Guns will protect you from tsunamis.

[xoxoxoBruce]

As rifles and side arms improved, the people that could afford them, kept pace. It wasn't until weapons were developed for killing buildings and tanks, that private citizens didn't have a legitimate application for, that the government said whoa, Nellie. The people don't need this shit and could do a hell of a lot of bad things, even accidentally, with it. They figured it probably wasn't a good idea for you to be able to run down to the hardware store and pick up a gun that would shoot the door off a bank vault.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

It wasn't until weapons were developed for killing buildings and tanks, that private citizens didn't have a legitimate application for, that the government said whoa, Nellie...

Like cannon? They've been around quite a while.

"Legitimate application" is a neat little bit of question begging...once it's established you must demonstrate a "legitimate application" for something, it's pretty easy for some clerk to take it away from you.

Hey, do you have a "legtimate application" for that computer there? Fill out this form and wait for your licence... How about that hacked TiVo? You can't possibly have a "legitimate application" for that, it's obviously "burgalar's tools".

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

Like cannon? They've been around quite a while.

"Legitimate application" is a neat little bit of question begging...once it's established you must demonstrate a "legitimate application" for something, it's pretty easy for some clerk to take it away from you.

Hey, do you have a "legtimate application" for that computer there? Fill out this form and wait for your licence... How about that hacked TiVo? You can't possibly have a "legitimate application" for that, it's obviously "burgalar's tools".

What are you playing, leapfrog? Try to keep it connected, from paragraph to paragraph, will you.

Chew on this. Sooner or later, DARPA is going to come up with a laser that's small enough for one person to carry and will have the power to be a serious weapon. You know, Star Wars, Star Trek, stuff.
Now, I'll bet a million bucks the government will say you can't have one. Strictly military and law enforcement personnel, because you don't have a legitimate application, just as they have done with hand grenades and such.

You know what? They're right. :p

[piercehawkeye45]

Chew on this. Sooner or later, DARPA is going to come up with a laser that's small enough for one person to carry and will have the power to be a serious weapon.

They actually already have something like that avaliable to the public. I don't know its exact strength, but it's powerful. I wish I could find that link.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

They actually already have something like that avaliable to the public. I don't know its exact strength, but it's powerful. I wish I could find that link.

You probably mean http://www.wickedlasers.com/

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by MaggieL

You probably mean http://www.wickedlasers.com/

Yup that is it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Pretty impressive but I wouldn't take one to a knife fight.

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

What are you playing, leapfrog? Try to keep it connected, from paragraph to paragraph, will you.

Those *are* connected. The idea that someone must prove a "legitimate purpose" to posess any particular device is what's way out there.