What is it with the UK?
I gather there are no MV limits in the USA. In Japan, where I do most of my shooting and a whole bunch of skirmishing, no limits. Iceland, nada. Most of europe, couldn’t give a toss.
Heeere’s ENGLAND! Skirmishing, 325fps (barely enough to get the bloody ball spinning). Air-rifles, 12ft/lb. Adults treated like effing children. 👿
Sorry, just felt like getting that off my chest.
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I wish more people would leave the U.S. for good. Everyone please go home and stop coming to California.
Tron….. minor correction here. The US Civil War was not fought to end slavery. It was fought to preserve the Union. Lincoln would not tolerate secession (Thank God). He also proclaimed that any state that remains loyal to the Union would not have to abolish slavery. Maryland, for example.
YF,
DH
Well, I have to say my respect and admiration for the USA has diminished greatly over recent years. Most of that is due to the pyschotic administration you’ve had running the country for the last two terms, but also a lot due to what we see more and more of on Youtube, US cops behaving like psychopathic stormtroopers and blatantly assaulting innocent civillians, protestors and suspects alike. And then getting away with it. The neo-con new-world order, it truly is a nasty, ugly and evil thing.
Why does it sadden you, and why do you assume that I have a strong negative view about the Founding Fathers? I don’t have a negative view on them, but rather a realistic one. There is a misguided belief by a huge number of Americans that the Constitution is the apogee of what is possible and that it is the be-all and end-all of everything. Likewise, there is a belief that the Founding Fathers were Champions of all that is good and just but they forget or gloss over their faults; their part in Slavery, association with Devil-Worship, Masonic membership, corruption, Plutocracy, the list goes on. Franklin supported the Quakers by using his Political power to support their suppression of different-minded Farmers, whilst Washington was one of the richest men, if not the richest, in all of America. How did he become so rich? Well, the 300+ Slaves that he owned had something to do with that. Did Washington at any time attempt to free Slaves in the Americas? Afterall, they were surely entitled to “Life, Liberty and Freedom for all”……right? No, he didn’t. In fact, he only made provisions for them to be freed after both he and his wife were dead and had no need for them.
Now, my point is not how bad the Founding Fathers were, but rather that no group of men, policies, ideals and countries are perfect, and even people who are historically held in generally high regard are flawed people who had self-preservation and advancement held high amongst their agendas. For comparison, Gandhi was a racist who enjoyed drinking his own urine, abusing his wife and sleeping naked next to his adolescent niece. Oh, he also stated that the Jews of WWII should have jumped from cliffs rather than struggle against Hitler. What about Nelson Mandela? You know, the former President of South Africa, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and former head of the Terrorist Organisation ANC which planned and executed the bombings and killings of hundreds of white South Africans along with having direct links to North Korea, Iran, Libya and others.
No-one, nowhere is perfect yet people seem willing to gloss over horrendous aspects of people’s characters as long as it suits their rosy-cheeked ideals of what life should be like. England is far from a perfect country, but it’s given the world some of the most powerful and important of all freedoms, not least the complete Abolition of Slavery a third of a Century before America did (and we didn’t need a War to be fought either). The 1000+ years of History makes English Laws much less transmutable than newer, fresher countries such as the US, even if that freshness is permeated with a rotten whiff of the truths about its formation.
In my opinion, just about everything in life happens because somebody got some kind of benefit from it. Usually it’s not a whole country that gets a benefit, it’s one or a few people. But, in the process of that, others can get something from it. I think that’s how the constitution and such was done, yeah, those guys did get money and fame for it. But, we also got freedoms. Maybe not the happy go lucky thing they try to make us think, but we did get something. In some countries you would get shot for making fun of the leader, here, bush is the center of half of the jokes. It may not be perfect, but it could be much much worse.
Propaganda is something that some people seem to have a hard time figuring out that we do. Propoganda is displayed in movies as some guy on a loudspeakers saying how bad the enemy is and how great we are. It may not be quite that blunt, but it is definately here. Take a look at tv. Futureweapons, great show, but it is sheer propaganda. They talk about how great and amazing all of these things we have are, but they NEVER say anything about problems with the gun. If gun x is so much more amazing than the m-16 in every way, why is it that all of our troops still use the m-16? (usually it’s because gun x costs thousands of dollars more) They never mention that, just say how great it is. Movies do it to. Go look at one of those hypotetical movies that take place in a world where the russians or nazi’s take over the world. How many of those show how great of a planet it is after that? None, they all show how horrible it would be if anyone but us ruled. The U.S. is full of propaganda, it just tends to be subtle.
I do like it here. Sure, somewhere it may be better. But in a lot of places it is much worse.
Happy fourth everybody!
Anyway, the War of Independence was set forth because King George had “the power to legislate in all cases whatsoever” (ie he had 100% Supreme Rule over all Laws) and was therefore a Tyrant who the to-be American people wanted away from in order to live a more open and free life. However, the 10th Amendment grants the US Congress the Right to “have the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever” in relation to any District and the cession of particular States. Seems that the Constitution uses the exact same words that were used as a reason for the Declaration of Independence; “Legislation in all cases whatsoever”.
