Ask the Cap'n: Guns

Dear Cap'n,

I am from the UK and I recently made an uninformed comment on gun control/carrying of offensive weapons here, and got abuse flowing full throttle at me. I was in the wrong in the comment, but it brought out something that worries me.

Why is owning or carrying an object designed purely for the purpose of ending life legalised?

I am aware of the second amendment but I am asking why this over 200 year old seemingly barbaric law is still in place?

Am I completely wrong? Can someone either restore my faith in humanity? or inform me of what I'm missing.

I am reluctant to have abuse thrown at me again but i want to know your opinions so i'm willing to risk it, and bad karma to get them.

You see, your countrymen, the British Army, tried to take away the colonist's weapons in an effort to subdue the population.

That kind of rattled the population, a tad.

Lexington and Concord was a redcoat mission specifically intended to disarm the colonists who had to that point protested more or less peacefully. The "Green mountain boys" were a private guerrilla militia group that had no ties to Washington's Continental army responsible for the earliest victories against the empire. It is not an overstatement to say that the United States owes its EXISTENCE to the private ownership of guns.

Obviously I was uneducated and naive to ask my question, especially from a British perspective.

Thank you for educating me in American history, the lessons have been valuable and i now understand this much better in a historical context. The need for weapons in America's history is clear. I wont take any gibes about the british empire personally as at that time my ancestors were under its regime and actively fought it. But point well made.

I realise also that i shouldn't be judging americans as 'gun owners' as the majority are clearly responsible citizens.

Lastly I realise that even if the government wanted too they couldn't disarm you all. Whether this is good or bad. Probably a good thing that they cant.

Thank you again and you really have changed my ideas. have a good one

You're extremely welcome. Please buy a T-Shirt!

Caption the Party Crashers

"Security didn't give you any trouble either, right? Hell, I didn't even have to show them my birth certificate. They just let me right in."

Funny or Despicable?

Found this on Reddit.com the title was "Can We Go Back To This?"

Hurm...

I think making fun of a Scientologist is fair game, as is making fun of any 'religion.' Especially on the internet - no matter how far out flung their made up UFO religion is. However, beating the tar out of someone for their beliefs? That's something else. That's like, organized religion.

Did you also note that the creator of this funny little strip also made the Scientologist a ginger? Not a black man or a Jew, nor a woman. No, if you did that it would be offensive. But this is somehow not offensive?

And what are we going back to? The Germans? The Native Americans? The Crusades? The Babylonians? Obviously a time where majority rules, because there is no minority. No thanks.

And the most confusing part is why would the Atheist Mac join forces with the Bible thumper PC? Where did the PC get the bat? Was he going to use it on the Mac and just decided that the Scientologist would be an easier kill?

Fav-ray's Viking Dance

Favre is meeting with Vikings - not a repeat

Brett Favre is on his way to Minnesota to meet with the Vikings. RIGHT NOW.

Coach Brad Childress confirmed that Favre was traveling from Mississippi to meet with the team.

Asked if the plan was to sign Favre on Tuesday, Childress replied: “In a perfect world.”

Last month, Childress said the quarterback would stay retired.

Poor Vikings. It's going to take 8 weeks to build new routes and deal with Favre. Should have gone with Michael Vick? Don't know. But that Green Bay/Vikings game is going to be intense.

Favre's on-again-off-again waffle dance has grown very, very old. About as old as he is.

Let me ask...

So, if creationists don't believe in evolution, how do they explain the various breeds of dogs?