Do you have to practice to be that ignorant, or does it come naturally? part 2

A friend sent me a link. I guess after my 'critique' of "My Month with a Gun", she wanted my opinion.
So go read the post in the link. I'll wait.

1. After the first time I shot a gun, I couldn’t hear anything for two days. This is because it was a .44 magnum and because I was eight and not wearing any ear protection. It’s a huge gun—the kind Dirty Harry used—and my dad had to help me hold it as I pulled the trigger. The next day, he had to explain to my third grade teacher why the only thing I could hear was a loud ringing.

Did 'Dad' explain to the teacher (and children & youth) how he tried to give you permanent hearing damage?
Or how STUPID it is to try to teach a child how to shoot with a .44 Magnum?

2. There are right ways and wrong ways to go about your gun-having. (And your son-having.) My dad did do a good job of teaching me about gun safety once I was able to hear him speak words again. He even went and bought ear protection.

If your dad did a good job, he would've had the hearing protection BEFORE he had you, an 8 year old who trusted his father, risk permanent hearing loss.

3. For a while, the 60 percent of Americans who don’t own personal firearms had a hard time figuring out how to communicate in the jargon of gun people. But over the course of the last few dozen national conversations after mass shootings, we’ve all become armchair experts in arsenals. Was the killer using hollow points or full metal jacket rounds? Big difference. Is there a collapsible stock on that Bushmaster AR-15? Oh, he used Colt pistols instead of Glocks? Weird

Oh, you're an expert. Because of the press coverage. Good for you. Moron. Do you consider yourself an expert driver not for actual skill and knowledge but because you watched a NASCAR race or two? Are you an NFL quarterback because you watch football?
Oh and WHAT THE @#$% does a collapsible stock have to do with lethality? BTW, Bushmaster is a manufacturer, you don't need it to differentiate AR-15s.
And let me guess, you typed 'pistol' into a Google search and Glock and Colt were the first names you recognized.

As for the first cartoon, So much for you being impartial. FWI, the right corner of that. Read this.

4. After every mass shooting—which is essentially all the time these days—gun rights advocates drag out the “more guns = more safer” argument.

And yet 92% of these 'mass shootings' happen in 'gun-free zones'. (SARCASM here) I wonder why? No I don't. These cowards go for the easy body count where no one can oppose them.

5. Now. You’re allowed to oppose gun control on grounds that restricting the ability to purchase a gun violates your second amendment rights and will leave you up shit creek without a Smith & Wesson when it comes time to overthrow a tyrannical government.

Why thank you for 'allowing' me my Constitutional rights. Here I thought that my rights were written down somewhere.

6. Some dudes wrote the Second Amendment on piece of paper a while ago and we all have to live with the result of that.

Those "Dudes" were our FOUNDING FATHERS. And you don't have to "live with the result of that". You can MOVE. I hear England is looking for a new Piers Morgan.

7. Firearm technology is one of those things that really could have stayed frozen in time two hundred years ago and we’d all be doing fine right now, really. There would still have been plenty of opportunity to get our war on and defend our homes with single shot muskets you had to arduously reload by hand. The playing field would be even for criminals, do-gooders, and armies alike.

Never in my life would I ever have experienced this statement were it not for the internet.
I hate you internet.
Single shot muskets. That is even more moronic that 'slow Joe' Biden's double barrel shotgun remark (And he's proof that every court needs a jester). Tell that to this lady.
Oh and I'm sure that every other army in the WORLD will follow your 'expert' opinion.

Also, If someone is breaking into my home, I don't want to defend myself with a musket. I want an AR. And I want a reliable 30 round magazine. Hell, I would want a tank if I could get one on the second floor. Why? Because I want to SO OVERGUN the bad guy that he surrenders immediately WITHOUT A SHOT BEING FIRED.

8. You probably don’t need to have so many weapons for self-defense. You can only really use one at a time. And guns are sturdy products. They aren’t falling apart all over the place. Get rid of some of yours and go buy yourself a nice pair of boots. You’ll look great!

