Posts by pistolpete

70

Is it possible for any Country to have “Reasonable” Gun Laws? What would they be?

by pistolpete in

so the new biden/harris gun policies are starting to appear.

it’s not clear yet, what they will be.. some suggestions; confiscate all guns.------buyback programs in each state.. there is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in america, - put together-will be like a sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “civil uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain gun lovers.

americans love guns!.

pistolpete

More guns equals more safety
More assault guns equals more safety
More grenade launchers equals more safety
More flamethrowers equals more safety
More nuclear bombs equals more safety.
Where does this logic break down?

Actually there is NO logic in the world that we live in.

The reality is that we have to face the facts.

2019 Was one of the most Peaceful years. 2020 probably tripled in crime cause of all the riots.

In 2019, there were an estimated 1,203,808 violent crimes in the USA.

The 2019 statistics show the estimated rate of violent crime was 366.7 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants,

YET---The arrest rate for violent crime was 156.3 per 100,000 inhabitants,

So about half of those violent never got caught and are still out there committing VIOLENT crimes, like murder, rape, kidnapping, child abduction, etc.

In 2019, 13,247 law enforcement agencies reported their staffing levels to the FBI. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2019, they collectively employed 697,195 sworn officers to protect the INNOCENT, in a population of 328,000,000 million which is less than 1 per 1000.

https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2019-crime-statistics

On top of that;

19.1% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2018 (47.6 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults. 4.6% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2018 (11.4 million people).

About twice that number never report their mental illness until the shots start firing.

https://www.nami.org/mhstats

In El Paso TX, a small city near the border of Mexico, where most citizens are gun averse, a shooter walked in to a Walmart store and killed 23 mothers, children, grandmothers, and some men, and injured seriously another 23. No one had a gun. This is Beto (I gonna take your guns away) O rouke's home town.

In another Texas City where everyone carries a gun, a well armed shooter walked into a church and started shooting a saw-off shotgun at the members. Within 6 seconds about 30 church attendees pulled their guns and one older man shot him in the head ending the terror. In 6 seconds this terrorist killed two men. Imagine if no one had a gun to stop this monster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqWibXye6YE

So it's not a matter of being logical or reasonable.

It's facing the reality of the world we live in and the fact that there is No God that protects the innocent, or the children, or the families. There is no paradise earth that is coming where the wicked will be removed.

We have been given only ONE life, and our children and family also have one life. Once it's taken away, it is gone forever. So it's up to each of us to do whatever it takes to protect our life and the lives of our family because we can't shove that responsibility to anyone else---including the policemen.

They take away our guns, then we and our families are the mercy of Criminals WITH GUNS.

70

Is it possible for any Country to have “Reasonable” Gun Laws? What would they be?

by pistolpete in

so the new biden/harris gun policies are starting to appear.

it’s not clear yet, what they will be.. some suggestions; confiscate all guns.------buyback programs in each state.. there is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in america, - put together-will be like a sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “civil uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain gun lovers.

americans love guns!.

pistolpete

The only thing that stopped them were home owners brandishing their weapons and promising that if they entered the neighborhood, a good number of them wouldn’t leave.

That's what you call an equalizer!

You can be a 5ft -98 lbs girl and take on a 6ft 8" man wanting to rape you-- if you have a gun.

https://youtu.be/VcKm2g6zP3A

Without a gun, you are at the mercy of tons of perverts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvmG3-lPk3w

70

Is it possible for any Country to have “Reasonable” Gun Laws? What would they be?

by pistolpete in

so the new biden/harris gun policies are starting to appear.

it’s not clear yet, what they will be.. some suggestions; confiscate all guns.------buyback programs in each state.. there is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in america, - put together-will be like a sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “civil uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain gun lovers.

americans love guns!.

pistolpete

sometimes the mentally ill get elected and people die.

That's for sure!!-------------

39

ExElder Friend Had To Go To His Former Kingdom Hall and this what he told me!

by minimus in

jw
friends

he was the secretary before he resigned years ago.

he has a business that kept him involved with the kingdom hall.

the hall was sold to another church.

pistolpete

Irwin Zalkin might pay a hefty amount for all that information that he might be able to use in the coming lawsuit against Watchtower.

https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2019/08/12/ex-jehovahs-witnesses-to-file-lawsuits-under-new-child-victims-act/?slreturn=20201108173939

70

Is it possible for any Country to have “Reasonable” Gun Laws? What would they be?

by pistolpete in

so the new biden/harris gun policies are starting to appear.

it’s not clear yet, what they will be.. some suggestions; confiscate all guns.------buyback programs in each state.. there is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in america, - put together-will be like a sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “civil uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain gun lovers.

americans love guns!.

pistolpete

So the New Biden/Harris Gun policies are starting to appear. It’s not clear yet, what they will be.

