fett on 21/2/2008 at 17:09
SE - hopefully he's overstating, but I can also see where he's coming from. Depending on your background, you simply either trust the police in general or you don't. I'm a white-bread middle class guy who grew up in decent neighborhoods, and yet in my entire life, I can't remember a single encounter with a cop where the weren't either harassing me, or trying to get out of dealing with a confrontation. Now, I *know* somewhere in my brain that *all* cops aren't like that, and I don't own a gun, but my experience with police officers at this point in my life has brought me to the conclusion that they are utterly unreliable when it comes to getting the bad guys, or protecting me in the least. Because of that experience, I can understand why someone would want to own a gun, especially if they've had worse experiences.
Maybe if you've never been robbed at gunpoint, or assaulted, you don't feel the need for such a drastic means of protection. I've been mugged twice, and beaten up once in public places, and there were cops nearby (most likely busy handing out speeding tickets :rolleyes: ), and it's very difficult for me to resist temptation to buy a handgun. I think being victimized like that has a real impact on your views about gun laws.
june gloom on 21/2/2008 at 17:09
It's so cute how much faith you have in the system, Subjeff.
Cops are worthless around here.
My house has been broken into several times. Add that to the general harassing nature of many of the cops around here, my getting mugged downtown once, and the time someone popped the locks on my mom's car door and stole a bunch of stuff, and you wonder why I'm such a believer in home defense.
Kuuso on 21/2/2008 at 17:45
Well that's telling a whole different story about the state of US police force. Yeah, I can see why one would have the desire to own a gun or even need one, if the police were like that. I might consider having weaponry as well, if the place I was living in was bordering anarchy ;)
Personally, I haven't yet met a single police officer who hasn't seemed fit for his/her job...I believe this is due to the difference between our countries though.
heretic on 21/2/2008 at 18:33
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
At some point this year you stopped being just another innocent twitish newbie on here and became a proper contributer. Why are you spouting utter nonsense like this now?
That quote in your post preceding the above comment was not mine, so I'm not sure if you are really directing that last bit at me.
june gloom on 21/2/2008 at 18:44
That's 'cuz I'm pretty sure it was directed at me. I find it rather amusing that he'd insult me for stating my distrust in the police (and by extension, the system, which has constantly fucked me in so many ways I feel like the world's most miserable porn star) when HE lives in England, a.k.a. the Nanny State.
heretic on 21/2/2008 at 18:49
Quote Posted by dethtoll
That's 'cuz I'm pretty sure it was directed at me. I find it rather amusing that he'd insult me for stating my distrust in the police (and by extension, the system, which has constantly fucked me in so many ways I feel like the world's most miserable porn star) when HE lives in England, a.k.a. the Nanny State.
What with all of the lawsuits and power grabs we are inching ever closer to one ourselves. I think the second amendment and firearms issues are such a hot button in the states for this very reason.
fett on 21/2/2008 at 18:58
Quote Posted by Kuuso
Personally, I haven't yet met a single police officer who hasn't seemed fit for his/her job...I believe this is due to the difference between our countries though.
Kuuso - in the town I used to work in, the sheriff (not just a cop - the fucking sheriff) was found one morning passed out drunk in a cell. He'd been partying with two prisoners who were awaiting bond on assault charges. They were buddies, so he brought them booze, they got him drunk, locked him in the cell and escaped.
In another nearby small town, four officers were arrested for a bunch of weird stuff. They were part of some kind of satanist coven (har har) that was cutting up neighborhood animals and supplying alcohol to minors, sexually abusing them, etc. It was eventually discovered that two of them had instigated a 'suicide pact' with some of the teens, one of whom shot himself in the head in front of his entire 2nd period class (my best friend's wife was in the front row - fun!). Another kid hanged himself in his basement. I can't seem to find any record of this online (it happened in 92). A similar thing happened AGAIN in that same town 2 years later, and the sheriff was involved this time. Nobody feels safe in that town.
I don't know if this type of corruption with law enforcement is simply indicative to small towns, but I know it's not just this area of the country (Arkansas - the south). I also lived on the West coast for awhile in southern California and there were constant news stories about cops getting busted for trafficking (drugs and guns), assaulting prisoners, embezzling funds, etc.
I also had a cop threaten to kill me once when I was a pastor. This fruitcake had been to my church ONE time, and calls me up 3 years later with a gun to his head b/c he molested his kid and consequently his wife left him. I talked him out of blowing his brains out, and the next day he decides that if I can't get his wife to come back to him, he's gonna kill her, the kids, and then he's coming to my house (at which point he reads my address to me) for me and my family. The guy had quit taking his psycho pills and was still on active duty. If I call his superiors, are they going to tell him I called, then do nothing about it? Do I take that chance? I got some other people involved in the situation and we diffused it, but as far as I know, this guy is still on active duty. He's one of the many reasons I moved 4 hours away a couple years ago.
So yeah, I've got only bad, bad, bad stories about cops. I'm amazed I don't have a fucking arsenal in my house by now.
nickie on 21/2/2008 at 20:59
Even my mother (81) the most law-abiding person I know, doesn't feel comfortable with the (UK) police anymore which I think is a sad indictment on our society.
Only two very serious occasions we had to call the police because our lives were being threatened by a nutter with, the first time a samurai sword, and the next time a gun, the police were there in about 2 seconds flat. I was impressed. On the other hand, my bloke's father was a policeman and warned one of their number who turned up on duty in a murder enquiry drunk as a skunk (driving duty) and forever after, my bloke was continually harrassed by said person whenever he was driving, continually being stopped and breathalised. Mostly, however, having a policeman for a father, even an ex one, is very, very useful.
Yet, I don't think I've ever felt particularly unsafe walking alone at night, even in London, even in the early hours of the morning. It's the countryside with no lights I find scary.
I wonder whether, if the solid citizens all had guns, whether the unsolid citizens would be continually trying to remove them, at knife-point or bj even?
heretic on 21/2/2008 at 21:05
Quote Posted by nickie
I wonder whether, if the solid citizens all had guns, whether the unsolid citizens would be continually trying to remove them, at knife-point or bj even?
Maybe, but it would have to be a damn good bj I'd wager.
Rug Burn Junky on 21/2/2008 at 21:10
Quote Posted by fett
So yeah, I've got only bad, bad, bad stories about cops.
I once got fucked by a cop too. It was fantastic.
