AlicornsPrayer

Take it then, you aren't aware of the number of journalists that have died doing war footage in the last decade?

500 have been killed while reporting news on the war fronts. 67 of those deaths in Iraq in 2006, 47 in 2005, and 53 in 2004, 24 in 2003.

76 fatalities for media staff since 2003 as well (that's camera crew).

Now, that doesn't include the non-journalist personelle that work with them. 37 drivers, translators, and 'fixers' (Iraq civilians showing them where the stories were) just this previous year alone.

So far, the war in Iraq has been deemed the most dangerous for journalists to report. The numbers exceed even the numbers of journalists killed in Vietnam or WWII.

Right now, there are 125 reporters and 6 media staff being held in prison in foreign countries. Their fates undetermined for now. As are the welfare of 66 civilians that were helping them do their jobs.

The numbers for this year on fatalities so far are 44 journalists dead and 8 media assistants dead. And we're only half way through the year?

It IS a dangerous job. But they still do it and they've paid the price in blood as well as those that help them to report the news.

Perhaps you should check out Reporters Without Borders It might be an eye opener for you to realize just how dangerous reporting the news in a war front really is.

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http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/pol...n-contest.html

nuttyjoe

I agree with the thoughts I've seen expressed here regarding our rights to protect ourselves. As far as gun control laws go, I do believe that a training requirement should be part of the process of ownership. I believe that if you are going to make guns available to every Tom, Dick, and Harry that we need to make sure that they at least know how to use it beforehand.I see no need to abolish guns; but I do think that an untrained person with a gun to be a very dangerous threat to the people around him. I also believe in denying guns to the proven mentally unstable, felons, and persons of this ilk. Now, some of you look upon a person with a gun as a Charles Bronson-type vigilante, a drug dealer or other felon, or a Prohibition-era gangster. There just is no valid argument to support this outlook. I say that as someone who does not even own a gun!
The topic of protecting one's self and property to me is sacrosanct. To expect your local police to be able to do so 24/7 would mean that you would need a one-to-one ratio in police and citizens- NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN! My only wish is that we can get rid of the legal red tape that creates the fear of the ordinary citizen to protect himself and his home in such instances. There have been many instances reported that the victim in such cases actually did have access to a gun; but chose not to use it for fear of the legal ramifications. Why can't these laws be more clearly defined? I do not believe that all of America is a bunch of gun-happy would-be murderers.The problem as I see it is like many other problems, our elected politicians can't seem to get the thumbs out of you know where and listen to the wishes of the people!

PoliticalWardog

Alicorns....Thanks for providing me with that data. However
I do not find going overseas to make a living is worth me losing
my life. Living in danger here in the states is enough for me to
handle, but at least I can protect myself from being the victim.

[quote=Nuttyjoe] To expect your local police to be able to do
so 24/7 would mean that you would need a one-to-one ratio
in police and citizens- NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!


Nutty... I do NOT trust no law enforcement officer, and I work
with these clowns 5 hours a day. For instants here in the small
community where I live, due to the financial problem the state
of Michigan is actually trying to put this city under state's
recievership., and thereforth we have no police to patrol our
community.

But what has happened the Emergency Financial Manager has
set up an agreement with the County, and surrounding law
enforcement agencies to come into the community to handle
problems. Guess what.....By the time 911 dispatch a unit to a
crime scene....the crime has happened, and everything is
over with.

There might be some real dedicated police officers in the law
enforcement business, but the bad ones make it sad for the
good police who is willing to do their job.

This past week-end I had someone to TRY to steal my SUV,
but when I heard my glass break I took my sidearm outside,
and when the Punk seen me he fired a shot at me but missed.
I fired back and shot him in his leg. Do you know it took the
cops 45 minutes to get to the scene, and by that time EMS
had took the punk to the hospital?

Sure...I had to go down to the station to make a report.
Plus, I had to show my permit and gun ownership papers,
and its a good thing that my sidearm is registered.

So I am saying that to say this...its not how you do
things, but the way you do things right, and having
a registered sidearm was in my favor.

nuttyjoe

The financial state of your area is a major contributor to the crime problem. Even worse, it detracts from the number of police officers hired. I do agree with you P.P., that having the registered firearm saved you a lot of trouble. I also whole-heartedly endorse your statement of doing things right.

garysher

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PoliticalWardog

Where you live is more so like the Damn Wild Wild West,
and as a matter of fact you're in the West. Look, You
have your opinions, and I have my opinions. You're allowed
to state your opinions, but that does not mean that I will
change my opinion, and you can't give me no advice on how
to survive in my environment.

Its sounds like you're one of them people who is against having
firearms. Well who cares about what you have to say? You
have your life, and I will live my life the way I choose.
Besides I would not want to live near your ass anyways,
due to the fact I could not, and would not trust you peroid.

bfrazz1

Stealing a car does not justify a shooting. However, threatening me with a lethal weapon to get access to my car does. I'm sure you can see the difference. If I came up on my car and someone was in there hot wiring it, I'd dial 911 and hope for the best. If someone was breaking into my home (or my car) while I was in it, I think it would be foolhardy to allow them in and see what their intention were - so I'd shoot first (if I could) and ask my questions later. Only problem is I don't carry a weapon in the car most times, I only have them in the house.

garysher

That's the price you pay for living in America - Land of the Free!

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Toxic

Exactly what is the price of living in America? Having the right to protect yourself and the right to own a firearm to do it with? What a hefty price. How will we ever survive?

garysher

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