Some suggestions; Confiscate all guns.------Buyback programs in each State.

There is much talk on social media that if this happens, the pandemic, + all the riots, + all the damaged property, + all the annual murders in America, - put together-will be like a Sunday afternoon picnic, compared to all the deaths and property damage that will result because of “Civil Uprising” by millions of 2nd amendments advocates and just plain Gun Lovers. Americans love guns!

This is one reason why now they are considering a tax fee on magazines over 5 rounds, and a tax fee on all AR 15 and semi-automatic pistols instead of confiscating all guns. Suggested fees between $200 to $800 dollars per magazine and per gun----every year.

Another suggestion is start limiting the amount of ammo manufactures can produce per year. This would make the price of ammo out of the reach of your average citizen but at the same time, the second amendment would not be in danger of being infringed. It would come down to the fact that only those who can afford it, can own guns legally.

It’s a known fact that if civil war was to break, it would be impossible for any Federal Government military to go into any State and start killing these 2nd amendments guerrilla fighters. Reason being, how could anyone distinguish who is who. A civil war today, would be far different than the country’s first Civil war. It would not be a matter of the South vs the North. A war today would be Guerrilla warfare with millions of hidden 2nd amendments advocates spread across and mixed in with the police dept, the military, politicians, members of the legislature, doctors, nurses, business owners, sports world, teens, women, grandma’s, every group you can think of will have some 2nd amendment advocates.

This civil war if it ever happened, would be a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility, to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military, and this would inspired fear on just about everybody. No one would be exempt.

The Military could just not go and bomb a State or any city for fear of reprisals by the rest of the country for killing innocent men, women, and children. No one would be safe, not even politicians with 1,000 armed personal. To pursue such a course in the USA today would just decimate the entire country’s infrastructure, food production, tax revenue collection, military, thus leaving the country vulnerable to other countries like North Korea for invasion.

“Non-compliance with gun-confiscation laws has been widespread, even in countries that don’t protect the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. What can we learn from Non-compliance countries whose Government issued bans on semi-automatic rifles, such as New Zealand? Well, in 2019 a terrorist killed 51 unarmed worshipers in two Christchurch New Zealand, mosques, and the government immediately imposed sweeping new gun-control laws. New Zealand banned the civilian possession of most semi-automatic rifles. The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners estimated, that New Zealanders possessed roughly 170,000 Firearms at the time of the ban. Yet the New Zealand buyback has not gone smoothly. Many New Zealanders simply refused to comply. By the end of February 2020, well after the final amnesty period ended in December 2019,police data indicated that only 57,000 firearms—about one-third of the total—had been turned in.

Worse, it appears that New Zealand managed to disarm only the most law-abiding of its citizens, and not the actual criminals or terrorists doing the crime.

Australia similarly banned the civilian possession of most semi-automatic firearms in 1996, but the country has spent the last two decades trying—and to a significant extent, failing—to enforce it.

What about the USA?

If this type of significant and widespread non-compliance is so common in countries without America’s gun culture or constitutional protections for civilian gun ownership, it would be almost laughable to presume Americans would be more compliant with overbearing gun-control measures.

After all, civilian gun possession is deeply INGRAINED in the American PSYCHE, as is an aversion to gun confiscation. The American Revolution itself officially ignited over an effort by King George III and his military generals to disarm the colonists.

Americans are increasingly aware that lawfully owned semi-automatic rifles are fundamentally not a driving force behind homicides in this country, or anywhere else.

Nearly two out of every three deaths by firearms in the United States are the result of suicide. In cases of suicide, neither gun type nor magazine capacity ultimately matters; moreover, while it is true that the U.S. has a fairly high rate of suicides committed with firearms, our overall suicide rate is relatively unremarkable compared with many countries with much stricter gun-control laws.

Semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-15, are responsible for only a fraction of 1% of all gun deaths in the U.S. every year, while rifles of any kind account for about 3% of all gun homicides.

And finally, a majority of crimes committed with guns in the U.S. are carried out by individuals who are already prohibited from owning firearms—not by lawful gun owners.

Trying to take away the guns of an American Gun loving, 2nd Amendment rights advocate, is like trying to force ALL- Exjw to go back to the Watchtower religion and be in complete subjection to the Governing body and its appointed elders.

