ryanmacl

And if I was the father of that kid. i would personally hunt down the police who killed him and extract my own personal form of justice. Even if it got me killed.

So let's change it around a bit. Instead of a toy modified to look real, let's say it's a 12 year old with a real gun, pulling it on other children at a park. Police show up, and instead of shooting they taze him. Since tazing makes the muscles spasm, the boy inadvertently fires a stray round into your child's head, who was nearby playing on the swings. Who are you extracting your vigilante justice from now?

I hate this sort of thing, another knee jerk reaction when it isn't due. A kid is dead because his parents raised him poorly, not because of the color of his toy. He should have been raised to immediately follow orders from a police officer, and maybe where certain activities are and are not appropriate. Things like this can't be legislated out of existence. The article says the boy took the orange plastic off the barrel of the gun, so his intent was to make it look more realistic. If the gun was all orange, he could easily have just painted it black.

As for not letting children play with toy guns, are cars just a toy? Would you let them play with those? What if they take your keys, drive down the road and plow into a few pedestrians? How about dolls, do they teach children that people can be playthings? Toys are toys, "safe" representations of things they will come into contact with as adults. bkkcanuck8, I'm not trying to attack you, how you raise your children is your own prerogative, I'm just pointing out the issue.

The problem is responsibility. Having a child makes the parent responsible for their behavior. It's an idea that many people these days don't seem to understand. The fault here lies in the parents for raising a child to think that any of this behavior was acceptable. Instead of recognizing where the issue lies, the media will focus the blame on absolutely everyone else. The police, the manufacturer of the toy, inadequate laws, the parks staff, absolutely everyone except the parents. This same routine happens every time a child dies.

That sounds encouraging ryanmaci.

If the female end looks like the attached then there is hope. Since I don't plan to stick a round prong in there it might even last.

I've never been to this store so I hope I will be pleasantly surprised for once. Due to my crappy Thai language abilities, it will be a challenge to find it as once Google translate kicks in on their location page, one list is Bang, Sukhapibal, Na, Mix Cha Lop, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi, Salaya, Sara, Thani, Bang, Rama and I've never heard of these places nor have I any idea which one is close to me. My problem, I'll deal with it tho.

Thanks!

All the Thai Watsadu's have them in several different lengths, I think I paid around 170 baht for the 10 meter one my dog just chewed through. US style 3-prong male plug, with the multi-country grounded female end that always wears out with the round two-prong local stuff. Still, works fine for what you want it for, and you could always snip it and replace the female side. The whole thing is orange and pretty heavy gauge, suitable for whatever you plan on using it for. They aren't hard to find either, big displays in the electrical sections and they also hang them up around the store near power tools and such.

Unfortunately, no. The female end looks like the one in post #5. You may be able to find a replacement end that is a US 3-prong female. Try referencing the NEMA chart to help you lock down what you need.

http://www.stayonline.com/reference-nema-straight-blade.aspx

All the Thai Watsadu's have them in several different lengths, I think I paid around 170 baht for the 10 meter one my dog just chewed through. US style 3-prong male plug, with the multi-country grounded female end that always wears out with the round two-prong local stuff. Still, works fine for what you want it for, and you could always snip it and replace the female side. The whole thing is orange and pretty heavy gauge, suitable for whatever you plan on using it for. They aren't hard to find either, big displays in the electrical sections and they also hang them up around the store near power tools and such.

My wife and her whole family sell clothes from Pratunam and are friends with many shop owners. Most of the stuff there is made from local factories (sweatshops), you can custom order what you want but you have to use the whole bolt of fabric, usually around 60 dresses I believe. It seems a run normally takes around 3-5 days. A lot of wholesalers are now ordering from China because they can get the clothes cheaper, but obviously takes longer. Try to talk to some of the smaller shop owners, many of them will be happy to act as a middleman for a few baht per piece.

I keep seeing the word "should" thrown around. "Kids should not be taught how to shoot" or "nobody should have a gun". Right off the bat, who are you to decide what other people should and shouldn't do? I can't imagine the majority of parents give a crap how you think they should raise their children, I certainly don't.

Now that the rant is out of the way, it's a sad story about an easily preventable range accident. Everybody surely thought at the time they were doing things in the safest possible way, but obviously hindsight is 20/20. I can't see why any parents would want their child to fire an Uzi for any reason other than to prove how shitty of a weapon it is. 1000 baht up in smoke every time you pull the trigger, no holes anywhere you wanted them. When my daughter is a bit older, she'll be at the firing range just like that poor young girl, but she'll be holding something she can handle.

