Author Topic: My new friend is a Californian gun owner! (Read 1093 times)

beet1e · « **on:** July 01, 2003, 07:48:20 AM »

I went on a walking/hiking holiday in Italy last week. It was excellent. Some of the hiking was in the mountains above 9000', and could be a bit tiring, but we all enjoyed it.

I met about six Yanks! I was surprised to see so many on this trip. Four came from Hawaii, one was from CA (somewhere between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara) and one was from Sante Fé,NM. I hit it off with the Californian instantly. He was a real character, and easy to get on with. So I was dying to know what he thought about guns, and whether he had one. I began by asking him if he felt safe in a country like Italy, where the general public is unarmed, and added that I knew some folks are fanatical about protecting themselves with guns. I've already donned the asbestos because what he said is not going to go down well. But I put my hand on my heart and say that I have added no embellishments.

On feeling safe in Italy - "I prefer being around the British and other Europeans more than the Americans".
When asked about gun ownership, he answered by saying "well you have to understand that I did not vote for the Bush administration..." Hmmph - can someone explain that to me?
Do you have a gun? "I have a pistol" - he did a kind of rolleyes as he got to the word "pistol", and then we looked at eachother, each gauging the other's reaction. OK then... about this pistol: "I brought it home, read the instructions, and since then it's never been out of its box" Do you go to a firing range? Nope. Practise shooting? Nope. Hmm. Turns out this gentleman lives on a three acre property, and feels isolated, and somewhere along the line got talked into buying the pistol. He didn't say what make or model. He did think it was absurd that anyone would want to kill him personally.

So we shall stay in touch! I have been invited to join the CA gentleman on another hiking trip in the English Lake District later on in the summer. I hope to be there.

Bodhi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2003, 08:19:19 AM »

Beetle,

I fail to find the point behind what you were saying? Is it that you feel the rest of the Americans that own guns are evil people just aiming to gun every one else down, or that the Bush administration is solely responsible for the rise in gun sales, you like to hike?, or is it that Europe is a safer / better place because there are less guns.

Point by point,

As a gun owner, I have never, nor do I intend on doing anything illicit with the weapons I own, my sole purpose for owning 95% of them is to enjoy going to the range and the ilk, the 5% I have for self defence are inspired by the wonderous latin americans that live in this area who would rather beat you with a pipe, or shoot you with a stolen gun to get the $200.00 in your pocket... guess that's my fault too.

The Bush administration has done less for gun ownership than the previous administration. If you think his refusal to resign into law the rediculous Clinton inspired attempted ban on assault weapons was wrong, maybe you should look at that law. The "ban" Clinton put into law did three simple things, drove the price up on weapons imported before the the time frame of the law, 1989 I believe. Allowed the gun dealers to sell at higher prices, to rake in more prices and thereby import more weapons for sale with an even better profit margin, it also spawned a whole generation of changing assault weapons in subtle ways so to beat the ban, done mainly by European and Chinese gun companies. Lastly, it also increased the crime rate for such weapons, not because they were used in crimes, but because they were stolen more often reflecting there higher "street value."

Glad you like to hike, it is a relaxing sport, and while trying at times gives a great sence of accomplishment.

I really do not feel Europe is in any way safer than the US, as a point of fact, there are sao many places in Europe that I would not feel safe, even in a damn Abrams tank. At least in the US, I understand the playing field, I know that as a general rule, South Central discluded, that I am not going to be jumped, and / or shot so long as I follow a simple guideline of covering my actions, having a plan, and not acting like a gawking tourist. Ohh, and another nifty little tidbit, the use of weapons last year in crimes in my area alone was committed by 58% illegal latin americans, 21% imported eastern eurotrash, the rest, just americans... I wonder where the problems really exist....

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2003, 08:43:27 AM »

people who voted against the bush administration. hes probly using that as a tactfull way to say he is not a conservative republican.

its pretty much with the team brain off believe in wmd and the importance of the "terror war" other "bushisms" and the party line. gun ownership unrestrained in any way no matter what. against leagle abortion. ect ect

or not.

hes sayin hes against them tactfully.

p.s. been to europe felt alot safer there also.

p.s. own a smallish armory all but one inherited. could throw the pistols into the sea for all i care. rifles staying.

ra · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2003, 09:01:58 AM »

Was his name Alec Baldwin?

NUKE · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2003, 09:20:43 AM »

He still believes people here give a rats bellybutton about him, his "holidays" or his fascinating life stories.

midnight Target · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2003, 10:27:35 AM »

"somewhere between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara" on a 3 acre estate?

This guy can afford to pay someone to carry the gun for him.

Dago · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2003, 10:58:26 AM »

Go Fxck yourself Beetle, you are still an American bashing piece of shxt in my eyes.

I have been to Italy too, and I didnt feel any safer than in the USA. Doesnt England have some stiff gun laws? Seems like London isn't the safest place I have ever been.

I can walk out of my door at 2am and go anywhere in my city I like and I don't feel even a little threatened.

Freaking hugahunk, go back to your pub and get drunk again.

