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The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

washingtonpost.com

11–20 of 33 posts

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#11

Video: https://youtu.be/otKc7zzd4fA

To clarify this video isn't linked in the article (at least not anymore). It really turns this guy from a sympathetic figure to a douche IMHO. FTR I'm a staunch supporter of gun rights and the US 2nd amendment (I believe it guarantees a certain level of decentralization, but that's irrelevant to the point I'm about to make), but this guy coming out and yelling at her while holding a shotgun is totally inappropriate,…

>at which point she would have been justified using deadly force, should she have been carrying a weapon herself

I suppose you missed the part where she tried to steal from him on his property? Regardless of the lack of moral justification for her to turn a theft into an armed robbery, WA is a castle doctrine state.

If you don't want guns pointed at you, don't steal from innocent people, especially not at their homes.

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To clarify this video isn't linked in the article (at least not anymore). It really turns this guy from a sympathetic figure to a douche IMHO. FTR I'm a staunch supporter of gun rights and the US 2nd amendment (I believe it guarantees a certain level of decentralization, but that's irrelevant to the point I'm about to make), but this guy coming out and yelling at her while holding a shotgun is totally inappropriate,…

>at which point she would have been justified using deadly force, should she have been carrying a weapon herself I suppose you missed the part where she tried to steal from him on his property? Regardless of the lack of moral justification for her to turn a theft into an armed robbery, WA is a castle doctrine state. If you don't want guns pointed at you, don't steal from innocent people, especially not at their homes…

I'm not familiar with WA state gun laws, but Alaska (where I am familiar) is a castle doctrine state too, but you aren't allowed to shoot someone in the back who is fleeing even if they did just try to rob you. It also matters whether the person is inside the house, or simply outside but on the property. I don't know for certain, but I don't believe you can use deadly for to protect property either, only life.

> If you don't want guns pointed at you, don't steal from innocent people, especially not at their homes.

I'll agree with you there, although I will state that it's poor firearm practice to point at something you don't intend to shoot (I know he didn't point it at her, just stating as a general rule since many people that read this board are totally unfamiliar with firearms).

I also don't think he really thought he was in any danger, as evidenced by the fact that he opened the door before calling for his weapon. If he really thought he was in danger, that would have been a foolish mistake.

That all said, I do cut the guy some slack because adrenaline makes us do and say things that we may never have done if rational faculties were engaged. This is why training is so important. You fall back on your training when adrenaline kicks in. If you have no training, you'll most assuredly do something unwise that you will regret later with a clear head.

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#15

It’s very loud but technically harmless, Barrow said. A 12ga shotgun round, when fired, emits a sound of about 165 dB SPL, re 20 uPa. That is more than enough to cause immediate and permanent damage to anyone close by who is not wearing hearing protection, so I’m calling BS on this claim. This is not so much a prank or deterrent device as it is a very justified lawsuit waiting to happen. I’ve watched the assembly vid…

Blanks are significantly quieter than regular rounds (not sure if the dB level you posted took that into consideration or not). In fact, you don't really need hearing protection with blanks at all. In the military we trained with blanks all the time without hearing protection, and they are anal about OSHA standards.

But I agree, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. I would not recommend anybody do this.

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After the guy with the package has the girl who tried to steal come back to his porch, he tells her to get a job while weilding a gun and she lists off excuses why she doesn't. Perhaps she made excuses for her own self-preservation, but I feel like that part really shows how they practically live in different worlds. It's scary, and I know people who feel similarly to her. I wonder, what structures exist to help such…

Still think we need a jobs board that can someone parse all of the available jobs in each city that do not do drug tests. (and ones that hire even if you have felony record) Along with added info for bus routes to this job, daycare near this job with hours, closest place you could afford to live if you had this job. Government assistance you qualify if you had this job, how long it takes to get all that. there is obv…

Why would a tech solution change matters? I mean yeah having it all in one place helps, but it's all out there already.

What else is needed to make.it actually work?

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#17
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After the guy with the package has the girl who tried to steal come back to his porch, he tells her to get a job while weilding a gun and she lists off excuses why she doesn't. Perhaps she made excuses for her own self-preservation, but I feel like that part really shows how they practically live in different worlds. It's scary, and I know people who feel similarly to her. I wonder, what structures exist to help such…

He would have been better off chasing her off the porch with a 12 gauge shotgun, firing blanks into the air. You basically have to make it super painful for them so they won't try to do it again.

I didn't downvote you, but I think whoever did downvote you did it because you missed the important parts of my comment. To summarize, the thief and the person with the shotgun "practically live in different worlds" and "bridging the gap between those two worlds would be helpful for both of them"

Shooting blanks and chasing someone away doesn't bridge the gap, it widens it. I'd argue that many thieves may come away from that experience NOT thinking "wow, I did a bad thing" but rather thinking "wow, that guy was such a rich asshole who wanted to end my life over A PACKAGE"

We don't need thieves thinking that the people they're stealing from deserve it. We need to get thieves to relate and sympathize with the people who they're considering stealing from - maybe thay way, they won't actually steal in the first place! And also, as my comment harped on, we need to take away excuses for thievery. Ensure that people who might turn to theft CAN get a job, and without tooooo much difficulty. Chasing someone away with a gun does not help out with these things.

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#18

It’s very loud but technically harmless, Barrow said. A 12ga shotgun round, when fired, emits a sound of about 165 dB SPL, re 20 uPa. That is more than enough to cause immediate and permanent damage to anyone close by who is not wearing hearing protection, so I’m calling BS on this claim. This is not so much a prank or deterrent device as it is a very justified lawsuit waiting to happen. I’ve watched the assembly vid…

Blanks are significantly quieter than regular rounds (not sure if the dB level you posted took that into consideration or not). In fact, you don't really need hearing protection with blanks at all. In the military we trained with blanks all the time without hearing protection, and they are anal about OSHA standards. But I agree, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. I would not recommend anybody do this.

hmm. A starter pistol is ~145 dB, and that’s a .22 blank.

i’m guessing you’re still well into “OSHA says there’s no safe exposure duration” territory... but i have not found a source for a shotgun blank sound intensity.

Re: The Blank Box – When lifted, a 12-gauge shotgun blank goes off (2017)

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blanks are significantly quieter than regular rounds (not sure if the dB level you posted took that into consideration or not). In fact, you don't really need hearing protection with blanks at all. In the military we trained with blanks all the time without hearing protection, and they are anal about OSHA standards. But I agree, it's a lawsuit waiting to happen. I would not recommend anybody do this.

hmm. A starter pistol is ~145 dB, and that’s a .22 blank. i’m guessing you’re still well into “OSHA says there’s no safe exposure duration” territory... but i have not found a source for a shotgun blank sound intensity.

He’s using a 209 shotshell primer, not a “blank”.

A .22 blank and a 209 Shotshell primer are not significantly different in volume.

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