Im seriously concerned about the future of civilian weaponry.

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Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Originally posted by: Kadarin
"Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range. " - Terminator

Only 40 watts? Pfft.

It's all about efficiency.
Yes indeed. A laser with less than 1W can ignite paper, and lasers are horribly inefficient.



I'd be more concerned about the future of military weaponry. Robotics will make it possible to cause damage to the other side far more efficiently than may be possible with people. For example, a fighter jet with a robotic pilot could be made to be far more agile than one that requires a human pilot - a robot won't pass out from pulling too many Gs. Other machines used for combat will surely be developed as well.
I was going to say something about using disposable robots in combat, but history shows that power-hungry leaders tend to view their soldiers and civilians as being very disposable.
And no, I don't worry about robots turning against us. Eventually being made sentient, yes. Trying to kill us? No.


 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,665
21
81
Originally posted by: Jeff7


I'd be more concerned about the future of military weaponry. Robotics will make it possible to cause damage to the other side far more efficiently than may be possible with people. For example, a fighter jet with a robotic pilot could be made to be far more agile than one that requires a human pilot - a robot won't pass out from pulling too many Gs. Other machines used for combat will surely be developed as well.
I was going to say something about using disposable robots in combat, but history shows that power-hungry leaders tend to view their soldiers and civilians as being very disposable.
And no, I don't worry about robots turning against us. Eventually being made sentient, yes. Trying to kill us? No.

My take is that we're trying to make weaponry that limits collateral damage as much as possible.

 

videogames101

Diamond Member
Aug 24, 2005
6,783
27
91
Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Civilians should be able to buy non lethal weaponry freely. Guns should be only used for police and military purposes.


And doesnt that american constitution give you a right to bear arms?

As in, Bear arms. (I mean the big animal)

Im going to assume that you do not want to own a weapon or your country doesnt even allow you or your fellow citizens the choice. Since we at least have limited freedom to arm ourselves, an expansion of our rights shouldnt affect you at all.

Yeah gun control is pretty tight here, but if your smart you can join a gun club and obtain a weapon that way(sport licence), also farmers have the right/need to own a gun. No automatics though. These licences are very rigid and lots of rules.

Even with these control methods if you know where to go, you can still buy guns. I have had customers in rough suburbs tell me all about it. :confused:

But yeah gun violence is pretty low here.... is that a bad thing?

Please provide comparative data between your area and an area with less restrictive gun control.
 

Sea Moose

Diamond Member
May 12, 2009
6,933
7
76
Originally posted by: videogames101
Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Originally posted by: Sea Moose
Civilians should be able to buy non lethal weaponry freely. Guns should be only used for police and military purposes.


And doesnt that american constitution give you a right to bear arms?

As in, Bear arms. (I mean the big animal)

Im going to assume that you do not want to own a weapon or your country doesnt even allow you or your fellow citizens the choice. Since we at least have limited freedom to arm ourselves, an expansion of our rights shouldnt affect you at all.

Yeah gun control is pretty tight here, but if your smart you can join a gun club and obtain a weapon that way(sport licence), also farmers have the right/need to own a gun. No automatics though. These licences are very rigid and lots of rules.

Even with these control methods if you know where to go, you can still buy guns. I have had customers in rough suburbs tell me all about it. :confused:

But yeah gun violence is pretty low here.... is that a bad thing?

Please provide comparative data between your area and an area with less restrictive gun control.

I couldn't be bothered.

 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
I think one day we may very well produce energy based weapons like phasers with various settings including stun and kill (even emitting a wide beam for disabling multiple targets simultaneously). Extrapolating current laws, prohibitions and general paranoia about innovation reaching civilians, you can bet we may never be allowed to carry this energy based weapon.

If we ever suffer an extra terrestrial invasion we wont even be able to go out with a blaze of glory. :|

I see this as a good thing. I find myself wondering, in all the sci-fi movies where everybody has blasters and laser guns and energy shields, just how much damage somebody with a .45 ACP or AK47 could do, when everything is geared towards defending coherent beams of energy and not small kinetic projectiles.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
19
81
Originally posted by: Regs
My take is that we're trying to make weaponry that limits collateral damage as much as possible.
In this country, perhaps.


