This is where the conversation needs to start

[PJ Hardtack]

Boy, talk about grasping at straws ..... Is that the best rebuttal of which you are capable? Pathetic ....

Most readers were astute enough to realize that I was not trivializing the tragedy of your Civil War, but making a point about states rights. Most folks interested in the guns of the era have a grasp of the "Northern War of Aggression" against the Confederacy.

Being on the staff of Colonel Marshall, I have the honour to serve in the Foreign Observer Corps of the Washington State Civil War Association, Confederate Brigade. I am of the belief that General Lee surrendered on behalf of the Army of Virginia, not the Confederacy.

And my suggested solution? More guns in the right hands. The only way to stop gun violence is with another gun. I wish it could be some other way, but disarming the good guys isn't going to work.

Please, continue to enlighten us .....

[Bugscuffle]

Boy, talk about grasping at straws ..... Is that the best rebuttal of which you are capable? Pathetic ....

Most readers were astute enough to realize that I was not trivializing the tragedy of your Civil War, but making a point about states rights. Most folks interested in the guns of the era have a grasp of the "Northern War of Aggression" against the Confederacy.

Being on the staff of Colonel Marshall, I have the honour to serve in the Foreign Observer Corps of the Washington State Civil War Association, Confederate Brigade. I am of the belief that General Lee surrendered on behalf of the Army of Virginia, not the Confederacy.

And my suggested solution? More guns in the right hands. The only way to stop gun violence is with another gun. I wish it could be some other way, but disarming the good guys isn't going to work.

Please, continue to enlighten us .....

Referring to a conflagration that killed 700,000 + AM ERICANS, by a foreigner as "a little dust up"', is trivializing a tragic event in U.S. (read that as NOT CANADIAN) history. Is that enlightenment enough for you?

The fact is that the Cofederates, as a whole committed treason and took up arms against the established and rightful government of the U.S. Whether or not they were charged with treason is irrelevant. That measure was implemented (or rather not implemented) so as to ease the transition to peace and reunification. And even then it took until 1877 to do that! I find it repulsive that people would glorify the Confederates for what they tried to do, or are you really going to try to justify slavery? Whether or not you or Two Walks Baldridge's Grandpapy did or didn't surrender is irrelevant. The South lost the war. They were soundly and convincingly whipped and they DID surrender. It's over and thank God it's never coming back.

[Bugscuffle]

P.J. I have an additional question for you and a response to your "sugestion on resolving the shooting threats". Below is your quote:
"And my suggested solution? More guns in the right hands. The only way to stop gun violence is with another gun. I wish it could be some other way, but disarming the good guys isn't going to work."
Did you know thrt there were armed officers on duty at the Columbine Highschool masacre 0n April 20, 1999. They didn't stop or even slow down the killing there.
Many people are saying that we tried my ideas and my ideas don't work. Well folks, neither do yours and yes we tried that.
NOW GIVE ME A WORKABLE SOLUTION.

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

The fact is that the Cofederates, as a whole committed treason and took up arms against the established and rightful government of the U.S. Whether or not they were charged with treason is irrelevant.

First there is a law against succeeding from the Union, it was passed after the conflict. Under the laws that were in affect at the time, Lincoln violated U.S. law.  Second, the war was not started over Slavery, yet it did play a part in the tensions, the First states succeeded over the idea of nullification, whereby the states would have the right to rule federal acts unconstitutional. When they realized the Federal Government would not allow it, they succeeded.

Now you have your beliefs and I have mine.  The chasm between our views is larger than the Grand Canyon, so before I do or say something I might regret.  I bow to your superior knowledge of all things large and small and give you the floor sir.  But do not come for my liberty or my guns.

[PJ Hardtack]

Scugbuffle

I'm have before me, a book entitled "Canadians in the Civil War" by Claire Hoy. Here's a few quotes and stats from the book:

"Thousands of Canadians fought in the war - about 5,000 died. Thousands of Canadians (British North Americans at the time) enlisted, ..... but many more were 'dragooned', pressed into service involuntarily by unscrupulous "crimps", who in cahoots with US military authorities, prowled our borders looking for young men to either cajole, drug or kidnap into service."

"The war also saw an influx of Americans "skedaddlers", the original draft dodgers, avoiding conscription by fleeing into Canada."

Considering our small population at the time, that was one hell of a lot of Canadian 'volunteers', wouldn't you say?

More quotes:

"Four Union generals were Canadian-born, along with 29 (Twenty-nine!!!) Medal of Honour Winners."

"In Kincardine, Ontario is a memorial to Dr. Solomon Secord, a surgeon with the 20th Georgia Volunteers and the grand nephew of the War of 1812 heroine Laura Secord."

"Southern sympathies were so prominent in Halifax, where blockade running created several family fortunes, that some businesses openly flew Confederate flags and traded in Confederate currency."

"Confederate spies and adventurers who organized the raid on St. Albans, Vermont from Canada, were successfully defended by Quebec politician J.C. Abbott, a future Prime Minister."

"Montreal's St. Lawrence Hotel had so many Confederates living there it offered mint juleps on the menu. It also afforded visits by John Wilkes Booth, who made several trips there and to Toronto as part of the plot leading up to the Good Friday, 1865, assassination of President Abraham Lincoln."

"Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald's conviction was that strong state's rights were "that great source of weakness", which led to the war. That's why when Canada emerged in 1867 with  a strong federal government - including an unelected Senate, - there is endless debate between the believers of federal and provincial rights."

Please, tell me something I don't know about the American Civil War. I have on the shelf, several other volumes on the American Civil War and I could happily debate many aspects of it, but I fear that you would be stepping into a battle of wits somewhat unarmed.

I leave you to the tender mercies of the Confederate southern gentlemen following the discussion ..... Merry Christmas!

[Camille Eonich]

Locking until I have time to review and it may be a while so cool it.