After several months now with no internet (aside from what I could get with my phone) I'm finally back... and guess what? I've got another "fun" experience from here in Nigeria to get things started right.
So the other day, we were on standby for the rig, when I hear a really disturbing radio call of, "What do you mean they're shooting at you?" Well of course, being a sailor (we're all nosy by nature btw) I had to turn up the radio to hear this one. Apparently, a supply boat was refuelling a security boat (names withheld to protect both the innocent and guilty) and started bumping into it in the heavy seas. This "upset" the Nigerian Navy detachment on board and they shut down the operation. Then, the supply boat was halfway untied and "wasn't moving fast enough" so they decided to hurry them up by firing rounds off to get them moving. What happened next? Well, of course they all ran inside to get away from the hail of gunfire, leaving the boat tied up, at which point the Navy detachment sent a few rounds past the wheelhouse. Needless to say, the Navy guys had to toss off the lines themselves at that stage, and there's a lot of paperwork and reprimands going around now.
So on that note, anybody know a good supplier for bullet proof vests and strike plates to stop AK-47 rounds?
Showing posts with label Stupid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stupid. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Anti-Gun Bait and Switch
We'll see how long before I get blocked from viewing a certain Facebook Group for this one, but, just read a very interesting post while doing the old "Keep your friends close, and your enemy closer." thing. For the record, I'm a VERY strong supporter of the US Constitution (and it's amendments), so anytime people want to infringe on any of the laws set down in that document, I get a wee bit bent out of shape.
Anyway, the NRA doesn't want people to have to register/declare legally owned firearms. Something we should all agree with for various reasons regarding the security and illegitimate access to these registries. Apparently the anti-gun crowd feel that denying this declaration/registry is begging for more suicidal soldiers. While I can't say I agree with their views, I give it this, it's a well written article... except for one small teensy detail. The numbers quoted in it suggest that guns aren't the big issue in "suicidal actions" and don't really support the writer's story.
Anyway, here's the article:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201202230005
Did you catch that too?
Hemenway and Miller explain that firearms availability increases the risk of suicide for three reasons. First, "many suicidal acts -- one third to four fifths of all suicide attempts, according to studies -- are impulsive," with the vast majority of survivors waiting less than 1 hour between the decision to commit suicide and the attempt. Second, many suicide crises are temporary, which is why "more than 90% of people who survive a suicide attempt... do not go on to die by suicide." Third, guns are extremely lethal; "A suicide attempt with a firearm rarely affords a second chance. Attempts involving drugs or cutting, which account for more than 90% of all suicidal acts, prove fatal far less often."
Let's read that last sentence again... "Attempts involving drugs or cutting, which account for more than 90% of all suicidal acts, prove fatal far less often." So guns are used less than 10% of the time... and they're the biggest problem? Interesting...
As the "Coffee Talk" lady used to say on SNL... "Talk amongst yourselves."
Edit- And... After < 8 hours with my comment pointing this out I've been blocked from commenting on the CSGV Facebook group now. Sadly... I can't even see the nasty comments I gained for pointing this out to them. *shrug* Oh well... I can still do the "share and comment" trick :D
Anyway, the NRA doesn't want people to have to register/declare legally owned firearms. Something we should all agree with for various reasons regarding the security and illegitimate access to these registries. Apparently the anti-gun crowd feel that denying this declaration/registry is begging for more suicidal soldiers. While I can't say I agree with their views, I give it this, it's a well written article... except for one small teensy detail. The numbers quoted in it suggest that guns aren't the big issue in "suicidal actions" and don't really support the writer's story.
Anyway, here's the article:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201202230005
Did you catch that too?
Hemenway and Miller explain that firearms availability increases the risk of suicide for three reasons. First, "many suicidal acts -- one third to four fifths of all suicide attempts, according to studies -- are impulsive," with the vast majority of survivors waiting less than 1 hour between the decision to commit suicide and the attempt. Second, many suicide crises are temporary, which is why "more than 90% of people who survive a suicide attempt... do not go on to die by suicide." Third, guns are extremely lethal; "A suicide attempt with a firearm rarely affords a second chance. Attempts involving drugs or cutting, which account for more than 90% of all suicidal acts, prove fatal far less often."
Let's read that last sentence again... "Attempts involving drugs or cutting, which account for more than 90% of all suicidal acts, prove fatal far less often." So guns are used less than 10% of the time... and they're the biggest problem? Interesting...
As the "Coffee Talk" lady used to say on SNL... "Talk amongst yourselves."
Edit- And... After < 8 hours with my comment pointing this out I've been blocked from commenting on the CSGV Facebook group now. Sadly... I can't even see the nasty comments I gained for pointing this out to them. *shrug* Oh well... I can still do the "share and comment" trick :D
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Darwin Award Candidates Wanted
Ok, I kind of made an unspoken vow to myself that I wouldn't crosspost from other blogs (too much), but this one is worthy of an exception... Coming from Tam over at View From the Porch comes this little gem:
Anyone want to take any bets on how soon some "gang-banger" thinks it's real and has his buddies try it out?
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