:) I was referring to myself as the intellectually pretentious one this time.

It's a problem I've been falling into since I've been taking philosophy courses. I'm sure there are worse problems to have though.

no. not really.

Not even getting turned into a newt?

well, getting turned into a newt would suck, i guess.
but at least there are lots of checks to be collected on the talking head circuit. "Live, from The Heritage Foundation. Today we are with Newt Ging..."

At least I try to avoid the problem. I've met some people here that make my eyes glaze over their brow is so high.

Thankyou for demonstrating your lack of knowledge of history.

As for the political implications of firearms ownership - not any more, not really. It's never going to come to that, it took a while but we've got the whole bread and circuses thing pretty down pat. As long as the cable TV and pulp-news cycle keeps on rolling the chances of any kind of armed insurrection that has enough support to get anywhere are nil.

Hmm. So I should take kung fu lessons and maybe hire a personal trainer in case some punk 1/4 my age wants my wallet or my life?
In that case the bastard has stolen my life before I've even met him. Taking my money(training expenses) and lifestyle (freetime) just so I can defend myself and my property by intimidating or subduing him without hurting him?
Fuck that, he's a dead man walking.

I knew a rabid feminist that did all the healthy training and stuff, but the fact remained she was a 5' 2" blonde that was built like a brick shithouse. She made sure she got equality in employment and business. But the one thing that I had, that she envied, is the ability to walk down any street, at any hour, with minimal danger.
They didn't call those Colt's the equalizer for nothing. :p