Guns aren't boots. They have specific purposes. I can't concealed carry an AR-15. But I can a Glock if I wear a loose shirt. Or a .380 if it is summer and I'm wearing a T-shirt.

9. If you take the positions of the NRA and add them up, you can see how the world would look if the gun lobby got everything it wants: Every American would have easy access to assault weapons, gun dealers would not be required to check the criminal record and mental health history of someone before selling them a gun, the capacity of gun magazines could be near-infinite, and it would be illegal for a city to stop people from carrying guns in public. This would be a country where you could literally buy an AR-15 at Walmart, immediately put on full tactical gear worn by SWAT teams, and stroll into a school for your parent-teacher conference with another fully armed adult. 

The NRA doesn't support that 'everyone' have easy access to any firearm.
The NRA supported the NICS background check that was instituted in the mid 90's.
You can buy a semi auto with a detachable magazine at Walmart and bullet proof vest aren't (to the best of my knowledge) restricted.

10. You think I’m anti-gun. I’m not.

Yes you are. Saying you aren't doesn't make it true.

11. But the scenarios you are preparing for aren’t going to happen. You aren’t going to save the day by shooting a terrorist in the grocery store. We need fewer guns so fewer people shoot their feet off, kill their girlfriends, kill themselves, and go on shooting sprees.

Or stop an armed robber at an internet cafe.
And fewer guns mean that the physically weaker in our society (women and elderly) would have NO defense against the stronger or multiple people with evil intent. And don't say that statement is fear mongering. If it were then you would have zero points for calling for gun control.

12. You can have guns for hunting. You can have them to ward off Mexican drug lords or whoever is going to storm into your house. Keep them there, in a locked safe. 

Once again thank you for 'allowing' me to have rights. I'm still under the delusion that they are guaranteed to me in the Bill of Rights.

13. And if we by chance ever need a well-regulated militia for a revolution or zombie apocalypse, by god, we’re going to be really happy you were born with a micro-penis.

You mean you can shoot a 9mm bullet out of your penis! Dude see a doctor, I'm pretty sure something is wrong with you!
Do you want to see what gun control would do? Chicago has some of the most restrictive gun laws and Iraq is safer than Chicago.

Dan Emplit WBFD
USN 1986 - 1992

My Line Chief's comments on the Kent lane fire

I was sent this on Sept 2. For reasons that I won't go into I was asked to delay posting it.

I usually tell you guys “Good Job” and “Thank You” for your efforts at the fires, car accidents, EMS calls that occur on our shifts. After witnessing your actions and having time to contemplate I decided a quick (long) note would be better.

I want to say not “Good Job” but “Great Job”.

As luck would have it, we had 14 Fire Fighters because only one Fire Fighter was off due to an OJI and had Engine 3 in service. Gone are the days that I would wonder “what if” Engine 4 was still in service at East Station on Northampton Street… “What may have been the difference” if Engine 4 arrived one minute before me and three minutes before Engine 3 is anyone’s guess. I guess Engine 4 is now like Engine 5, 7, 8, 9, and Truck 5 that are memories of being in service in my time, yet alone the ones prior.

But with what we had and the work that was done, I have no complaints or criticism. The call came in at 1848, I arrived at 1852, M-3 at 1853, Eng.3 at 1854. I am sure Eng 1 was at the hydrant at the same time. The turn off Meade onto Metcalf is tight and from Metcalf to Kent even tighter. Ed Smith, Brian Drevitch, and Capt Suchoski quickly had an attack line thru the back door and an additional one down as a back up to the side. Dan Emplit gave them water as they proceeded into the house. Eng 1 Capt McHenry, Francis Meehan, and Rob Sudnick dropped 5 inch hose down Metcalf, onto Kent and stretched it to Engine 3 and had it connected and flowing before Engine 3’s tank emptied and then followed them in. I do not know how Angela Patla ended up connecting the hydrant and turning it on after being in front of the house with us initially. I had concern when I called for the hydrant to start flowing and heard her voice. Knowing how stiff some hydrants are to open had me worried. I will not repeat Ang’s statement on how she could handle it, even made me blush. Jeff Berlew and Tom Burke got our Aerial to the intersection of Metcalf and Kent and quickly had the PPV fan set up and were packed up also. Engine 2 Capt Zenda, Tom Klapat, and John Ulichney arrived shortly thereafter, packed up, tools, ready to go. I was surprised to hear Jude Spellman and Rob Steininger at the scene when I requested them to respond. On their own they came, in service, but were there in case we needed them. Even our ‘Wayward son” Bill Court arrived on scene quickly with Don Hall, Paul Meehan, Capt Smith, and Capt Murtha after hitting a third.

