7 ms·
(BTW - M-16s aren't "big scary".) You know that, I now that. But to someone who rarely or never shoots an M16 is indeed big and scary. Or just big. Two year
by bdunbar 15y ago
(BTW - M-16s aren't "big scary".)
You know that, I now that. But to someone who rarely or never shoots an M16 is indeed big and scary.
Or just big. Two years ago we had an exchange student from mainland China. He'd never _seen_ a gun not carried by a soldier and never handled one not in a video game.
The idea that I had some pistols and rifles around the house was interesting to him ... but I thought he'd stroke out when I took him to a gun store and he was able to actually _handle_ an AR15.
- k-mcgrady 15y agoI would consider any gun in the hands of another man 'big scary'. It doesn't really matter how big it is. He could be holding a small pistol - it can still kill me.
- weavejester 15y agoI suspect it depends on what you're used to. Seeing normal police officers in the US with firearms is, to me, just as scary as the officers that carry large rifles in airports. At least airports feel like an exception. But most Americans I've talked to comment on the large rifles, but never on the handguns carried by normal police officers. It's normal for cops to have handguns, so it's nothing for them to be afraid of.
- bdunbar 15y agoIf your average American knew how little firearms training an average cop actually has they _would_ be afraid.
- modoc 15y agoNo joke. I know some LEO are very well trained, but I've shot alongside Boston PD and Seattle based Air Marshals and I was shocked at how bad of shots both groups were. And this is on the shooting range, without adrenaline/fear, etc... They were hitting paper, but nowhere near the 10 ring. The Air Marshals were scary considering they'd be shooting inside a crowded plane.
- bdunbar 15y agoIf we're doing anecdotes ... Friend was a former Forth Worth police officer. His first week of patrol his issue pistol was broken. He didn't find out about this until he pulled it on a guy and it went 'click' not 'bang'. It amazed me that this guy, who was not stupid, carried a gun around for a week without doing a function check on it.
- bdunbar 15y agoHe could be holding a small pistol - it can still kill me. A gun is just a thing, a tool, it can't do anything. What matters is the operator, his intent. A Marine with his bare hands is dangerous. A cheerleader with a bazooka is not.
- tbsdy 15y agoI'll have you know I'm a Marine with ambitions of cheerleading, you insensitive clod! I'm sorry, but a cheerleader with a bazooka is most decidedly dangerous.
- bdunbar 15y agoI'm sorry, but a cheerleader with a bazooka is most decidedly dangerous. Not a bit. The bazooka is not dangerous, the _operator_ is. Thought experiment. We've got a Thunderdome. Make it bigger (for kicks) and with more protection so shrapnel doesn't shred the crowd. We've got Midvale High's cheerleader team, two US Rangers just back from Afghanistan. Give the Rangers knives, the cheerleaders bazookas, grenades, shotguns, whatever. I'll take the Rangers to win anyday. You'll really bet on the cheerleaders to win?
- gwillen 15y agoThe point is not who is more dangerous _in battle_. The point is who is more dangerous _to me_, who poses no threat. An untrained operator is far more dangerous _to me_, as compared to a trained operator who will be aware that I do not need shooting, and who will be capable of hitting other targets, if necessary, without accidentally hitting me.
- bdunbar 15y agoThe point is not who is more dangerous _in battle_. The point is who is more dangerous _to me_, Your point and my point diverged somewhere upthread. It's not about 'battle', never was to my mind. It's about intent, will, and capability.
- 15y ago
- tsotha 15y agoYou can also be killed by a baseball bat, garden shears, or a plastic supermarket bag. Why do you consider a gun carried by someone as part of his job 'big scary'?
- williamcotton 15y agoHand guns are made with the specific purpose of killing human beings which is somewhat terrifying. Also, it is a lot easier to be accidentally killed by a hand gun than a plastic supermarket bag.
- anamax 15y ago> Hand guns are made with the specific purpose of killing human beings Citation needed. Since they're not that effective at that "specific purpose", either their designers are incompetent or that isn't actually their "specific purpose". (And no, "what are they designed for if not killing people?" isn't actually an argument, evidence, etc.)
- mc32 15y ago>it is a lot easier to be accidentally killed by a hand gun than a plastic supermarket bag. How many accidental gunshots vs. how many accidental incidents of accidental suffocation caused by supermarket bags? Bags killed over 2000 infants btwn 1980 and 1997. Accidental firearm deaths about 1000/year. So, you are right. But it's not as though accidental bag suffocation is insignificant and brushed aside as minimal.
- janardanyri 15y agoSo maybe infants should be more scared of plastic bags than firearms. I'm pretty sure that the commenter in question is not an infant, and thus has little to fear from plastic bags. (Does this really need to be stated?)
- bdunbar 15y agoThe commenter in question is afraid of a little girl with a gun. So .. me _might_ well be afraid of plastic bags.
- anamax 15y ago> I would consider any gun in the hands of another man 'big scary'. It doesn't really matter how big it is. He could be holding a small pistol - it can still kill me. How about a gun in the hands of a woman? Or, a car in the hands of a human? Or, a match/lighter? You're surrounded by people with things that can kill you (he says considering the lethal potential of desk stapler).