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Boston Bombings (political talk)

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chrlswltrs said:
There was a picture of him climbing out of the boat under his own power without a serious neck injury, then minutes later he was on the ground getting a tracheotomy and may never speak again...
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Well it seems that he is talking up a storm, so so much for that one...

I get the appeal of conspiracy theories, I really do. They are fun. It is cool to feel like you know something that most people are too dumb or clueless to understand. Problem is, 99% of them turn out to be nonsense. They either get started by people who live in their parents basements with too much time on their hands, or someone with a political agenda, or both. The government does a lot of secretive things, which drives these guys nutty, but most of it is just mundane government business.
 
funkylogik said:
I dont understand how a bombing that killed only three people (no matter how tragic that is and it really is) can be classed as a weapon of mass distruction even if its considered part of a 'war'??

What defines a WMD and how many americans own a WMD? :confused:
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Don't forget that almost 200 people were injured, and there could have been many more deaths if more people would have been close to the blasts. I don't think you can just go by body count.
 
funkylogik said:
I dont understand how a bombing that killed only three people (no matter how tragic that is and it really is) can be classed as a weapon of mass distruction even if its considered part of a 'war'??

What defines a WMD and how many americans own a WMD? :confused:
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I could see where "mass destruction" could be a relative term, much like "beautiful day."
 
Gmash said:
Don't forget that almost 200 people were injured, and there could have been many more deaths if more people would have been close to the blasts. I don't think you can just go by body count.
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ItnStln511 said:
I could see where "mass destruction" could be a relative term, much like "beautiful day."
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"WMD" has always been applied to weapons that are capable of killing thousands - possibly millions in the case of biological weapons - or laying waste to something the size of an entire, city - think Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A bomb that causes 3 deaths and 200 hundred injuries is absolutely horrific, but it is a "conventional weapon" not, by any stretch, a WMD.
 
I have heard that the reasoning behind the bombings were in protest of the wars in iraq and afghanistan.. but that is just what one news channel said, I would wait for more time to pass and the info to really become public.. because some places are asking if brain damage from boxing could have played a role in it.... :rolleyes:
 
Gmash said:
Well it seems that he is talking up a storm, so so much for that one...

I get the appeal of conspiracy theories, I really do. They are fun. It is cool to feel like you know something that most people are too dumb or clueless to understand. Problem is, 99% of them turn out to be nonsense. They either get started by people who live in their parents basements with too much time on their hands, or someone with a political agenda, or both. The government does a lot of secretive things, which drives these guys nutty, but most of it is just mundane government business.
Click to expand...

Before you are so quick to dismiss all "conspiracy theories" read this article from
the New York Times (mainstream enough for you?): http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/o...ped-along-by-the-fbi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

And, google "Operation Northwoods." Just a brief overview- documents have been declassified that our government wanted to carry out terror attacks in America and blame Cuba so that we would have public support to attack Cuba during the Cold War.

Not all conspiracy theories are real, but blindly trusting our government who is hell bent on taxing us to death and taking our freedoms more than ever would just be stupid. Over the last year the federal government sure has been quick to jump on every tragedy and ride it hard as justification to restrict our freedom.
 
chrlswltrs said:
Not all conspiracy theories are real, but blindly trusting our government who is hell bent on taxing us to death and taking our freedoms more than ever would just be stupid. .
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Slightly ot but why don't you run for election? Would that not be your best way of trying to prevent rights being taken away?
 
chrlswltrs said:
Before you are so quick to dismiss all "conspiracy theories" read this article from
the New York Times (mainstream enough for you?): http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/o...ped-along-by-the-fbi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

And, google "Operation Northwoods." Just a brief overview- documents have been declassified that our government wanted to carry out terror attacks in America and blame Cuba so that we would have public support to attack Cuba during the Cold War.

