120 replies to this topic

[Shotgun Willy]

I know tons of people who carry knives around with them on campus all the time. They don't go around slitting throats... heh.

Anyway, yea I know what you mean about crappy searching. The police would've been searching all. night. long for the guy with the fake gun if they hadn't had the good luck to have a lady from the Military Sciences building pipe up and say that she had rented out a hard rubber fake AK-47 to a student not long before the alarm was raised. They then used the information in the system to figure out where the guy lived, and they went there, found him, took him in for interrogation, and then let him go since there was no crime committed, it was just a misunderstanding, lol.

Yea, having guns on campus has it's pros and cons. On one had, yea, you can defend yourself in case the metaphorical lightning strikes (actually, I'm told the chances of having an active shooter situation happen to you is roughly similar to your chance of getting struck by lightning), but when you have guns on campus, it gets substantially harder to tell who's the good guy and who's the bad. *shrug* that's the biggest one anyway

Also, I have to chuckle at Glen's suggestion. "Exciting" would be a good word for it, I suppose...

[Learz]

My long-term self defense plan, as a trained (though fairly mediocre) fencer, is to openly carry a smallsword. As soon as I can afford one I'm planning to buy a custom made weapons grade smallsword. Mostly for display in my house/apartment, but also because it would be an effective crime deterrant. Nobody without a gun would mug me, and anyone WITH a gun less than 15 feet away would be at a disadvantage against somebody with a full size sword and the training to use it. Not to mention the element of surprise issue; not many people expect to see an actual sword. Plus, no fear of it accidentally "going off" and killing an innocent passerby. I think things were better when gentlemen were trained in the use of swords and carried them regularly. Ban guns, make sword training mandatory, the world becomes a better (and more exciting!) place.

Aw hell yeah. I'm down with that. Although in my case it would be a katana, but yeah. If that would ever be possible, I'd be behind you 110%
Although on a side note guns are usually carried unchambered and on safe to prevent accidental discharges. But this is a recommendation, not mandatory (which I think it should be).

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure edged weapons are illegal to be openly carried in NYS (and many other states). I know they are an over the counter weapon, but you can't carry them around in public. Even little knives, if openly displayed, gets you jail time of some sort.

[Invicta]

In VA you can carry a sword openly if you have it registered, and you have a carry permit for a tactical firearm. They literally take the same form, cross out "firearm" and write in "sword". So its a lot of paperwork, but it can be done.

The thing about swords in a modern context is that they are primarily defensive weapon; they are pretty obvious. Somebody is going to be hesitant to get anywhere near someone who is openly carrying a sword, so muggings with a sword would be rare. Using it to hold up a bank, a store, etc. would be similarly difficult. Not to mention that police would be aware enough (theoretically) to stay out of range when arresting somebody with a sword. Probably be a matter of holding them at gun point, from a distance, and ordering the person to put the sword on the ground. You aren't going to hold up a large group of people with a sword either; you'll get charged en masse probably. You can only take out so many people before they tackle you to the ground.

Also, it's much easier to disable/wound somebody with a sword than with a gun. Guns do more indiscriminate damage. Though Katanas are pretty destructive. I did a little kendo but I preferred the precision of a smallsword, particularly a loop-hilt smallsword with a colichemarde blade such as this one or this one.

[ᗅᗺᗷᗅ]

Learz, just because you are a mature and responsible 22-year-old does not mean your peers are. The figures are the figures. Most early 20-something males (and let's be realistic -- it is mostly males who would be carrying handguns) lack maturity and judgment. Do all of them? No. But statistically a significant number of them do. They are not a group of people I want carrying guns.

Facts are facts. As gun ownership has grown, so have gun deaths. There is a clear and unambiguous correlation. More guns = more gun deaths.

In Switzerland and Finland they do not allow the ownership of handguns the way we do. And again, being realistic, it's handguns we're talking about.

Most states have concealed carry laws because of the presumed anxiety that would be caused by people walking around openly displaying handguns. But Glen is correct, that creates a catch-22. If you can't see the gun, then there is no deterrent effect. This is true for guns used for home protection as well -- if a potential intruder doesn't know you have a gun then what good is it? If you really want to deter home invasions get a dog.

I would support the outlawing of guns and their replacement by swords. They are an elegant weapon, from a simpler time.

But seriously, all this talk about "self defense plans" strikes me as overly alarmist. Just use good judgment about where you go, and when. It's really not that hard.

By the way, while it may be legal to openly carry a sword with a license, you should expect to be stopped by every single police officer whose path you cross during the course of a day. That could get old!

[Invicta]

Actually, I would expect the vast majority of people to assume it's a non-functional reproduction carried for looks. But yeah, it could be annoying, and you would definitely have to have the permit on you at all times since "I have a permit for this" probably wouldn't be as convincing as it is for handguns.

And this brings up an interesting issue; why are handguns more culturally acceptable then swords? They are easier to use, far more deadly, opperate over a tremendously longer range, are easier to conceal, require little formal training to opperate effectively, etc. etc. Historically things like swords were assumed whearas the early equivolent of the handgun, the crossbow, was illegal for civilians to own. Does this make sense to anyone? If anything swords should be easier to own and carry legally than handguns.

