Thankyou - thats a very interesting post

because you cannot carry a concealed weapon in Nebraska..

The funniest arguement in favor of gun ownership is the old "it's not guns that kill, it's people" (If it hasn't been said in this thread yet, it will eventually)

I think you'll find that it's not nuclear wepons that kill, but the people that press the ignition button. It's not heroin that kills but the person pushing on the syringe plunger. It's not Sarin Nerve Gas that kills, but the person who pulls the pin on the cannister. Most objects designed for the sole purpose of killing are pretty harmless when left untouched on a shelf. They are banned however, because when a human being start playing with them, bad things happen.

I don't really have a problem with them, much rather know that if someone had a gun, that they were able to go to a range and train how to use it though.

Don't need a license to own a gun in maine unless your buying/selling in a gun shop and it's a new weapon...but pistols aren't really that big a deal over here, plenty of rifles and shotguns, and some really scary monster cross bows...big cross bow hunting seasons in maine...and there's still quite a few accidents because people aren't say using them, more often because there drunk...still can't see how you can mistake someone wearing those dayglo orange jackets for a deer though

Because I assume they dont have many unsupervised children driving round in the trucks?

You are correct on every count. All inanimate objects are just that until someone uses them. I most definitely wouldnt need a gun to kill you if you attacked me.

Next time put a smily, or I may start taking you seriously.

I dont believe in them. I prefer the enigma that comes with not using them...am I serious or not? Who knows.

Your breath is THAT bad ?

other end.

Mr Sibsie has a collection of all of those. He's a prolific deer hunter and pretty good at it judging by our freezer. I was anti gun when I moved here and anti hunting. Of course I knew bugger all about it at the time. I've since changed my opinion, though I always wear a bright orange reflective saddle cloth and helmet when I go riding in the woods during the season.

Like most things people complain about in the States, it depends on where you are.

The only guns I've seen here are my father-in-laws and he only uses them for shooting rattlesnakes (although he has threatened to use one on me once or twice).

We hear the odd one or two go off during deer hunting season, but that's it.

I haven't felt the urge to buy one, so I won't. I wouldn't trust myself with one. Most people around here have grown up around them so to them it's not an issue.

My experience so far has been minimal, and I like it that way.

...so that they only shoot the horse? Mmmm... horse burgers... a la Francais!

I was once told the story of Emperor Wilhelm II who is said to have shot a courtier he disliked in the arm while out hunting deer. As the courtier lay wounded Wilhelm walked up and the courtier asked "But sire, when you took aim I shouted "I'm not the deer""

...to which Wilhelm is supposed to have replied "I'm dreadfully sorry. I could have sworn you shouted "I am the deer"

Dayum but I hope not. Having massive great Murphy horse shot and falling on me would make for Pancake a la Sibsie.

Im sorry but I now have one hell of a mental picture...and its nowt to do with horses.