I think that people have a dreamy-eyed belief of what the Constitution is based on and seem to think the Declaration of Independence was put forth in order to escape Tyranny so that people in the Americas could all live happily ever after as equals. Hogwash. The Founding Fathers were all rich and powerful businessmen who wanted to leverage their fortunes by escaping the rules of the King. The best way to escape the power of a King is to become a King yourself, although not in the literal sense, and the best way to get that is by gathering the support of like-minded people; people such as fellow Middle-Class White folks. How do you get that support? Well, by the promise of Life, Liberty and Justice for all, of course. Oh, that equality didn’t really stretch to certain groups though, such as the poor, Native Americans and certainly not to the Negro Slaves that half of the Founding Fathers and their Families had owned at one stage or another.
The basic fact is that the Founding Fathers had little interest in Freedom for All and instead were mainly interested in lining their pockets and making themselves as powerful as possible, and this thought system is written into the very foundation of the Constitution. Anyone here is free to slag off England or any other Country, but don’t pretend for a fraction of a second that America’s history is different from what it really is.
I’m not even that knowlegable on your constitution, much less an expert, but doesn’t it guarantee the right to free speech and free assembly? What possible interest could a bunch of self-serving money-grubbers have in giving that kind of protection to the masses?
It’s funny how brainwashed people are thinking that this place is a paradise. What the media don’t tell is how many people are actually leaving the U.S. for good. And how many people chose to work abroad. No fears for the future, no stress, credit card debts, better schools and health care, less crime, etc. Examples? Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Germany…
Oh heck, I didn’t wanna go there, but you said no period here. So there 😯 Most of Texans never go outside of the state, not to mention outside of the country. So what do they know?
Propaganda is a powerfull political tool and it’s starts right from elementary schools: “we are number 1”, “we won the WWII”, we won the cold war”, “we won the space race”, “the best education”, “the best health care”, “the best military”, so let US show YOU, the stupid world, how it’s done! BULLSHIT. The American way is not the only way. I wonder where this arrogance and hatred comes from? Why we are so narrow-minded?
My ex-schoolmate lives in Germany. His dad has just retired. I asked him what is he going to do now. He said he has just bought a brand new BMW just for the heck of it, and he’ll travel around the Europe for a while. Just enjoy life. Then he said he would like to go over to Russia and visit a famous military museum in Moscow and then visit the city of Kursk where his brother was killed during the biggest tank battle in the world’s history back in WWII.
What people do in America when they get retired. Yeah, I don’t wanna know. Looking for a second job.
My gosh this place has so many problems that other places don’t, but we still think it’s the best there is.
I’ve been around the world allright. I’ve seen better places where people are so laid back they don’t worry about the future and don’t work 60 hours a week just to meet their ends. NO THEY DON’T OWN GUNS, AND THEY DON’T HAVE MUCH MONEY. Are these things the most important in your life. If so, just stay where you are. It’s the beginning of the long end anyway…
CHELSEA CLINTON FOR THE PRESIDENT!!!
Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Just my .02
well if ya don’t like it here piss off
there has been a load of crap spoken about the UK and there are some people on here who seem to know a lot about the Uk (although i’m not sure where they get there info from 😕 )
As it happens I AM armed as i jumped through the governments hoops to get my firearms license (smart arse 😮 ) and I’m no internet toughie i am a real toughie so there 😉
there are plenty of people in the USA that would love to take your “right to bare arms” away from you and don’t get so smug as to think it won’t happen, hand gun owners here thought it would never happen.
As for the statement of “what did you do”, “vote for the other party”
well yes I did what else do you suggest I do ? blow up the houses of parliment single handed ? you tosspot
there are many things wrong with the UK but then again there is plenty wrong with the good ole’ US of A as well,
I’m disabled now due to illness and as such I know which country I would rather be in 😉
I am rather shocked about the sumwhat aggresive attitude some of you “yanks” have toward the people of the UK 🙄 like i said the UK and USA are and have for a long time been friends and allies and let’s face it around the world neither the UK or USA have many friends so maybe we should at least learn to put up with one an other,
If any one would like to continue this argument face to face then fly me over and I will be only to happy to oblige as i would take my family out of the UK at the first chance I get 😉
Well said. That’s a much better place to put a period on the discussion.
No, it doesn’t deserve a period right there! And being a Texans you should know better.
Tron, I have a lot of respect for you. It saddens me that you have such a negative view of the first real effort by a people, founding a Nation, to attempt to assure freedom and justice for its people. It was quite revolutionary for it’s time. And still is.
I for one will celebrate the 4th today. And be very thankful that I was born here, rather than many places around the world. Where even the basic freedom to so much as attempt to have a life of any kind is totally absent. Even the right to live is absent in many,many countries today. We forget that Freedom is a unknown concept over much of the Globe! .
Mike
The UK isn’t a democracy, unless you call a choice between a bunch of crooks (Labour) and a bunch of thieves (Conservatives) a democracy. Until we get our promised proportional representation this country’s democracy will never be anything more than a pathetic sham.