You on duty guys, knocking down the fire, proceeding to do a primary search of the first and then second floor, eventually finding the victim, Betty, bringing her down to give her at least a chance, all while the fire was still not under control is still amazing to me even though you have done it before. I cite Pine Street. You go beyond to give them a chance. I look forward to the days when there will be a good outcome instead of just being told we did our best.

This fire had its difficulties, a hot and humid day to start with, the fire vented out the front and the radiant heat even made me use my coat to shield myself while doing a 360 degree and directing out front. Another thing… the stationing of Eng 3 and 1 by their drivers prevented any damage to the apparatus from the intense heat.

This first floor front room went from the free burning phase to the rollover stage shortly before arrival. The amount of fire venting out the front window and door confirms that. Your efforts to contain it to the front room prevented more fire damage and definitely extension to neighboring houses. The evidence of heat and smoke damage to the second floor indicates that it only needed a few more minutes before that went off. Some of you wanted to go to the second floor even before the fire was knocked down right below you. While commendable the risk was too great. The damage was done and your safety would have been in danger.

In a six story high rise with a raging fire on the second floor, the second floor is the most dangerous, followed by the third, then the sixth, then the fourth and fifth, and finally the first. While searches to the 4th, 5th, and 6th floors can be done without protection of a hose line, searches to the 2nd and 3rd floor needs that protection. In a 2 ½ story wood frame house, you need a hoseline flowing at least on the fire and another coming to the second floor soon.

Like I said before there are no complaints from me. I could not ask any more from you. In fact nothing but praise and admiration.

Like any fire, I get constructive criticism from below and above. Even this fire I got some, while I consider it small and insignificant in the big picture. I will relay.

When doing something to another’s apparatus, please inform the driver. This will prevent damage later on if not known to the driver. And I will do a better job of putting on all my gear, I should have put on the pants before leaving HQ. I got a little busy upon arrival. In that regard even with the high heat and humidity, all of you were in full gear. ATTA BOY. I think there was only one small first degree burn on unprotected skin. That is my main concern anymore, you going home safe.

I appreciate all the overhaul work done by the third alarm guys. You guys were exhausted, I knew it, only asked you to do additional work if no one else could do it.

Thanks also go out to Mike Stadulis for checking on you and providing rehab with Jude and Rob. Captain Williams, Mark Lear, and Shawn Williams for handling calls and helping put Engine 3 back in service and washing the over 500 ft of 1 ¾ hose.. That is why I sent Engine 3 back to SS asap. It was not in service the next day and I knew there was a lot of work to do that night. See….There is a method to my madness.

While I try to show my appreciation for you guys by trying to make sure your pay is correct, being accommodating with the work schedule to give you time off the best I can, being the middle man, and trying to make sure you do go home safe, I feel you guys deserve to see it in writing.

See you at the next one.

Remember T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves More

Thomas Makar
Asst. Chief
Bureau of Fire

Late add on:

I wasn't going to add anything, But...

I was Engine 3 driver for this fire, I was down to 1/8 of a tank of water when we finally got hooked up to the hydrant. That is about 20 seconds of water for ONE hose line. Without Engine 3 that night, We would've been fighting TWO house fires as Engine 1 would've ran out of water and Engine 2 was coming from the other side of our city.

Dan Emplit WBFD

AKA Don Quixote