The New Hobbit Hole

[John Farson]

I wasn't aware you didn't know your neighbors. I'm sorry if I overreacted.

"Hello maam, is there a gun in this vehicle?"

It is really none of his business.

[HairOfTheDog]

OH - I think it is a fair question in the line of work they are in. I cut good cops a bit of slack on wanting to know what they are dealing with when they pull me over. I don't think they ask everyone, my CWP just shows up when they call me in. I am glad my CWP shows up. It tells them I am obeying the law where my gun is concerned. I hear the dispatcher tell them when they call in a plate on my scanner.

[RMDupree]

It is really none of his business.

LOL! A response like that would get me thrown in the can quicker than you-know-what here in Miami!!

[John Farson]

In my state hunters have been arrested and sent to prison for minor infractions when transporting their weapons. (One guy had his rifle wrapped in a blanket instead of an "authorized" container.)

As a law-abiding gunowner, I must report any changes of address to the State or risk being charged with a felony.

If two or more members of your family have FOID cards, you will be flagged in Mayor Daley's database.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah.... OK. Very different town from mine!

[ksen]

A telephone call to your neighbor doesn't put her in any danger.

If she knew the neighbor then I would agree with you 100%.

But if my wife didn't know the neighbors and I wasn't around then I'd want her to call the cops if she was that upset. They're paid to investigate stuff like that, she's not.

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

But if my wife didn't know the neighbors and I wasn't around then I'd want her to call the cops if she was that upset. They're paid to investigate stuff like that, she's not.

Amen, bro! Calling the police is the right thing to do in that situation.

Now if the shooter had any courtesy at all, he/she would have introduced themselves and asked his/her neighbors not to be alarmed, but that they were going to be doing a little shooting, etc... whatever. But no. They just start blasting away, without regard to what the neighbors might think. This is why some gun owners get a deservedly bad reputation....

[John Farson]

I'm glad to hear you warn your neighbors before you mow your lawn.

[HairOfTheDog]

Thanks for all your support, and John, thanks for questioning me. We need to work through these issues because they do come up, and it is good to work through this. Sometimes these judgments are hard to make when the line between my peace and the neighbor's rights appear to be coming into conflict. I hope I have been fair in this case. I came here to talk about it in order to test my instincts on it, and I feel that all things were considered then and even better now.

[Corin Stormhands]

I'm glad to hear you warn your neighbors before you mow your lawn.

I thought we settled that one John. Silly comparison.

There are no gun grabbers here in the hole. I think we've established the fact that situations differ.

You haven't been around (for awhile?) and you come in and start off calling "us" Germans because we think a single female that lives alone shouldn't go running off to ask a stranger what the heck he's shooting at.

I don't think you're a cave troll. But you're starting to sound like one...

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

Oh, come on.... I live in a densely populated metropolitan area where shooting is not allowed, and I always have done. So, admittedly, I am approaching this issue from that perspective. Are you telling me that hearing shooting in the "country" is as common as mowing the lawn? If so, then I may concede the point, but I still think it would be alarming, especially in light of current events, or at least desirable to know exactly who was shooting and why. And if you don't know the neighbors, calling the police is the right approach.

[HairOfTheDog]

Go easy guys, please... We are all friends here! - and I don't want to see harsh talk back and forth.

[ksen]

I'm just sitting here reading some FoTR during lunch and came across this line about Shadowfax:

Shadowfax they called him. By day his coat glistens like silver; and by night it is like a shade, and he passes unseen.

I wonder if PJ will pick that bit up about Shadowfax looking like a shade during the night?

[HairOfTheDog]

Good plan... ksen! - Distract me with horse-talk!

I am going to be very impressed, I think with the horse-work done in TTT. I am so glad they were able to cast a horse as Shadowfax that will be ridden at Liberty. The training and other considerations to pull that off was so hard to do, when it would have been so easy for PJ to leave out the part about Shadowfax being ridden without a bridle.

So I don't know how much more development he will give Shadowfax, but he has already invested a lot of energy into getting him right.

[RMDupree]

Methinks that John has underestimated the fierce protectiveness of the Hole dwellers for each other and especially you, Hair! ;)

John is looking at it as a gun rights issue and we (Vim, Corin, myself, etc) are looking at it from "protect your friend" perspective. Both are valid, but I consider your safety to be more important than some neighbor being "offended" by a friendly check in from a small town deputy.

[RMDupree]

On one of the appendice discs, I noticed a horse simulation on a computer screen - it had ot be Shadowfax!

PJ will probably have them superimpose the silver and shade as needed.

[John Farson]

It sounds like Hair lives near the edge of town, not in the country. Yes, hearing shots is common -- especially on the weekend.

I didn't intend to stir up trouble, but initially it seemed like some here were a little too eager to inform on their neighbors. Perhaps my reaction was too harsh, I apologize.

I can relate to Tolkien's lament of the vanishing rural countryside...

[ksen]

Ok folks, here is a little test on your Middle-Earth lore.

I am at the Council of Elrond in the book. Gandalf has just finished his tale and has asked Elrond what is to be done with the Ring.

Elrond says, in responding to the treason of Isengard, "It is perilous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy, for good or for ill. But such falls and betrayals, alas, have happened before.

All right, what episode is Elrond thinking about in the bolded portion of his quote? Anyone know, or have a guess?

The only thing I can think of is the betrayal of Feanor(?).

[rightwingreligiousfanatic]

No hard feelings whatsoever. I support the right to keep and bear arms, and I too lament the vanishing rural countryside. Nice pic, is that you as a boy? Or your son?

[ksen]

I can relate to Tolkien's lament of the vanishing rural countryside...

Me too John. I'm glad we have guys like you on our side.