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Scranton Times-Tribune adopts Orwell's "newspeak," takes another shot at open carr

Mike

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Looks like the Times-Tribune subscribes to George Orwell's "Newspeak" from his book, 1984.

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http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19707014&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418218&rfi=6

Big difference in right v. smart


05/21/2008

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2185&dept_id=418218&newsid=19707014
A small group of gun owners who decided to openly parade their hardware recently at a Dickson City buffet restaurant were out to prove that they had the right to do so. So, they know everything about their right, but nothing about wisely using it.

The gun-wielders became known to their activist brethren as the “Dickson Dozen” after someone in the restaurant complained to police that they openly were carrying their guns.

Police detained one of the armed diners and temporarily confiscated his weapon when he declined to answer their questions. So, the point was made. The Second Amendment provides the right to bear arms, and Pennsylvania has no law precluding citizens from openly brandishing the hardware. Moreover, the police were not quite sure about how to respond.

Yet having a right does not mean that it’s always smart to exercise it. Americans have broad free-speech rights, but it’s often smarter to hold one’s tongue for the sake of civil society — broadly, the accommodation of others. The gun-toters don’t seem to understand that not brandishing their weapons in public would not diminish their right while also not intimidating other diners.

Gun advocates insist, of course, that their open possession of handguns deters crime. One can only imagine the scene, however, if some incident occurs and the same police, who are now excoriated by the activists, arrive to find a dozen people with weapons drawn.

While the right cited by the activists is indeed rooted in the Constitution, the “wisdom” in exercising it at the buffet restaurant is a false premise rooted in bad judgment.
 

apjonas

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No matter how charged up or in a hurry to submit comments on such a story (I mean to the paper), please take time to proofread and spellcheck. Submitting comments with gross spelling errors and confused statements hurts your cause. What you do at home or even on OCDO is of little consequence - how you communicate with the media and elected officials is critical. If you are challenged in this area - ask for help.
 

imperialism2024

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Someone beat me to it in the comments section regarding the definition of "brandish"...


I also like how the drone, er, writer said Rich "declined to answer their questions". Not quite how it went down, buddy, even according to the police report, arguably the most anti-gun first-hand account to come out of the evening.
 

JNod

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Since when is it proper to hold your tongue? It is a purely personal decision whether or not you hold your tongue. It seems that people still believe that they have the right to not be offended.
 

EarlMantis

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Doug Huffman wrote:
That's the same 'might' be Right argument used against cycling activists, that we "might be right but dead right." Tyrants and tyrant-wannabes always think they know more than freedom activists.
Why don't you just carry a M26 Taser? That would bring the criminal down faster than a bullet would. Look at the videos on YouTube.
 

ProguninTN

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Mike wrote:
Yet having a right does not mean that it’s always smart to exercise it. Americans have broad free-speech rights, but it’s often smarter to hold one’s tongue for the sake of civil society — broadly, the accommodation of others. The gun-toters don’t seem to understand that not brandishing their weapons in public would not diminish their right while also not intimidating other diners.


This is typical dribble from the press. I guess holstered is the same as brandished now. :banghead: Also, speaking of holding ones tongue for the sake of society, how about not publishing names and addresses of people who have permits/licensed to carry ?
(I can't speak for PA, but the media here in TN has done this.)

ProguninTN
 

Lew

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EarlMantis wrote:
Doug Huffman wrote:
That's the same 'might' be Right argument used against cycling activists, that we "might be right but dead right." Tyrants and tyrant-wannabes always think they know more than freedom activists.
Why don't you just carry a M26 Taser? That would bring the criminal down faster than a bullet would. Look at the videos on YouTube.
You mean like these videos on YouTube?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xYoejBVuZlo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TX8JnKN_Ahw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zcr2nLc3y0I

Tasers aren't a miracle cure, Jack.
 

jaredbelch

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Lew wrote:
EarlMantis wrote:
Doug Huffman wrote:
That's the same 'might' be Right argument used against cycling activists, that we "might be right but dead right." Tyrants and tyrant-wannabes always think they know more than freedom activists.
Why don't you just carry a M26 Taser? That would bring the criminal down faster than a bullet would. Look at the videos on YouTube.
You mean like these videos on YouTube?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xYoejBVuZlo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TX8JnKN_Ahw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zcr2nLc3y0I

Tasers aren't a miracle cure, Jack.
Dang, I just spent an hour watching taser videos!!! :lol:

Edit: Wohoo 100th Post!:celebrate
 

EarlMantis

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You are 100% right. But guns also can fail at times. It's just the chance you take I guess. Mechanical problems do happen.
 
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