No wonder less than 30% of elegible voters bothered to turn out and vote at the last general election. More worthwhile things to do with their time, like mow the lawn.
Death to Rich Whitey! 😀
US Government is not perfect. But it is the best the world has to offer currently. Just ask all the Alien white, brown, yellow peoples that flock here by the hundreds of thousands to escape were they were.
You da man, Teff. Let’s just put a period right here yall.
Let me just point out that the UK is a Democracy, whereas the USA isn’t.
Anyway, the War of Independence was set forth because King George had “the power to legislate in all cases whatsoever” (ie he had 100% Supreme Rule over all Laws) and was therefore a Tyrant who the to-be American people wanted away from in order to live a more open and free life. However, the 10th Amendment grants the US Congress the Right to “have the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever” in relation to any District and the cession of particular States. Seems that the Constitution uses the exact same words that were used as a reason for the Declaration of Independence; “Legislation in all cases whatsoever”.
I think that people have a dreamy-eyed belief of what the Constitution is based on and seem to think the Declaration of Independence was put forth in order to escape Tyranny so that people in the Americas could all live happily ever after as equals. Hogwash. The Founding Fathers were all rich and powerful businessmen who wanted to leverage their fortunes by escaping the rules of the King. The best way to escape the power of a King is to become a King yourself, although not in the literal sense, and the best way to get that is by gathering the support of like-minded people; people such as fellow Middle-Class White folks. How do you get that support? Well, by the promise of Life, Liberty and Justice for all, of course. Oh, that equality didn’t really stretch to certain groups though, such as the poor, Native Americans and certainly not to the Negro Slaves that half of the Founding Fathers and their Families had owned at one stage or another.
The basic fact is that the Founding Fathers had little interest in Freedom for All and instead were mainly interested in lining their pockets and making themselves as powerful as possible, and this thought system is written into the very foundation of the Constitution. Anyone here is free to slag off England or any other Country, but don’t pretend for a fraction of a second that America’s history is different from what it really is.
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Do tell. I’m curious where these individuals lived and when they notified you of their departure. The media didn’t tell me.
I’m not sure what sort of fears they had here that they won’t have elsewhere, but hey, if that’s what your expatriate friends tell you, who am I to dispute them. I’m curious how they moved a family of children to another country to find better schools, and didn’t suffer any stress. Those are some well-adjusted folks you’re talking to. They should write a book, telling others how to be so grounded and successful. If they make any money off said book, they won’t mind giving 65% of it to their new government, I’m sure. Well adjusted people would tend to be altruistic and not in it for the money, anyway. I just worry for their new governments, as most wouldn’t want a family of dead-beats moving in. You know, the kind of people who were tired of credit card debt, so they defaulted on the loans and split. Perhaps they welcome those mis-understood free spirited globe-trotters. I don’t know. I’ve never been outside the USA.
Most Texans never leave the state? So these masses of people that called you to tell you they were emigrating mustn’t have been Texans. Texans never leave. Texans are generally like squirrels at a bird-feeder or sharks in a pack of seal pups. They don’t tend to leave a good thing without some serious persuasion. Perhaps your emigrant friends were from Detroit or Compton, or maybe even Harlem. I wouldn’t know, the media didn’t say.
The TRUTH is a powerful political tool and it starts right from elementary school. There, I fixed it for you.
Your ex-schoolmate’s dad sounds like my parents. Enjoying the fruits of their labor. His was probably earned the hard way, too, just like my parents’.
I’ve been to Berkeley, too. I saw those people. They sure did look happy, like you said. One of them even offered to wash the windows on my rental car. They’re happy, and friendly, as well.
You said it brother! It’ll be a LOOOOONG time before Chelsea’s old enough to bring about the end.
In all seriousness, Vlady, if you think things are so bad here, my guess is that you’re spending too much time listening to what the media are telling you. I hear ite every day: the economy’s shot, the stock market’s plumetting, kids are failing out of highschool, blood is running in the streets, etc. I look around, and I don’t see any of that having any effect on the people around me. Granted, I live in a small town of only a half a million people, give or take, so my view may be through rose-colored glasses. But the reality is that those among us that think things are as bad as all of that are generally the same people that are still bitter about a certain president “stealing” an election 7.75 years ago. That’s about when the “blame America” sentiment gained momentum, and the media began telling us we’re circling the drain. On the flip side, my optimism today is the same optimism I had during all 8 years of the Clinton administration. I knew then that I lived in the best place on the planet, where anybody can rise from any beginning and be anything s/he wants to be. Even Clinton and Obama, as much as I detest their politics, bare testiment to this. Humble beginnings, hard work, a little good luck and BAM, they’re a household name by the time they’re 45 years old.
Where you see arrogance and hatred, I see love of country and tradition. I see a place where people line up at the door to enter (the media told me that.) I see vast opportunity to be successful, and a pretty thorough safety net if I’m not. I see my two little daughters well fed, healthy, happy, and educated.
It must suck to be you. Really, it must suck to be so jaded, because the media told you to be. You should have paid more attention in propaganda class back in elementary school.