need help
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vincent chang
- Banned
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:58 pm
- Location: savannah georgia
gun ownership.
Many parts of the usa are not quite settled yet, there are still big open spaces where sometimes people feel a little safer with a gun around. it may not be a logical thing, but more of an emotional one. Maybe if one person was armed at the time of the college massacre, they might have had more of a fighting chance. I am sure the killer would not have been able to walk into any other place without someone shooting back at him or taking him down some other way. A liberal college campus filled with rich kids? easy pickings. He would not have gotten away with it anywhere else. If guns were outlawed, he probably would have used an explosive device. They dont seem to have any trouble in iraq with blowing themselves up along with dozens of other people over there. The problem with America is that too many young kids are doped up on prescription drugs like prozac or other anti depressents. At least in Thailand , you can get a beer, go to a bar, or get a massage or something and feel a little better, but in the usa there are no such outlets. The usa is an isolating environment. Fortunately here in Thailand we have such a supportive group of people who reach out to those who might feel a little alienated and alone. The gunman probablly felt alone and confused, It seems a lot of people tried to reach out and help him. after all he was a college student on a big campus. but I guess it was not enough.
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vincent chang
- Banned
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:58 pm
- Location: savannah georgia
anti gun.
I used to be anti gun as well, but when I got to be about 35, I felt the need to arm up to protect myself from all the other crazies out there. At least I felt I could fight back if the crazies were to come to my door. It was about the time when they were talking about restricting gun ownership so I figured I better get mine before they outlaw them entirely. Some of these guns have never been fired by myself, they are just there for peace of mind. and they are probably collectible as antiques anyway. I understand that every swiss household has a machine gun locked away down in the basement. That, along with the mountainous terrain made it a not very convenient place for the Nazis to pass through on their way to conquering other parts of Europe. I guess that is why people put their money in swiss banks as well. and why people from all over the world , continue to invest in u.s. property.
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Wanderlust
- Legend
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- Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:27 pm
- Location: Hua Hin
Re: anti gun.
There is a different reason why the Swiss households have weapons locked in many households - I quote from Wikipedia:vincent chang wrote:I understand that every swiss household has a machine gun locked away down in the basement. That, along with the mountainous terrain made it a not very convenient place for the Nazis to pass through on their way to conquering other parts of Europe. I guess that is why people put their money in swiss banks as well. and why people from all over the world , continue to invest in u.s. property.
As for your point about the Nazis, I suggest you read a bit, no a LOT more about the relationship between Switzerland and the Nazis before saying anything else. And your final point? Gun ownership or liberal gun laws have absolutely no correlation to property investment or investment decisions and if you truly believe that then go ahead and invest in Colombia as it should be a fantastic investment based on your theory.In several countries, such as in Finland, the firearm politics and gun control is directly linked to the armed forces' reserves and reservist training. This is especially true in countries which base their armies on conscription; since every able-bodied male basically is a soldier, he is expected to be able to handle the gun reasonably and be able to practise for the time of need.
Such countries may link their gun politics rather on the type of the gun than on firearms in general. For example, Switzerland has very strict law on pistols and revolvers, but the reservists have their assault rifles and ammunition in sealed cases at home. Likewise, it is very difficult to get a licence for a pistol or revolver in Finland, but relatively easy for a rifle or shotgun. The rationale is that long firearms are awkward to use in robberies and other felonies, but they are almost exclusively used in war; therefore practising or hunting with a long firearm is both relatively safe for the general populace and especially beneficial when the situation of crisis on mind.
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vincent chang
- Banned
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:58 pm
- Location: savannah georgia
pistols and rifles.
yes, I agree, maybe we should crackdown on handguns as they are more easily concealed and probably cause more harm than rifles and shotguns. handguns are dangerous to children as well. I suggested that the freedoms we have in America make it attractive for people around the world to invest here, Even people from England invest their money in American properties, despite the lack of gun control. I am happy to sell them my land at 5 or 6 times what I paid 15 years ago and reinvest here in thailand and retire at age 40. I have found that many thai people as well are selling their family homes and businesses and heading for places like florida, where the weather is still warm and humid. The usa has relatively few ownership restrictions unlike here in Thailand. Everybody is welcome to invest in America. I guess Britain is getting too crowded and the weather kind of sucks as well. I would like to visit again though. Columbia? Never been, but I think Venezuela might be interesting if nothing more than for the cheap gasoiline .
Gunman kills hostage, self at NASA space centre
Houston, Texas - A NASA contractor took two co-workers hostage at Johnson Space Center, killing one of them before turning the revolver on himself, officials said, just days after the bloodiest school shooting in US history.
Bill Phillips, an engineer with Jacobs Engineering who has worked for NASA for about 12 years, barricaded himself inside the building Friday, after managing to sneak a revolver past security at the sprawling space centre campus, police and NASA officials said.
Phillips shot David Beverly in the chest, killing the NASA employee, and later shot himself in the head inside Building 44, a communications and engineering facility, officials said.
The second hostage, Fran Crenshaw, another NASA contract worker, was found duct-taped to a chair a few hours after the standoff began. She was treated at a hospital and released.
Police had tried to negotiate with the man but all they heard from the room was another gunshot. When they rushed in the room they found the two men dead and the woman bound at her hands and ankles.
On a chalkboard in the room where his body was found, Phillips left a list of names and phone numbers and a scribbled note, which was not immediately understandable, The Houston Chronicle reported Saturday.