Not all conspiracy theories are real, but blindly trusting our government who is hell bent on taxing us to death and taking our freedoms more than ever would just be stupid. Over the last year the federal government sure has been quick to jump on every tragedy and ride it hard as justification to restrict our freedom.
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The problem is that the side of the 'government' that wants to not increase taxes is the one who want to stamp on freedoms some more!

Conspiracy theories used to be fun, now they are just petty, too mainstream I say.
 
Gmash said:
Don't forget that almost 200 people were injured, and there could have been many more deaths if more people would have been close to the blasts. I don't think you can just go by body count.
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Thats true mate, totally, it could have been so much worse but think what a legaly owned assault rifle and ammunition can do? Thatss kinda the point i was making.
and even when the UN sheepishly admitted there were no WMD in Iraq, well there were some pretty big weapons there so where should we take the definition of WMD from if a very basic homegrown IED is classed as one? ;)
 
funkylogik said:
Thats true mate, totally, it could have been so much worse but think what a legaly owned assault rifle and ammunition can do? Thatss kinda the point i was making.
and even when the UN sheepishly admitted there were no WMD in Iraq, well there were some pretty big weapons there so where should we take the definition of WMD from if a very basic homegrown IED is classed as one? ;)
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I wish I could have an assault weapon. Unfortunately, with the extreme cost and waiting times (about $15,000 and 9+ months) all I have is an AR15. Anyone in my family could effectively protect themselves if someone broke in using an AR15 because of all of its features. I can't say the same about any other gun in my house (handgun wouldn't be effective enough if there were multiple intruders and a 12GA has too much kick to be effective for more than 1 shot)

I guarantee a lot of people in MA sure wished they had guns with a terrorist on loose.
 
I suppose my post here http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?p=5769925
Is just as relevant here.

I do get that the US is a difficult one because theres already so many firearms there so how do we get a level playing field (i think ban all sales of ammunition now) but would you even agree that you wish that guns had never been legal?
Would you recommend that other countries make them legal for their citizens own "safety"?
 
funkylogik said:
I suppose my post here The Gun Law Discussion - Page 9 - Android Forums
Is just as relevant here.

I do get that the US is a difficult one because theres already so many firearms there so how do we get a level playing field (i think ban all sales of ammunition now) but would you even agree that you wish that guns had never been legal?
Would you recommend that other countries make them legal for their citizens own "safety"?
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Yes, everyone has the right to protect themselves. A firearm is the great equalizer. Size, numbers, etc don't matter when the potential victim has a weapon that can equalize the situation.

Banning ammo is a bad idea also. We have a constitutional right to own firearms. Besides being used for protection there are people that enjoy target shooting, shooting competitions, and hunting.

Here is a reason banning ammo is bad: I carry a firearm always (I am licensed to do so legally). Do you want people carrying a firearm that they don't practice with? No, when someone isn't proficient that is when innocent people get hurt if a gun has to be used. My wife doesn't carry as she doesn't have her CPL, but she still has a gun for when she is home alone. For example, I'm going to the range on Friday with my wife, we will probably go through 300-400 rounds at least. That is just for each of us to practice with one handgun each. It takes thousands of repetitions before an action can be performed under stress, and you can get out of practice. I don't want untrained people running around with a gun, no more than I want to be unarmed.
 
So where does "the great equilizer" end mate? Nuclear warfare?
You live in the US, i live under the UK, both VERY powerful entitys on this planet right now. We can bully who we want with our big guns, our governments will make sure we dont consider it "bullying" though but thats ok because we have a big gun, the biggest there is.. so far.
Its all good because our media lets us feel safe and happy in our bubble :)

Other nations' economy are rising rapidly, "Great Britain"s emperial past is a sad joke, US "super"power over the planet is deminishing rapidly, the UN's attempts to rule the planet are only creating mortal enemys.

