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There are roughly the same number of road deaths as gun deaths in the USA each year.

Annual motor vehicle traffic deaths: 33,687

Murders committed using a firearm, 2011: 67.7% * 14,612 = 9,892

Lowest estimate of number of defensive firearms uses per year: 108,000

Highest estimate of number of defensive firearms uses per year: 2,500,000

It doesn't. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

Straight from the FBI. And your first point isn't really worth replying to.

Yes, but did you read the report that UK has been fudging the numbers for several years?

Also, they report differently than we do. We report every homicide (not even sure if we include suicides), but we include justified homicides, accidental, etc. It is my understanding that they UK does not, and will find excuses for reducing the murder tally from homicide tally.

Which report? Please link to a reputable source...
The UK & USA also report / record violent crime differently, that does not stop Americans from directly comparing them...

UK :
Definition :
The term homicide covers the offences of murder, manslaughter and infanticide. Murder and manslaughter are common law offences that have never been defined by statute, although they have been modified by statute. The offence of infanticide was created by the Infanticide Act 1922 and refined by the Infanticide Act 1938 (s1).
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/hosb0212?view=Binary Page 16

USA :
Definition @
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/murder
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-1

Yes, but did you read the report that UK has been fudging the numbers for several years?

Also, they report differently than we do. We report every homicide (not even sure if we include suicides), but we include justified homicides, accidental, etc. It is my understanding that they UK does not, and will find excuses for reducing the murder tally from homicide tally.

Which report? Please link to a reputable source...
The UK & USA also report / record violent crime differently, that does not stop Americans from directly comparing them...

UK :
Definition :
The term homicide covers the offences of murder, manslaughter and infanticide. Murder and manslaughter are common law offences that have never been defined by statute, although they have been modified by statute. The offence of infanticide was created by the Infanticide Act 1922 and refined by the Infanticide Act 1938 (s1).
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/crime-research/hosb0212/hosb0212?view=Binary Page 16

USA :
Definition @
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines murder and nonnegligent manslaughter as the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/murder
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-1

You mean the UK, where the violent crime rate is 3.5 times that of the US?? Where there was recently a run on small baseball bats because police weren't able to protect businesses and people from rioters?? That country??.

Which definition of Violent Crime are you using? That of the UK or the USA, or are you doing a direct comparison based on what is recorded as Violent Crime by each country? There is a substantial difference between how the USA & the UK record Violent Crime
UK :
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_283456.pdf (page 16)

Definition :
Violent crime covers a wide range of offences, from minor assaults such as pushing and shoving
that result in no physical harm through to serious incidents of wounding and murder. Robbery, an
offence in which violence or the threat of violence is used during a theft (or attempted theft) is not
included in the police recorded violence against the person offence group as it is reported separately
in the robbery section, but it is included within CSEW violence.

USA :
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/violent-crime
Definition :
In the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/aggravated-assault
Aggravated Assault :
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines aggravated assault as an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. The UCR Program further specifies that this type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by other means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempted aggravated assault that involves the display of—or threat to use—a gun, knife, or other weapon is included in this crime category because serious personal injury would likely result if the assault were completed. When aggravated assault and larceny-theft occur together, the offense falls under the category of robbery.

You mean the UK, where the violent crime rate is 3.5 times that of the US?? Where there was recently a run on small baseball bats because police weren't able to protect businesses and people from rioters?? That country??.

Which definition of Violent Crime are you using? That of the UK or the USA, or are you doing a direct comparison based on what is recorded as Violent Crime by each country? There is a substantial difference between how the USA & the UK record Violent Crime
UK :
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_283456.pdf (page 16)

Definition :
Violent crime covers a wide range of offences, from minor assaults such as pushing and shoving
that result in no physical harm through to serious incidents of wounding and murder. Robbery, an
offence in which violence or the threat of violence is used during a theft (or attempted theft) is not
included in the police recorded violence against the person offence group as it is reported separately
in the robbery section, but it is included within CSEW violence.

USA :
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/violent-crime
Definition :
In the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/violent-crime/aggravated-assault
Aggravated Assault :
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program defines aggravated assault as an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. The UCR Program further specifies that this type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by other means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempted aggravated assault that involves the display of—or threat to use—a gun, knife, or other weapon is included in this crime category because serious personal injury would likely result if the assault were completed. When aggravated assault and larceny-theft occur together, the offense falls under the category of robbery.