Friday's shooting happened while the nation was mourning the 32 people shot dead by a South Korean student who killed himself after his rampage at Virginia Tech University on Monday.
All three were electrical engineers in their early 50s who knew each other, and they may even had had lunch together earlier in the day, Johnson Space Center director Michael Coates told a news conference.
Officials did not know the motive behind the killing.
"Apparently there was some type of dispute between" Phillips and Beverly, Houston Police Chief Howard Hurtt told reporters.
Phillips lived alone, was not married and had no children, officials said.
"Up until recently he has been a good employee," Coates said.
Coates said NASA had reviewed its security procedures, which were beefed up after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, in the wake of Monday's massacre at Virginia Tech University but decided they did not need further tightening.
"We never believed this could happen to our family here," Coates said.
Visitors and employees need badges to get into the space centre, which is home to the space shuttle's mission control, and cars are randomly checked for bombs. Guns are not allowed in the complex.
"We have a standard set of security rules that do include random vehicle searches," NASA spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said at an earlier press conference.
"Certainly, I would believe that our security and our senior leadership is going to take a very close look at this incident, and see if there was anything that we should have done or could have done differently."
NASA officials said mission operations were not interrupted by the incident.
NASA chief Michael Griffin headed to the centre after the shooting, the space agency said.
President George W. Bush was kept informed throughout the standoff, the White House said.
"The president was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of life and he will pray for the family members and co-workers, who surely must be shocked and grieving," White House spokesman Tony Fratto told AFP.
NASA was rocked earlier this year when an astronaut was accused of driving hundreds for kilometres (miles) to kidnap a rival for the affection of a space shuttle pilot.
In March, Lisa Nowak, who flew on a shuttle mission last year and was fired last month, pleaded not guilty to an attempted kidnapping charge stemming from the incident.
Agence France Presse
Houston, Texas - A NASA contractor took two co-workers hostage at Johnson Space Center, killing one of them before turning the revolver on himself, officials said, just days after the bloodiest school shooting in US history.
Bill Phillips, an engineer with Jacobs Engineering who has worked for NASA for about 12 years, barricaded himself inside the building Friday, after managing to sneak a revolver past security at the sprawling space centre campus, police and NASA officials said.
Phillips shot David Beverly in the chest, killing the NASA employee, and later shot himself in the head inside Building 44, a communications and engineering facility, officials said.
The second hostage, Fran Crenshaw, another NASA contract worker, was found duct-taped to a chair a few hours after the standoff began. She was treated at a hospital and released.
Police had tried to negotiate with the man but all they heard from the room was another gunshot. When they rushed in the room they found the two men dead and the woman bound at her hands and ankles.
On a chalkboard in the room where his body was found, Phillips left a list of names and phone numbers and a scribbled note, which was not immediately understandable, The Houston Chronicle reported Saturday.
Friday's shooting happened while the nation was mourning the 32 people shot dead by a South Korean student who killed himself after his rampage at Virginia Tech University on Monday.
All three were electrical engineers in their early 50s who knew each other, and they may even had had lunch together earlier in the day, Johnson Space Center director Michael Coates told a news conference.
Officials did not know the motive behind the killing.
"Apparently there was some type of dispute between" Phillips and Beverly, Houston Police Chief Howard Hurtt told reporters.
Phillips lived alone, was not married and had no children, officials said.
"Up until recently he has been a good employee," Coates said.
Coates said NASA had reviewed its security procedures, which were beefed up after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, in the wake of Monday's massacre at Virginia Tech University but decided they did not need further tightening.
"We never believed this could happen to our family here," Coates said.
Visitors and employees need badges to get into the space centre, which is home to the space shuttle's mission control, and cars are randomly checked for bombs. Guns are not allowed in the complex.
"We have a standard set of security rules that do include random vehicle searches," NASA spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said at an earlier press conference.
"Certainly, I would believe that our security and our senior leadership is going to take a very close look at this incident, and see if there was anything that we should have done or could have done differently."
NASA officials said mission operations were not interrupted by the incident.
NASA chief Michael Griffin headed to the centre after the shooting, the space agency said.
President George W. Bush was kept informed throughout the standoff, the White House said.
"The president was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of life and he will pray for the family members and co-workers, who surely must be shocked and grieving," White House spokesman Tony Fratto told AFP.
NASA was rocked earlier this year when an astronaut was accused of driving hundreds for kilometres (miles) to kidnap a rival for the affection of a space shuttle pilot.
In March, Lisa Nowak, who flew on a shuttle mission last year and was fired last month, pleaded not guilty to an attempted kidnapping charge stemming from the incident.
Agence France Presse
Only the crumbliest, flakiest Winkie....
I know Winkie. I read the story hours ago and just stayed away from it given what's happened in Virginia. It boggles the mind.
I can say I've known many in my life who have "lived to work" and not "worked to live". This guys sounds like the former...no family, no kids, no other life etc.
When the politics, structure and egos get out of control in the workplace for people like that, they can snap. I've seen it but it only resulted in throwing files and desk accessories and cursing the company president before they quit and walked away. Times seem to be different now. Pete
I can say I've known many in my life who have "lived to work" and not "worked to live". This guys sounds like the former...no family, no kids, no other life etc.
When the politics, structure and egos get out of control in the workplace for people like that, they can snap. I've seen it but it only resulted in throwing files and desk accessories and cursing the company president before they quit and walked away. Times seem to be different now. Pete