reedart@ix.netcom.com wrote:
>ya know, one of the most exasperating things about this list to ME, is
>that (only some) people who call themsleves futurists, find this way of
>using the oldest thinking in the book... this is the old "if only
>criminals have guns" argument, but neatly turned into an emotional ploy
>for wanna-be techno-better-thans..
Uh-huh... now, please give us an example of one single country where criminals have ever been effectively disarmed. Just one will do. Or perhaps the reason this argument is so long lived is because it's actually true, and no amount of exasperation will change reality.
>Listen - shooting a gun at someone, in itself, is a lame, neanderthal
>thing to do, whether you are being attacked or not.
Whereas I presume having your brain smashed out of your skull with a blunt object is a highly advanced, civilized and intelligent thing to do?
>A smart person, an
>ADVANCED person, or if you like and EXTROPIC person, would have either
>PREPARED themselves (so they don't get in that kind of circumstance)
Like, uh, how? The smart people prepare themselves to deal with violent criminals and the simplest, most effective way to do that is with a gun. Until and unless you can show a better way to do it, we're going to continue to be exasperated by people who want to disarm us.
Mark