Jim Jefferies - Gun Control

[EchelonHunt]

Our last class for the day on Friday, the subject of gun control came up as the lecturer discussed the visit he took to L.A. and SanFran with his girlfriend.

The discussion back and forth between classmates about the differences in Australian and American culture in regards to guns, prompted the lecturer to remember an Australian comedian, Jim Jefferies who did a skit about gun control which he thinks is very accurate.

A warning: Jim Jefferies has a dirty mouth (swears a lot!)

[Shan]

Mr. Jefferies sets the tone by stating right up front that he doesn't like guns. That tells me right where is going with it. Two gripes I have that comes to mind right away is (1) Why the hell foreigners think they can continually criticize the constitutional rights of Americans? It's their fault that they allowed George Soros's surrogate and his massive amounts of money to effectively disarm Great Britain and all of it's colony nations. It's not just that either, they criticize our health care system and laws, it goes on and on. Criticize your own nations shortcomings and laws and leave mine alone! (2) "Gun Control," a thoroughly asinine and insipid term for what is really people control. Imagine me saying, "OMG I can't control my gun, it just wants to keep shooting people!" No, it's about governments wanting to control people. Yes it's a shame that some lunatics illegally get their hands on firearms and run amok occasionally, but they do it with cars and other handy devices too and it's bound to happen. The majority of Americans understand history and how the seemingly most benevolent governments have turned into maniacal oppressors and so the bottom line for even the most pacifistic sportsman and target shooter is that they will not allow it to happen here ever.

I know a few Aussies that I have spoken with who have their Lee Enfield SMLE rifles and ammunition stashed away in spite of Australia's gun laws, they understand the lessons of history too and rightfully resent the loss of their freedom to own weapons of their choice. One person is even a trans-woman if you can imagine that!

As an afterthought I'd like to mention the fact that I don't see any American interest in British or Australian politics to the extent that anyone would waste any waking moments even discussing it as we have enough going on to keep us plenty busy here. Meanwhile the continued bias and loathing by some against our second amendment rights here doesn't seem any different than the phobias and attacks against trans-people. Trannys and guns, "We hate them and don't understand them, so it should all be illegal and go away!"

[Ayla]

Well I can't speak for anyone other than myself, and I am not quite sure how firearms became a topic on a forum like this, but in Oz, it is pretty clear that by a massive majority, the electorate wanted access to guns controlled and action taken after a mass shooting. Action was taken and it was well received. Some folk do risk consequence having stashed illegal weaponry, while others have applied for a licence and they still own fire arms.  This means that if you are not a minor, do not have a criminal record or mentally instability, that you can buy, register and own fire arms. My brother has several. I used to enjoy hunting for food but it is now not enough for me to still wish to own a gun.

I think most folk who are curious, look to understand or contrast another situation with their own. Some differences often appear quite inexplicable as they may be well beyond our lived experience. US gun or 'people control' may be one of those differences, but so is the PRC's treatment of the Falun Gong, the Boko Haram in Africa, the 'religious' or civil rights issues in Ireland, the Australian attitude to 'illegal' migrants, the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and Gaza, the Turkish attitude to the Kurds, the recent Indonesian swing against LGBT, the mass murder of LGBT in Brazil etc.

I suspect that when you are in the majority, enjoy 'privilege' etc you may be less likely to consider minorities or a different lived experience - but also note that this may change as cultures and communities evolve. So I am not that surprised that non US folk comment on the US. Perhaps for those of us who are not US citizens and, as trans, are a minority even within our own community, shifts in US culture, policy, civil/human rights loom large as, through the power of global entertainment and media, US culture does impact policy, and cultural norms well offshore. So a decision by the US people to change their leadership to a different party, to a Presidential candidate who may have repeatedly expressed anti trans thoughts, feelings or policy is unlikely to go unnoticed or fail to draw comment, interest or concern from offshore.

In a global world, any person can comment or publish their thoughts. We may not like this. We may feel misunderstood, mistreated, hurt or vilified but I can't see this changing any time soon.

