The point of politics, in that ethereal state of perfection which does not actually exist, is to propose and then enact collective solutions to problems which cannot be solved through individual or voluntary action. Then we’ve got the usual grasping monstrosities who actually get elected. But still some do try, however fitfully, to offer actual policies which will solve actual problems as a means to their gaining the office enabling them to enact such policies. Naive rubes of course, but still some try.
Which brings us to this chain of logic. The homeless suffer violence at the hands of the more evil or opportunistic among our society. Well, OK, American society. The police, that societally approved and paid for method of limiting violence against the citizenry aren’t much use here. So, therefore, arm the homeless. Further, use crowdfunded money to pay for the guns to arm the homeless.
We can also note that this plan is properly thought through. In order to own a handgun you must have an address. Not something that homeless people tend to have. Therefore we should buy them shotguns:
A US Senate candidate is campaigning to arm “victimised” homeless people with pump-action shotguns so they can defend themselves against violent crime.
Brian Ellison, a Libertarian Party candidate in Michigan hoping to run in November’s midterm election, believes the proposed initiative would help reduce violent offences against the homeless.
The former US Army veteran, who served in Iraq from 2003-04, believes America’s homeless population is “one of the most marginalised and victimised groups” in society and are “significantly more likely” to be victims of a crime compared to the general public.
As I say, properly thought through:
Mr Ellison told The Guardian that the ideal weapon would be a pistol, however a registered address is needed under US gun laws, while no permit is required to openly carry a rifle or shotgun.
This is perhaps better thought of as trolling of course. A Libertarian candidate in the US is, despite the honourable existence of candidates like Mike Munger, only a short step up from Canada’s Rhinoceros Party, or Screaming Lord Sutch over here. Once we’ve excluded the Randian nutters they’re honest, principled and often even right but with about as much chance of being elected as David Edward himself even from the grave. Thus the electoral tactic of such prime trolling.
Still, better than the Momentum tactic of promising everyone free everything but they’ve not the courage to stand as their own party, do they?
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Isn't this just one step from the Worstallian plan of "don't give 'em free food, give 'em free money". Give them a free shotgnu, they sell it, they have liquid currency to spend in whatever way they chose.
Gnu's not unix.
O/T but when the comments section gets a little feisty, my company filter kicks in and blocks the post for Adult Content. I don't think it's swearing (or no post with Ecks commenting would be visible) but sexual references of some sort. Happened with the latest one on trannies and now the one on Mueller with 75 comments. My company's filter isn't that sensitive, either.
I vote for Continental Telegraph not to try to solve this problem on its end, if the cost is "feisty" comments.
I think it's mainly sexual words. Will check when I'm at home.
Tim W wants the Big Time and PC is an ever-growing poison. We should have stayed as before.
As for "Hobo with a Shotgun" --one of Rutger Hauer's finest. The only way to top it would be "Blind Fury 2:Hobo with A Shotgun" subtitled "Fire at the Sound".
The biggest real problem would be that they would shoot at the police when they show up mob handed to beat some poor sod to death.
If they get to be good enough shots tho' there could be a home for them in the military.
Move over Rough Riders: The Rough Sleepers are here.
Spraying buckshot in a city center is almost as useless as a bump stock. Unless you are a Libertarian seeking headlines.
The problem is that we try to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill. I would say a reasonable proportion of the homeless in the US are mentally ill. Which is why they are homeless - no one in their right mind wants to go to a shelter as they are full of angry, smelly, violent mentally ill people.
On the other hand, giving them all shotguns may be exciting at first but present a solution to the problem in the end.
Great, so now I have to give them 20p for a cup of tea.
£20 for more bullets Steve.
Why don't we cut out the middle man and just give them free heroin? Preferably if they do something for it like shower. Then they will sleep all day and leave each other and everyone else alone.
I don't think this libertarian guy is going far enough.
Heroin is no good if you are an alki SMFS. Tho' they could use it as tooth powder I suppose.
They could make it peppermint-flavoured heroin.
They used to give it to alcoholics to wean them off the hard stuff. It works still.
Nobody likes homelessness, it appears to be an unmitigated harm. So, make it illegal, lock them up. They have a home now. Everybody's happy. Then find them a home and a job and let them out. Any home, any job. Won't take it? Back to jail.
Fuck off Twatty--go get your shotgun and your issue of peppermint-flavoured Heroin.
The Libertarians are not quite as ethereal as Lord Sutch. In its heyday, they had 4 reps, by election, in the 400-person New Hampshire House, and the Alaska House had 2 out of 40. In 2016, ex-governors Gary Johnson and William Weld were a spotty ticket that offered an alternative to "lesser of two evils." After decades of extinction, the NH house now has 3 Libertarians: 2 libertarian-conservative former Republicans and 1 anti-corporation former Democrat. They have a Minority Leader and can book time in a conference room to have a Caucus. Their only unifying principle is resistance to arm-twisting by the leader or whip of their former party; that is, to coordinated action.