Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: When that awful thing happens

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  • giovanni tiso,

    You're the first person who mentioned this story without using the word "paraplegic". It's been driving me nuts all morning, I kept thinking of Emma's idea of substituting "people" or "person" for these meaningless when not downright bizarre qualifiers.

    (And what would the message be, anyhow? "Christ, we've got to look out for the paraplegics too now?")

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Appologies for dredging up an old thread, I haven't read todays posts - sorry.

    Giovanni - agreed wtf does a chair have to do with it?

    Is it creating the 'other'? It couldn't be someone normal , he had to be different.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I kept thinking of Emma's idea of substituting "people" or "person" for these meaningless when not downright bizarre qualifiers.

    How about this one ?

    The order permitted the father to see his daughter only "on the condition that [the child] is not to be in the company of [the stripper] until further order of the Court".

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Heh - I just heard a fellow gun club member (of the deceased) stating that the guy was "safe with guns".

    This must be a definition of "safe" that I am unfamiliar with.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • A S,

    WTF? - "This has happened before. This isn't an isolated incident. In February there were a couple of shots in the night and police were at his house the next morning."

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/2547859/Paraplegic-gunman-known-to-police

    The solution ain't hard. User pays, psyc test, firearms competency test & registar of firearms.

    Aside from the likelihood that this could well be a tragic case of suicide by policeman, this could quite simply have been avoided if the police had done something a bit earlier.

    A normal question during license vetting is about head injuries, reports are that the guy shot had head injuries. That should have been a bit of a red flag right there.

    Combined with a history of shooting up the neighbourhood (i.e. already breaking the law), I'm quite frankly amazed his license wasn't revoked and his firearms removed several months earlier.

    Chalk it up to either police error, or a tragic, unforeseeable combination of events if you don't think it was a police error.

    Your solution wouldn't have achieved anything because if you knew anything about what is involved in getting a license:

    1. there is already a defacto psych test when you apply, along with interviews of your nearest and dearest and an independent referee to determine your fitness to possess a license;
    2. a firearms competence test will do absolutely nothing to prevent anyone who decides to do something stupid from doing so;
    3. a firearms register would do absolutely nothing, except to cross check the serial number of the gun held by the dead guy against it.

    Sadly in my view, this looks largely like an administrative error by the police in not revoking his license much earlier, when the warning signs first appeared.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2007 • 269 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Is it creating the 'other'? It couldn't be someone normal , he had to be different.

    Spot on.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    "Christ, we've got to look out for the paraplegics too now?"

    Its worse than that. He was a Cul de Sac dweller.
    Does Russell have guns?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Its worse than that. He was a Cul de Sac dweller.

    And what's wrong with a cul de sac? Eh? Oh, hang on. I just live in a dead end street. As you were. I was getting above myself.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    And what's wrong with a cul de sac? Eh? Oh, hang on. I just live in a dead end street. As you were. I was getting above myself.

    Oh, how we laughed :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    From Ray Davies to Roman Polanski in one bound...

    And what's wrong with a cul de sac? Eh? Oh, hang on. I just live in a dead end street. As you were. I was getting above myself.

    Ray:

    Roman:

    Poles apart? There does seem to be a correlation between death in one and gunplay in the other...

    as I recall the dark comedy Cul de Sac was always shown in a double feature with the still scary Repulsion so ya got both Deneuve sisters - Françoise Dorléac (RIP) in Cul de Sac and Catherine Deneuve in Repulsion

    yrs
    Rhode Sines
    Dislodged Masonry Ahead

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    yrs
    Rhode Sines
    Dislodged Masonry Ahead

    __Captain Synchrotron.__That's what you are. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I have come across this group of signs, more than once, approaching Mount Hercules (a large hill):
    Warning: Stock crossing
    Warning: Slippery when wet
    Warning: Ice Grit
    Warning: Slips
    Warning: Heavy machinery ahead
    Warning: Delays Possible

    Why on earth do locals ever venture out their doors?
    Further- why do tourists ever come here?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Why on earth do locals ever venture out their doors?
    Further- why do tourists ever come here?

    To get to the other side?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    They hope!

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    That's life...... or death out there. :)
    heh, what about "No engine Braking" at the top of a hill? Said to my man What's that about? He said don't worry that's for trucks.:)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    With the latest wee shake (5) here, a rock that had refused to budge - budged-

    glory be, would that have made a mess of any hoper-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Something like that on te news this evening.Waterfall and steamy bits and people leaving the area.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Further- why do tourists ever come here?

    To see you, of course!

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Further- why do tourists ever come here?

    To see the Hobbits. They leave disappointed.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    A side project for some of the Hobbit extras/crew.

    "The Bad Hobbit" Horror/Porn/Thriller/Slasher - options are endless.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    why do tourists ever come here?

    To share a dram.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Hmmm.
    Continue wearing red wig.
    Hide single malt collection.
    Emigrate to Antarctica.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • andrew llewellyn,

    heh, what about "No engine Braking"

    Similar signs had me baffled too, but if you stay a night within earshot of say, SH1, you will hear odd roarings in the distance, especially in rural parts, like wild beasts clearing their throats. Big wild beasts.

    Anyway, I reckon those roarings are the "engine brakes", and truckies aren't supposed to use them within earshot of towns.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Big wild beasts.

    Uh, thought that was the big foot :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    I thought the family & friends of Sime showed some real class with their statement.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

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