Great on visuals, lacking in terms of story, editing, and heart, and much more so than I noticed with the first film. I re-read the book when this film hit theaters, and the plot deviations were really noticeable — what was the point of the raid on Miraz’s castle? Prince Caspian is a fun two and a half-hour romp, but it would be a much sadder experience without Eddie Izzard as Reepicheep: “Yes, bloody good, I’m a talking mouse with a sword — are you all so unoriginal?” And I find myself still wishing Liam Neeson hadn’t replaced Brian Cox as the voice of Aslan.
I never saw the Eric Bana Hulk, so I don’t know if this is a sequel to that, or a relaunch. I don’t really care — it’s pretty decent, although it seems a little bare bones at times. I’m not actually big on comic books, but I watched the Bixby TV show a few times and recognized Lou Ferrino as the security guard Norton bribes with a pizza.
I got to the lower level platform at Chinatown too late for the train — the doors had closed — but whereas I was content to lean against a pillar and get back to reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, one of my fellow travelers was none too pissed: the operator got on the train’s PA and kindly requested: “Please don’t kick the train. The train has done nothing to you.”
WASHINGTON – The D.C. Council gave preliminary approval to regulations for registering and storing handguns.
The bill calls for owners to recertify their ownership every year, to re-register the guns every three years and to undergo background checks every six years.
Gun owners will have to store their firearms securely if there are children in the home.
The legislation also bans assault weapons and unsafe guns
“Today’s vote puts the District at the forefront of using regulation to reduce gun violence, rather than the simpler, prior approach of hoping that an outright ban will be effective,” said D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson.
A final vote is expected Dec. 16.
I don’t understand what is meant by “recertifying” ownership. Usually the only time I can recall seeing “certify” and “guns” in the same sentence it has to do with some sort of safety course — both in terms of actually being able to demonstrate an ability to use said weapon, with, one would hope, a class on the legal hows whys and whens of using or threatening to use deadly force. I hope that the District clarifies what they mean. While I think, certainly, any individual buying a firearm should take such a class, I don’t know that I’m comfortable with the time frame provided here: it seems rather arbitrary.
I see no problem with securing a firearm securely, and I don’t know what is meant by unsafe guns. All guns are, inherently, unsafe — otherwise, what would be the point? I’m reminded of the scene in Dawn of the Dead, when Ving Rhames asks Jake Weber if he knows how to use a shotgun – Weber says, “That’s the dangerous end, right?” indicating the end of the barrel. Rhames leans over, snaps the safety off, and says, “It is now.” Maybe uber-cheap Saturday night specials are meant?
I also don’t understand the point of re-registering every three years. I mean, I understand DC has a pretty big bureaucracy, but are they planning on losing all their records every few years? Again, this just seems like a roadblock put in place to impede a citizen’s ability to exercise their right.
As for the last: background checks every six years? I actually think this is reasonable, as I do believe that convicted felons should not be allowed legal access to firearms, and a lot can change in six years in regards to a person’s background. I would, however, suggest that the onus for background checks should rest with the District.
Not to wax overly political — like it’d be the first time — but I’d like to make three points:
1. Just as I believe that the First Amendment does not give a person the right to scream “FIRE!” in a crowded theater, nor do I believe the Second Amendment gives every American the unfettered right to own any type of gun — I don’t think felons should be allowed to own firearms, and I believe that an AK-47 might be inappropriate for ownership in a crowded urban area, just as a belt-fed machine gun shouldn’t be restricted from someone whose nearest neighbor is a mile away. Imagine how frustrated you’d be if you found out the Federal government was going to certify or register your right to Free Speech.
2. I believe in common sense gun control that allows with a minimum of fuss American citizens to exercise their rights to own firearms. While I’m sympathetic towards claims that gun control is part of the War on Crime, I think a far more dramatic step towards reducing crime in America would be rethinking our War on Drugs.
