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- Feb 23, 1999
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There is a "gun hoarding" thread running on this forum ( http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=320280&page=1&pp=40 ) discussing whether or not it is crazy to have large collections of weapons. The thread is 3 pages long now and consists of justifications for collections, assertions of rights, and accusations of trying to start a flame war.
Martial artists and weapon collectors could glean important lessons from the topic, but those lessons appear to be being ignored.
Among them
The perception that large collections of weapons are crazy is a common one. The perceptions of others can be used against one.
The fact that collectors tend to hold on to things (collect them) and holding on to a weapon inappropriately or when it is not serving its purpose can be lethal.
Here is my story.
A couple of years ago I went through a contentious divorce and custody battle. One of the crucial times in such a case is the temporary orders hearing where temporary custody of the children is assigned. In fact, the temporary decision is rarely changed, and almost always determines the permanent custody decision. Immediately prior to that hearing I was falsely accused of a number of heinous crimes. The court was also (correctly) informed that I owned numerous guns and knives, and slept with boxes of razor sharp knives under his bed. I was also accused of (promoted to?) being an expert martial artist and a bully who carries a gun. My opponent expressed concern for her personal safety and requested the court that restraining orders be entered against me and that the police take possession of all of my knives and guns. My attorney told me not to worry, that I had a second amendment right to own the weapons.
Digression: The Japanese have a concept called Metsubishi. This is disturbing the sight. Metsubishi can be an irritating powder or small objects thrown into the eyes. John Wayne, when he picks up a handful of sand and casts it at his opponents face in the old Western, is using metsubishi. A young martial artist might scoff. I know the deadly reverse punch. I can break boards with my reverse punch, and any opponent I strike must surely fall. Your silly metsubishi will not cause any permanent damage. In later years the young martial artist may come to realize that he can not apply his deadly techniques while he is coughing and sputtering with his eyes closed, and that he is vulnerable to a much less skilled opponent kicking him in the testes or cracking him over the head with a rock at that time. Metsubishi buys precious seconds when they are most valuable, and allows the control of tempo.
During one of my psychological evaluations in the course of the court proceedings, the psychologist asked me if I really slept with boxes of razor sharp knives under the bed. I said yes, as if it were a natural thing to do, which it was for me. The psychologist asked me why, and I said it was because there was storage space for my knives under the bed. He then said that my opponents documents painted a picture of horror. I had not looked at things from that perspective before. It still is strange that some people find 40 knives more disturbing than one knife. After all, an opponent will use only one or at most two knives at a time. Additional knives really do not increase the threat. Nevertheless it is wise to understand that the perceived threat of one knife and 40 knives is different for many people.
The facts of the matter were that even though I was in the right, a judge would most probably enter orders and have my weapons confiscated on the flimsiest of grounds. The judge would face considerable political fallout if s/he failed to remove the weapons from a situation where such serious accusations had been made, and then something bad was to occur.
I surprised my attorney, the judge, and my opponent by selling all of my guns and most of my knives prior to the hearing where the restraining order and the police confiscation was to be considered by the judge. I gave the money from the sale to my opponent. The judge was taken aback and asked me to explain a couple of times what I did. The police never came to my house, my CWP was never taken away, and the only restraining orders entered were mutual ones keeping both me and my opponent away from each other. I gained temporary custody of my children in that hearing, and later permanent custody of them. I cant help but think the outcome of that hearing might have been very different if the focus of the hearing had been removing dangerous weapons from my possession. They would have been taken from me, along with my CWP. I would have got the weapons back eventually, but I would have lost the larger battle.
Digression: Archilocos of Paros was one of the earliest lyric poets of Greece. He lives somewhere around the 7th century BC. Only fragments of his work remain. He was a warrior. One of his fragments goes like this: Some barbarian is waving my shield. I had to leave that perfectly good piece of equipment underneath a bush. But, no matter. I can get another just as good. There is a profound lesson in the words of the warrior from ancient Greece. If he had held onto his favorite shield while fleeing the battlefield perhaps he would have fallen under the enemy swords. As it was he survived. His mind still functioned. The real weapon was Archilocos himself. The shield was a temporary expedient accoutrement.
Do not underestimate the power of common perception. Do not underestimate the power of the courts. And do not underestimate the power of those willing to lie to use common perceptions and the courts for their own purposes.