Back to ranting. Why would you try to withhold any type of knowledge from your children? Learning how to handle a weapon safely is better than finding yourself in a situation where you need one and don't know how to use it, is it not? My daughter will be taught how to use power tools safely as well. She may not ever find the need to build a barn, but I'll be damn sure she can use a circular saw without chopping off her fingers.

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A little more perspective on guns in America.

This is from Pew Research Center, published in May 2013:

Since the CDC began publishing data in 1981, gun suicides have outnumbered gun homicides. But as gun homicides have declined sharply in recent years, suicides have become a greater share of all firearm deaths: the 61% share in 2010 was the highest on record. That year there were 19,392 suicides by firearm compared to 11,078 homicides by gun (35% of all firearm deaths). The rest were accidents, police shootings and unknown causes.

So, this argues somewhat against the "protection" argument for possessing a gun, and argues for ridding your household of guns if anyone in it is suicidal, depressed, or undergoing dramatic personal changes (divorce, loss of job, etc.).

Now, to anticipate the counter-argument that you can kill yourself any number of ways, this is certainly true. We see a similar trend in the US of increasing deaths by prescription medicines. But I think it can be argued (and some studies support this) that guns present an attractive option for satisfying the impulse, whereas other means are less certain and slower to prepare; hence, the impulse fades.

I feel quite certain my sister would be long gone by now if there had been a gun in her home. As it was, she only had pills and an attentive husband, so we still enjoy her company.

Suicide is a whole other can of worms, but personally I'm not against suicide. It kind of takes care of the problem itself. That said, someone in my family did try that once, with pills, while I (a firefighter) was home, and they are alive because I saved them. I told them they were stupid trying that while I was around. Anyway, if someone wants to do it, why only allow them the more painful ways of doing it? Let it be quick and painless.

Haven't seen anyone here question this word, 'freedom', that is thrown about so easily in this debate. I'm currently in a country--Singapore--that most Americans would consider far from free, and I wouldn't argue with them on that point at a conceptual level. However, this is also a place where a woman can walk down a city street at three in the morning without fear and where I can walk through any neighbourhood without worrying about whether I've got the 'right skin colour' to be there. The American women I've met here say that they actually feel freer here than back in the US because of this. No-one denies that freedom is important, but is it important in the abstract or in how one actually experiences it? [Note: I'm not advocating the 'Singapore system', just highlighting that 'conceptual/constitutional freedom' and 'psychological/experienced freedom' don't always line up].

Singapore is a single city. A city where they threaten to beat you for spitting. Big surprise its safer. Also, interestingly enough, there are estimated to be 22,000 privately owned firearms in Singapore, yet less than 1000 owned legally. Who owns the other 21,000? Criminals. Apparently very well armed criminals.

There are dozens of places I've lived in throughout the US that any woman I know would walk through at night without a care in the world. Have you ever been to the US? Or are you judging an entire country based on movies and news headlines?

This is a crock because Mexico, South Africa and Russia are not included, Chile??? Where's Brazil? Just another anti- NRA propaganda stunt. Switzerland gives an M16 to every Swiss head of household in the interests of national security. 15 deaths out of 100,000 is 0.015% far less than the chance you have of slipping in the bathtub or whatever. Whatever the anti gun lobby says, please say it when you have a gun at your head or a knife at your throat.

If you can actually answer this question with honesty then please do tell how many times in your civilian life you have had a gun pointed at your head or a knife at your throat and please do tell us how you escaped the danger.

For myself, had a gun pointed at me once. While stopped at a red light the driver in front of me was smacking the female passenger . I exited my truck, knocked on his driver window since the door was locked. He reached over to his console and picked up a semi-auto and pointed it at me with a look of "your move". Well my move was to return to my truck and wait for the green. I would not have engaged this person in a firefight even if I had been carrying.

Funny but in all my near 80 years of life, mostly in the US, I have never required a firearm to fend off a pistol to my head or a knife to my throat.

Do you think maybe you watch too many movies?

Gun: twice, once I ran, another time talked the situation down.

Knife: several, only once at the throat however, and was cut a bit. Have a nice little scar from that one. Plenty of times have I seen them pulled.

