And this is WHY we carry them...

[Tero]

I was not really close enough to see. When they sat down behind me I had my wife describe him. In Swedish.

[Gallstones]

Gallstones wrote:

And yet we are not killing ourselves left and right. How can that be!?

Well actually you are, in the sense of a rate of firearm murder 4 times other Western countries...

I was specifically and intentionally referring only to Montana, not the entirety of the US.

[Gallstones]

I could, and would carry an knife when walking out in the bush or going fishing.

I wouldn't in central Melbourne...

Then which is more civilized, Melbourne or Montana?

Not needing a weapon is a fairly good indication...

So, in Melbourne--and other alleged civilized places--one never needs to open a package or envelope, cut twine, slice a rib of celery, pierce cardboard...........These things happen by magic there? Or is it that you'd be arrested if you carried a nail clipper, let alone a pocket knife? Or is it that the other knife wielding hooligans would be threatened by your nail clippers or pocket knife and be compelled to stab you, before you could stab them?

My knife is handy and I have it on me because I need to do these things as they don't happen by magic where I live. We are backwards that way it seems, analog, manual, no magic.

[MrJonno]

So, in Melbourne--and other alleged civilized places--one never needs to open a package or envelope, cut twine, slice a rib of celery, pierce cardboard.

Yes those every day activities that take place outside your house. I know I'm going out today and I suddenly need to eat some celery. I know I could go to the shops, eat some in a cafe (some even give you a knife and fork but the meanies expect it back afterwards) but I know lets go hunting. Sure a knife is enough? maybe a machete to cut some down in the fields

[Fallible]

Do they not have scissors in America?

[JimC]

Why carry a real weapon as part of a costume?

Did it at least fit in with the costume or did we have a case of douchecarrier?

Roy Rogers?

But then, doesn't everyone?

[JimC]

So, in Melbourne--and other alleged civilized places--one never needs to open a package or envelope, cut twine, slice a rib of celery, pierce cardboard.

Yes those every day activities that take place outside your house. I know I'm going out today and I suddenly need to eat some celery. I know I could go to the shops, eat some in a cafe (some even give you a knife and fork but the meanies expect it back afterwards) but I know lets go hunting. Sure a knife is enough? maybe a machete to cut some down in the fields

Out bush, a knife is handy. However, when wandering the mean streets of Melbourne, all I need is money, my wits and my startling good looks...

[piscator]

So, in Melbourne--and other alleged civilized places--one never needs to open a package or envelope, cut twine, slice a rib of celery, pierce cardboard.

Yes those every day activities that take place outside your house. I know I'm going out today and I suddenly need to eat some celery. I know I could go to the shops, eat some in a cafe (some even give you a knife and fork but the meanies expect it back afterwards) but I know lets go hunting. Sure a knife is enough? maybe a machete to cut some down in the fields

Out bush, a knife is handy. However, when wandering the mean streets of Melbourne, all I need is money, my wits and my startling good looks...

[JimC]

Realistically, of course, no one would have an issue with someone carrying a small, folding pen knife, which would do most of those utility jobs Gallstones was talking about. There have been issues with teenage gangs and knives in Melbourne, and the police have been, quite rightly, cracking down on people carrying knives with violence clearly in mind. 99% of the population would support this, without a doubt.

[mistermack]

A small pen knife, like a swiss army style knife, is plenty to kill someone with.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... pping.html

http://m.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/1 ... de_poetry/

The first instance was particularly notorious, it was a woman who killed her fit young boyfriend with a swiss-army style knife. They don't look much, but if a woman can kill a fit and strong man with one, it's an offensive weapon in every sense.

But in this country, it's done case by case. Something like that, found in the boot of your car in a toolbox, probably wouldn't get you prosecuted. The same thing, carried in your pocket on the street, could well lead to a prosecution, especially if you were in a gang.

[MrJonno]

Same for any item, a baseball bat or cricket bat are perfectly legal at a sports ground, but take one to a political demonstration and you rightly can expect to get arrested (unless its a demonstration about baseball or cricket)

[NineBerry]

And this is WHY we carry them...

[...]
Several businesses were vandalized and looted during the rioting.
But not this one…

The St. Louis Tattoo Studio and County Guns businesses share a storefront in a Florissant strip mall less than ten minute drive from the epicenter of last night’s riots in Ferguson.
Their stores were not looted.

Oh, I get it. So you carry guns so that in case you feel the sudden need to loot a Tattoo Studio, you can meet the gun wielding tattoo studio owners eye to eye. But then why would anyone want to loot a tattoo studio in the first place? They don't sell HD television sets, nike sneakers or crisps.

[Seth]

And this is WHY we carry them...

[...]
Several businesses were vandalized and looted during the rioting.
But not this one…

The St. Louis Tattoo Studio and County Guns businesses share a storefront in a Florissant strip mall less than ten minute drive from the epicenter of last night’s riots in Ferguson.
Their stores were not looted.

Oh, I get it. So you carry guns so that in case you feel the sudden need to loot a Tattoo Studio, you can meet the gun wielding tattoo studio owners eye to eye. But then why would anyone want to loot a tattoo studio in the first place? They don't sell HD television sets, nike sneakers or crisps.

No, that's why criminals illegally carry them. We carry them to defend against rioters who are interested in burning and destroying everything for no particularly good reason other than that they are pissed about something.

[Seth]

Not needing a weapon is a fairly good indication...

...of ignorance or stupidity with respect to personal safety.

Nobody needs a weapon until they do, at which point it's too late to go get one.

[Fallible]

YEEEEHAW!!!