Dirk

**Celt** · 11th May 04, 03:12 PM

Thanks, Alaskan...may you ever be free. I'd be up there in a minute if it weren't so damn cold. The older I get, the more winter bears down on me.
I'll stay in Michigan as long as it's a "shall-issue" state...and I'll carry a gun or a dirk or a black knife as I always have. William Wallace would understand completely.
I, on the other hand, had to understand when I came to this forum, that this is a very diverse population...perhaps the folk from,shall we say, less free nations, are in the majority here, and they have trouble understanding our concept of individual freedom. That's okay...we're all here for the love of the kilt, and that's enough...I can adapt. Stick around, okay?

**Alaskan** · 11th May 04, 03:52 PM

Bubba, please stop saying "In the US..." because most of the time what you are saying is not the way it is in Alaska. Thus it is not the way it is in the entire United States.
Part of the problem is that living in Japan I get a lot of questions about life in the US that are based on images of Los Angeles and New York City. I constantly have to tell people that life in those two cities is nothing like life where I come from. It has become a great pet peeve for me when people generalize life in the United States based on the one area they went to. If a foreign person goes to the south they might say "Boy, Americans sure like grits!" That statement would be completely false. The culture between two states in the US often is as different as two different countries.
When you say "In the US..." it makes an image for people who don't live in the US that is not necessarily a true one.

**bubba** · 11th May 04, 04:01 PM

Alaskan, I'm saying in MOST of the US. Higher denser populations mean more restrictions, so get off it. Most of the US isn't like Alaska. I've covered most of the lower 48 driving truck so I have a basis for comparison. You simply aren't reading what I'm saying.

**Alaskan** · 11th May 04, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by bubba

Andrew, it's getting like that all over the US these days. If it isn't forbidden it's required. It's what happens when politicians keep passing laws just so they can tell voters they're doing something. It never crosses their minds that more often than not it's best to do nothing.

I did read what you said.
You didn't say "most" you said "all over the US."
I made a very polite request, I will make it one more time.
The entire US is not like it is in your area. Please do not make statements about "the US" please say "in Wisconsin" or something more accurate, because when you say "in the US" you give an inacurate image to people who are not from the US.

**Casey** · 11th May 04, 04:55 PM

Hey guys,

I'm very interested in knives and I would like to be able to have discussions about them as they relate to the Celtic culture.

However, it appears to me that every time we get on the "knife" topic we have to go over the edge and argue rather than discuss and share our views.

We are the kilted brethern!

Casey

**highlandtide** · 11th May 04, 04:57 PM

I agree.

**Doc Hudson** · 11th May 04, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Celt

I think people put more faith in the law and police than is warranted or deserved, but that's me

Well, that's me too, then.
The function of the police is to pick up the pieces after the fact .... everyone is, or should be, responsible for their own safety.

AMEN!!!!

Free Men are armed, slaves are unarmed! It has been that way since time immemorial.

If I need protection, I have the choice of calling 911, being put on hold for five to 30 minutes, then waiting half an hour for the cop to arrive. Or I can draw a revolver and handle the situation in a matter of seconds. Since the bad folks probably would be unable to wait while I call the Cops, I guess I'll have to handle things myself and let the Cops file their report later.

Of course if I'm really lucky, any badguy seeing a fat old man with a sixgun in his hand will remember a very imprtant and pressing engagement in the next county and shift freight before he hears any loud noises.

**bubba** · 11th May 04, 07:47 PM

Alaskan, such laws and ordinances are NOT limited to any one part of the US. I think you'll find every big city in the lower 48 as well as almost every mid to small city have such ordinances as well. Frankly, it appears to me you're just trying to play at semantics to create an arguement and I'm not going to play. Enough.

**Alaskan** · 11th May 04, 08:54 PM

Bubba,
I never said that the laws are confined to limited areas. However, the laws you are talking about are not federal laws that apply to everywhere in the United States, but you talk about them like they are.

I am not trying to play semantics to create an argument. I made a simple request. I don't think it was an unreasonable one. I think my explanation of why I made my request was quite straightforward and reasonable.

You act as if I am being confrontational, but I made a simple request that you don't say something because it offends me when people make generalizations about the United States that are not true about the entire country. If you refuse to honor that request it is you that is being confrontational.

Casey- I also wish we could talk about knives on this forum without it becoming an argument, just as I wish we could talk about proper highland wear without it becoming an argument. Unfortunately, if we talk about knives, someone has to jump in and say that there is no reason to carry a knife, just as if we talk about proper highland wear someone has to jump in telling us that we shouldn't follow any guidelines.