My dear readers, I have a confession to make. Last Saturday, I fell victim to Election Violence. I was reluctant to post on this but now feel I should spread my story.
We like many people have decorated for Halloween. My wife went to shut off own Halloween lights for the night around
I proceeded to file a police report as is my right and especially because the villain had to come on to my property at least 8 feet to perform their vandalism. I did so mainly as a lesson to my almost 4 year old boy. I think it is important at a young age to know that the police are there to help, even if in this case they can't do a damn thing. And of course kids say the damnest things, my son asked if I was going to shoot the bad man who destroyed our sign. I replied that "no, I was not going to waste a bullet on some liberal-commie bastard" and that this would be handled by the police.
No moral to this story, just kind of a FYI. Later..............
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Victim of Election Violence
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10 comments:
Election violence seems almost condoned this year, with vandalism of private property and signs appearing almost daily in the news on both local and national levels.
Several campaign offices have been broken into and items stolen, yet there has been no word as to who the culprits were or whether they were caught. Ironicly, it only seems that Republican offices were targeted and needles to say, the Democratic National Committee has categorically denied any part of this behavior. Since it is an obvious truth that the only corrupt political organization capable of performing such a dastardly deed is the Republicans, it falls squarely on their shoulders that this is either an obvious publicity stunt or perhaps there is a stereotype on the part of the thieves that Democrats are technologically limited in nature or that the Republicans have better stuff.
> And of course kids say the damnest things my son asked if I was going to shoot the bad man who destroyed our sign.
Oh, how cute. Not.
> I replied that "no, I was not going to waste a bullet on some liberal-commie bastard"
And you bother to blog about this as if you are proud of what you said? As if it's a good example to your son? Of course it's wrong for someone to damage your sign and so to interfere with yor free speech. But your son's comment is sad, and yours pretty pathetic.
Thanks to all for your comments. I would respectfully disagree with the two anonymous comments from Australia.
First of all, a blog by definition is a collection of personal thoughts or opinions; I believe that to be true around the world. So being my personal collection of thoughts or opinions, I will respectfully post anything I want to post.
Second of all, my comment was most likely not the best thing to say to my son but I am his father and I will be damned if someone from thousands of miles away is going to tell me how to raise my children.
The Mad Tech
Mad Tech, I wouldn't have said something like that to a 4 year-old either. On a pedantic note, liberals and communists are two different things. We're talking Clinton and Stalin. As for being a "bastard", well I wish I could say I could keep my tongue in check with kids around but it's not always the case.
What really bothers me is that I'd be giving the kid the impression it's basically OK to use guns against petty vandalism if you have a bullet to spare. They do actually listen to us, especially at that age.
You may not agree with the two anonymous posters...but you put the story out there, so accept the comments.
I think it is interesting...in a sad way, that you think teaching your son a lesson is saying things like "I wouldn't waste a bullet on that liberal, commie bastard." And that you speak about it with such pride.
What's unfortunate is that you probably did teach him a lesson...one I hope he can unlearn.
I think some people are missing the point of this post. The "lesson” had not to do with the fact that I am trained law-abiding gun owner and the comment my son made about shooting someone. Which, for the record, he was told is wrong.
The lesson I wanted him to take from the event was that he should respect and know that the Police are there to help him if needed.
I was looking through my logs and find it even more interesting that except for Shelly and the first anonymous post that every comment has come from outside the United States.
I point this out to illustrate two things, 1) In the United States we enjoy incredible freedom which includes the right to keep and bear arms, 2) the rest of the world for the most part does not allow private gun ownership, thus explaining the overwhelming opinion that guns are evil and people can't be trusted to own them properly.
That being said, I think most Americans will agree that my comment to my son while inappropriate is not really a big deal and will have no lasting effect on his psyche. He will be trained in the proper use of a firearm once he reaches an age that I deem appropriate. I can't say when that is because as anyone with children knows, each child is different.
Once again thanks to all that have commented, whether you agree or disagree with me, the comments are always welcome.
The Mad Tech
I might be liberal, but commie? Ummm...no. Bastard? Maybe. :D
It's one thing to have your political affiliation, but trespassing onto other people's private property to destroy their political signs is a big, fat no-no. It's hard to believe some people would stoop so low. And no, it's not just liberals. I've seen conservatives do it too. There are jerks in both camps. Let's be fair.
BTW, I forgot to thank you for the best wishes regarding my brother-in-law heading over to Iraq again. I'll be sure to pass it on to my sister--I'm sure she'll appreciate the kind thoughts.
Thanks for your comment chaoticspring.
Yes it is rampent of both sides, in fact when I spoke to the Police, the officer taking my report commented that they had received over 100 calls that evening alone about election sign vandelism.
I pray for your brother-in-law safety as I do for all our troops. Please pass on my thanks for his service.
The Mad Tech
Brin, thanks for your comments. I always enjoy a spirited debate. Let me educate you about guns in America.
