A simple request, please

When you go to a sporting event it's almost universally true that the fans dress in the colors of their team:

 Ohio State / Michigan

Texas / Oklahoma

Yankees / Red Sox

But when you go to a gun show like I did today, and a guy walks up with a pistol in a holster on his hip and asks, "Whatja think 'bout that immigration thang?" what are you supposed to say?  (It's more tricky than you might think.)

"Umm, Jeez, I dunno.  What do YOU think about it?"  *gulp*

Come on, people.  Gimme a clue....show me a hat, a t-shirt....something!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About that gun show....an observation:  Until fairly recently most gun show attendees looked to be overwhelmingly "blue collar".  Jeans and a t-shirt, with a liberal sprinkling of camo, was the uniform of the day.  I usually like to go "gray man", so I also wear jeans and a t-shirt, but without any "kiss my grits"-type slogans.  But at the last few shows I've been to I noticed many people, both men and women, who looked out of place, dressed like they had just come from brunch at "The Club".  And they were buying!  High end stuff, too, like Kimber's and Heckler & Koch's (pistols) and Daniel Defense (AR-15s), all cash-and-carry.

But without an embroidered polo or a beret (with color coordinated shoes of course), I couldn't tell what their political persuasion or cause was.  Were they just avid new target shooters, or were they stocking up in case of "trouble"?

 

If we're fixing to set up opposing barricades and burn tires in the street, shouldn't we at least be able to identify the teams?  I'd hate to be whacked by friendly fire.  ;)

S

You know what really chaps my hide?

Are you a flasher?  Err....let me re-phrase that.  When you see a police radar trap, do you flash your headlights at oncoming cars to warn them to slow down?  I do.  

Speed traps really chap my hide.  To think that we have crime in the streets and are perpetually short of police (?), yet they can spare dozens of cops to hide in obscure places and blindside drivers is ridiculous.

I'm not saying it's OK to drive recklessly, just that ALL cops should keep an eye out for dangerous drivers and pull them over as needed, yet spend the bulk of their time on patrol looking for the REAL bad guys.

Freedom of speech?

Here's where I'm going:  There is a growing trend for citizens who "obstruct justice" (the citation they're given if they flash or put out signs to warn others) to claim flashing is protected by the Constitution as "freedom of speech".  In fact, Florida, Utah, and Tennessee have made citing flashers illegal, and others who have pleaded "freedom of speech" in court elsewhere often have their tickets dismissed.  

The city's concern is someone will take up the cause as a class-action lawsuit, and that (might) result in cities having to go back and reimburse flashers who were previously convicted and fined.

It seems to me flashers are actually HELPING the police.  If the purpose of speed traps is to get people to slow down, and flashing others to get them to slow down accomplishes the same thing, then we're helping, right?....only without having to take the time to write millions of dollars worth of those pesky 'ol tickets.

But....could it be it's NOT so much about safety, but about THE MONEY?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The logic here escapes me.

There has been widespread civil unrest and sporadic violence across the country ever since George Zimmerman was found "not guilty" of murdering Trayvon Martin last weekend.  I understand why some would be upset.  I can see why they would write letters to their congressman, their newspaper, attend rallies, sign petitions, etc.

What I don't understand is the violence.  "Yeah....I'm pissed.  I'm gonna burn up a few cars, bust out a bunch of windows, and if I can find me a nice 48" flat screen, I'm gonna take it.  I'll steal it 'for Trayvon'.  JUSTICE!"

And even sillier, remember the major violence in past years when rioters burned up entire sections of town?  "OK, now I'm REALLY pissed!  I'm gonna burn up MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.  My grocery store, my barbershop, my kid's school, where I work....everything.  THAT'LL SHOW 'EM!  Umm....hey....that's MY house!"  DUH!

Idiots.

S