Understanding the US (was Re: [UA] Greetings)

[Royal Minister of Stuff]

That sounds about right.  I own a gun (although it
doesn't work anymore.  It's a derringer and I broke
the little doohickey which holds the barrel down after
you load it.)  My parents own a couple rifles.  My
wife's folks own a whole cabinet full of high-powered
rifles and a couple assault weapons.  I have no idea
how to fire these.  My best friend owns a really
cool-looking Glock and this Baretta-like thing which
drops its magazine if you don't hold it in with your
off hand (and it hurts like hell when you try to fire
it because sometimes, with the kickback, you get your
skin pinched in the space between the clip and the
grip.)

Keep in mind the discussion we had earlier about who
actually owns the guns here in the United States. 
Most the people I know who own a gun do so because
they actively beleive in the right to bear arms.  You
have to be kind of a rebel, a drop out, a drug dealer
or a chainsaw-enthusiast to deny your gun-toting urge.

Also, if the government ever tries to quarter soldiers
in my house, it'll be nice to have a tiny, broken,
1-shot, muzzle-clogged pistol to defend my privacy.

--- sneadj at mindspring.com wrote:
> Epoch <msulliva at wso.williams.edu> wrote:
> 
> > My experience is that non-U.S. residents tend to
> have a view of the
> > U.S. that could only be described as a caricature.
>  I seem to recall,
> > though I can't now find a link, so my memories may
> be playing tricks
> > on me, an Australian on RPG.net wondering if more
> than 50% of all U.S.
> > households had firearms.
> 
> Actually, 50% figure is IIRC fairly close
> (definitely within 10%).  It's 
> shocking and very disturbing but like all the
> caricatures, we are a 
> *heavily* armed nation. 
> 
> -John Snead sneadj at mindspring.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> UA mailing list
> UA at lists.uchicago.edu
> http://lists.uchicago.edu/mailman/listinfo/ua


=====
-- Rp Bowman, Royal Minister of Stuff
The Electronic Nation of Yokeltania:
http://www.geocities.com/yokeltania/

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