Brin wrote.... "You're right. Goddamn this Australian government of mine that doesn't allow me to pack heat everywhere in an incredibly naive attempt to keep safe. All those registered gun owners sure helped on 9/11."
The Mad Tech wrote .... "I am not familiar with Australian laws concerning private ownership of firearms and maybe your system or laws have advantages. However, in most states in addition to passing a background check prior to purchase, citizens are not allowed to carry a firearm openly. I do however live in an open carry state and in the 3 years I have lived here, have yet to see anyone other the law enforcement walking around with a gun in public. As for your 9/11 comment, you’re an ignorant disrespectful fool. How do you think the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, friends, and co-workers would respond to your asinine comment?"
Brin wrote.... "Yes I'm a sarcastic devil, and I tend to exaggerate on a great many things. But my opinion on American gun ownership is largely based around a number of generalisations and stereotypes. I apologise..."
The Mad Tech wrote... "Brin, I have read your blog, you’re not stupid. Use the internet man, why reduce yourself to someone who is dictated by generalizations and stereotypes?"
Brin wrote.... "BUT, then there's all those high school massacres that we don't have here in l'il old Australia. Y'know, those ones where kids take their registered parents guns and use them, how shall we say, "inappropriately". (On a side not, the inappropriate use for a gun is in fact the pistol whip. Believe it or not guns are designed to shoot bullets)."
The Mad Tech wrote... "American is a nation of over 300 million people and 200 million of those are registered gun owners with 65-70 million handguns included in that number and in our nation we have millions and millions of schoolchildren that got to school each and every day safety. The few tragic school shooting we have had in this country are a direct result of the gun owners in each case either allowing access to the guns without proper training or supervision or just being plain lazy regarding gun safety in their homes. I pray for everyone that is touched by gun violence but the simple truth is guns do not fire on their own; they need a person to pull that trigger. I found some information about self-defense with guns and the right to carry that you may want to consider next time you have a conversation about the crazy amount of handguns in the United States.
SELF-DEFENSE & RIGHT-TO-CARRY
The federal and 44 state constitutions, and the laws of every state, recognize the right to arms for defensive purposes.
Survey research during the early 1990s by criminologist Gary Kleck found as many as 2.5 million protective uses of guns each year in the U.S. "(T)he best available evidence indicates that guns were used about three to five times as often for defensive purposes as for criminal purposes," Kleck writes. Analyzing National Crime Victimization Survey data, he found "robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to suffer an injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those who did not resist at all." (Targeting Guns, Aldine de Gruyter, 1997)
In most defensive gun uses, the gun is not fired. In only 1% of instances are criminals wounded, and in only 0.1% are criminals killed.
A Dept. of Justice survey found that 40% of felons chose not to commit at least some crimes for fear their victims were armed, and 34% admitted having been scared off or shot at by armed victims. (James D. Wright and Peter H. Rossi, Armed and Considered Dangerous, Aldine de Gruyter, 1986)
Thirty-six states now have Right-to-Carry (RTC) laws providing for law-abiding citizens to carry guns for protection. Twenty-six states have adopted RTC laws in the last 15 years. Half of Americans, including 60% of handgun owners, live in RTC states.
Professor John R. Lott, Jr., and David B. Mustard, in the most comprehensive study to date of RTC laws` effectiveness concluded, "When state concealed-handgun laws went into effect in a county, murders fell about 8 percent, rapes fell by 5 percent, and aggravated assaults fell by 7 percent." (Lott, More Guns, Less Crime, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1998)
RTC states have lower violent crime rates on average: 24% lower total violent crime, 22% lower murder, 37% lower robbery, and 20% lower aggravated assault. The five states with the lowest violent crime rates are RTC states. (FBI) People who carry legally are by far more law-abiding than the rest of the public."
Brin wrote... "Why make deadly weapons so openly available? I'd imagine there are more cases of gun misuse than actual times of self-preservation..."
The Mad Tech wrote... "The fact is that if you want a gun and are willing to break the law to obtain it, then you most likely will succeed. If you are a law-abiding citizen interested in purchasing a gun, you at the very least have to under go a criminal background check conducted by the FBI. Then and only then are you allowed to purchase the firearm, this applies equally to handguns and rifles or shotguns. Keep in mind that this is the minimum requirement for firearm purchase; several states are far more restrictive. For example, the District of Columbia does not allow private ownership of handguns. As a result, criminals purchase handguns illegally and have no fear of an armed homeowner when committing a crime. As the information above states, "(T)he best available evidence indicates that guns were used about three to five times as often for defensive purposes as for criminal purposes," Gary Kleck 1997."
I am sorry to be so “heavy-handed” but as you can tell this is a topic that I am very passionate about. Thanks again for your comments; I do truly appreciate them even if they don’t agree with me.
The Mad Tech
OLD MAN
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