With that in mind, what kind of gun laws would make 2nd amendment advocates and Gun lovers Happy.

33

The problem with Capitalism!---Billionaires

by pistolpete in

as imperfect and flawed capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

it’s very simple in “theory.” capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

in other words, keep government out of it as much as possible.

pistolpete

LoveUniHateExams an hour ago
@PistolPete - you've started an interesting thread about the flaws of Capitalism (and it does have flaws), but I'd just like to show you and everyone else the problem with Communism …

Actually, I said Capitalism has worked "Better so far" than any other systems along with safety nets. And I said those who invent new technology or some miracle drug should be rewarded for their innovation, other wise it will stifle progress.

I also said, I'm against taking away the monies earned by billionaires and distribute the monies to those who didn't earn them.That's just not right.

Instead, I think that Billionaires "POWER AND INFLUENCE" over Government, politics, law, monopolies, ect. should be curtailed to that of a single average citizen.

I was "Trying" to point out the reasons why socialism was being praised by many. It is not so much because Billionaires make tons of money, (although for few it might) --- But instead, the gripe over Capitalism is the fact that once a person becomes a billionaire, that person has almost absolute power to influence Government, Politics, laws, the masses, and even justice if he breaks any law. Also he is able to use his position to monopolize any market, making it impossible for any average citizen to start any business and rise to the ranks of billionaire.

As I mentioned, One Third of billionaires "Inherits their fortune and POWER from their parents. These are now forming an aristocracy of leaders that didn't earn the right to be leaders over a country and dictate what policies and laws should rule the masses.

Here is an example of what I mean by a billionaire influencing Government.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/06/mike-bloombergs-gun-control-outspends-nra-helps-democrats-win-virginia.html

11

We Knew Many JWs That Weren’t Right....what about xjws??

by minimus in

jw
friends

do you think that when people leave the religion that they are basically now, “normal”?

or do you think it’s more a work in progress?.

pistolpete

What's considered "Normal" depends on the where you live and what the dominate culture- STANDARD is. If a JW lives in a Muslim country where women are not treated equally as men, I would say a JW is a bit more normal than the "Area Standard"

https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/youth/bridges/workshop14/185708.shtml

Normal is defined; as conforming to a standard

In you live in the USA where freedom is cherished, then I would say being a JW is outside the boundaries of what is considered "Standard"- or normal, in the area.

Of course leaving the JW religion doesn't guarantee a person will be happier or life will get easier. In fact for some, it might mean life getting worse.

The JW religion is just a part of the crazy world we live in. If a person is born into it or is tricked into it, and finds out later in life that it's not the life we would want to live, for whatever reason, then there is a choice to be made, ----stay in for the sake of family and be miserable to an extant for the rest of your life, - or leave and say good bye to family.

We are free to choose. We just have to weigh the consequences of what "We may personally consider to be normal for us"-------and live with our decision.

There are literally hundreds that have posted on exjw reddit that left the religion, and after a few years they decided to go back, even though they know it's not the truth. And they admitted that. But to them, it was more normal inside the religion than outside.

NORMAL???????

33

The problem with Capitalism!---Billionaires

by pistolpete in

as imperfect and flawed capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

it’s very simple in “theory.” capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

in other words, keep government out of it as much as possible.

pistolpete

peacefulpete
I don't know anyone who would disagree with what I've said so far.
What I find most frustrating it that if we keep talking past each other, not listening. Fear, distrust and sadly disinformation are dividing us, not actual values in most cases. True, some of us do perceive a need earlier than others because of personal experience or research, in such cases, patient education and insightful appeals to better natures is the only course. Of course, even when we agree a problem exists there are more than one solution to any given issue...more civil discourse and patient exchange of ideas...we can't get tired of this time tested method of improving the human condition.

Very well said peacefulpete

33

The problem with Capitalism!---Billionaires

by pistolpete in

as imperfect and flawed capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

it’s very simple in “theory.” capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

in other words, keep government out of it as much as possible.

pistolpete

As imperfect and flawed Capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

It’s very simple in “Theory.” Capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

In other words, keep Government out of it as much as possible. This does not mean having no social programs as a safety net for the elderly, sick, and those born with limitations. A civil society cares for those who are unable to care for themselves, but it does not mean citizens should care for those who are able to but refuse to work and contribute.

In a Capitalistic economy, a person who invents some new technology, or discovers some new drug, should be rewarded, otherwise the incentive to risk everything will stifle progress in all fields.

