Well...

I guess I should expect any better from the government.

Let me tell you what I have done to attempt to prevent this in my family. 

But first I must tell you that I am very much against guns, knives, and
other instruments of violence. We were in a theater the other day and there
were 4 first person shooters in the little video arcade in the lobby. Kids
between 8 and 16 were playing these games. Some with the parent standing
right there. I commented to my family, and my daughter, as I always do, that
these games glorify violence and it is wrong to desensitize kids to the
effects of guns on humans. I won't let my kids watch movies that glorify
violence. Especially the ones where people are shot at and never hit (G.I.
Joe) or shot and forgotten in the movie. They watched "Master and Commander"
because although there was some violence, it was realistic and the results
(death, dismemberment) were dealt with in the movie. Violence is horrible,
and presenting it in any other way is wrong.

Having said that. 

Violence is, sadly, part of life. It is the last refuge of the incompetent,
but we must be willing to admit that quite often, we are incompetent. I
wrote I bit on that subject at
http://www.massmind.org/other/incompetence.htm I think it pretty well
explains my position on this.

My daughter knows exactly where to kick a guy and how. She knows where to
bite, how to peel a finger off her throat and break it, how to break a nose
and a kneecap.

My daughter is taking karate classes at a local dojo that I have some
respect for. I wish I could find better, but...

My daughter has been trained by a trusted expert gunsmith and sharpshooter
in the care, handling and use of many types of firearms. She has practiced
with them and is, for her tender age, a crack shot. She has never practiced
shooting at anything that even loosely resembles a human. We don't keep guns
in the house. Anyone who tries to scare her with one had better hope he
actually has it off safety and doesn't loose his grip on it.

I guess what I'm saying is basically that when it come down to her getting
hurt or some guy getting hurt, I hope it will be the guy. That will save me
from having to hurt him. Or her sister who is a TSA, testing for Air Marshal
next month, and has had all the same training.

Of course, the D.A. will probably prosecute her if she ever does any of
that. But when she gets out, it will be with her confidence intact. And the
guy will think twice.

And despite all of that, I'm horribly afraid. For her, and for myself if I
ever find her bleeding. I don't think I would do anyone violence, but I
don't know.

Hearing that the authorities are no help, doesn't help.

---
James.
 
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu 
> [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf Of David Van Horn
> Sent: 2005 Oct 06, Thu 17:12
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: RE: [OT] What I did on my summer vacation
> 
> > I'm trying to address rape, non-consensual sex, stalking, pedophilia
> and
> > other issues where someone is trying to force something on someone
> else.
> 
> Ah! A subject close to my heart, my older daughter was 
> date-raped last year.
> 
> > The force-ee needs to be taken seriously, not ignored, and 
> appropriate 
> > action taken. But not without proof, not were the accused 
> is destroyed
> in
> > the public eye before a full investigation and a fair trial.
> 
> The local prosecutor refuses to prosecute, apparently her 
> injuries to the extent of needing internal surgery could all 
> be explained by "rough sex". According to our local defense 
> attorneys, it would appear that every woman in town is into 
> "rough sex". Forensic evidence was collected, and the guy 
> admits that they had sex.. Still not enough to prosecute. I 
> guess you need a team of unassailable witnesses and a video 
> from three different angles.
> 
> > The force-er needs to be treated fairly as well. If it 
> turns out to be
> my
> > daughter that was raped, I'll have a difficult time doing 
> that. But it
> is
> > the right thing to do. Innocent until proven guilty. The 
> police should
> NOT
> > state why someone is being investigated until they have 
> solid proof of
> a
> > crime. People who can't seem to find pleasure without forcing others
> need
> > to be first, held back from doing it again, and second, 
> provided with 
> > effective treatment.
> 
> Let me tell you, when your daughter arrives home with blood 
> pouring out, it's pretty difficult to maintain an even keel. 
> 
> I would recuse myself from judgment, but I think it's 
> possible that this guy is one of the "permanently broken" 
> types I spoke of earlier.
>  
> 
> 
> --
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change 
> your membership options at 
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
> 

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist