Sale Of Hunting Weapons Declining – Gun Sales Up

Comments on a comment.

My recent thoughts on gun and ammunition sales have drawn a quick response from 'Native'. Readers of this blog recognize him as a ranch owner dedicated to managing his property according to proven environmentally sound methods. He also frequently comments thoughtfully on my ramblings.

His comment to my most recent post about sales of hunting weapons and ammunition prices appears as a comment to the original article. Nevertheless, I am posting his opinion here as a separate post to give it more prominence. Comments to a post get covered up and lost over time as the article gets replaced by newer materials.

In addition, I share "Native's" concerns about extremists among environmentalists and Animal rights Activists because any extremism has polarizing effects that impede cooperation and rational consideration of a problem. Concerns for the environment and its protection have always played a prominent role in my life. And so have protection and fair treatment of animals. I have worked for years as dog evaluator (not trainer) for a rescue group. As such the fate of animals rests in my hands on an almost daily basis. It also weighs heavily on my heart. That leaves very little room and tolerance for heart bleeding emotional arguments.

Preparing to publish the comment I found by sheer coincidence an article about a report by the United Nations. It evaluates the chances of 'mega disasters' as consequence of human activities. This article compliments and expands “Native's” comment.

Let's start with the comment:

“Excellent and solid advise, thoughts PJJ!

As I told my wife the other day, it doesn't matter one iota whether you believe in the bible prophesies or not.
The fact of the matter is that there are individuals who believe that these are the end of times, and that the skies are gonna' open and the earth beneath our very feet will crack into large gaping holes.

"That is where my concern lies"!

These fanatics and extremists will become ever increasingly dangerous as time progresses, and if the economy does not improve soon.
Especially if they are arming themselves at the current rate of which they are now doing.

Fanaticism and extremism on any front becomes a very dangerous thing because at that point a person loses all sense of rationale.
This is the very reason that I fight these A.R.G.s ( Animal Rights Groups) at every presented opportunity.
Because that particular group of people contain fringe groups within the organizations that are so rabidly concerned with their cause, that human life itself means nothing to them.

In my daydreams I fantasize about living in a time where all technology is gone and we must go back to a more natural and simple state of being.
Though it is only a favorite fantasy of mine and nothing more, but there are individuals who would usher in this type of existence at any cost.

Fully under the spell of their own personal doctrine, and believing themselves to be included in the upper echelon of privileged individuals.
The ones who will escape Armageddon and live upon earth in a utopian and new Eden like existence.

These type of individuals are the ones whom I have been concerned about and keeping a wary eye upon.
Poor fools that they are but none so dangerous as is a fanatic.

I guess they forgot about the paragraph in the bible which states: That no man will know or can predict when the end of times are at hand.“ (Comment by 'Native')

And now the UN:

UN: Growth of slums boosting natural disaster risk

By Brian Murphy, Associated Press

The rampant growth of urban slums around the world and weather extremes linked to climate change have sharply increased the risks from "megadisasters" such as devastating floods and cyclones, a U.N. report said Sunday.

The study — which examines natural disaster trends and strategies to reduce potential catastrophes — also noted that millions of people in rural areas are at higher risk from disasters such as landslides where forests have been stripped away or crippling droughts blamed on shifting rainfall patterns.

Much of nearly 200-page report restates warnings from previous studies about unchecked urban growth and shortsighted rural planning. But it also seeks to sharpen the apparent link between climate change and the severity and frequency of major natural disasters including severe droughts and epic storms.

"Climate change magnifies the interactions between disaster risk and poverty. On the one hand, it magnifies weather-related and climatic hazards. On the other hand, it will decrease the resilience of many poor households and communities to absorb the impact and recover," said the report . . .

At least 900 million people now live in shantytowns and other makeshift settlements in cities vulnerable to disasters such as cyclones, flooding or earthquakes, the report said. Those populations are growing at a rate of about 25 million a year, it said . . .

India, China and other parts of Asia were at a particularly high risk from so-called "megadisasters" such as last year's Cyclone Nargis, which killed an estimated 140,000 people in Myanmar, and the massive quake in China that claimed nearly 90,000 lives and left 5 million people homeless. . .

"The linkages between disaster risk, poverty and climate change ... form a particularly tightly interlocked group of global challenges," the report said. . .

"There are all these factors coming together: urban poverty, climate change, migration to cities from rural areas," he said. "We're saying: This is bringing about a situation of impending catastrophes, but there's also something we can do about it to lower the risks."

The full article is here.

PJJ