General Discussion

Bazinga

(331 posts)

68. The VPC has kept a running list of crimes committed with a .50 caliber rifle,

Wed Mar 12, 2014, 07:33 AM

Mar 2014

and we all know that the VPC is a gun-hugging right wing shill in the pocket of the ultimate evil the NRA ( ).

Here's what they came up with, VPC sniper crime.

There are 46 cases there, the oldest of which was 1992. Most of them were nothing more than the person had a .50 cal confiscated from their "arsenal" when they were arrested. Often on drug charges, some on gun trafficking, and some felons in possession.

I counted 5 times where the rifle was actually fired, and 9 people were killed. 4 of those were ATF officers killed at the shootout in Waco, TX. 3 more were a rampage shooting in Denver that involved two handguns. Neither of these cases mentioned that anyone was actually killed by the .50 cal.

Compare that to about 6,000 or so murdered each year by handguns.

I'm not saying anyone needs a .50 cal. I have absolutely no interest in ever owning one. But it does seem to beg the question, why do we need to concern ourselves with them?

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Italy up in arms over Michelangelo's David rifle advert (BBC) [View all] eppur_se_muova Mar 2014 OP

That asshole company showed massicve insensitivity and stupidity. HERVEPA Mar 2014 #1

Nonsense pipoman Mar 2014 #7

For guns???? HERVEPA Mar 2014 #10

You might find it hard to believe or understand that some people revere and love art... CTyankee Mar 2014 #17

Apparently Crepuscular Mar 2014 #30

I know someone who has one of those--they're HILARIOUS! nt MADem Mar 2014 #33

Sure and some post cards there are just close ups of David's genitals... CTyankee Mar 2014 #38

ArmaLite should Louvre David alone pinboy3niner Mar 2014 #2

Does the Italian government have a copyright in the USA? NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #3

The U.S. is a party to the Berne Convention jsr Mar 2014 #4

I can't copyright images of a work of art that old. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #5

Yes, it's too old in this case. jsr Mar 2014 #80

I wanna Nefertiti T! Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #75

It has been used in other ads pipoman Mar 2014 #6

David is a bit different. He is seen as a symbol of Florence, which is why Michelangelo chose to CTyankee Mar 2014 #26

They haven't complained before, though, so it makes their complaint now a bit, er, spurious! nt MADem Mar 2014 #35

well, they probably don't like it being used to sell guns. I'll be going on my fifth trip to Italy CTyankee Mar 2014 #37

I lived in Italy for nearly a decade. MADem Mar 2014 #46

Oh, but David holding a sling is fine? Orrex Mar 2014 #8

Well, maybe if it's a generic sling ... eppur_se_muova Mar 2014 #9

the last time I checked, the sling was present in the Old Testament story, a gun wasn't... CTyankee Mar 2014 #16

Heretic! Orrex Mar 2014 #41

Now, that's a catchy rendering! CTyankee Mar 2014 #42

This SHOULD pretty well kill this thread, but I see it did not. Good post none the less. nt Demo_Chris Mar 2014 #66

Maybe David needed a "penis extension" and "high capacity magazine." Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #77

Nucking fun guts . . . nt flamin lib Mar 2014 #11

And did the ad include the famous chant question everything Mar 2014 #12

Selective outrage Crepuscular Mar 2014 #13

One is about killing, one is about humour muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #14

Um, no Crepuscular Mar 2014 #19

The product, designed to kill, may not be legal in Italy muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #20

It was a US company produced ad intended for US viewing. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #23

If you don't give a fuck, then don't comment on it muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #25

The internet goes worldwide. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #29

So what if it goes world wide? You're here, what's it to you? Why do you care? CTyankee Mar 2014 #50

Because other American's on DU are towing their line. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #56

Oh, good lord. We don't have control of other countries laws and culture? Why do you think we do? CTyankee Mar 2014 #57

Their laws and culture don't apply here. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #58

I'm not advocating censorship in the U.S. but speaking on behalf of the people of Italy, esp. CTyankee Mar 2014 #59

Well, I think the Italians are just making shit up as they go along. MADem Mar 2014 #43

It seems to me that the crux of the problem is with this particular image. CTyankee Mar 2014 #51

I've seen commercials in Italy with a talking Mona Lisa. MADem Mar 2014 #60

well, as I've said, I think it is because of the product being sold...didn't seem "right" CTyankee Mar 2014 #61

They don't mind the product--so long as it's THEIRS. MADem Mar 2014 #62

I was wondering if you were in Catania with the USAF station there... CTyankee Mar 2014 #64

Agggh--no! MADem Mar 2014 #73

Taormina is breathtaking and Palermo turned out to be a world class city... CTyankee Mar 2014 #83

This and so much more MADem JustAnotherGen Mar 2014 #70

I can remember being in a restaurant during the "good" years.... MADem Mar 2014 #71

Now see JustAnotherGen Mar 2014 #74

Well, my dear....where you stand depends, as always, on where you sit!! MADem Mar 2014 #76

I highly doubt Crepuscular Mar 2014 #24

Then their aim is crap, isn't it? muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #27

But.....the Italians are arms dealers. MADem Mar 2014 #45

But they have more taste than to call a gun a 'work of art' muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #47

Well, Beretta flogs guns mightily over here, and, as the article I provided notes, MADem Mar 2014 #48

I watched some of the Italian game shows when I was visiting Sicily. Pretty tasteless... CTyankee Mar 2014 #49

They're also serious about their water! They have some of the best aqua minerale in the world, IMO MADem Mar 2014 #63

what a sweet commercial! I love it...nice find... CTyankee Mar 2014 #65

Ever heard of Gun Valley? nt Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #78

I imagine there are a few, select, sub-literate idiots who conflate 'concern' and 'outrage' LanternWaste Mar 2014 #72

Wikipedia knows - they have to be careful about photos muriel_volestrangler Mar 2014 #15

Thank you for that. Very interesting. CTyankee Mar 2014 #22

Well, for most of our history we have always been regarded as crude by Europeans NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #28

I think there are many great reasons to love freedom of speech, but desecretion of world class CTyankee Mar 2014 #32

I never noticed before, but David looks an awful lot like Peter Dinklage in a moonsuit... petronius Mar 2014 #54

This is typical of billh58 Mar 2014 #18

The statue has been in ads for underwear, pants, tires, etc NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #34

Art is art. Don't like it, don't look, etc (nt) The Straight Story Mar 2014 #21

3/4 of "fart" is "art." Why the dust-up? Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #79

Because Europe has so much more class than the USA Token Republican Mar 2014 #31

It is explained in muriel volestrangler's post. It explains the Italians' position CTyankee Mar 2014 #36

Italy has some pretty backwards laws/rules. NutmegYankee Mar 2014 #39

OK, great example of investigation of crash scenes. CTyankee Mar 2014 #40

Sylvia Poggioli on NPR said the Italian government ... gulliver Mar 2014 #44

the image Voice for Peace Mar 2014 #52

Riddle me this, Batman......... LongTomH Mar 2014 #53

Fifty caliber Shooters Association oneshooter Mar 2014 #55

Now that's funny. LuvNewcastle Mar 2014 #67

The VPC has kept a running list of crimes committed with a .50 caliber rifle, Bazinga Mar 2014 #68

Or, "don't show up to a gun fight with .50 BMG." You might stmble over it. Eleanors38 Mar 2014 #81

It looks ridiculous! sibelian Mar 2014 #69

He's seventeen feet high, if I remember rightly! So I guess that IS a "big gun"... MADem Mar 2014 #82