Each year there are more deaths related to drunk driving than homicides related to firearms.
http://www.centurycouncil.org/sites/default/files/files/Saving-Lives-for-20-Years.gif
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8
If banning high cap mags is supposed to stop mass shootings, maybe banning 24-packs of beer will stop drunk driving.

C: States and Cities in the US with strict gun control regimes are some of the most dangerous places to be in this country. The stats you are swallowing whole include suicides in them to make the rural areas look dangerous. D: You know nothing about this topic and are simply seeking information to confirm your biases.

Um, No, sir. Either you are lazy or flat out lying. Here's the data: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/standard-links/city-agency http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-5

C: States and Cities in the US with strict gun control regimes are some of the most dangerous places to be in this country. The stats you are swallowing whole include suicides in them to make the rural areas look dangerous. D: You know nothing about this topic and are simply seeking information to confirm your biases.

Um, No, sir. Either you are lazy or flat out lying. Here's the data: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/standard-links/city-agency http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-5

Mass shootings have been farirly steady in this country for decades. A handful of people kill about 120 or so. This is maybe 1% of the total homicide picture in tis country.
https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

~6,000 murders were committed in 2010 with handguns, compared to ~350 with rifles. So by your logic, we should be discussing a handgun ban.

Your information is 8 years out of date. More murders were committed by bare hands and feet or knives than by rifles.

No need for courts.

Megaupload is down; mission accomplished.

Not quite. Kim Dot Com is already planning on creating a replacement.

I am 100% sure that the feds would very much also like to leave him rotting in jail for a few years in the US and also claw back all his assets as proceeds of crime to leave him destitute when he was released.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs in this case the reality is that if DoJ just wanted to seize his domain name and shut down his site they could have done that far more easily without going to the lengths they did. Nope, they wanted him in prison at the very least too, and if he had been extradited he would be as the right US judge and jury would have quite happily turned a blind eye to all the Fed's misdeeds in getting him in front of them.

Also, the FBI has a long history of trying to entrap people into commiting crimes (read the section on the case from during prohibition):
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/january-2012/avoiding-the-entrapment-defense-in-a-post-9-11-world

No, they don't care about guns being used to kill people. Only 323 people were killed with a rifle of any sort in 2011. Why are we banning anything having to do with a rifle?

Even if they are concerned with guns being used to kill people shouldn't we actually be concerned with people being killed and not with the method of killing.
If we are concerned with people being killed then that number serves as the valuation of the method.
So, look at this table and tell me what should be banned based upon the number of people it kills - this is only for murders mind you...

FBI crime data: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-11

Handguns are the obvious target. Rifles are immaterial. But there is another correlation, arguments about random crap. In every instance the argument (not a felony) is the majority reason why someone was killed. No matter what they were killed with most people are killed in an argument. Guns are used because we have so many and once I've decided to kill someone why would I use a less efficient means? This does not mean that people will stop killing each other in arguments if they don't have guns. As tool users we will use the tools we have. Case in point is that more people are killed with hammers than with rifles - because most people don't have rifles.

So nothing we are discussing in the gun control debate will impact the main cause of homicide in this country - arguments.

Actually gang activity only accounts for about 673 total murders out of 12,664 in 2011.

citation: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-11

And also, for clarity, only 17 of those murders occurred with a rifle - which is what is being attacked by the current round of gun bans.
Total rifle murders in 2011 was only 323.

Note that these numbers include justifiable homicides - self protection as well as those committed by law enforcement.

Your other statements are much more supportable but you are reading into things you've heard. If you go to the Home Office website for Great Britain you can check their numbers as well. If you really want to be taken seriously don't give conjecture, give actual numbers and cite your sources.

I am sure, then, you will absolutely push to have all hands eliminated - cut off. Since not only can they wield those evil, murderous guns but also kill twice as many people as rifles. If you are so upset about these "assault" rifles, then you must be positively frothing at the mouth over the wanton carnage from those unregistered, unlicensed fists!