That is from civilian life, I won't bother to go into my military career.

Honestly a gun wouldn't have helped me in my situations, but it probably would have in yours. Maybe the poor girl wouldn't have gotten smacked around anymore. Instead you tucked your tail in and walked away, leaving her alone with an armed assailant. Good job, you must be proud so of yourself. That was someone's daughter you allowed to get battered; what would you do if you walked up to the car and it was your own daughter? If more people carried guns, would the man have been so quick to reach into his console? You've basically proved that disarming citizens lets the bad people win.

Apparently, in your near 80 years of life in the US, you've been pretty sheltered. It is fortunate that you have had that opportunity to be sheltered, that isn't a bad thing. Just don't try to sit there and preach to those of us who wouldn't have just walked away, regardless of a gun to the face.

My question was for ATF but I really enjoyed your piping up.

Your post was really funny.

How do you find yourself in so many situations with people pulling guns and knives?

I suppose that question was rhetorical since it appears from your post that you lack certain communication and social skills. There is nothing in my above post that could be construed as preaching.

I volunteered the incident with the guy pulling the gun knowing I would ensnare one of you tough guys. Your response is exactly what I what anticipated and I am hopeful you will now describe to me how you would have approached the situation.

Also, please confirm that what you are saying is you would would have killed the man in the seat without knowing anything more about a situation than he was hitting the passenger.

This is a great example for the OP. Thanks.

I'm glad you found it so humorous.

How did I find myself in so many situations? The folly of youth I suppose. I apologize for answering your rhetorical question, but I suppose that is my lack of communication and social skills kicking in.

Ensnared! You got me! You asked a question and I answered it. Very clever trap you set there. I suppose you are ensnaring me again, and I guess I'll fall right into it, answering again.

How would I approach the situation? Well, first, since I am not, nor ever have been, afraid of a gun any more than a knife, pipe, or any other weapon, I would have remained calm. I would have told the guy he isn't going to shoot me, since there is no way in hell he would. I would have said the following: "You can shoot me right now and go to jail, you can drive away and I call the police with your plate number and report you assaulted me with a firearm, or you can let the girl out of the car and everybody calms down. You don't want to do anything irrational, and nobody wants to make a decision here that is going to end their lives." I can't say that I would even have had a firearm on me, since (as I said before) the only firearm I've ever owned was a rifle (Remington 10/22) which never left my house. I haven't lived in the States since I got out of the military, so I haven't had a chance to own a pistol and obtain a CCP. If/when I move back to the States, I will go out and get a Concealed Carry Permit, which would make a situation like this much safer for me. Either way, I wouldn't have drawn it while I was trying to de-escalate a situation.

In many ways, a gun is a very safe weapon. It only fires in one direction, and has a limited amount of ammunition. Get close to someone with a knife, try to take it away from them, you will get cut. Get close to someone with a gun, it is pretty easy to disarm them if you know what you're doing. In your situation, stand slightly behind the B-pillar of the car so he can't get a clear shot at you, if he gets out knock it out of his hand. Call 911 on your phone before you even get out of your car, but in your case and at your age this incident may easily have happened before cell phones.

I'm guessing this wasn't the answer you were looking for. This is basic, basic stuff that, while I learned in the military, could easily be taught in school. Is there some reason volleyball and badminton are more important to teach to students than self-defense?

As far as your other statement goes, regarding the 2nd Amendment crowd always itching for a fight, I'd fight just as passionately if you tried to take away the rights in any of the other amendments. It just so happens more people attack the 2nd than the 3rd, nobody seems to think its acceptable to quarter troops in personal residences during peacetime, but its fine to say Americans no longer deserve the right to defend themselves.

Dissect my post again, as you seem to be so fond of doing. Pick out whichever parts seem to prove your point. The fact is, a armed, educated citizen in the vicinity of any of these massacres you are so afraid of could end it before it ran its course. On that subject, in a world where there are no guns, what would stop these individuals from making things like pipe bombs or simple chemical weapons? Those are indiscriminate weapons, capable of killing many people at once, while a gun can only fire one bullet at a time. No guns, the bombing at the Boston Marathon would still have happened.

I am not a vigilante, nor are the overwhelming majority of gun owners. We are responsible citizens who find preparedness to be important. Whether it be hunting, sport-shooting, self-defense, we are educated and know how to use a simple machine. We don't cower in fear from it. Spiders, yeah I might cower in fear from those from time to time.

