[geeks] Dos and similar games

[Mike Hebel]

Thus spake Michael Parson:
> On Thu, Aug 17, 2006 at 01:31:03PM -0500, Mike Hebel wrote:

> If everyone that carries carries openly then a would-be criminal can
> scan a room/area/whatever and make a quick judgement call on if they
> want to go forward.  But if you know that statistically, 15% of the
> population carries (concealed), and you can't tell who in the room
> might have a gun under their belt, it makes that decision harder, and a
> smart criminal (yeah, there are a few out there) would choose an easier
> target.

15% is a percentage that is easily gambled on and makes the risk an
acceptable one for the criminal.  If they know that most likely the
majority of people carrying weapons openly will be after him the moment
something happens then it becomes a serious deterrent.  And belive me -
those that choose to carry weapons _will_ be on him if something happens. 
Just as someone with a CCW would.

You also ignored the second part of the second point - truly nasty
presecution for gun related crimes.  With a "real" penalty on the line for
shooting someone - automatic life without parol, three-appeal-death, etc.
- someone who is the least bit intelligent won't want to risk it.  Again
I'm not saying there won't be exceptions but the nickle and dime ones will
almost certainly drop off the map.

> Which is why I don't like places that don't let you carry, just cuz they
> are afraid of those scary guns.  I don't see them as safe places, I see
> them as target-rich environments for criminals who now know they have an
> un-armed set of potential victims.  Criminals don't obey the laws, some
> people just can't seem to get that through their think skulls.

Point.

>> 2) Airplanes:  Issue pepper spray to _every_ adult on the plane then
>> lock the cockpit. What's the worst that could happen?  You end up with
>> a bunch of people with pepper in their eyes and a plane landed early.
>> If the hijacker manages to smuggle and detonate a bomb then a gun
>> wouldn't have helped you anyway.
>
> Why not just hook pepper into the a/c system so it can be kicked off
> from the cockpit (which would be on a seperate/filtered system)?

An unacceptable idea because it is much less granular.  Also automatically
spraying _everybody_ would generate ill-will for the airlines and make
people even more passive when on an airplane. (Not to mention increase
insurance rates.)  Giving them the ability to defend themselves - to make
a difference - encourages them to be more active in the plane's defense as
well as their own.

> That was sarcasm.

And uncalled for.  I presented the idea in honesty and don't feel that I
deserve the attitude of sarcasm you've given me.

What it seems to come down to here is that you won't accept any idea that
won't allow you to carry a gun.  Or at least that's how you're coming
across to me.

Mike Hebel
----
"It sticks to your mouth like library paste, has a stronger kick than
toxic waste, there's nothing that you'll ever taste like 307 Ale!" - Tom
Smith - 307 Ale