Quote: Griff @ July 2 2008, 4:53 PM BSTIt's a pole, with an axe on the end.
In the same way that crack pipe you smoke is a pipe with crack in it.
So the guy got a pole of some kind, shoved an axe in the end, then went and punched (!?!?) the guy with it? And there's surprise that he died? 
Quote: Aaron @ July 2 2008, 4:55 PM BSTYes, so let's crank up prison sentences, make prisons less comfortable and friendly. Give people a reason to fear the law.
Absolutely spot on. We need a dramatic u-turn on this, since it won't be long before the offender's rights overtake the victim's.
Quote: zooo @ July 2 2008, 4:52 PM BSTThat's where we differ.
I don't want a gun in any circumstance.
I agree. I doubt I could use one. My conscience wouldn't let me.
A crossbow, on the other hand...
A taser!
Hmm how about the following slef defence weapons,
Tazer, tear gas, cross bow, baseball bat, semi trained baboon, shurikens, mirror.
Quote: Aaron @ July 2 2008, 4:53 PM BSTAye - and in doing so, one debases oneself to the level of the first criminal. "I'm going to kill you before you kill me." Such ... maturity.
Choosing to kill someone before he kills you seems like a healthy choice to me.
Where was that thing I read about a man in America who shot a kid for wearing baggy jeans and 'looking like' a criminal...?
There were loads of comments after the news story agreeing with him for doing it. Get 'em early, before they rob us! etc.
Awesome.
Quote: sootyj @ July 2 2008, 4:56 PM BSTNo, nothing wrong with asking people to check them in at the end of the day.
And if you believe that they would, then you have too much faith in society and other people, and should be locked up for your own safety.
Quote: DaButt @ July 2 2008, 5:01 PM BSTChoosing to kill someone before he kills you seems like a healthy choice to me.
You sound so stereotypically American!
Bless you.
A very interesting pro-abortion argument, as used in Freakonomics
Quote: Aaron @ July 2 2008, 5:01 PM BSTAnd if you believe that they would, then you have too much faith in society and other people, and should be locked up for your own safety.
In alot of countries they do. This isn't a pipe dream, it's reality.] in a lot of countries.
n.b. you'd lock people up for having faith, does that include George Micheal and the Pope?
Quote: Griff @ July 2 2008, 4:57 PM BSTYou don't fear a tough prison sentence if you don't think you'll get caught.
It's not not getting caught, it's the shocking state of our justice system at present that lets people get off with light or no sentences.
And in any case, the harsher sentences are, the more people would think twice, whether they think they actually will get caught or not. Most know that there is always a chance.
Quote: Griff @ July 2 2008, 5:02 PM BSTYou can buy a Taser in the States with an MP3 player in it.
Really.
http://www.podcastingnews.com/2008/01/09/tase-bro-mp3-player-bad-idea/
And in Leopard skin, I want one!
Quote: ian_w @ July 2 2008, 4:58 PM BSTit won't be long before the offender's rights overtake the victim's.
I think that that happened long ago.