"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Flintlocks don't kill people; people kill people
Ricketyclick has an interesting piece on the correlation between gun ownership and lower crime rates.
I have noticed that those parts of the United States which have restrictive gun laws tend to be nastier places to live than those parts which have permissive gun laws. Or at least a more open attitude towards firearms.
It's not an exact correlation, of course. But an interesting observation, nonetheless.
I'm reminded of this small group of people who lived in Texas when I was a young girl there, and who made their living chopping down cedar (juniper) trees for fence posts for the ranchers and farmers. They were known collectively as the Cedar Hackers, and you knew who they were because they always carried their axes with them.
There was a rural bar near the town where I went to high school that catered to Cedar Hackers (it was called "The Corral", and may still be there, although the Cedar Hackers are long gone). The bar owner finally managed to cut down on the violence on Saturday nights by making it a rule that the Cedar Hackers had to leave their axes outside when they came in to drink.
And while coincidental, it's interesting that I am currently reading up on how flintlocks and black powder were made, back when, in one of the "Foxfire" books.
If one of the old time gunsmiths dropped in for a visit of America 2010, he would crap his pants.
I have noticed that those parts of the United States which have restrictive gun laws tend to be nastier places to live than those parts which have permissive gun laws. Or at least a more open attitude towards firearms.
ReplyDeleteIt's not an exact correlation, of course. But an interesting observation, nonetheless.
I used to have a t-shirt that said
ReplyDelete"Guns Don't Kill People - I do"
I'm reminded of this small group of people who lived in Texas when I was a young girl there, and who made their living chopping down cedar (juniper) trees for fence posts for the ranchers and farmers. They were known collectively as the Cedar Hackers, and you knew who they were because they always carried their axes with them.
ReplyDeleteThere was a rural bar near the town where I went to high school that catered to Cedar Hackers (it was called "The Corral", and may still be there, although the Cedar Hackers are long gone). The bar owner finally managed to cut down on the violence on Saturday nights by making it a rule that the Cedar Hackers had to leave their axes outside when they came in to drink.
Not that that had anything to do with gun control laws, but I thought it was interesting to note that axes don't kill people, Cedar Hackers do.
ReplyDeleteAnd while coincidental, it's interesting that I am currently reading up on how flintlocks and black powder were made, back when, in one of the "Foxfire" books.
ReplyDeleteIf one of the old time gunsmiths dropped in for a visit of America 2010, he would crap his pants.
Homemade BP: http://bisonsurvivalblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/simple-black-powder.html
ReplyDeleteCheers
Also: http://www.backwoodsmanmag.com/
ReplyDeleteCheers
Mojo: I want a shirt like that!
ReplyDelete