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Tintallė
Gondor
Apr 17 2007, 6:26pm
Views: 672
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I'm not so sure it's that simple.
[In reply to]
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Can't Post
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I am absolutely sure that no amount of stress could induce me to go on a killing spree and use a gun on innocent people. That's because of my personal values and ethics, which are as inescapably a part of me as my brown eyes and size 6 feet. My son owns firearms. He enjoys target shooting. He also has a concealed carry permit. He is alive and well today because he was carrying a weapon when two men attacked him with knives - BIG knives - in a store parking lot. (He was on his way home from checking out a security alarm at his workplace.) He was suddenly struck with fear for his life. His training kicked in and he pullled out his gun. He aimed - he did not shoot - and they ran. He collapsed in a miserable shaking heap afterward and suffered from insomnia and nightmares for weeks, but the experience reinforced his belief that gun ownership is not the evil I had always told him it was. A gun ban would not prevent a knife attack. Quite possibly my son would have been left bleeding and dying in the parking lot so two thugs could steal about $80 in cash and a couple of sacks of groceries from Wal-Mart. I found myself feeling profoundly thankful that he had been carrying a gun. You would have to know me to know how unbelievable that statement is. Was. I was once an advocate of banning guns, but now I am not so sure. I doubt whether banning guns is the answer. I do not think it will address the sick, sick American culture that places such a low value on life. Americans are bombarded with violent images all day every day - the newspaper focuses on sensational stories of murder and violence, television dramas and movies are rife with slayings and gunplay, many of the most popular video games are non-stop violence and glorify or at least downplay criminal activity, and a lot of rap and hip hop lyrics describe violent acts. Americans are desensitized to violence. Oh, when someone goes on a killing spree there are lots of pictures of grieving people and newscasters talk in sympathetic, heartfelt tones for a week or two but no one really addresses the cultural/sociological etiology, the root cause of the behavior. I'm sure the students at Virginia Tech will be offered post-traumatic counseling and support in the weeks to come, but where are the efforts at prevention? How do we identify and support individuals before they reach the breaking point? I will be interested to learn if Cho Seung-hui's friends had any inkling that he was unhappy or stressed and, if so, what they did about it. How is it that a senior English major became a mass murderer? Surely that did not happen overnight. I would say that the basic problem in America is not the availability of guns but rather the lack of any sense of community and responsibility for others that pervades American society these days. I live in southern California. Gang violence is a big problem. Racism is alive and well - can you imagine your teenager going out with a bunch of his friends to beat a migrant worker to death? It happened here. I live in a "me, me, me" society. Plastic surgery is a big business here because people are so self-obsessed and so preoccupied with outward appearances. We have housing tracts, not communities. I've moved 16 times in my life; when I moved here it was the first time no one - NO ONE - greeted me or showed the slightest interest in a new individual living nearby. People avert their eyes when passing each other on the street; most are startled or uncomfortable when I look them in the eye and say "Good morning!" My daughter spent an undergraduate year in Adelaide, Australia. She was upset and crying one day on a city street one day and people - total strangers! - attempted to help her - offered to sit with her, talk, buy her a cup of coffee, hold her hand. When I learned about the free hugs campaign I was not surprised that it was started by an Australian. My daughter is back in Adelaide now and will probably stay there because the culture is healthier and more supportive than she has experienced in America. So, gun control? Maybe. The more I think about it, though, the more I think it is not the answer. That said, it still made my skin crawl to see my son cleaning his gun the other night. I came very close to throwing up. Please remember that this is my opinon only. I would hope for it to spark thoughtful debate rather than angry dissent. Thanks.
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Prayers and heart-felt sympathy to Virginia Tech Students, Families, and Staff.
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grammaboodawg
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Apr 17 2007, 9:21am
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What leads a person to commit such an act?
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Noneoftheabove
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Apr 17 2007, 10:25am
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Humanity's still OK; just a few individuals are depraved.
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L. Ron Halfelven
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Apr 17 2007, 11:46am
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Thanks for that insight.
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 17 2007, 2:26pm
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And you're absolutely right, it is easy to focus on the horrible.
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Noneoftheabove
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Apr 17 2007, 2:47pm
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The tragedy isn't that one individual was depraved
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 4:11pm
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The root of the problem is simple...
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Aragorn'sSexyScar
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Apr 17 2007, 4:45pm
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Coincidentally, I'm 42.
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GaladrielTX
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Apr 17 2007, 6:19pm
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I'm not so sure it's that simple.
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Tintallė
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Apr 17 2007, 6:26pm
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and that....
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Magpie
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Apr 17 2007, 6:35pm
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This is the first time
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Ataahua
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Apr 17 2007, 7:39pm
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Very well said, Tintalle
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 18 2007, 12:52pm
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Well..
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 6:33pm
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Yet, you wouldn't use a semi-automatic weapon
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Rivendweller
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Apr 17 2007, 8:01pm
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Nope
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 8:06pm
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Plus...
