Posts by wasasister

40

Are you still a pacifist?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

last night, i found myself wondering aloud about something i never thought i would consider: purchasing a gun.

previously, i had very strong anti-gun sentiments.

i felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of americans.

wasasister

I agree with you. Why start subjects like this. Everyone has an opinion and no one will change their minds, so what's the point?

That's not entirely true. I was sincere in the beginning about not being sure how I feel about owning a gun. I've read all the posts and both sides present good, logical arguments.

Francoise invited me to post to him personally, which I have done. However, I wish he would not have used the term "gun grabber." I don't know of anyone who has suggested such a thing in this thread. Some have expressed the idea that owning (or firing) a gun is not for them personally. I have expressed that I believe those who choose to own a weapon should be responsible with it. I further believe it is possible to protect a weapon from children without making it useless for self-defense.

How does anyone read "gun grabber" into those thoughts?

I'm still not convinced either way, but extremist language does not pursuade me.

Was

40

Are you still a pacifist?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

last night, i found myself wondering aloud about something i never thought i would consider: purchasing a gun.

previously, i had very strong anti-gun sentiments.

i felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of americans.

wasasister

Dave:

If you ever get the desire to shoot a gun you can drive down to Portland and shoot mine. It's a nice big 357 magnum and can drop an elephant with the proper round in it.

Blah, Blah, Blah. I think I made it quite clear: I am not interested in "shooting your gun", as you call it, no matter what the magnitude. Sheesh, get over it, will you?

So....who DO you want to see naked?

40

Are you still a pacifist?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

last night, i found myself wondering aloud about something i never thought i would consider: purchasing a gun.

previously, i had very strong anti-gun sentiments.

i felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of americans.

wasasister

PS to Dave:
Thanks for reminding me of the pictures Julie took. If you have any of Alan wearing the hula skirt, would you forward them to me?

40

Are you still a pacifist?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

last night, i found myself wondering aloud about something i never thought i would consider: purchasing a gun.

previously, i had very strong anti-gun sentiments.

i felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of americans.

wasasister

Although it was not my intention to start a thread on the controversy surrounding gun ownership, I am beginning to think it's about time we (as in THE BOARD) dicussed the subject. We've managed to get through Dirty Words, Racism, The Existence/Non-Existence of a Supreme Being, Oral and/or Anal Sex, Homosexuality, Masturbation, Man/Woman Bashing, and lest we forget, Venice's Boobs.

I honestly have mixed feelings on the subject. I consider myself a moderate, yet I lean more towards Seeker's abhorrence of taking life under any circumstances. At the same time, I am now more respectful of the military people who have fought for the freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of this country. While I would never interfere with anyone's rights to own a gun, I fervently believe ownership of a deadly weapon carries a commensurate degree of responsibility.

40

Are you still a pacifist?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

last night, i found myself wondering aloud about something i never thought i would consider: purchasing a gun.

previously, i had very strong anti-gun sentiments.

i felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of americans.

wasasister

Dave:

Your crazy enough as it is, check out a stun gun and I'll let you test it out on me.

You are quite correct about that! Why don't you pencil me in next weekend for that test. Would you mind wearing Calvin Klien's Obsession for men? It was my ex-husband's favorite and would probably help with the aggression.

Seeker:
Yeah, you're probably right. I'd pull out my gun and while I was trying to talk the perp to death, he'd turn it on me.

I currently carry pepper spray, but perhaps a stun-gun is a reasonable step up. I honestly doubt if I could take a life. I have trouble with moles in my yard and I refuse to put poison in their holes.

Maybe I'm a hopeless peace-nick?

40

Are you still a pacifist?

by wasasister in

jw
friends

last night, i found myself wondering aloud about something i never thought i would consider: purchasing a gun.

previously, i had very strong anti-gun sentiments.

i felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of americans.

wasasister

Last night, I found myself wondering aloud about something I never thought I would consider: purchasing a gun.

Previously, I had very strong anti-gun sentiments. I felt, and still do to some extent, that freely available guns in this country are an immediate threat to children and add to the violent perception others have of Americans. I can't understand the radical members of groups such as NRA who would fight against even the most logical safety measures regarding firearms. How could anyone argue against child-proof locks on guns or gun owners securing their weapons against theft?

I remain opposed to violence or taking of life. However, as a single woman in an ever-more dangerous world, I now contemplate getting a gun and learning how to use it repsonsibly. I enjoy running and biking alone in some rather remote locations. I am not in a position to care for a dog and I'm not going to restrict my activities out of fear. I realize, merely possessing a weapon does not make me invulnerable to attack, and that my reluctance to take life may give an attacker an advantage.

However, for the first time in my life, I can understand how someone would want to protect themselves from becoming victims of violent crime.

I have not yet reached a decision and will consider the possibility of gun ownership very carefully. It is such a turn-about for me from my prior, deeply-held aversion to aggression, I'm not sure if I could ever go so far in the opposite direction.

What about the rest of you? Have you reconsidered your stance about self-defense at all?

Thanks in advance for your comments,
Pistol-packin' Wasasister???

10

INTERNET

by Utopian Reformist in

jw
friends

are we all guilty of virtual apostasy?

wasasister

Uhhh, Francoise....

I never do get what you mean. Could you possibly be more direct and stop clouding your posts with vague euphemisms?

Wasasister/tongue planted firmly in cheek. (Is that insalubrious?)

14

"Vindication," New Light

by Maximus in

jw
friends

need some help.. growing up, i was ceaselessly taught that everything jws do in preaching is because of "the issue.

" the issue is the "vindication" of jehovah's name.. at some point the publications ceased this teaching, with an almost casual watchtower reference to the fact that 'obviously jehovah's name does not need to be vindicated.

' keen students were surprised that no major article appeared to lay out this change.. i don't have the tools to follow this up, so could i impose on someone to fill me in with citations?