I live in an ungated suburban complex of townhomes.

[SarasotaRepub]

The naiveté in this thread is just friggen stunning...

Wed Mar 21, 2012, 06:10 PM
MrScorpio

I live in an ungated suburban complex of townhomes. Last edited Wed Mar 21, 2012, 06:45 PM USA/ET - Edit history (2) I've been here since I've moved back home to Michigan in 2008. It's a quiet place and the neighbors, for the most part, are white working class folks, many of whom are originally from within Detroit's city limits like myself. Macomb County has gone under a demographic and attitudinal transformation over the past 20 years, in that it's become more diverse and a lot less hostile to people of color from across Eight Mile. Let's say, knowing what I've experienced in this county in my youth, I was pleasantly surprised by the change. Not once, since my return, have I've been subject to racial stereotyping or racist comments by angry white people. I feel very comfortable when I go out in public and not once have I been subject to an act of discrimination. The local cops seem to have it in for speeders and drunk drivers on the main thoroughfare near my home, but considering that it's right off a freeway off ramp and close to an popular night spot, their vigilance isn't unusual at all. (Macomb is full of speed traps anyway). I get along with all my neighbors, we all get along and look out for each other. Now the bad part: Michigan has a Stand Your Ground law much like that of Florida's. This is in place because of the Republican assholes who have run the state legislature for far too long. Concealed carried laws exist here too. Many of the same conditions that led to the senseless death of Trayvon Martin exists here in Michigan. I'm sure that these same conditions exist in many other places as well in this country. This is not just a "Southern" problem or unique to Florida. This is an American one. Last year, a friend of mine came by to pick me up to go into town. He's not from Michigan. While he was waiting in his car, he saw one of my neighbors walk into his house with a holstered sidearm in plain view. That sight really disturbed my friend, because he's not used to guns at all. There was no incident, nor was there any confrontation. But the sight of the weapon itself by a person who wasn't used to seeing people carry them openly caused a bit of concern. One point, I don't doubt that my neighbor is a responsible gun owner, so this is not about guns, per se. It's something else. The key dynamic missing here from what we have seen in Samford FL is that of George Zimmerman himself. A person full of fear and prejudice who was allowed to practice that fear and prejudice openly and with the tacit support of local law enforcement. Given slight changes to the story, this place where I live could very well be another Sanford FL, or where you live could be another Sanford FL. We all could be living in Sanford FL. The death of Trayvon Martin speaks to the conditions that exist in the very psyche of this country. There isn't a place where those conditions can't exist. All you need to do is add fear, prejudice and a happy trigger finger. If these times don't compel us all to look at ourselves and drive us to find a better way to live with each other, then it'll be an opportunity sadly wasted. This is a problem for every American to reflect upon and has an obligation to change.

These do gooding assholes won't be happy till every gun is taken from lawful citizens. Then, when the wolves really descend for the kill, they'll cry that the police aren't there...

"These people" and by that I mean Libtards, make me sick. They are so fucking self-righteous they make me want to

[Elspeth]

The naiveté in this thread is just friggen stunning...

These do gooding assholes won't be happy till every gun is taken from lawful citizens. Then, when the wolves really descend for the kill, they'll cry that the police aren't there...

"These people" and by that I mean Libtards, make me sick. They are so fucking self-righteous they make me want to

Tell Mr. Scorpio to:

1. Be polite to anyone with a weapon and

2. Don't start any fights with people, especially other males. They might have a weapon.

[JB]

Meanwhile, while Mr. Scorpio ponders the death of Trayvon Martin and the conditions that caused his death, six thousand really innocent children were killed today as Scorp's fries were getting cold.

Deaths that occur in the manner of Trayvon...about the frequency of Halley's Comet.

Senseless deaths due to bangers shooting haphazardly into a crowd of innocent people...not enough digits on my calculator.

[Novaheart]

These do gooding assholes won't be happy till every gun is taken from lawful citizens. Then, when the wolves really descend for the kill, they'll cry that the police aren't there...

"These people" and by that I mean Libtards, make me sick. They are so fucking self-righteous they make me want to

Naturally they are exploiting this in the Maryland debate as well.

[Odysseus]

Last year, a friend of mine came by to pick me up to go into town. He's not from Michigan. While he was waiting in his car, he saw one of my neighbors walk into his house with a holstered sidearm in plain view. That sight really disturbed my friend, because he's not used to guns at all. There was no incident, nor was there any confrontation. But the sight of the weapon itself by a person who wasn't used to seeing people carry them openly caused a bit of concern.

As well it should. The friend of the OP clearly has a neurotic fear of firearms and requires professional help to get over it. He should be referred to a psychiatrist as soon as possible, before he acts on this irrational phobia and does something foolish, like voting.

[NJCardFan]

Meanwhile, while Mr. Scorpio ponders the death of Trayvon Martin and the conditions that caused his death, six thousand really innocent children were killed today as Scorp's fries were getting cold.

Deaths that occur in the manner of Trayvon...about the frequency of Halley's Comet.

Senseless deaths due to bangers shooting haphazardly into a crowd of innocent people...not enough digits on my calculator.

You mean like the 6 year old little girl killed in a drive by in Chicago last weekend?

[Hawkgirl]

DUmmy, check out the book "More Guns Less Crime" by John Lott. If the data doesn't sway you, then you're brain dead.