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 8:18pm
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I understand
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Rivendweller
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Apr 17 2007, 8:29pm
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Well....
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 8:54pm
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Agree about the mental health system
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Morwen
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Apr 17 2007, 9:06pm
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sorry... just can't buy this:
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Magpie
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Apr 17 2007, 9:15pm
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Like I said...
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 9:27pm
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okay... suffiently calmed
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Magpie
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Apr 17 2007, 10:21pm
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Well
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 11:08pm
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I worked with K-2
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Magpie
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Apr 18 2007, 1:02am
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One of the unwritten laws of American politics . . .
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Pukel-man
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Apr 17 2007, 9:38pm
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That's
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Aerlinn
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Apr 18 2007, 3:00pm
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Yes, but the threat is there!
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Aragorn'sSexyScar
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Apr 18 2007, 3:31pm
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I'm staying resolutely away from the public-policy debate...
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L. Ron Halfelven
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Apr 17 2007, 6:21pm
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Thanks for putting this in perspective, L. Ron,
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Patty
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Apr 17 2007, 4:38pm
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There is some good in this world... and it's worth fighting for
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grammaboodawg
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Apr 17 2007, 2:38pm
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Horrible news
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Owlyross
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Apr 17 2007, 10:34am
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Actually, tighter controls are part of the reason this tragedy is so bad.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 1:31pm
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It's a complex problem, for sure
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 2:42pm
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I don't see it as so complex at all
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 17 2007, 3:07pm
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The media and gun control advocates got the jump "pushing their agenda" first.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 4:40pm
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Well, I certainly hope for America's sake
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 5:01pm
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I appreciate your understanding.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:07pm
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Not really.
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Aerin
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Apr 17 2007, 11:28pm
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Well...
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 5:43pm
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I sometimes forget
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 6:08pm
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That's funny.
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 6:20pm
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Good point!
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 9:07pm
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Sometimes I watch those movies about the wild west...
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Magpie
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Apr 17 2007, 6:26pm
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Wow!
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Owlyross
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Apr 18 2007, 7:47am
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It's a subject of which I know
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Magpie
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Apr 18 2007, 12:47pm
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Thanks for the story
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Owlyross
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Apr 18 2007, 1:01pm
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You have only to look at Washington, D.C.,
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GaladrielTX
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Apr 17 2007, 6:14pm
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I must say
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Donry
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Apr 17 2007, 3:33pm
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Well...
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 3:55pm
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Wholeheartedly agree with that. //
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:08pm
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And that demonstrates two things
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:18pm
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It was the police that didn't stop the killing...
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:31pm
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Right
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:44pm
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In response to your comment about the killer rampaging without a gun
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'esquey
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Apr 17 2007, 10:21pm
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Guns make it easier to kill people.
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N.E. Brigand
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Apr 17 2007, 11:20pm
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Depends
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 11:51pm
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Link inside.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 4:27pm
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That wording in article is so biased
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:09pm
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The Fraser Institute
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 5:21pm
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Not to drag this off on a tangent
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 5:25pm
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Well, alcohol and cars are banned
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 5:32pm
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In fact
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 5:36pm
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Why don't we ban crime instead of guns? //
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:39pm
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I don't know if you're joking, AE...
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 5:44pm
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It's a joke that isn't a joke.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 6:16pm
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That's no tangent. MADD reports
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:34pm
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The difference lies in the intended use
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:37pm
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Maybe the U.N. should start a donkey safety course. //
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:41pm
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Just for general edification,
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Ataahua
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Apr 17 2007, 7:37pm
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Agreed.
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 7:16pm
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But alcohol has been a staple of human existence
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 9:17pm
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Well...
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 9:32pm
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I did rush in my choice of references.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 5:38pm
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I don't want to start a gun control debate
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Owlyross
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Apr 17 2007, 5:11pm
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That's a decidedly peculiar way of not starting a debate./
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L. Ron Halfelven
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Apr 17 2007, 5:58pm
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You're right
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Owlyross
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Apr 18 2007, 8:32am
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As I stand with one foot firmly planted on each side of the debate,
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 17 2007, 7:06pm
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Well said, Aunt Dora
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Morwen
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Apr 17 2007, 7:53pm
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Hear, hear!
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 3:34pm
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The sad thing about this situation
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 18 2007, 6:49pm
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In response...
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 7:53pm
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Applause!
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 18 2007, 8:07pm
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That's where I'm coming from.
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 8:32pm
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The Prince of Pompadoodle
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 18 2007, 8:52pm
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Perfect!
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 9:18pm
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I like that expression - roots and wings
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 18 2007, 8:59pm
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Totally OT,
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 9:20pm
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No, can't claim it as mine
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 18 2007, 9:57pm
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I am like you, on the outside looking in
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 18 2007, 8:32pm
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That's part of the reason I qualified my response.
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 8:47pm
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Wow. So arming the public with even more guns will prevent gun deaths?
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'esquey
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Apr 17 2007, 8:43pm
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No one is suggesting that everyone should run out a buy a gun.