This is a crock because Mexico, South Africa and Russia are not included, Chile??? Where's Brazil? Just another anti- NRA propaganda stunt. Switzerland gives an M16 to every Swiss head of household in the interests of national security. 15 deaths out of 100,000 is 0.015% far less than the chance you have of slipping in the bathtub or whatever. Whatever the anti gun lobby says, please say it when you have a gun at your head or a knife at your throat.

If you can actually answer this question with honesty then please do tell how many times in your civilian life you have had a gun pointed at your head or a knife at your throat and please do tell us how you escaped the danger.

For myself, had a gun pointed at me once. While stopped at a red light the driver in front of me was smacking the female passenger . I exited my truck, knocked on his driver window since the door was locked. He reached over to his console and picked up a semi-auto and pointed it at me with a look of "your move". Well my move was to return to my truck and wait for the green. I would not have engaged this person in a firefight even if I had been carrying.

Funny but in all my near 80 years of life, mostly in the US, I have never required a firearm to fend off a pistol to my head or a knife to my throat.

Do you think maybe you watch too many movies?

Gun: twice, once I ran, another time talked the situation down.

Knife: several, only once at the throat however, and was cut a bit. Have a nice little scar from that one. Plenty of times have I seen them pulled.

That is from civilian life, I won't bother to go into my military career.

Honestly a gun wouldn't have helped me in my situations, but it probably would have in yours. Maybe the poor girl wouldn't have gotten smacked around anymore. Instead you tucked your tail in and walked away, leaving her alone with an armed assailant. Good job, you must be proud so of yourself. That was someone's daughter you allowed to get battered; what would you do if you walked up to the car and it was your own daughter? If more people carried guns, would the man have been so quick to reach into his console? You've basically proved that disarming citizens lets the bad people win.

Apparently, in your near 80 years of life in the US, you've been pretty sheltered. It is fortunate that you have had that opportunity to be sheltered, that isn't a bad thing. Just don't try to sit there and preach to those of us who wouldn't have just walked away, regardless of a gun to the face.

See above. I just wrote how our views of the importance of gun ownership differs. I'll twist it for you. He's worried about his personal security right now, and I'm worried about the security of my country if ever the need arises.

I'm willing to take some risks today to assure a free country for my grandchildren.

Would you sacrifice YOUR grandchildren to protect your freedom?

Huh? ?? I would sacrifice myself for my grandchildren's freedom.

What are you on?

America has the world's 3rd largest population. The teeny, teeny percentage of them killed by gun murder each year is far less than the number killed in car accidents, or from smoking or drinking.

I'm not on anything. You say that the teeny teeny percentage of people killed by gun murder is an acceptable loss in order to maintain the freedom and security given to you by your ability to own guns. I'm just asking if you'd still find that sacrifice acceptable if your grandchildren were part of that teeny teeny percentage?

I don't have grandchildren, I have a beautiful daughter. If she were killed, the last thing I would blame is the gun. Would the knife be at fault if someone stabbed you?

There's logic in your argument, and it's well-stated. But don't you see the irony in the what you're saying? The reason why you need a gun to protect yourself is because your society is flooded with guns ... your society has created a hideous chicken-and-egg dilemma. The bad guys have guns so the good guys need to arm themselves which gives the bad guys more guns to steal, and so it goes. I spend most of my time in a place where guns are outright illegal for civilians. My gf, when she visits, can walk down my street at 3am without fear ... it's common. Police don't have to worry about being shot at when they show up at a domestic dispute. I don't have to worry that if I step on some lunatics foot at a bar, he'll be waiting later for me in the parking lot with a gun. And most of all, children can go to school without having to pass through metal detectors and they don't have to worry about being massacred by a schoolmate or deranged outsider. Can't you see how dysfunctional your society has become?

And where is it that you come from that doesn't have violence? Does it matter if they come at you with a gun or a knife?

Sure I can see how dysfunctional my society has become, I just don't attribute it to guns, while so many others want to use them as a scapegoat. When I had a gun, I never shot anyone. I don't know anyone who has, aside from military service. It would certainly seem to me like the majority can handle a firearm responsibly. People make pipe bombs, would you also ban pipes and nails? The focus should be the people who do these things, and how to identify and prevent them from happening. Not the tool they use. The fact that we don't is why we are so dysfunctional.