I have spoken to other martial artists and weapons collectors who have stood in front of judges and faced similar false accusations. It is difficult to imagine the situation unless you have been there. Nonetheless, the effort involved in imagining yourself in such a situation may pay dividends in the future. Many of us are just like the young guy who did not understand the use of metsubishi.
Martial artists and weapon collectors could glean important lessons from the topic, but those lessons appear to be being ignored.
Among them
The perception that large collections of weapons are crazy is a common one. The perceptions of others can be used against one.
The fact that collectors tend to hold on to things (collect them) and holding on to a weapon inappropriately or when it is not serving its purpose can be lethal.
Here is my story.
A couple of years ago I went through a contentious divorce and custody battle. One of the crucial times in such a case is the temporary orders hearing where temporary custody of the children is assigned. In fact, the temporary decision is rarely changed, and almost always determines the permanent custody decision. Immediately prior to that hearing I was falsely accused of a number of heinous crimes. The court was also (correctly) informed that I owned numerous guns and knives, and slept with boxes of razor sharp knives under his bed. I was also accused of (promoted to?) being an expert martial artist and a bully who carries a gun. My opponent expressed concern for her personal safety and requested the court that restraining orders be entered against me and that the police take possession of all of my knives and guns. My attorney told me not to worry, that I had a second amendment right to own the weapons.
Digression: The Japanese have a concept called Metsubishi. This is disturbing the sight. Metsubishi can be an irritating powder or small objects thrown into the eyes. John Wayne, when he picks up a handful of sand and casts it at his opponents face in the old Western, is using metsubishi. A young martial artist might scoff. I know the deadly reverse punch. I can break boards with my reverse punch, and any opponent I strike must surely fall. Your silly metsubishi will not cause any permanent damage. In later years the young martial artist may come to realize that he can not apply his deadly techniques while he is coughing and sputtering with his eyes closed, and that he is vulnerable to a much less skilled opponent kicking him in the testes or cracking him over the head with a rock at that time. Metsubishi buys precious seconds when they are most valuable, and allows the control of tempo.
During one of my psychological evaluations in the course of the court proceedings, the psychologist asked me if I really slept with boxes of razor sharp knives under the bed. I said yes, as if it were a natural thing to do, which it was for me. The psychologist asked me why, and I said it was because there was storage space for my knives under the bed. He then said that my opponents documents painted a picture of horror. I had not looked at things from that perspective before. It still is strange that some people find 40 knives more disturbing than one knife. After all, an opponent will use only one or at most two knives at a time. Additional knives really do not increase the threat. Nevertheless it is wise to understand that the perceived threat of one knife and 40 knives is different for many people.
The facts of the matter were that even though I was in the right, a judge would most probably enter orders and have my weapons confiscated on the flimsiest of grounds. The judge would face considerable political fallout if s/he failed to remove the weapons from a situation where such serious accusations had been made, and then something bad was to occur.
I surprised my attorney, the judge, and my opponent by selling all of my guns and most of my knives prior to the hearing where the restraining order and the police confiscation was to be considered by the judge. I gave the money from the sale to my opponent. The judge was taken aback and asked me to explain a couple of times what I did. The police never came to my house, my CWP was never taken away, and the only restraining orders entered were mutual ones keeping both me and my opponent away from each other. I gained temporary custody of my children in that hearing, and later permanent custody of them. I cant help but think the outcome of that hearing might have been very different if the focus of the hearing had been removing dangerous weapons from my possession. They would have been taken from me, along with my CWP. I would have got the weapons back eventually, but I would have lost the larger battle.
Digression: Archilocos of Paros was one of the earliest lyric poets of Greece. He lives somewhere around the 7th century BC. Only fragments of his work remain. He was a warrior. One of his fragments goes like this: Some barbarian is waving my shield. I had to leave that perfectly good piece of equipment underneath a bush. But, no matter. I can get another just as good. There is a profound lesson in the words of the warrior from ancient Greece. If he had held onto his favorite shield while fleeing the battlefield perhaps he would have fallen under the enemy swords. As it was he survived. His mind still functioned. The real weapon was Archilocos himself. The shield was a temporary expedient accoutrement.
Do not underestimate the power of common perception. Do not underestimate the power of the courts. And do not underestimate the power of those willing to lie to use common perceptions and the courts for their own purposes.
I have spoken to other martial artists and weapons collectors who have stood in front of judges and faced similar false accusations. It is difficult to imagine the situation unless you have been there. Nonetheless, the effort involved in imagining yourself in such a situation may pay dividends in the future. Many of us are just like the young guy who did not understand the use of metsubishi.