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 8:48pm
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It may not make the world safer
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'esquey
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Apr 17 2007, 8:50pm
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The number of deaths is irrelevant.
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 9:07pm
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I do hope
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FarFromHome
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Apr 17 2007, 9:43pm
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Well..
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 10:01pm
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Well, well. . .
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Advising Elf
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Apr 18 2007, 1:38pm
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Orr..
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'esquey
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Apr 18 2007, 2:05pm
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Well
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Darkstone
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Apr 18 2007, 3:45pm
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It is a moral issue in the sense that...
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 10:05pm
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Weapons of mass destruction?
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N.E. Brigand
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Apr 17 2007, 9:59pm
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Of course.
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 10:08pm
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The number of deaths is irrelevant?!?!
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'esquey
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Apr 17 2007, 10:10pm
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For one thing
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houndrock
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Apr 17 2007, 10:12pm
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I apologize to 'esquey.
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 10:29pm
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And regarding my country...
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'esquey
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Apr 17 2007, 10:30pm
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psst, 'esquey
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 18 2007, 6:24am
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Thanks so much!
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'esquey
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Apr 18 2007, 2:06pm
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I don't understand
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Owlyross
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Apr 18 2007, 7:56am
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A comment about rights in general. . .
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Advising Elf
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Apr 18 2007, 2:56pm
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I totally agree with you /nt
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Owlyross
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Apr 18 2007, 3:24pm
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Not so sure.
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DownfallenWest
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Apr 19 2007, 3:44pm
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sad day for VA (and the world)
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a.s.
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Apr 17 2007, 10:51am
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Very sad
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KmK
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Apr 17 2007, 12:01pm
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It is so hard to understand
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Rivendweller
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Apr 17 2007, 12:01pm
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So very sad.
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White Gull
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Apr 17 2007, 2:59pm
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oh.... lovely
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grammaboodawg
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Apr 19 2007, 4:16pm
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Shocking and horrifying
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Ciars
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Apr 17 2007, 4:17pm
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A native Montrealer is among the dead...
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diedye
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Apr 17 2007, 4:47pm
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A horrible situation.
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RosieLass
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Apr 17 2007, 5:23pm
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BTW, in this thread,
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GaladrielTX
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Apr 17 2007, 6:15pm
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Out of ignorance.
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Advising Elf
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Apr 17 2007, 6:23pm
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Nope
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 6:27pm
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but...
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Magpie
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Apr 17 2007, 6:30pm
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*cough*nitpick*cough*...
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diedye
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Apr 17 2007, 6:37pm
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"VT" is correct.
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Aerin
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Apr 17 2007, 11:06pm
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I had a friend who attended years ago
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 3:39pm
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A friendly reminder
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Altaira
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Apr 17 2007, 6:54pm
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Blanket comment: editing of comments about the value of others' comments is imminent {nt}
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Altaira
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Apr 17 2007, 9:26pm
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Such as, perhaps
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Aerlinn
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Apr 18 2007, 3:12pm
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It missed you even if you didn't miss it!
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L. Ron Halfelven
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Apr 18 2007, 3:18pm
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I agree with you on both points, L. Ron. //
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 3:41pm
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I'm still waiting to hear
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Aerin
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Apr 17 2007, 11:37pm
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Well
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Darkstone
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Apr 17 2007, 11:57pm
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Whew!
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Aerin
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Apr 18 2007, 4:36am
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Thanks for the update.
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N.E. Brigand
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Apr 18 2007, 6:24am
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It's nice to hear some good news.
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 3:43pm
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I am glad the people you
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Shadowfaxfan
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Apr 19 2007, 5:15am
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157 people died in bomb blasts in Iraq today
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Owlyross
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Apr 18 2007, 3:45pm
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I was thinking about that as I watched the news today and
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Lossefalme
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Apr 18 2007, 8:23pm
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Yes and no
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 18 2007, 8:54pm
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One way to get guns out of the hands of teenagers....
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Darkstone
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Apr 18 2007, 9:05pm
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I've seen the news and...
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elvenhobbit
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Apr 19 2007, 8:09pm
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My only response: Prayers and heart-felt sympathy to Virginia Tech Students, Families, and Staff and
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grammaboodawg
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Apr 20 2007, 10:52am
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Hear, hear, gramma
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Altaira
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Apr 20 2007, 3:23pm
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The film " Bobby" captures so much of todays grief, then and now...
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Rivendweller
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Apr 20 2007, 3:51pm
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Mods way up.
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linkin-artelf
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Apr 20 2007, 9:47pm
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This, this is what is needed
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mae govannen
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Apr 21 2007, 11:34am
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*tearing* This is wonderful... thank you //
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grammaboodawg
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Apr 21 2007, 11:45am
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Wow. Thank you so much. His words are as true today as they were then. //
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Lossefalme
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Apr 21 2007, 1:25pm
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Thank you, Rivendweller.
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 21 2007, 6:35pm
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Thanks, Gramma.
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Apr 21 2007, 6:31pm
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