Well, I reasoned thus as I read T.U.D.'s post ...

1)The "Dunblane" affair was a British thing, in which fight I have no dog, so I can't make any contribution in that area.

2) A discussion on "British Gun Control" versus "American Gun Control" isn't going to go anywhere or change anyone's mind; everyone already knows everything that they want to know on the subject.

3) A strong subtext of T.U.D.s post was that because of this history, there are craftsman skills, jobs, and knowledge that have been lost and are being lost. Gunsmithing skills are alive and well here ... but I have a mechanical chiming mantel clock that will not work properly but no one can fix, and I was using the only sharp handsaw that I have on a building project, and bemoaning the fact that I have two others, but can't find anyone to set and sharpen the teeth, and I don't have the tools to do it and don't know where to get them.

So I thought that fit in well with part of the original issue, wasn't as depressing as discussing mass murders by maniacs, and might generate some useful information, which a discussion of a state monopoly on deadly force probably would not ....

If this be subtlety, let us make the most of it!

Lannis