Gay club attacked in Florida

[Owlswing]

What's the situation regarding the sit-in in the House of Representatives?

Ended after 26 hours. Fight to continue at beginning of next session July 5.

[Hope]

Ended after 26 hours. Fight to continue at beginning of next session July 5.

Thanks for that, Owl.  I tried to find some info on the BBC website but it was rather vague.

Whilst appalled by the events in Orlando (and elsewhere) over recent weeks, I'm amazed that there hasn't been this kind of action following other events of this sort - especially where children are concerned.

[Owlswing]

Thanks for that, Owl.  I tried to find some info on the BBC website but it was rather vague.

Whilst appalled by the events in Orlando (and elsewhere) over recent weeks, I'm amazed that there hasn't been this kind of action following other events of this sort - especially where children are concerned.

Do you really think that you are the only one?

The calls for action HAVE been made, after every mass (over 4 dead victims is the definition "mass" in such cases) killing and each and every time attempts to change or tighten the gun control laws have been blocked by the Republicans, who are funded by the NRA. Even the President has been unable to break the NRA's stranglehold in this area.

[jeremyp]

Having zero guns to stop him means you have zero chance.

With proper gun control, the attacker probably would not have had a gun either. Zero guns means zero gun deaths.

As it happens there was a man with a gun there. He didn't stop the attack.

Having other guns increases the chance from zero to something greater than zero.
Not a good reason to have more guns but it makes statement obviously trivially true.

It also raises the chance of the deaths of bystanders from zero to almost certain in a dark crowded nightclub.

[jeremyp]

Why?

I expect he likes shooting hand guns. Nothing wrong with that as long as it isn't at people.

[BeRational]

Why?

Because I like guns very much.

Why don't you want to fire a gun?

[floo]

Why would anyone love guns when we know how much mayhem they cause?

[BeRational]

Why would anyone love guns when we know how much mayhem they cause?

Because they are fantastic and wonderful.

You do not have to shoot people.

I would not shoot any light thing.

But I love hitting targets. It is skilful.

I also quite like archery and clay pigeons shooting as well.

[Owlswing]

Because I like guns very much.

Why don't you want to fire a gun?

ex-service and I have had to do it, and not for fun!

[BeRational]

ex-service and I have had to do it, and not for fun!

Okay but I do it for fun.

So what?

[Owlswing]

Okay but I do it for fun.

So what?

Once you have done it for real - it is no longer fun!

When you have done it with someone pointing a loaded gun at you it most definitely is not fun - under any circumstances.

[BeRational]

Once you have done it for real - it is no longer fun!

When you have done it with someone pointing a loaded gun at you it most definitely is not fun - under any circumstances.

I have not had that so for me it is fun.

So what.

Snorkeling is fun but i have been caught in netting 40 metres down, and that was not fun.
Does that mean that my experience should colour everyone else's?

[Owlswing]

I have not had that so for me it is fun.

So what.

Snorkeling is fun but i have been caught in netting 40 metres down, and that was not fun.
Does that mean that my experience should colour everyone else's?

NO because the netting is not a conscious living entity with malice toward you!

And as this thread has left the subject of the OP far far behind, I hereby leave it.

[BeRational]

NO because the netting is not a conscious living entity with malice toward you!

And as this thread has left the subject of the OP far far behind, I hereby leave it.

Again so what.

Just because YOU do not enjoy something, you seem to imply that no one should.

Why should I care what others enjoy?

I am sure you enjoy doing things that I would find useless and boring, but so what?

What you enjoy is nothing to do with me, if it's legal of course.

[Nearly Sane]

I could express what I think of JHB's piece but it defeats the support for those who suffered here
 I fundamentally disagree with the idea that expressing that this was anti LGBT in nature, either downplays the general terrorism, or the feelings others might feel or that it is playing the victim card but the people whom I might be arguing with are not the enemy. When confronted by suffering, and what we see as evil, we often mistake what the problems are. 


I'd ask only this of those who wonder about Jones's reaction. Watch the vigil in Old Compton St and elsewhere and think about those people who were there because they felt their community was being challenged. They no more said it was all about them, than Parisians who went to the Place de la Republique.

I have no difficulty feeling empathy with people but in part I was Charlie Hebdo not because of the similarities but the differences. I stood silently in George Sq last night, conscious that in the 35 years I have been going to gay clubs. I never went because other places were unsafe for me. That a mere year before I started going being gay was illegal in Scotland. That in the 80s and 90s we had a govt pursuing the obscenity that was Clause 28.


Yes, I have danced, partied and protested with my friends whose sexuality is their business, or should be, but i've always known that my straightness has got me a pass through life that they didn't have.


It's the birthday today of a friend who was killed three years ago. For years he felt he couldn't admit to being gay, frowned on in the macho West of Scotland. He hid it, and that hiding hurt him and others. Once he came out he became the joyous person he was meant to be. He died too young but he spent too long in a society that tried to kill the real him. I stood with many last night but John was in my heart.

Due to FB's On This Day function I was reminded of this post and the birthday of my friend, John. Digitally they will be entwined going forward, and that seems appropriate. I miss John and would love to be discussing the latest Westminster farce with him.