Theres no "higher power" to decide who is right or wrong... who should posess nukes/a handgun and who shouldnt... honestly, wake up a bit, get out of the bubble and think of future generations :thumbup:
 
funkylogik said:
So where does "the great equilizer" end mate? Nuclear warfare?
You live in the US, i live under the UK, both VERY powerful entitys on this planet right now. We can bully who we want with our big guns, our governments will make sure we dont consider it "bullying" though but thats ok because we have a big gun, the biggest there is.. so far.
Its all good because our media lets us feel safe and happy in our bubble :)

Other nations' economy are rising rapidly, "Great Britain"s emperial past is a sad joke, US "super"power over the planet is deminishing rapidly, the UN's attempts to rule the planet are only creating mortal enemys.

Theres no "higher power" to decide who is right or wrong... who should posess nukes/a handgun and who shouldnt... honestly, wake up a bit, get out of the bubble and think of future generations :thumbup:
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The great equalizer ends with self defense. It is not an individual who can protect themselves from a missile, that is why we have a government. A gun gives me the ability to protect myself, my family, and other people from other individuals or groups wishing to do harm.

Can I protect anyone from a bomb, missile, chemical attack, etc? No. That is the primary responsibility of a centralized government.

I'm only addressing that right now. Personally I know America's power is declining (intentionally under Obama), and I also believe it goes much further than that. That doesn't mean I will be a victim of a madman that I have a chance to stop. Bomb, missile, etc i have no chance to stop and don't pretend to, but why should that make me a victim to something I can stop?
 
You could stop the other guy from wanting to have or use that weapon mate :)

The government IS the people, its who they voted for or failed to vote against. Its all the same thing man.
You and the annoying dude nextdoor or the US/UK and Russia/Most of the arabia/most of asia....
 
Lets keep this discussion in the gun law thread, we have gotten off topic here. I'll quote your last post there and respond to it there. :thumbup:

Back on topic here....
 
Updates I read today:

1. The bombers only had one gun, a Ruger semi auto 9mm (great gun BTW for a handgun, I own one), not the arsenal that was originally reported. This brings up even more questions. How was it such a big shoot out and one got away?? If that is the only gun I had I wouldn't have a chance, and I train a lot with my firearms.

2. The bomb was made using black powder from fireworks...
 
chrlswltrs said:
Before you are so quick to dismiss all "conspiracy theories" read this article from
the New York Times (mainstream enough for you?): http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/o...ped-along-by-the-fbi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Click to expand...

I think you may have missed a key part of that story:

But all these dramas were facilitated by the F.B.I., whose undercover agents and informers posed as terrorists offering a dummy missile, fake C-4 explosives, a disarmed suicide vest and rudimentary training. Suspects na
Click to expand...
 
funkylogik said:
Thats true mate, totally, it could have been so much worse but think what a legaly owned assault rifle and ammunition can do? Thatss kinda the point i was making.
and even when the UN sheepishly admitted there were no WMD in Iraq, well there were some pretty big weapons there so where should we take the definition of WMD from if a very basic homegrown IED is classed as one? ;)
Click to expand...

Of course you guys are right, no one would really consider a small homemade bomb as WMD in the way that term has commonly been used. I'm not sure why they chose to word the charges that way, maybe the legal definition is different from the common usage, or they just worded it that way to make it sound like they are really throwing the book at him. It will probably be years before this actually goes to trial, and charges can, and probably will change before then.
 
ElasticNinja said:
The problem is that the side of the 'government' that wants to not increase taxes is the one who want to stamp on freedoms some more!

Conspiracy theories used to be fun, now they are just petty, too mainstream I say.
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Lets see, the left wants to raise taxes, and the left wants to take our freedom. I'd say you're wrong.
 
chrlswltrs said:
Before you are so quick to dismiss all "conspiracy theories" read this article from
the New York Times (mainstream enough for you?): http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/o...ped-along-by-the-fbi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Click to expand...

Lest we/you forget the Jasob Blair affair? Perhaps their reporting of the Duke LaCross affair or the wonderful articles by Maureen Dowd that often fail to quote people acurately.

The "Old Grey Lady;" the "Newspaper of Record" is not what it once was. Trust but Verify and that includes the Times. And most other major rags for that matter.
 
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