From: Russell Whitaker (russ_whitaker@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Oct 30 2000 - 14:21:06 MST
[Non-member submission]
Extropians,
Good to see so much discussion spawned on the
topic of firearms on these 2 lists (I'm copying
exi-bay, which, like it or not, seems to have
an active a non-announcement thread running
at the moment).
I'd simply like to add that I've been to a number
of shooting schools, some several times, and am
greatly impressed with Front Sight's approach to
training. I, like Will, am an
all-you-can-eat-training
life member of the school. You'll find us there
most months. If any of you are genuinely interested
in training, we're likely to be there and can
assist you over issues of logistics and such.
I'm glad to help: it's good to see extropians
gain skill at arms.
I'm one of the old-time extropians who adheres to
the intended, well-articulated meaning of the word
"extropian", which _requires_ libertarianism. I've
long thought of real extropians as being different
from armchair libertarians, in that extropians
_work_ to make something more of themselves as
individuals.
In this context - discussion of martial skill -
I take this to mean that extropians recognize,
in the words of L. Neil Smith, "... self-defense is a
bodily function which cannot be delegated to another
individual or group..." (see
"http://www.webleyweb.com/lneil/arizona.html").
This means being serious about self-defense:
acquiring weapons and _learning how to use
them effectively_.
I would also recommend that extropians consider
training in a very broad-based martial art such
as the one I practice, Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu.
A good place to familiarize yourself with some
of the bujinkan approach is my San Francisco
teacher Dale Seago's website:
"http://www.bujinkansf.org/".
There's also a dojo in Sunnyvale run by my good
friend, the excellent Mike Kelley:
"http://www.seiryudojo.com/"
I would be happy to show any of you to those dojos
when I'm in the Bay area (and not in Reno). Much
of the body movement you'll learn in the Bujinkan
will make you a better pistolero or rifleman. Our
firearms retention approach, for example, is
vastly more sophisticated than the brute force
techniques taught to police and soldiers.
Back to the libertarianism subthread, I'm not
interested in disputing those newbies who've
not done their historical research. For those
who are interested in reading good polemics on
the connection between firearms and freedom,
read John Ross' "Unintended Consequences", the
"Atlas Shrugged" of the new freedom movement
("http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1888118040/o/qid=972940505/sr=8-1/ref=aps_sr_b_1_1/104-1816499-7542319"),
and the works of L. Neil Smith (quoted
above; traverse the links from that page, there's
plenty there).
DVC (look that up),
Russell
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