Nailbender

Your obsession with Trump is very odd. No one is holding him up as a savior here. In fact, I've even started a couple times that I don't even like him. From your NYP article: “This is not a deal. This is not a swap. This is a surrender,” Bolton added. “And terrorists and rogue states all around the world will take note of this, and it endangers other Americans in the future who can be grabbed and used as bargaining chips by people who don’t have the same morals and scruples that we do."

I'm not keen on the idea of prisoner swaps of any kind but if that's the game our president wants to play, yes I'd like to see value in the trade. We gave up a guy who had a hand in the death of thousands, who contributed to turmoil and unrest throughout the world for someone who was too stupid to not bring her drugs on a plane to Russia. The term "Russian Gulag" is scary for a reason. Brittney Griner protested having the national anthem played before her games. She stayed in the locker room until it was over and made statements about how she didn't want it played because essentially, the anthem is racist. She influenced and encouraged young fans with her behavior. Do you suppose she will enjoy hearing that song now? Now she knows what racism really is.

Does a fine stop auto accidents or moving violations? What does any of this do to help prevent gun violence? Repeat offenders don't seem to be the problem unless you count places like Chicago. I don't think gangs are going to being paying insurance. Mass casualty events don't seem to happen more than one per shooter. I'm failing to see how this insurance idea prevents anything? That's not even mentioning my ideological problems with complying with it.

I was very specific. Please, I'd love to know what I got wrong. Guns don't define me either, I just enjoy them, same as wrestling.

He is a very articulate man armed with a lot of information. I'm not one for remembering statistics, he does a much better job anyway.

Agreed, it's even what my stated reason for starting the thread was. I wanted to know if most agreed if an arms dealer for a professional basketball player was a good trade.

Please don't take offense because I don't intend it (that's a switch eh?) but yes, you are anti-gun. You're just not anti-gun about the guns you like or are comfortable with. Unfortunately, I'm sorry but you don't know much about them or you wouldn't think some of the things you do. As one example, nobody owns "military weapons" at least not without a background check that includes a very long wait, fingerprints and pictures sent to the ATF and several other hoops including an extra fee. Unless by military weapons you mean a 1911 or an M1 Garand. I would also venture to guess, that you don't know as much about gun safety as you think you do but I do appreciate that you have some training. It's important and better than many. I too own guns. I also know a lot about them. I also coach highschool trap and am certified to do so. I also have trauma/bleed training. I take firearms very seriously. At our state trap meet their are 3-4 thousand kids and young adults shooting 750,000 rounds over 6 days. There are over 150 athletes shooting perpetually over the daylight hours of those 6 days. If guns are the problem, I don't see it and I see a lot of guns.

I think I can tell that my view of firearm ownership varies greatly from yours. My point of view has far more to do with not wanting to be punished for others poor choices. Which is why I don't want to get into a statistical debate. However to be a good abassador of my point of view and to assume you're arguing in good faith. I'll share this, which will begin to paint a picture of what I mean. https://youtu.be/u8c2wKISv0o

You should look at the numbers more closely. @jrosstried to help you with that. I'm not going to get into a statistical battle with you. Again, I'm not sure why your style of debate is to offer an opinion but at the same time acknowledge it isn't based on much. (Your last paragraph) I don't need to debate you, you do a pretty good job yourself.

I don't even know where to start, you chatty Cathy's are all over the place today. There is no link between an international arms dealer (maybe the biggest of all time) being freed by Biden and US gun crime. That is purely a distraction by those who had little to offer in regards to Biden being made a fool of on the national stage once again but I'll play along. It is the internet after all. I am glad to hear at least some support for firearms here. Although a lot of it seems based on policing the law abiding, and "solutions" that pile on to an already countless list of gun laws that don't solve much if anything. The laws we have are ridiculous in number, scope and also poorly enforced. Faith that the next set will solve anything is a fools errand. "Common sense gun control" is an illusion. The goal is the elimination of private ownership of firearms without express permission and then only a select few guns approved by the state. Politicians who don't know anything about guns and have armed security are trying to buy votes with an illusion of safety. Anyone who wants more regulation is naive. When it really comes down to it, who is responsible for your safety? I hope this is readable because it pretty much sums up what 2nd amendment supporters are up against since 1934. Now, I'm not one to throw over the table and scream. Most gun owners aren't or with the amount of guns in this country there would be a lot more gun violence than there is. Those who are serious about reducing violence do it everyday with their behavior, how they raise their kids and how they live their lives. It isn't legislated. As with most things, more laws are only the answer if you're a fool or a politician.

Life is better with a sense of humor. You should try it.

Again, look into the man and get back to me. I think you'll find the differences between him and your local sporting goods store to be vast. If you would like to start a topic on gun control, I'm your huckleberry.

Maybe look into what he did and get back to us? I'm not trying to be mean to you here, I just don't get it. You mention twice that you're not sure what he did but then comment on it as if your opinion should be recognized. I don't understand that kind of thinking. If you don't know anything about it, maybe your ideas on the subject aren't that relevant?

This sounds like a pre-excuse for why Nebraska will lose Jan. 20th.

In a really good way!

The only people I have seen bring up her sex or race in this thread don't appear to be Trump supporters. Oddly enough they are also the only ones who can't stop talking about Trump. This is Branden's show now. Let's talk about him. Joe Biden got Ms. Griner home. Time will tell at what cost. Being a politician for a long time doesn't mean squat for your negotiating skills, it just means you can look out for what's good for you......really well.

If Trump would've made the exact same trade, would he have been a "tool of Putin" or would it be a "collusion with Russia"? What you call comparing and contrasting, I might call finger pointing that is nothing but a distraction. Trump isn't president, hopefully won't be again and doesn't really have any bearing on this conversation. Brittany Griner left the USA, broke the law and was sentenced. I feel the sentence was unjust and I'm glad she gets to come home. That said, Biden is not a good negotiator in my opinion.

These are getting pretty good.

You are acting like a child with their hand an inch in front of the entire forums face screaming "I'm not touching you, I'm not touching you!". If it weren't so funny, it would be very sad. Act like an adult and people would leave you alone.

Fair trade? https://www.kwwl.com/news/top-stories/wnba-star-brittney-griner-released-from-russian-detention-in-prisoner-swap-for-convicted-arms-dealer/article_a80e687c-7d34-5a36-bf7c-9d25ff9c97bb.html

Coal, would be my guess.

Is this kitten high and possibly seriously socially handicapped?