COVID-19

[Pilgrim]

Either because of the NRA or other related political forces, it appears that gun shops have been deemed "essential" in the states I've heard of. I personally haven't a clue what the justification is, but there has been a huge upsurge in firearms sales.  I debated this online on another forum, and the best justification anyone could offer was "... it’s not zombies I’m worried about. It’s our own government in this state and others wanting what I have!"

I suspect that vaguely paranoid feeling and distrust of "gummint" is deeply rooted in many.  Personally, right now the last thing that would enter my mind related to safety is adding a firearm.

I hope those here are focused on preserving the health of themselves and their family, and on doing so in positive ways.

Edited March 27, 2020 by Pilgrim

[Zed Head]

How many homes have walls that will stop a bullet?  I doubt that people are really thinking through what urban combat would be like, with their family in the home.  If they don''t have a home like that couple in Tremors, forget about it.  Reba could handle a gun though.

[siteunseen]

If it's gets really bad I only need one bullet.

[Av8ferg]

It’s a problem because most people have not clue how to handle a firearm. I have a concealed carry permit and having been shooting since I was a kid. Guns have been in my life as long as I can remember. In the right hands gun ownership can be safe. ZH, no house walls will stops billets. Bird shot is the safest to shoot in a house. Home invasions do happen. My wife’s brother had one happen to his family 2 years ago in Cary,NC. It’s a terrifying story but the guy was a bad dude and threatened to kill all his children. He was caught 4 month later robbing another person. Got a 27 year sentence
The gun stores are cleaned out here. My neighbor asked me yesterday if he could buy one one my handguns. He’s not worried about the government, he’s worried about lawlessness if the stink really hits the fan.


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[siteunseen]

Me too John. More guns than slingshots when I grew up so I don't get the whole gun debate thing. I was raised to respect a chainsaw more than a pistol. You brake to hard in my Dad's cars and a .38 slid out. Is that good or bad? 

[Mark Maras]

Good to see the Republicans and Democrats working together for a change. I wonder how long until they start pissing on each other again. It's a shame that it takes a common enemy to unite them.

[siteunseen]

21 minutes ago, Mark Maras said:

Good to see the Republicans and Democrats working together for a change. I wonder how long until they start pissing on each other again. It's a shame that it takes a common enemy to unite them.

I watched a good movie a day or so ago. "The darkest hours".

Winston Churchill had to convince his people Hitler was a threat.

Gary Oldman was great from what I could decipher then I turned on captions. A lot of mumbling.

 

[Zed Head]

There is enough data being generated that people are starting to estimate outcomes from the COVID-19 virus.  It doesn't look like society is going to collapse due to the virus, although the economic damage is another story.

The University of Washington is a university of good reputation.  They estimate 81,000 deaths, best case.  I've added the annual common flu death numbers for comparison., from the CDC site.  The worst flu seasons are in the low 60,000's, high ends of the estimates.

I did not dig in to the details of how they derived these numbers.  Just trusting the institutions.

https://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/uw-study-estimates-81000-us-deaths-from-coronavirus-1429-in-wash-state

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html

And here's the UW web site - http://www.healthdata.org/

And the paper the news article came from - http://www.healthdata.org/news-release/new-covid-19-forecasts-us-hospitals-could-be-overwhelmed-second-week-april-demand-icu

Edited March 28, 2020 by Zed Head

[Zed Head]

This is a Washington state thing.  Governor Jay Inslee screwed up.  Could hurt his re-election chances.  @Mike

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/no-one-can-be-russell-wilson-gov-inslee-says-after-suggesting-country-needs-tom-brady/P6F6JJBWE5E4LJ3OKADHUILRV4/

[Zed Head]

Some deep reading.  Just saw this guy on TV.  He's from the Naval War College.  And, five-time Jeopardy champion.

I use Wikipedia for general info about sources.  Sorry.  It is what it is.  Not pretty, seems political.  But the guy should have the best inside view.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Nichols_(academic)

 

[Zed Head]

Cuomo is briefing again right now.  He is like a professor teaching people the latest about how to handle the virus.  Starting today - bag valve masks.

Pick your favorite channel.  

[Zed Head]

Snake Plissken 

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-considering-quarantine-on-new-york-new-jersey-and-connecticut-2020-3

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082340/