Dago

midnight Target · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2003, 11:02:10 AM »

Beetle has hit on a trolling method that is beyond amazing. All he has to do is tell a story about something.. he drew no conclusions BTW, and people in here feel the need to rip off his head and spit in the neck hole.

Funny.

Krusher · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2003, 11:24:52 AM »

Hey Beetle,
You mentioned that...................
"Four came from Hawaii, one was from CA (somewhere between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara) and one was from Sante Fé,NM"

In case you were not familiar with the lay of the land (USA). The places you mentioned, California and Hawaii are two of the most liberal states in the Union. That dosnt mean they are automaticly anti-gun, but the odds are they lean that way. Its been 10 years since I have been to Sante Fe, but it is heavily populated with semi-wealthy artist and writers. A group that also tends to trend to the left.

Anyhow I hope you had a good time on your vacation... My vacation will be spent working on the honey do's and fixing up the garage LOL.

Gunthr · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2003, 11:26:25 AM »

Oh, I wouldn't go so far as to say the Beet1e's post was totally innocent.

I bet he would be an entertaining hiking pal - friendly, talkative, enthusiastic, perhaps a bit inflammatory on certain of his pet peeves - but overall, good company.

beet1e · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2003, 12:12:32 PM »

Hah! I didn't expect to get all these replies - thanks guys.

I will answer some of them.

Bodhi! Just telling it like it is/was - no hidden agenda. No real *point* to make; just saying... sometimes I think the BBS brings out the worst in some of us, but in person, things can be very different. Some might find it difficult to believe that I have actually been very well received in America.

MT Isn't Oxnard between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara?

Krusher
Quote
In case you were not familiar with the lay of the land (USA). The places you mentioned, California and Hawaii are two of the most liberal states in the Union.
Yes, I am sort of familiar with the lie of the land in CA. I used to live there. IIRC, CA used to be a Republican stronghold. I guess that was in the Nixon period.

Gunthr! hehe, thanks for those kind words.

midnight Target · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2003, 12:15:04 PM »

Oxnard is, just south of Ventura. If he has 3 acres in that area he is doing alright.

Near Point Mugu NAS BTW.

Drunky · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2003, 12:27:41 PM »

Anyone who owns a gun for 'protection' and only read the instruction and left the gun in the box is an idiot. A dangerous idiot who is likely to get himself hurt.

If you own a gun you need to know how to use it. You also need to practice with it so that you are familiar with it and the way it should perform.

Let's say said idiot is getting his house robbed. He pulls the gun out of the box under his bed and proceeds to threaten the bugler. The burgler, realizing that the safety is still on, takes the gun from said idiot. Then the burgler shots our idiot.

If you are not going to learn how to use a weapon then don't own it. Give it to the cops or a relative who likes guns. Having it in your house is very dangerous. And lock up the weapon and keep the ammo seperate. Children have a way of finding these things.

Owning a gun is serious business and most gun enthusiasts are responsible. It's the idiots who own them and don't know enough about them that causes many of the accidents.

*getting of soapbox now*

Montezuma · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2003, 01:10:52 PM »

Portion of an article from today's LA Times:

Santa Barbara's south coast stretches 25 miles from Carpinteria to Goleta. Between those communities are the super-rich areas of Montecito and Hope Ranch, along with the city of Santa Barbara itself.

May's 9.1% increase (in home prices) was higher than in any other region of the state. And the median home price of $900,000 dwarfed both the statewide median of $369,290 and the Los Angeles region median of $332,210, according to the realty association.

Santa Barbara County leaders increasingly have expressed concern that rising home prices are driving out the middle class.

Capps suggested that Congress act to provide more tax credits for affordable housing development and to increase loan limits to help middle-class home buyers. But there is little chance of that happening at a time when federal housing programs for the "poorest of the poor" are being cut, she said. "In this political climate, it would be extremely difficult to gain support in Congress for shifting any of the remaining housing funding away from helping the poorest families," she added.

One expert on the state's housing market, Mark Schneipp, director of the California Economic Forecast in Santa Barbara, said another clear need at the federal level is "some new definition of what affordability is" in Santa Barbara and other cities with fast-rising housing costs. Federal housing guidelines typically reserve affordable housing for families earning 80% or less of the area's median income. In Santa Barbara, that is about $47,000 for a family of four. Families with significantly higher incomes are not eligible for federal help.

"People here who are making $100,000 to $200,000 a year can't afford to live here now, so something is clearly out of whack," he said. "But the reality is that government can't really do much here except rezone the south coast wherever possible" to open up more land for housing tracts.

The May jump to $900,000 in the south coast area was not totally unexpected, Schneipp said, adding that it had "been stuck at about $825,000" for months.

Already, houses in Santa Barbara priced at the $1-million mark often sell in a day or two, local real estate brokers say. For that, a buyer can expect a home of 1,800 square feet or more, maybe three bedrooms, and hardwood floors.

Steve · « **Reply #14 on:** July 01, 2003, 01:17:59 PM »

It's nice to know that my humble $180,000.00 house in Surprise is worth over a million in CA. Hopefully, when I put it on the market, there will be a nice California family who wants to buy it. I'll sell it to the at the bargain price of $750,000.00