Yes, you did generalize. It would be like me saying "The posts you make are juvenile and devoid of any insight. (Not all of them, of course). Your relationship with your keyboard is almost obsessional. And "relationship" is probably the right word for many hours of each day." See how those little brackets don't really help?

It seems you can't see the forest for the trees. If books are too difficult an allegory, how about cars? Cars kill far more people per year than guns. Cars are a substantial investment, more so but not unlike guns. People are generally protective of their "right" to own their cars.

Does that help?

Not a useful example (re my posts). If you believe that most of my post are juvenile, I don't see how that's generalising... you may very believe that (though you'd be wrong, of course )

Your 'allegory' about cars--ok, it's not really an allegory, is it?--doesn't really work either. Classic NRA logic. Cars have been designed from the start to transport people, not kill. However, through misuse or mistake, they sometimes do lead to death. Guns, on the other hand, were designed from the start to damage, maim, and kill. That is their core function, though their use has since expanded to include sport shooting (just as cars are sometimes used in sport racing).

To be honest, it's not so much guns that I have an issue with ... it's bullets. If they could exclusively/only sell non-lethal rubber bullets, then as the song goes, "fire away, fire away..." I'd have no problem with you engaging in your hobby. Why not? Is that something you could live with?

I haven't read any of your posts other than in this thread, and I doubt they are juvenile and devoid of insight. What I was getting at is that the "(Not all of them, of course)" doesn't negate the rest of the statement, especially when you are talking about an entire country.

As for the car "metaphor" if you will, I'm glad you consider it to be classic NRA logic. It is logic, NRA or otherwise. I am a lifetime member of the NRA, and while I don't agree with everything they fight for, I still agree with the fight to protect the rights Americans currently have. I can't say if guns were initially invented for hunting to put dinner on the table or to take the life of another human, nor can I say the same about arrows, spears, or knives. Regardless, armor up a car and put a gun on it, you have a tank. Every car has the potential to be a tank, just like every hunting rifle has the potential to kill a human. They are tools, they have no intrinsic desire. They are simple machines.

For the third paragraph, first off, who ever said shooting was a hobby of mine? Far too expensive to do here in Thailand, although I do miss it. Regardless, only selling rubber bullets makes no sense. It is trivially easy to make your own ammunition, and as long as someone else can do it, I should be able to have it as well. Rubber bullets are a joke. One, they can be lethal, and two, they'll likely just piss off whoever you are trying to stop. If you have to shoot at someone, you really really want them to just stop. You are on the right track though. The next big advance in personal weaponry is going to have to be big enough to make guns obsolete if you want to end this debate. The ability to shoot around corners, or better yet through walls. Preferably with the ability to hit the specific target you choose. If you can do that, making it non-lethal should be trivial, so why even bother using lethal rounds when non-lethal would suffice. This round can not be won, you can't just un-invent the gun, its too late for that. All you can do is level the playing field.

Right to bear arms....in our Constitution.

In Australia ... no gun culture ... we get on just fine ... as do many other countries around the world.

The right to own guns is almost a fundamental human right. If Australia took that right from the citizens and you're happy about that, good for you. No one is complaining about how you live or what rights you want to give up.

Funny that a piece of technology invented just a few hundred years ago can be considered a fundamental human right. How does that work exactly? I mean, I can understand the right to express oneself, the right to choose one's leaders, the rights to life, liberty and security of one's person etc. being 'fundamental' rights, as they have probably all been concerns of our species from the time we first banded into social groups. But the 'right' to own a gun as a fundamental human right??? I almost don't know what to say. Aspects of US culture continue to mystify me, and I grew up only a half-hour drive away....

I don't so much see owning a gun as a fundamental human right, but more as the right to protect myself. If bad people around me have guns, I feel I should be free to have a gun as well. If people around me only had knives and swords, I would feel that it is my right to have knives and swords as well. Before anyone gets started, I don't think it scales up to indiscriminate weapons like grenades and nuclear bombs, nor do I see a need for the average person to have fully automatic weapons, but I appreciate the fact that a vetted citizen can have additional firepower in their home. I believe the People should have the power to rise up against the government in the face of tyranny, as apparently do the Thais.

For Americans, guns are akin to sex-toys. They seem to really get off on them. (Not all of them, of course). The relationship is almost obsessional. And "relationship" is probably the right word in some case. Thais seem to be more practically minded when it comes to guns. A gun is more like a hammer or a slingshot... except deadlier.

