Smith & Wesson

[RA1]

I do not see myself as a flogger for S&W products but I have to comment on the US reaction to the BO administration's attempts to "control" weapons. The BO attitude has made a lot of profits for arms producers. Ordinarily this would be in the course of a war but the only war in question is the government "attack" on personal liberties. The TSA and other government acquisition of small arms ammunition has led to a shortage and price increase of same. Why is this?

What does all this mean? It means we, as citizens, are under attack for our basic liberties. I am of the opinion that we should reject all this by voting in "other" pols ASAP. They may not be better but they will be different or so I hope.

Best regards,

RA1

[Guest hitoallusa]

Arms producers are very powerful and well connected. Former government officials go work for them to help smooth things out for their business. It doesn't matter who is president, they will make money whoever is in the office. Voting out the current politicians won't do much in terms of changing things imho, it will just change the path of money flow from the industry. Some politicians think about what they are going to do after they leave their office and they need money to support their already expensive lifestyle. Who can resist good offers from these rich and powerful interest groups?

I personally think a new form of governing is needed and it will come as new technologies emerge. Maybe we will be able to have something close to direct democracy but not sure whether it is an efficient system. Maybe we will be able to sort out corruption by having a program that can detect any politician who gets dirty money. Once again I'm not against programs promoted by the NSA. It might help us to come with a program that will make our society run more efficiently. I don't know what the US will look like 100 years from now but I'm optimistic.

[RA1]

^{If nothing else I appreciate your using imho as opposed to IMHP. That seems entirely appropriate and I appreciate it.}

^{I will no be here 100 years from now but I would appreciate your description of the government then.}

^{We seem almost on the same page.}

^{Best regards,}

^RA1

[Guest hitoallusa]

I don't want to live that long.

[RA1]

I know that I will not live that long but you are the one that brought up 100 years.

Best regards,

RA1

[lookin]

Well, maybe you've got the right idea.

The politicians that I've been supporting advocate food, housing, and health care for all. As we are now often reminded, that can get pretty expensive. So maybe what we should be doing is giving everyone a gun instead. There's a modest one-time up front cost and the lucky ones can use the gun to get everything they need. And the unlucky ones won't need anything at all.

Problem solved.

[RA1]

LOL. I have no thoughts of killing anyone and I wish everyone could have enough food, housing and health care. But, as you mention (indirectly) who can and should pay for it all? I am very willing to do my share but please don't just take it from me. Thanks.

Best regards,

RA1

[TampaYankee]

I do not see myself as a flogger for S&W products but I have to comment on the US reaction to the BO administration's attempts to "control" weapons. The BO attitude has made a lot of profits for arms producers. Ordinarily this would be in the course of a war but the only war in question is the government "attack" on personal liberties. The TSA and other government acquisition of small arms ammunition has led to a shortage and price increase of same. Why is this?

What does all this mean? It means we, as citizens, are under attack for our basic liberties. I am of the opinion that we should reject all this by voting in "other" pols ASAP. They may not be better but they will be different or so I hope.

Best regards,

RA1

Unfortunately you have been misled according to my understanding of the facts. Looks like you are buying into the wingnut media stalwarts like World News Daily, Drudge, Fox, etc... Just another crackpot black helicopter or birther sky-is-falling conspiracy.

Until Newtown Obama made NO moves against the arms industry or enhanced gun regulation much to the unhappiness of the left wing.

As far as ammunition shortages, that has been the case for some months. That began with individuals continued hoarding of ammo and clips after the Newton massacre brought on talk of more arms regulation and Congress cranked up the wheels for reform. There were several mainstream news media outlets that reported on this over the last 3-4 months.

The DHS is buying ammo, but the facts of the buy has been distorted and little of the buy has actually taken place yet. As for price increases, that goes with hoarding as does reduced availability. That is the market based economy at work.

From: http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-conspiracy-theory-about-obama-hoarding-ammo-is-causing-real-trouble

The theory first began circulating last year, when the Infowars crowd noticed that the Department of Homeland Security had put in a procurement request for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition—a surprisingly large number of bullets, even by a normal person's estimation.

DHS has tried to quell the rumor-mongering, assuring Congress that the bullets are primarily used for training purposes. A DHS spokesman told Republican House investigators last month that the department wasn't actually planning on buying all 1.6 billion bullets, and that the ammo would be spread over 70,000 agents over five years. In a letter to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) last November, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that DHS plans to buy around $37 million worth of ammo in 2013, which, based on past year’s expenses, would amount to around 100 million rounds. She also pointed out that the department has actually marginally decreased its ammunitions purchases over the last few years.

Next I'm gonna read that Obama ordered the ATF to recruit the Newtown killer so he can get gun control passed. I guess dreaming up this stuff does keep the wackos from playing in the streets.

[RA1]

My main point in starting this thread was to point out that BO's "biggest" support of US businesses was such as the "negative" reaction to the real or perceived threat to citizens owning small arms. Certainly our liberties are at risk, not only from BO but the pols which actually means the voters electing them.

Why does the TSA or, especially, the IRS need heavy weapons? So far as I know the TSA has not fired one shot in anger and I see little to no need for the IRS to have AR-15 rifles. Do 70,000 agents need 100 million rounds for any reason? That is over 1,400 rounds each.

I doubt that we can come to a resolution here. You see these actions as business as usual and I see them as attacks on civil liberties (which seems to be "business as usual").

Best regards,

RA1

[TampaYankee]

I'm sure that if I wait long enough the sky will start falling in my neighborhood too, so I'm frequently told anyway.

There are real issues to worry about like the dimensions of the Patriot Act, getting committed to wars that Neocon militarist demand, creating jobs and yes, global warming to name just a few.

I don't have the time or sufficiently muddled senses worry about a Kenyan-born President planting birth notices in the Hawaii newspapers on the day after his birth or that he spends most of the day praying eastward, or that his Black Panther supporters -- all two of them -- tried to intimidate voters at a single Philly precinct (must have been THE swing district of all swing districts) or that the Muslin Brotherhood has infiltrated the State Department with the help of Hillary -- all reported on extensively, over and over, by those same stalwart conservative media outlets referenced above. Wackos, wackos, wackos... or worse dishonest propaganda mouth pieces or charlatans out to fleece the not-to-acutely-minded out of their money.

Now, the TSA is going to buy up all the guns and ammo. What a great idea for the hard-over gun haters, which is only a sliver of the American society by the way. Of course they have to overlook the fact that Congress holds the purse strings as well as statute authority and that Presidents come and go and with them the executive outlook on gun regulation and hoarding. What gets hoarded in one administration becomes a fire sale in the next. Meanwhile the gun industry gets rich as all out shit with the hoarding. You'll hear near no bitching from them.

[RA1]

At least you are worrying about some of the obvious attacks on our freedoms. I hope you are correct about not worrying about others.

Best regards,

RA1