Safe travels

Aisla

[Ativan Prescribed]

We are the leaders in gun manufacturing as well as gun ownership.
We are also the main suppliers of weapons to others around the world.
I can see the point that others around the world look at us and ask 'WTF America?'.
Why stop at weapons and gun ownership, we lead in complaining about the other half of the people here.
Looked at objectively, we are a weapon of mass destruction, a slow one, but one none the less.
We make it possible and use covert ways to create wars almost anywhere we think we can get away with it.
Keeps the weapons manufacturing segment of our economy intact, it is a large part of why we lead in weapons manufacturing.
So the idea of arming everyone to keep each other safe is almost a ritualistic right of passage here.
I like guns, they can be fun, but we teeter on the edge of another all out battle within our country again.
Guns are that big of a deal for far too many people here.
But they are in a lot of places around the world, we're just looked at as the 'wild west'.
But guns do make it much easier to have a mass killing of innocent or otherwise people.

[Shan]

Mar 6, 2016 6:04:31 GMT 8 Ayla said:

Well I can't speak for anyone other than myself, and I am not quite sure how firearms became a topic on a forum like this, We can blame Jacey, they did it!   but in Oz, it is pretty clear that if you are not a minor, do not have a criminal record or mentally instability, that you can buy, register and own fire arms. My brother has several. That's pretty much the case here for legal gun owners, but the control freaks in government always want and expect more from the legal owners while failing to prosecute those committing crimes with illegal and stolen weapons though there are at least a thousand laws concerning it on the books

I think most folk who are curious, look to understand or contrast another situation with their own. Some differences often appear quite inexplicable as they may be well beyond our lived experience. US gun or 'people control' may be one of those differences, but so is the PRC's treatment of the Falun Gong, the Boko Haram in Africa, the 'religious' or civil rights issues in Ireland. The oppressors are difficult to deal with when the populace has been disarmed.

[Ayla]

Shan

Fair comment. Fortunately we have not had nor do we envision having this level of oppression. But things do change. Power does shift and personal freedoms are consistently rolled back, allegedly to protect the 'greater good'. It is up to each country and to each community to find their point of balance, and remain alert and engaged to identify and push back on evil

Safe travels

Aisla

[Shan]

Mar 6, 2016 6:55:02 GMT 8 Ayla said:

Shan

Fair comment. Fortunately we have not had nor do we envision having this level of oppression. But things do change. Power does shift and personal freedoms are consistently rolled back, allegedly to protect the 'greater good'. It is up to each country and to each community to find their point of balance, and remain alert and engaged to identify and push back on evil

Safe travels

Aisla

Having seen it firsthand in SE Asia I tend to be more attentive to the potential, part of the paranoia that comes of PTSD and personal experience. Would rather enjoy the bliss of ignorance at times.

[Taka]

i'm just glad we have really strict weapon laws in norway.

it'll illegal to carry a knife in public areas, unless it's part of a traditional costume. makes sense, since a band in traditional costumes would be easy enough to spot that they'd be rather crazy to think they could assault folks with those knives.

no normal citizen owns a handgun.
other guns are for hunting, and people need a licence to own them. as well as a secure gun closet. the licence requires both a written and a practical test.

strict laws, and some following up on them, could be argued make people's attitude toward weapon use a little healthier to society.

there are always people who want to change norwegian law to get easier access to guns, but the majority sees no use in common people owning handguns, as those are specially designed for use on humans. and we don't want unlicenced guns because we like to know that the owner can be tracked if someone happens to go crazy with a gun.

it is a form of control. though we don't see it as controlling people's right to protect themselves, but rather protecting the people by controlling folks' access to very effective murder weapons.

[Shan]

I have twenty two different firearms which stay locked up in a safe in my shop. I used to hunt but gave that up along with shooting at the range as my interests have changed. If I was so pissed at someone that I wanted to kill them my machete would be the weapon of choice, it brings it up close and personal. Fortunately I don't let anger control me and my common sense tells me that anyone that would warrant a split skull wouldn't be worth going to prison over anyway. 

[Ativan Prescribed]

Just the same, Jim Jefferies does make a point and he does it with humor.

[Deleted]

Well I do have my second amendment rights in the US. It has actually helped me more times than not. I had a person pull a knife on me one time and when I pulled back the hammer on a .357 magnum he hauled ass.