I can easily imagine an American proclaiming "happiness is a warm gun"; not a Thai...

Way to generalize. Its funny how people can be protective of their rights when people try to take them away. I don't see it as anything sexual, I see it the same as how you would react if someone just decided to say "you can't have books anymore" and tried to take them all away from you.

Well, I didn't generalise. Please refer to bolded statement above.

"I see it the same as how you would react if someone just decided to say "you can't have books anymore" and tried to take them all away from you."

Yep.... Not many people outside of the US would draw a parallel between guns and books. I think you've made my argument for me. Thanks.

Yes, you did generalize. It would be like me saying "The posts you make are juvenile and devoid of any insight. (Not all of them, of course). Your relationship with your keyboard is almost obsessional. And "relationship" is probably the right word for many hours of each day." See how those little brackets don't really help?

It seems you can't see the forest for the trees. If books are too difficult an allegory, how about cars? Cars kill far more people per year than guns. Cars are a substantial investment, more so but not unlike guns. People are generally protective of their "right" to own their cars.

Does that help?

Guns, good, bad, necessary or not are around. Controlling them (and the only way to do that is make them legal and accessible) is our only hope (IMO). Education is also a VERY big thing.

This.

First off, I am an American, who has been living in Thailand for 9 years. I served in the US Military and have owned 1 firearm, which I have only used for shooting at targets, never at anything living.

Your interpretation of the Second Amendment of the Constitution is irrelevant. The courts have ruled that basically everyone is entitled to own a firearm, and the courts are the ones who matters. What you deem "fact" is clearly fiction.

As it has been determined to be one of our rights, why should anyone stand idly by and allow a right to be taken away? Would you do the same for any of your other rights in your home country, just sit there and allow it to be taken?

As many have said, mainly with a derogatory connotation, America has a "gun culture". Maybe you agree with it, maybe you don't. Why the hatred, calling us all stupid rednecks? Thailand has a "ghost" culture, a "sin sod" culture, again so many call them stupid. Germany has a "beer and sausage" culture, UK has a "soccer hooligan" culture, Australia has an "outback" culture. That doesn't define the entire population.

A little tip: American's don't care about your opinion, Thai's don't care about your opinion, Germans, Brits, and Australians don't care about your opinion. I was born and raised in Boston, and walked daily past places where the Brits committed atrocities in the name of the King. I lived where the American Government was born, and Brits were fought off with guns and determination. If you aren't part of that, it is normal that you wouldn't understand how ingrained it is into American culture, so don't claim to be some authority on the subject or claim to know any better. Americans demand the ability to protect themselves in the way they see fit, not to blindly give all control to someone else. We accept that more guns equal more gun-related violence, and if you don't like it, don't go there. Same as if you don't like Thai culture, don't come here. You won't be missed.

Hey there pardner, holster them thar six guns & get dawn off ya hoss. Pull up a log & set a while. Get that there burr out from under ya saddle blanket. Have a swig on this here jug... you need to loosen up a little.

I don't recall trying to offend them thar stars & stripes. I don't recall offering an opinion, just stating my understanding of your somewhat extended 2nd amendment.

Just for the record, I'm a gun owner. Well actually rifle owner, I am aware of the difference, are you ?

You get out of bed on the wrong side this mornin or you get a knock back this morning ? WOW, I'd hate to see ya attitude if someone really offended you. This is a forum.. you know... exchange of ideas & opinions. Sometimes we're right & sometimes we're not. Not the first time I've been wrong.... but hey...settle !!! actually I don't know if I'm that far off the mark re the 2nd amendment.... but shit, let's never go there again.

So, wattle it be... dueling pistols at 10 paces at dawn or you just wanna lynch me here & now ? Now that you've hopefully calmed down, just a little, care to enlighten us all on what exactly hit the nerve ? There must be some underlying issue.

Oh, I'm an Aussie. Thick skinned, warped sense of humor. Somewhat patriotic, to football & a few other sports. Don't get overly upset if someone offends our politicians & culture. Spose you could say if I was anymore laid back I'd fall over.

Try a larger size in underpants... a bit more freedom down there just might relieve some pressure & at the same time help ya attitude.

Sorry Mr. Moderator, if I've crossed the line I guess you'll delete this.... sorry.

