Rambling Rhodes

I know I always say stuff like this, but I can actually see how this might be a valid idea. We did archery in my elementary school, but by the time I got to high school it was off the curriculum and there was a whole thing about making sure that kids never did anything where anyone might get hurt or learn anything they weren't supposed to because those kinds of decisions were up to the parents. So if a kid got a target arrow in the back, the school would get sued into oblivion. But I always felt like the regimen of a firing range would be good for students, and maybe teach them a little bit about violence in the process-- that there are some things you just don't do without thinking about them first. The only comparison I can think of is that people I know who grew up in the country with parents who were really strict about how and when it was appropriate to use firearms just tend to be more serious-minded in my experience.

Of course, they also tip cows for fun. But you see my point.

I understand your point, Joshua. I primarily thought the headline was funny.

On a similar note to your point, I was in Jiu-Jitsu last night and the instructor was telling us how he basically writes up press releases for the local paper when the competing students come back from tournaments, listing what students placed where and such. He was telling us how hard it is to get the newspaper to print those results because people constantly send letters to the editor and complaints that Jiu-Jitsu and martial arts promote violence and blah, blah, blah.

I swear, give this nation one more decade, and we'll be the biggest pussies on the planet.

The only thing worse than the rash of street gangs using their martial arts skills against innocent people is the rash of street gangs using their archery skills to terrorize American cities:

Detroit Chief of Police Don Burnside told reporters Wednesday "For twenty years, ever since the Dukes of Hazzard first aired, felony archery has been considered primarily a rural crime concern, but that's not true any more. We're seeing more and more incidents every year. Drive-by arrowings and TNT-arrow arson are definitely on the rise. Between that and the Jiu-Jitsu gangs, we've got our hands full."

I remember I was in a gun store immediately after the Brady Bill passed and the guy behind the counter was talking to one of his customers:

"One of the things that's now illegal is any rifle that has a lug fitting for a bayonet. I hear those drive-by bayonet charges were becoming a real problem in Washington D.C."

The worst thing about drive-by arrowings and bayonettings is that they're so deathly quiet the perpetrators almost always get away clean.