"How can you compare the USA with a population of 350M to Switzerland of 8M, "
seriously? You really don't know how that's done? Or are you just making a knee jerk reaction to something you don't like?

" Also its very amusing the number one reason they cite is gun violence"
It's A reason, listed among others.

". Perhaps they should ban clubs and hammers, since more people die every year due them as one report recently found."
no it didn't. You really need to stop watching Fox News.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/baseballbats.asp
and, of course the source:
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

Facts bitch, suck it.

ALL Blunt objects(hammers, baseball bast, etc...) 2011 496
All Firearms: 8,583

And in every city with strict and enforce gun control, the murder rate trend down, without exception.

I'm pro gun, but I do want to correct one common fact about that hammer and club statistic. Hammers and clubs kill far more people than *RIFLES*, including the oh so scary AR-15 and other "assault rifles". Interestingly enough, handguns are still the #1 murder weapon in the US, but they (mostly) don't have the scary high capacity 30 round magazines or selective fire features that everyone seems panicked about. I don't have a statistic off hand, but I believe a significant portion of these handgun murders are gang related. So lets ban gangs and crazy people, that makes more sense!

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

Most gun deaths are spur of the moment killings because someone lost their temper.

Most gun deaths are suicides. Gun homicides in the US are split -- about 16% happen during the course of another felony. About 40% are unknown. Of the rest, about half are "other arguments" -- that is, not a romantic triangle, not a drunken/drugged brawl, not an argument over money or property, not a gang killing, not an institutional killing, and not a sniper attack.

Crime stats

Which leaves your statement about "spur of the moment" killings completely unsupported.

Some bankers are in jail.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120612/ARTICLE/120619859

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/walker-365061-theft-farmers.html

http://www.fbi.gov/tampa/press-releases/2012/tampa-man-and-maryland-banker-sentenced-for-bank-fraud-and-other-offenses

It isn't that unusual.

"Military quality guns" have been practically illegal for private citizens to own since 1930, and literally illegal since 1986.
Doing the right thing and helping to control "military quality guns" would imply limiting the military's access to their own guns.
I don't see how that can be considered doing the right thing.

Of course, that's assuming that you meant fully automatic rifles, assault rifles, or machine guns.
If instead you were referring to "assault weapons", scary-looking rifles, or rifles in general, then I have some news for you.
According to the FBI's statistics, consistently, in the United States, year after year, more people are murdered with hammers and clubs than with rifles.
Hammers and clubs.
Rifles account for a small (roughly 5%, I believe) proportion of gun violence. It's safe to say that rifles aren't the problem.

So then, it seems that by "military quality guns", you mean those plastic Glock pistols that are so popular among inner city gangs. An overwhelming majority of gun violence is committed using hand guns.
Military quality guns, fascinating idea.

Unfortunately a very small number of gun deaths in the US are committed with rifles.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-18/american-gun-deaths-to-exceed-traffic-fatalities-by-2015

From a nested link in the link you posted, gun deaths outnumber blunt object deaths 17 to 1 in 2011. The other years in the article were similar.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-11

Switching from gun deaths to murder by gun puts the US from 10th to 14th, partially because some countries do not have the data. How is that way down the list?

1) The US is 14th in gun homicide per 100k

2) Of the 13 countries that have more gun deaths, only 3 have data on suicides.

3) Honduras is 46/100k gun homicides and has no data on suicides. Your ~91 number for Honduras comes from the overall murder rate, including, but not limited to, guns. The US number (4.2) includes primarily gun murders (3.7). Honduras has the highest murder rate in the word, so you're cherry picking as well. 70% of its 7 million citizens live in poverty. Honduras is in the middle of the drug wars and went through a coup d'état in 2009. This is a shockingly fucked up country and should be no standard that we compare ourselves to.

4) 67% of murders in the US are committed with guns. (2010)

Sources:

Gun deaths w/ info on suicide vs homicide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_firearm-related_death_rate

Murder rate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

FBI Expanded Homicide Data
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl08.xls

Shockingly enough, in countries where there are strict gun laws, there appear to be less shootings by criminals than int he U.S.

While non-gun petty and violent crime have risen as the number of firearms in private hands has decreased.

This is the simple fact opponents of gun control simply cannot deal with.

Less guns mean less gun violence.