If someone wants to kill you they will kill you with a steel pipe, knife, noose, lariat or even a rock. But I carry a firearm legally so... That makes it more even. They want to kill me and I don't want to be dead and when faced with a firearm in their face, they think twice or three times about it. I am not a fighter. I don't want to kill anyone but I do not want to be killed either.

[Deleted]

A note on gun control though.

On my land and even in my front and backyard I carry a .22 pistol for venomous snakes while mowing. Single action of curse. Even though I will capture them and take them to a safer place most times. Sometimes it is either me or them when they are agitated and I am not paying attention and get too close. Same with black bears. I have them crossing my property all the time and if it comes to me or them, then a .308 will save me.

Plus even as a female I love to shoot guns. Preferably at targets. But you never know when your life may be in actual danger. It takes the cops 30 minutes to get here if I call them. Even with a trespasser on my property in the middle of the night with no good intentions in mind. The cops asked me if I had a firearm and I told them yes and they said to hold them next time at gunpoint until they get here. If in my home I have the right to shoot an kill.

But I am not a fighter so even if guns were controlled in the States, what chance would I have against an intruder with a gun ( if guns are outlawed only the outlaws will have them) or a knife. 30 minutes for the cops to arrive? That is a long time.

Just something to think about.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2016 6:04:31 GMT 8 Ayla said:

Well I can't speak for anyone other than myself, and I am not quite sure how firearms became a topic on a forum like this, but in Oz, it is pretty clear that by a massive majority, the electorate wanted access to guns controlled and action taken after a mass shooting. Action was taken and it was well received. Some folk do risk consequence having stashed illegal weaponry, while others have applied for a licence and they still own fire arms.  This means that if you are not a minor, do not have a criminal record or mentally instability, that you can buy, register and own fire arms. My brother has several. I used to enjoy hunting for food but it is now not enough for me to still wish to own a gun.

I think most folk who are curious, look to understand or contrast another situation with their own. Some differences often appear quite inexplicable as they may be well beyond our lived experience. US gun or 'people control' may be one of those differences, but so is the PRC's treatment of the Falun Gong, the Boko Haram in Africa, the 'religious' or civil rights issues in Ireland, the Australian attitude to 'illegal' migrants, the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and Gaza, the Turkish attitude to the Kurds, the recent Indonesian swing against LGBT, the mass murder of LGBT in Brazil etc.

I suspect that when you are in the majority, enjoy 'privilege' etc you may be less likely to consider minorities or a different lived experience - but also note that this may change as cultures and communities evolve. So I am not that surprised that non US folk comment on the US. Perhaps for those of us who are not US citizens and, as trans, are a minority even within our own community, shifts in US culture, policy, civil/human rights loom large as, through the power of global entertainment and media, US culture does impact policy, and cultural norms well offshore. So a decision by the US people to change their leadership to a different party, to a Presidential candidate who may have repeatedly expressed anti trans thoughts, feelings or policy is unlikely to go unnoticed or fail to draw comment, interest or concern from offshore.

In a global world, any person can comment or publish their thoughts. We may not like this. We may feel misunderstood, mistreated, hurt or vilified but I can't see this changing any time soon.

Safe travels

Aisla

I actually though Brazil was way more open minded than that. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to offend those that don't care for guns and firearms and each to their own. But it has put me on a more level playing field with people that wanted to hurt me just because of who and what I am than not. Yes I have a CCW and had to go through all the classes and such. Not to mention I knew everything in and out from being in the military about weapons.

To be completely honest I would trust downtown NOLA more if law abiding citizens could carry firearms openly than I do now with the "gangstas" that think holding a 9mm sideways just because it looks cool.  The gang members do not follow the laws so they all carry firearms and you can but your butt they are not legally obtained like mine are. It makes me laugh because unless they are so close they will miss, but I won't though if it ever came down to that.

But I like the older more historical firearms and just bought a .44 caliber Colt SAA replica and a replica Winchester model '73 also a .44 caliber. Both shoot really sweet and now they are cleaned and put in a display case on my wall. I guess firearms are the only male luxury that I let myself indulge but not really because I know plenty of women that like shooting and firearms too.