Hixter

Because the second amendment is being eroded inch by inch, because politicians have made it a crime to own a piece of plastic and a spring, because the president has stated that he plans to push for even more restrictions and bans -- that's why. If you're tired of the conversation, skip over it and don't participate. Clearly you haven't tried to buy a gun or ammo during the last 6 months. Feel free to discuss it.

Put yourself in the NJ housewife's shoes: she was brutally assaulted by a man who is still on the loose. She's also a key witness to the crime, so it's reasonable to conclude that the threat to her safety hasn't yet been removed. Should she have to wait a week or more to be able to be able to protect herself?

I believe it was Saturday afternoon.

If the state gives you a permit. If it's a firearm the state finds acceptable. If you haven't bought one in the last 30 days. If you register it. If you don't plan on carrying it outside of your home. Them's a lot of ifs. In Texas, I can walk into Walmart, pass a quick background check and walk out with a firearm a few minutes later. That's the way it should be everywhere.

Whenever I post a gun-related topic I'm asked why it was posted in this thread and I remind the questioner that this has been the gun control thread in the past. The routine gets old after a while. There's no way of knowing, but one thing is glaringly obvious: if you put those 2 people in a room together, the only chance the woman would have of winning the fight would be if she were armed. Unarmed, she'll lose the fight every time (and maybe her life.) I would consider New Jersey's guns to be highly regulated: State permit required to purchase. Handgun registration. Very few concealed

I posted it here because this thread is where we've discussed guns and gun control in the past. I have a point of view and an opinion. There's nothing weird about expressing either.

A disturbing video of a home invasion in progress. It serves as a reminder that nobody knows the intentions of a burglar when he/she breaks into a house. This poor woman didn't confront the burglar, yet he beat her, choked her, kicked her and threw her down the stairs -- all in front of her 3-year-old child. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvvHMM6TF50

Speaking of the boxed water, for all of the environmental concerns addressed by the print on the box, I couldn't help but wonder how they justified putting a plastic spout and cap on the side. Why not just open it like on old school milk carton?

Most (all?) of the food and beer stands sold water for $2. Most of it was boxed(!) but there were also bottles. I also saw festival volunteers hand out free bottles of water to people sitting in the sun on Sunday. And there's always Joe's Hose!

I wouldn't mind another cover night at the next SS, but I'd skip the emcee if I were in charge. I'd also love to see a few songs (Wilco tunes would be fine) where the band switched places. Perhaps Pat on vocals, Glenn on bass, Mikael on lead guitar, Nels on drums, Jeff on keys and John on acoustic guitar?

There were signs posted at the entrance about a documentary that was being filmed. I saw multiple cameras at every performance. Hopefully something very cool will come of it.

It was VERY loud at the show.

There are signs at the entrance that say that a documentary is being filmed. I've seen multiple cameras at every performance.

What a night. Lots of fun.

So I walk away if there's no emergency. What was your point? FWIW, I was in Chicago for 4 hours today and I was unarmed. Had several nice pints of Guinness at a Midway pub.

Michael Yon (freelance war correspondent/blogger) just posted on his Facebook page that he's heard that Hastings was under investigation by the FBI. Relevant to his death? Who knows.

I'd be calling the police as I was grabbing my pistol. Police and fire response times aren't that great where I live. Last week I watched a neighbor's house burn to the ground after a lightening strike; it took the fire trucks almost 20 minutes to arrive. I live in a ridiculously close-knit neighborhood. We all socialize daily and everybody knows their neighbors very well. It's the type of place where everyone has keys or access codes to everyone's house and you just walk into the house without knocking. (Yes, my neighbors all own guns and no, I'm not worried about anyone getting shot. This

My neighbor (a former TX sales rep for Victory Brewing) was in Chicago a few months ago and trekked over to Three Floyds. He was confused when an employee started explaining Indiana beers laws -- he didn't realize that he'd left Illinois.

After last night's heartbreaker, I'm resigned to watching Thursday's Spurs/Heat final in a Bennington, VT, bar. I don't expect the atmosphere to be nearly as charged as it will be in my neighborhood in San Antonio. We've gathered around the bar in my neighbor's house and had a rollicking good time every game.

Anyone going to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver this October? I attend every year -- great city and great beers.

Real Ale in Blanco. Freetail Brewing in San Antonio (brewpub). Jester King, (512), Independence in Austin. No Label in Katy. Cigar City in Tampa and Firestone-Walker in Paso Robles, California, are probably my two favorite breweries. This is where I'm visiting before Solid Sound. I'm planning to harvest some of their renowned yeast from the dregs of a few cans for use in my brewing experiments.

I have no hero fantasies; I hope my firearms are never used for anything but hunting and target shooting. I just like to have a little assurance that I'll have a fighting chance if I find myself facing one or more people intent on doing me harm. "Be prepared" -- I learned that as a Boy Scout.

No, not at all. It's a personal choice.

This thread has page after page of posts about guns. A few months ago some other VC members were talking about guns that they'd purchased recently and I lamented that the shotgun I wanted (and later bought) was out of stock. I think I even remember posting a photo of it. I wasn't trying to troll or stir the pot. I'm not a liar, but you'll have to take me at my word. Or not.

I explained the purpose/use for each of the firearms I own (some of which were gifts.) A rifle that's suitable for hunting is wholly unsuitable for self-defense. A shotgun that's suitable for self-defense is completely unsuitable for self-defense outside of the home. I'd be the first to admit to being gun crazy if I owned dozens or hundreds of them but I own 6. Would you consider someone to have a record collecting fetish if they owned 6 LPs? The only thing that I have an unhealthy obsession for is good beer. I'm making a 300-mile detour from Solid Sound to visit a small Vermont brewery an