And a fact that proponents of gun control in the U.S. ignore is that drunk driving kills more people each year than firearms, by about 15%, and vehicle crashes in general kill 4,000 times as many as guns..

In 2010, 8,874, people were killed by firearms.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8

In 2010, 10,228 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes
http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

In 2009, 35,900,00 people were killed by automobiles.
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1103.pdf

Yet I don't see the Dianne Feinstein's of the world on a mad rush to ban alcohol, or ban automobiles. If the push to ban guns was about deaths of citizens, young children, then we'd have banned cars long ago, or passed laws to make it much harder for people who just don't have the coordination and brain power to drive a car safely, etc, etc, and we'd have banned alcohol outright, again (with the same results).

Pull the blinders off people. Stop drinking the Kool-aid. The push to ban guns is about political ideology of the left, not saving lives. Always has been, always will be. Mass shootings like this are simply a timely opportunity to push their ideological agenda again, hoping the outrage will put enough wind in their legislative sails to pass something.

The 2nd amendment to the U.S. constitution guarantess us the right to bear arms. And it puts no limitations on the types of arms.

There is no guarantee in the constitution of a right to own or drive an automobile, or consume alcohol.

Seems to me if the concern were truly for dead children, as is being claimed here, then we'd surely embark on passing legislation to once again ban alcohol, and if we really want to cut down on deaths, ban automobiles.

"Insane worries" which are statistically unnecessary. The USA has no worries other nations don't have, we just hype our worries up a lot more than other nations do because it sells advertisements. It sells guns. It sells movies. Basically, it just sells.

There really aren't that many "home invasions" (with people at home), despite what the news and Hollywood tell you. The FBI doesn't even track the information, as "home invasion" is usually considered part of a number of different charges all falling under "violent crime" heading.

That said, the "violent crime rate" (which includes, murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery of all types) was 386 per 100,000 in the USA for 2011. That's 0.3 percent of the population actually being victim of ANY violent crime.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-1

The rifle he had, that his mother owned - a Bushmaster AR15 - is neither fully automatic nor burst-capable.

Full auto and burst-capable weapons made after 1986 are illegal to own or possess outside the military or law enforcement, and the grandfathered guns are heavily regulated on a federal level. As far as I know, none of them have been used in a murder. (There have been a couple policemen using fully auto or burst capable weapons, but that's it).

Now, "assualt rifle" does get used to describe guns that don't mean the current legal/technical (which only includes full auto/burst-capable), such as in discussion of the shooting here. Plus the separate 1994 ban (now expired) was on "assault weapons" with a separate set of legal criteria.

But any law is going to need a technical description, and the problem here is that beyond the magazine capacity the Bushmaster AR15 isn't any more dangerous (and less than some, given the caliber) than other semi-automatic rifles that wouldn't be covered either under the technical "assault rifle" definition or the "assault weapon" ban from 1994. And rifles are a pretty small part of murders anyway - See these statistics from 2006-2010.

I'm not personally opposed to a set of targeted weapons bands, but can you give a definition of what you'd want banned that would be clear enough to be a legal definition?

Crime rates in the USA are easily researched and point to the exact opposite. Your stupidity on the matter is mind boggling. Feel free to respond as you wish this will be the last time I expend effort on showing just how ignorant you are. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl06.xls The number of black murderers is about the same as white murderers except there are almost 7 times as many white people as black people meaning blacks are around seven times more likely to commit murder than a white person. Please feel free to pontificate whatever nonsense you wish, the floor is yours jackass.

Since guns are orders of magnitude more likely to kill you or our family rather than any intruder

Do you have stats for that?

I'm not sure what you count as an intruder, but lets count Burglury and Robberies for this back of the envelope check. http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10shrtbl10.xls tells us that there were 860 murders during those crimes. Two orders of magnitudes would mean that we'd need there to be 86000 killings by guns (assuming that the populations are the same - which they aren't some people don't have guns in the home but can be robbed after all). But http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_us.html only has 31,672 firearm deaths in 2010.

Of course some of those 860 murders might be robbers killing fellow robbers or police killing robbers or whatever. Then again some of those 31,672 deaths are not going to be of the household member of a gun owner.