 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
I don't see any good that would come from opening up sales of any and all kinds of weapons. I believe its the people's right to own reasonable weapons for sport, fun or self defense. However, saying that it should be legal to go buy a howitzer just because you want to is ludicrous. You can justify weapons for hunting or for self defense but there is no reason why a private citizen needs an automatic weapon. They aren't useful for hunting, for self defense they are lousy. The only reason that people can give for it is some mixture between 'they are really cool' and 'I am compensating for my small penis'. Neither of which is a good reason in my book to allow your random idiot off the street from buying a fully automatic fire arm.

Give me a few good reasons why the populus needs fully automatic fire arms and I'll concede my point, something more than just 'I want one'. I don't think there is a single one.
 

adairusmc

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2006
7,095
78
91
Originally posted by: Bignate603


Give me a few good reasons why the populus needs fully automatic fire arms and I'll concede my point, something more than just 'I want one'. I don't think there is a single one.

Those of use who own NFA regulated firearms and accessories do not need to justify their existence any more than you need to justify owning a high-end video card or a fast car.
 

FelixDeCat

Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
29,945
2,408
126
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: Bignate603


Give me a few good reasons why the populus needs fully automatic fire arms and I'll concede my point, something more than just 'I want one'. I don't think there is a single one.

Those of use who own NFA regulated firearms and accessories do not need to justify their existence any more than you need to justify owning a high-end video card or a fast car.

And furthermore, why should any citizen be allowed to own a two ton machine capable of reaching speeds of 120 to 200 mph when there is no place on the open road where such speeds are legal on a normal day to day basis? These vehicles should be immediately confiscated and destroyed and all future vehicles should be limited to no more than 85 mph! :roll:

edit: I support your statement and was giving another example of the unreasonable position some take against allowing normal law abiding citizens from owning high powered fully automatic weapons.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Originally posted by: adairusmc
Originally posted by: Bignate603


Give me a few good reasons why the populus needs fully automatic fire arms and I'll concede my point, something more than just 'I want one'. I don't think there is a single one.

Those of use who own NFA regulated firearms and accessories do not need to justify their existence any more than you need to justify owning a high-end video card or a fast car.

I don't really worry about anyone who jumps through the hoops to get a NFA weapon. It keeps the difficulty of obtaining one high and the checks stringent enough that you need to be pretty serious about getting one. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem is making them so easy to get that you can just walk into a store and buy one as easily as you would a hunting rifle. The sheer difficulty in getting one of the weapons covered by the NFA means that the person getting it is very serious about getting this gun, rather than a guy that happens to think its cool.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
meh

haven't u learned the lesson from the tvs and movies?

Simpsons
board+nail = alien death

That shamalan movie
water

That tom cruise film
buggies
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
29,391
2,737
126
Originally posted by: NightDarker
As long as it includes light sabers, I am not concerned.

have one already. built it myself.
(it was a hw assignmewnt to pass my trials)
 

Sea Moose

Diamond Member
May 12, 2009
6,933
7
76
Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: NightDarker
As long as it includes light sabers, I am not concerned.

have one already. built it myself.
(it was a hw assignmewnt to pass my trials)

Of course you have a lightsaber your a Jedi! Otherwise youd be called padawan or somthing
 

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,439
23
81
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Fully automatic weapons are for n00bs. They only work for intimidation purposes, or if you have the bankroll to feed it belts of ammo. Quality>quantity every time.

Exactamundo! There's a reason why special forces types learn to shoot double or triple tap. Spray and pray is for the bad guys!! ;)
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,518
11,589
136
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: lxskllr
Fully automatic weapons are for n00bs. They only work for intimidation purposes, or if you have the bankroll to feed it belts of ammo. Quality>quantity every time.

Agreed. Real men can kill anything with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun.

counter-strike proves it's true! :laugh:
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
25,375
142
116
Why stop at automatic weapons or wide-beam energy weapons?

How about C4? Low-yield nuclear weapons?

Nothing bad will happen as long as you pass a fool-proof background check and say you're a good person to the right people.

[/sarcasm]

The reason you're seriously concerned about the future of civilian weaponry is because of people like me, who are seriously unconcerned about you having bigger/badder weapons...now or ever...as a civilian.