The comment wasn't directed towards you, nor am I upset about anything anyone wrote. You'll notice I didn't quote you. It probably came off a bit more passionately than I intended, but that is just how I write. The comment was more to make people understand where Americans are coming from. There are quite a few armchair Generals here who love to preach down from up on high to us violent, ignorant Americans, yet have never bothered to look at any situation from a viewpoint other than their own.

Quite a few barbs in there for someone so thick skinned and laid back, by the way.

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Americans believe in an outdated "right" to guns and Thais have them because they can. Simple really!

What exactly is outdated about the American right to bear arms? Is freedom of speech also outdated? The right to a speedy trial? The right to be secure in your person against unreasonable search and seizure? What good are rights without a means to defend those rights?

For Americans, guns are akin to sex-toys. They seem to really get off on them. (Not all of them, of course). The relationship is almost obsessional. And "relationship" is probably the right word in some case. Thais seem to be more practically minded when it comes to guns. A gun is more like a hammer or a slingshot... except deadlier.

I can easily imagine an American proclaiming "happiness is a warm gun"; not a Thai...

Way to generalize. Its funny how people can be protective of their rights when people try to take them away. I don't see it as anything sexual, I see it the same as how you would react if someone just decided to say "you can't have books anymore" and tried to take them all away from you.

Nothing like centuries old Constitutions combined with 21st century technology.

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You do know they had guns when they wrote the constitution, right?

Wow, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this. Around 50% of all failed cable runs I've seen have been caused by rodents chewing on them. A run inside a building doesn't have UV degrading the sheath, is relatively climate controlled, and dry. The other 50% is some kind of mechanical disturbance, which is usually some jerk running a new cable, it gets stuck, he pulls too hard and your cable breaks. This literally happened to us 3 times in the past 3 months as our condo recently changed cable providers. Easy to see, the installers working on another room on our floor, as soon as they leave our cable is out. Call them back up, they try to make us pay 100 baht for a new cable. Regardless, cable is cheap, labor is cheap in Thailand, when it breaks its easier to pay them then to argue.

I stopped smoking April fools day in 1981. Cold Turkey. You have to want to stop smoking to do it. No wishing to stop,

. Just do it.

You're presuming everybody wants to stop. I quit for a year and I missed it every day. Vaping is safer, doesn't annoy people, and tastes better.

Congratulations on quitting smoking. You've been smoke free 4 months less than I've been alive. That really is impressive, no sarcasm.

To me, things are changing as technology changes. Vaping is to cigarettes what smoking coffee is to drinking it. When you remove the tar, carbon monoxide, etc., it just becomes a really pleasurable experience.

To each their own. Just don't try to legislate it away from me, how would you like if I banned your coffee. (not you specifically)

Good thread. Was just going to ask if I can bring my Imperial Hookah e-cig with me to LOS. I was worried it might be construed as drug para.

That said, how much are vape kits going for in BKK and where is a good place to buy them? Thanks.

Ooops. I read the other threads--yikes. I guess they are illegal in Thailand. Scratch that idea.

I've been stopped several times at the airport X-ray (mine looks more like a light saber than a Marlboro) and after telling them what it is, continued right through. I've vaped in front of police several times, outside at the airport, in the airport smoking lounges, all without incident. Like I said before, they are sold all over the place in Thailand, usually at the same shops that sell lighters and stun guns. More and more Thais are vaping every day. You shouldn't have a problem.

I'm vaping right now. My two Thai brothers-in-law vape. My wife's Thai cousin vapes. I was eating on Thong Lo last night and a Thai was vaping like crazy at a table across from me. I know of about 5 brick and mortar e-cig shops in Bangkok, and there are dozens of Thai e-juice and e-cigarette vendors on Facebook and various Thai forums. There is an active English language forum with reputable vendors here in Thailand, selling both Chinese and USA e-liquids and hardware.

My first time playing with e-cigarettes was one of the little cartridge, puff activated ones about 5 years back. Nothing more than a novelty, ended up in the rubbish. I can buy one 100 times better for 400 baht on the side of the road now, here in Bangkok. The higher end devices are a dream, as are the e-liquids. Vaping blueberry pancakes with syrup right now. No desire to go back to tobacco in any form.

Going to the Londoner this Thanksgiving. I haven't been impressed with Bullys Thanksgiving dinner in the past.