Even if "orders of magnitude" is true, then the conclusion doesn't follow since guns are not kept just to kill intruders. They are also kept to stop an intruder without killing them (scaring them away, etc).

And of course stats on this are difficult, a significant number of people who keep a gun in the home lie about it when asked in surveys (which is the only way to really get the control data - you can get guns kept in houses being robbed from crime stats but not information about guns kept (or not kept) in houses that aren't robbed*). And people with high risk factors for getting shot tend to keep guns so controlling for other factors is hard - a gang member for example is more likely to be violent and more likely to keep a gun (and more likely to lie about keeping a gun in a survey).

Try more recent data slick.
2010 4.8
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl01.xls

Not sure how one would measure moral decay. My guess is it would include a bunch of things I do not find immoral.

Imagine you are walking at night, accidentally glance at a lit window of a nearby house and see a crime in progress. Your actions would be:

0) Do nothing. You have no right to this information. You do your best to forget what you saw and keep walking.

1) Knock on the door and tell the robbers that they should stop their life of crime - or at least to close the curtains. Then leave and forget the encounter.

2) Call 911 immediately, stay in vicinity to meet the police, explain what you saw and direct them to the house.

Note that I don't expect it to be legal if you intentionally walk around at night and look into people's homes. However innocently coming across an evidence of the crime and sitting on it is very much illegal, and an FBI agent certainly is aware of that.

I don't know what procedures they have at FBI, but off-duty police officers remain police officers; they can stop crimes, they can report suspicious activity, and most importantly they have a right to talk to other people as much as anyone else. In worst case the FBI dad was doing an unauthorized investigation in his own time; but there is no law against that. For example, an off-duty police officer may follow a suspect for a while to understand if his actions are illegal (and warrant calling it in) or perfectly legal. For example, if you see a drunk walking out of the bar and into the parking lot with an open bottle in hand, it all depends on what seat in the car he takes. Note that the FBI dad did not use his position to get privileged information - the ISP did not volunteer that, and he did not demand further.

From an ethical standpoint, the moment he opened that email, he was crossing a very clear line into unethical (if not illegal) behaviour.

I don't know how that particular person has his email client set up. But my email clients open the message in the lower pane at the same time as I click on it in the list for any reason - even to delete. It can be argued that viewing of the message is automatic. As the judge noted, viewing of the following messages already constituted an investigation. But, being an FBI agent, the dad was not only competent to investigate but probably also required to do it by his oath. It's up to the FBI to figure out if his personal actions were proper or not.

It's not arguably cheaper, it's demonstratively and definitively cheaper by leaps and bounds.

It's only cheaper because the death penalty comes with automatic and mandatory appeals, appeals which cost a damn fortune, as the state ends up footing the bill for both sides of the argument. If all life sentences came with automatic appeals of the same scope and nature as the death penalty, then it would be cheaper to execute. The only reason the process is so long, complicated and expensive is that we have chosen to make it that way. Our justice system is badly flawed. There are two reasons for having punishment for crimes. The first is to prevent a convict from committing further crimes by physically preventing them access (incarceration). The second is to prevent future criminals by deterrent. The latter is a complete joke, as deterrents have fundamental requirements to be successful which include: They must be swift, sure and severe. This is a natural extensions of deterrence. The heaviest emphasis must be placed on sureness, and the least emphasis is placed on severity. In fact in many cases, the severity of the punishment has little effect on recidivism or crime rate in general. Our legal system fails because punishment is far from sure. Our legal tenet of letting 10 guilty men go free so as to avoid one innocent man being wrongly convicted is deeply flawed. The problem is one of social good. How much harm does one innocent man being punished cause, vs how much harm does not catching and punishing all criminals cause. Much of our crime problem has to do with criminals not believing they will be caught. Every year, many people are murdered, and property crimes are out of control. In 2010 alone there were more than 9 million property crimes in the U.S. That's one crime for every 35 people. The reality is that our laws are not a deterrent, as they are supposed to be. Its time to give up the ghost and work on something better. Getting tough on crime doesn't have to mean longer sentences, and more severe punishment, it can simply mean taking the time and effort to catch and punish the criminals we allow to get away with the crime every day. Instead of having their department parking their patrol cars in hidey holes and trying to catch people who are speeding, the police departments of our country should be out investigating and solving real property crimes. Instead of making recreational drug use illegal in an ill-advised and idiotic "war on drugs", the pointless drug laws need to be stripped off the books and replaced with laws like the drunk driving laws which are aimed at keeping the public safest without making criminals out of people who would otherwise be upstanding citizens. In short, its time to update our legal system to take advantage of the last 200 years of advances in psychology and criminology, and start addressing the problem instead of fighting the symptoms.

