes, including hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense, but must adhere to strict licensing requirements. 

Licensing Requirements
To obtain a gun license in Greece, applicants must meet several criteria:
Age: At least 18 years old for hunting weapons and 21 years old for other firearms.

Background Check: No criminal record or history of mental illness.

Medical Examination: Pass a medical and psychological evaluation.

Training: Complete a firearms training course.
Legitimate Reason: Provide proof of a valid reason for owning a firearm, such as hunting or self-defense. 

Types of Firearms Allowed:
The law permits ownership of various firearms, including hunting rifles and handguns, but prohibits fully automatic weapons and certain other types of firearms. There are limits on the number of firearms an individual can own, and firearms must be stored securely. 

Public Opinion and Recent Developments
Public opinion in Greece generally favors strict gun control measures, with many citizens supporting regulations to prevent gun-related violence. Recent incidents involving firearms have prompted discussions about potential changes to the licensing framework, including stricter requirements and enhanced background checks. 

Statistics on Gun Ownership
Estimates suggest that there are approximately 1.2 million legal firearms in Greece, alongside an estimated 800,000 illegal firearms. This indicates that about 20% of the population may own firearms, which is relatively low compared to other countries. 

In summary, while gun ownership is permitted in Greece, it is subject to stringent regulations and licensing requirements aimed at ensuring public safety. The ongoing discussions about gun laws reflect a cautious approach to firearm regulation in the country.

 

In Greece though, Greek boys when they turn 18, they perform MANDATORY military service.  They serve 9-12 months in the Hellenic Armed Forces. Used to be 2 years.   After that, they are in the reserves just in case Greece needs to go to war.   Up to the age of 45, Greeks living abroad, such as myself despite if I was born in Canada and is a Canadian citizen and NOT a Greek citizen, if we visit Greece and stay LONGER than 3 months in a year, yup, we also have to mandatory military service. We could also pay to get out of that. But I digress. 

What does that do?

It teaches to respect the gun.  Guns kill.  

Guns dont kill people is what the NRA says.  While true, that statement DESENTISIZES what guns are capable of doing.  

Many pseudo-intellectuals say the US was born from violence and hence that is why violence is prevalent in US culture. While true, Greece was also born from violence.  We have a God of War.  We have Athena, Goddess of wisdom. But also a Goddess of military strategy...  We have both a man and a woman as Gods that we idolized for warfare.    Our stories are full of death, murder and even rape. 

But you just dont see Greeks furiously and frivolously kill each other with gun violence. Or any kind of violence. 

And I do not know how accurate that study is about Greece, but do not go to the Greek country side thinking that only 20% of the population have guns.  Greeks love to hunt. And they hunt. Trust me they hunt.  Like Canadians. We have rules that prohibit the 'scary' guns. The AR-15s that only shoot 1 bullet at a time as some NRA phoque-a-zoids call it.    Canadians are also well armed. Canadians also love to hunt. And hunt we do. 

What kind of gun laws does Canada have? Very restrictive now as even hand guns are almost impossible to own in Canada.   But NOT entirely impossible as special cases are rewarded to some peoples.  But...truth be told, gun violence had an uptick. Not dangerously high. But...

Again though, NRA or other Charlie Kirk types of phoques do not go around scaring us that the guvment is out to get us.  Well, we do not trust ANY guvment as much as any looney American, we also believe that a citizen NEEDS to be armed, not just from enemies beyond our border, but with enemies from within, we also understand that we cannot have guns run amuck either.  And a hunting rifle or shot gun is actually deadlier than a hand gun.  But now we are just going to go down a NRA level type of misguided argument as to why we need to have teachers arm themselves to protect students... 

[G. David Felt]

20 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

I'm fine with all of that, but you're saying the government should be allowed inside my house to check for my gun safe? Or if something bad happens they can then check and see if you had a safe or not(which would be too late)? 

How do you go about a mental health check? Because, I think this is easily the most important aspect and issue here. Do you have continued checks yearly? every X years? 

IL has concealed carry training(which I've gone through) but they do not have training to just buy a gun. I'm not opposed to some form of training prior to purchasing your first firearm. 

It's wild in some states. So I obviously work in Missouri and live in Illinois (I've said this before) and therefore I've had coworkers live in MO. We've talked about this in the past and its insane how easy it is to buy a gun in Missouri. Anybody can just go buy a gun and walk out with it that day. In Illinois you must have a FOID card prior, 72hr (or a week - I think it's changed sometime in the last 10 years), and there's a background check prior to the waiting period. 

I'm not asking what other countries do. I'm asking what YOU would do about the problem. You're very vocal about the problem but you don't state what you would do to fix it. It's easy to say there's a problem but offer no solution. 

And yes, I am open to ideas. Why wouldn't I? 

Like have been instituted in other countries, I feel that the mental health review or check should be done before your allowed to buy a gun. So many other places around the world require this and that is it, once and done, yes I understand it does not cover what could happen down the road as one ages, but at least at the time before your approved to buy a gun, you have a mental health check to see where you are mentally.

Gun Locks / Gun Safes should always be a requirement when being approved to buy a gun and if you are buying multiple guns, then you should have no problem providing proof of Gun Lock or Gun Safe ownership for the new gun you're buying.

@oldshurst442 Wish we could ban AR15 ownership much like Europe has with the Cybertruck.  

[oldshurst442]

32 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

 

I'm not asking what other countries do. I'm asking what YOU would do about the problem. You're very vocal about the problem but you don't state what you would do to fix it. It's easy to say there's a problem but offer no solution. 

And yes, I am open to ideas. Why wouldn't I? 

 I told you what YOU need to do.

I preach what I pray about guns and its that what I do.  And MOST Canadians, and Greeks in Greece would just about have that same sentiment. 

Most  societies also have that same Canadian sentiment....

You are FULL of questions but NEVER actually take in anything. You love your gotcha moments and putting others on the spot. 

I answered you.  yet you are still not satisfied.

But Ill ask you?   Dare I ask you?   You will not answer me anyway. You will come back with another deflection type of question for me to answer... 

What are YOU going to do to change your fellow American mindset about gun violence?

After all, you WERE and still ARE naive about the Charlie Kirks in your society...

 

Edited 4 minutes ago by oldshurst442