But how how much should one person be rewarded for a new idea??

Jeff Bezos was worth 185 BILLION Dollars, before the divorce. His ex-wife walked away from her divorce with Jeff Bezos last July with 25% of his Amazon shares, then worth $36 billion. Since then, her fortune has nearly doubled as the pandemic has disrupted traditional retail.

What about Jeff Bezos net worth today, Breaking the amount down, Bezos is making about $321 million a day,

$13.4 million an hour,

$222,884 a minute,

and $3,715 a second this year.

The largest single-day increase in Bezos's net worth is $13 billion, which he achieved on July 20, 2020,because of the pandemic. Remember, all small business owned retail stores were forced to close, almost a year now.

The average two working couple in the USA makes “about” 63,000 dollars. That’s about 32,000 dollars each.

THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY SOCIALISM IS OVERCOMING CAPITALISM IN AMERICA. It’s just not fair that ONE PERSON attains more wealth than he/she will be able to spend in a LIFETIME, while others are struggling to avoid becoming homeless.

So WHAT IF, instead of being a sign of economic success, billionaires are a sign of economic failure? Is it possible that extreme wealth IS generally, more harmful than, a “Sign” that Capitalism works?

How is Billionaire wealth attained? Is it all attain by invention? Absolutely Not! Approximately one third of billionaire ‘s wealth comes from inheritance.

Here is the problem with that. It creates a new aristocracy who are rich simply because their parents were rich. And now these inheritors who didn’t work at creating something beneficial for humanity, and may actually be idiots, have now inherited the power over your average citizen, (masses-sheeple) This is how idiots with power are born.

Whether inherited or secured in other ways, extreme wealth takes on a momentum of its own that cannot be overlooked. For example; Bill Gates was worth nearly $100 billion dollars in 2019, almost TWICE what he was worth when he stepped down as head of Microsoft. This is despite his admirable commitment to giving his money away.

BUT there’s more!

Didier Jacobs, a researcher at the London School of Economics, calculated a few years ago that another third of billionaire wealth comes from crony connections to government and monopoly, for example as when billionaires secure concessions to provide services exclusively from government, using crony connections and corruption.

“The Economist has developed a similar measure of crony capitalism with similar findings. What is clear is that corruption and crony connections to governments are behind a significant proportion of billionaire wealth.”

“Almost all sectors of our global economy are now characterized by monopoly power, as is detailed by Nick Shaxson in his great newbook, the Finance Curse. Whether food, pharmaceuticals, media, finance, or technology, each sector is characterized by a handful of huge corporations.”

President Franklin Roosevelt famously said that

“Government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob.”

These monopolies impose hidden monopoly taxes on every consumer, as it enables these companies, and their wealthy shareholders, to extract excessive profits from the market, directly fueling the growth in extreme wealth at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Behind corporate power and corporate actions is increasingly the power of super-rich shareholders.

Once billionaire wealth is accumulated, the way it is used also casts doubt on how useful it is to have billionaires. The super-rich use their wealth to pay as little tax as possible, making active use of a secretive global network of tax havens, as revealed by the Panama Papers and other exposes.

Billionaires can also buy impunity from justice, buy politicians, and buy a pliant media, and influence elections.

This active political influencing by the super-rich directly drives greater inequality, by constructing reinforcing feedback loops, in which the winners of the game get even more resources to win even bigger next time.

So, do you all thing there should be a cap on how much ONE PERSON SHOULD BE REWARDED?

Should there be a cap on How Much Children of the Billionaire should receive as inheritance?

Would implementing these two rules be an incentive for people to stop praising Socialism, and asking the Political leaders to get rid of all forms of Capitalism?

30

73 years old, a Witness for 48 years, an elder for 24 years, Baptized just before 1975. WOKE UP!

by pistolpete in

i thought i would post an encouraging experience i found today.

i've been seeing a lot of 70-80 year old jws waking up, and their children are posting their experience on reddit.

these are old elders, pioneers, circuit overseers who have given their everything and finally at the end of their life, are walking away.. maybe the key to waking up is that a person has to have a deep sense of right and wrong.

pistolpete

It is a difficult decision if we have the opportunity to wake up an older person. Will it be of benefit to them

Bummer if I woke up a 94 year old on Monday and he died on Tuesday.

I personally don't try to wake up jws just for the sake of waking them up. I have to see with my own eyes, that particular person "Wanting to wake up," Then I will try to help them.

You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it."