-=Geoskd

Please point me at the jury verdict or court ruling that MegaUpload and/or Kim Dotcom was engaged in illegal activities.

There is plenty of evidence, perhaps you're aware of the ~500 servers on US soil which were involved. The mess in New Zealand relating to warrants and seizures is the result of incompetence. The seizures in the US were done with evidence. Nearly every site out there has Terms of Service which forbid certain uses, plus as a business you wont get very far with a defense along the lines of I didn't know it was illegal. Part of operating a successful business is knowing what is legal where you have a business presence. It's a little different when the business model is based around knowingly engaging in these behaviors, especially to the tune of millions of dollars. It's not like Kim is spotless, he's a history of embezzlement and fraud. That's a red flag for any business dealings, were you born yesterday, or did you lose access to some files you didn't make a backup of like their service explicitly told you to?

I know that whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing is just so darn inconvenient.

The presumption of innocence is how it works within the courts, where the accused is presumed innocent until the government meets the highest burden of proof known in American law: proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to a moral certainty. As an individual you're allowed right or wrong to think as you like.

And both seem to want to increase government surveillance and trade freedom for safety.

Excuse me, sir, since trivial research shows a fairly regular stream of arrests and convictions for terrorism related offenses in the United States, could you point me toward the American political party that would be indifferent to truck bombs going off in American shopping malls, as well as various other sorts of terrorist attacks and activities? You seem to believe that wanting to prevent that is a bug, not a feature, and with a large number of political parties in existence, surely one of them must be indifferent to Americans being killed by terrorists, and unwilling to engage in the surveillance necessary to prevent it, and therefore by your reckoning worthy of being voted into power? Which do you recommend?

If you want to criticize someone, please provide some arguments. Until then, the man did nothing bad. In fact, of the moderately rich people, he is one of the few that arrived to his riches with honest work.

Insider trading and embezzlement isn't honest work. To be clear we're not discussing moral behavior, but legal. Kim Dotcom's wiki page second sentence:

He rose to fame in Germany in the 1990s as a teenage internet tycoon, but was subsequently convicted of insider trading and embezzlement.

More on that is:

Kim was arrested for insider trading and embezzlement in 2003, he bought shares worth €375,000 of bankrupt company LetsBuyIt and announced that he would buy shares worth €50 Million more which led to the price of share to increase by 300%. Kim neither had the funds nor any intentions to buy more shares of LetsBuyIt and sold his shares worth €375,000. He was held guilty for insider trading and embezzlement case in November, 2003.

Not to mention the whole business model based around copyright infringement. He had ~500 servers on US soil and a business presence in the US which directly profited from these activities. While these activities are not 'wrong' they aren't legal. While the FBI isn't everyone's favorite organization and there is a reason why they have a 90%+ conviction rate.

Austin airplane attack on IRS. Kansas City bombing. Abortion doctor assassinations. Anthrax. Olympics bomb. Ted Kaczynski. Chinese embassy in Iraq. Though no stonings or beheadings with government backing that I'm aware of. So if those are logical ANDs (requires that all be simultaneously true) I guess it might be accurate.

You seem to be reaching pretty hard there. Those cases are all over the map, from personal grievance (Austin IRS), to unknown (Anthrax) to lone crank (Ted Kaczynski) to mistake (Chinese embassy). There really isn't any connection, and in most cases those incidents killed very few people. That is a huge difference from the Islamist extremist violence going on in Iraq (or other places) where they manage to kill something like 50x more per month than the total of what you have shown above. And make no mistake, there are extremists in the United States supporting terrorists, or trying to make their mark and conduct an attack of similar violence to what is occuring overseas in places like Iraq.