By the way, are those swords I linked to beautiful or what?

[Haflinger]

I'm not convinced that the US' high rate of violent crime is directly linked to its lack of gun control. There are other states which also have high levels of firearm ownership but much lower levels of violent crime.

The main example being Switzerland.

What these places tend to have in common is a higher standard of living.

[Invicta]

I'm not for broad gun control, I'm for handgun control, and in particular a ban on concealed carry, which would be closer to the reality in Switzerland where rifles/shotguns are common but handguns are not.

[Invicta]

In all honesty, any talk of using my sword for self defense is largely facetious. Unless I was attacked in my home, in which case it could become reality, the sword would largely be for display/coolness purposes. However I would definitely have an edge guard made for it so that I could use it in historical reenactments/competitive fencing.

[Haflinger]

Swords are not practical for self-defense in most modern urban situations. Knives are much better, swords are too long.

[Invicta]

In close quarters you are absolutel correct, which is why I also own a 13inch double edged dagger. However, if you start at a reasonable range, anywhere from 5-15 feet, then a smallsword would be effective. They are relativel short, with a maximum blade length of three feet, most more like two and a half. Also, only effective if you're trained in their use. Mostly it's useful as a deterrant. However in reality most people who carried one carried a dagger on the opposite hip for just that reason.

[Learz]

Jorost, I'm trying to make a point here! Take your well reasoned arguments and rationality somewhere else!

But seriously, all this talk about "self defense plans" strikes me as overly alarmist. Just use good judgment about where you go, and when. It's really not that hard.

Ehh, I tend to be paranoid survivalist. Probably just me. As far as I know I'm the only one who scans skylines looking for snipers silhouettes when I step outside, and always keep my back to a wall.
>.>

By the way, are those swords I linked to beautiful or what?

Yes, yes they are

[ᗅᗺᗷᗅ]

I'm not convinced that the US' high rate of violent crime is directly linked to its lack of gun control. There are other states which also have high levels of firearm ownership but much lower levels of violent crime.

The main example being Switzerland.

What these places tend to have in common is a higher standard of living.

Switzerland does not allow handguns the way the US does. In fact, what they do is literally what it says in OUR Constitution about a "well-regulated militia." The Swiss Army is every male citizen. They receive mandatory training at a certain age, and all are expected to help defend their country if they are attacked. Frankly it seems like a fool's errand, since if Switzerland has been attacked it means Hell has frozen over and we have bigger things to worry about. But there it is.

Anyway, the point is they still have strict regulations.

That said, standard of living has a TON to do with it, for sure. But the British standard of living is extremely comparable to ours (as evidenced by several measurable factors like the HDI, etc.), yet their gun crime rate is extremely low. Why? They don't have guns.

Now, understand that when I talk about guns in this manner, I am referring to handguns. Rifles and shotguns are something else altogether. I have no objection to them. Very few drive-by shootings are done with a Winchester .30-06.

No, what I mean is "handguns." That is what we need to restrict access to. Rifles/shotguns are fine. They are legitimately used for hunting, and frankly they are far superior for "home defense" to any handgun. They are easier to use, more accurate, and far more visually threatening.

[Invicta]

Shotguns are fine for home defense. Rifles are not; they are very difficult to use accurately at close range. But otherwise I completely agree with you.

[Learz]

Actually, if you want to break it down, no firearm is good for home defense due to penetration.

The only thing that won't punch through multiple walls and take out innocents are specially designed expanding/fragmenting rounds (expensive), or birdshot in a shotgun (which won't put down an intruder). You can also use rubber bullets or taser shotshells, but they are expensive and/or unreliable.

So if you do use a firearm for home defense, it is more or less a moral obligation to practice at a gun range with it until you put every shot onto a target

Also, come to think of it, there are subsonic rounds, but I don't think they are legal everywhere.

[Father Christmas]

I have a sword at home. It's just like this one: http://www.messdress...shopscr706.html
It isn't really "sharp" as such, but I guess if someone broke in and I waved it at them it might have the desired effect! If I was going to hit them I'd rather use the 30" long iron poker I had made as part of our fire-set....

[Invicta]

That's a gorgeous sword. If its similar to ceremonial dress swords in the U.S. armed forces it probably wouldn't hold an edge, unfortunately, but you never know. If it's made properly/traditionally you might well be able to have it properly sharpened. Somebody must know for sure. Personally I would want it sharpened, but that is inherently more dangerous. Either way, absolutely beutiful weapon. I'm especially fond of the shark-skin grip wrap. That's a nice touch.

[Haflinger]

I have a very large cast iron frying pan. It's pretty much more effective in close quarters than just about any sword; a swing and a hit and you have an unconscious assailant.

Pretty easy to hit with too.

[Invicta]

It's all about training. Personally I'd take the sword every time. If I have a gauntlet available for the left hand I'd even take the sword against a knife.

[ᗅᗺᗷᗅ]

I prefer to kill with my bare hands. Call it old fashioned, but I like to feel the life literally slipping away beneath my fingers. It's just how I was raised.

[Haflinger]

I get the feeling these displays of violence make Jor uncomfortable.