Just a small sample, not including things like the attempted Times Square bombing by the Taliban agent, or various other well known plots.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

Austin airplane attack on IRS. Kansas City bombing. Abortion doctor assassinations. Anthrax. Olympics bomb. Ted Kaczynski. Chinese embassy in Iraq. Though no stonings or beheadings with government backing that I'm aware of. So if those are logical ANDs (requires that all be simultaneously true) I guess it might be accurate.

You seem to be reaching pretty hard there. Those cases are all over the map, from personal grievance (Austin IRS), to unknown (Anthrax) to lone crank (Ted Kaczynski) to mistake (Chinese embassy). There really isn't any connection, and in most cases those incidents killed very few people. That is a huge difference from the Islamist extremist violence going on in Iraq (or other places) where they manage to kill something like 50x more per month than the total of what you have shown above. And make no mistake, there are extremists in the United States supporting terrorists, or trying to make their mark and conduct an attack of similar violence to what is occuring overseas in places like Iraq.

Just a small sample, not including things like the attempted Times Square bombing by the Taliban agent, or various other well known plots.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

Austin airplane attack on IRS. Kansas City bombing. Abortion doctor assassinations. Anthrax. Olympics bomb. Ted Kaczynski. Chinese embassy in Iraq. Though no stonings or beheadings with government backing that I'm aware of. So if those are logical ANDs (requires that all be simultaneously true) I guess it might be accurate.

You seem to be reaching pretty hard there. Those cases are all over the map, from personal grievance (Austin IRS), to unknown (Anthrax) to lone crank (Ted Kaczynski) to mistake (Chinese embassy). There really isn't any connection, and in most cases those incidents killed very few people. That is a huge difference from the Islamist extremist violence going on in Iraq (or other places) where they manage to kill something like 50x more per month than the total of what you have shown above. And make no mistake, there are extremists in the United States supporting terrorists, or trying to make their mark and conduct an attack of similar violence to what is occuring overseas in places like Iraq.

Just a small sample, not including things like the attempted Times Square bombing by the Taliban agent, or various other well known plots.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

The Spanish Inquisition was also useful in preventing the spread of heretical doctrines. Doesn't mean it was a good idea.

The concern here isn't to prevent the spread of "heretical doctrines" so much as the spreading use of truck bombs. Surveillance of people in contact with the planners of such actions is a good idea. There are people in the United States now who continue to attempt such things. So far the would-be terrorists have been stopped, but there is no guarantee that will continue.

Just a small sample:

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

San Diego: Woman Guilty of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

Nima Yusuf, 25, a resident of San Diego, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization.

More here.

The Spanish Inquisition was also useful in preventing the spread of heretical doctrines. Doesn't mean it was a good idea.

The concern here isn't to prevent the spread of "heretical doctrines" so much as the spreading use of truck bombs. Surveillance of people in contact with the planners of such actions is a good idea. There are people in the United States now who continue to attempt such things. So far the would-be terrorists have been stopped, but there is no guarantee that will continue.

Just a small sample:

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

San Diego: Woman Guilty of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

Nima Yusuf, 25, a resident of San Diego, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization.

More here.

The Spanish Inquisition was also useful in preventing the spread of heretical doctrines. Doesn't mean it was a good idea.

The concern here isn't to prevent the spread of "heretical doctrines" so much as the spreading use of truck bombs. Surveillance of people in contact with the planners of such actions is a good idea. There are people in the United States now who continue to attempt such things. So far the would-be terrorists have been stopped, but there is no guarantee that will continue.

Just a small sample:

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

San Diego: Woman Guilty of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

Nima Yusuf, 25, a resident of San Diego, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization.

More here.

The Spanish Inquisition was also useful in preventing the spread of heretical doctrines. Doesn't mean it was a good idea.

The concern here isn't to prevent the spread of "heretical doctrines" so much as the spreading use of truck bombs. Surveillance of people in contact with the planners of such actions is a good idea. There are people in the United States now who continue to attempt such things. So far the would-be terrorists have been stopped, but there is no guarantee that will continue.

Just a small sample:

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

San Diego: Woman Guilty of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

Nima Yusuf, 25, a resident of San Diego, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization.

More here.

The Spanish Inquisition was also useful in preventing the spread of heretical doctrines. Doesn't mean it was a good idea.

The concern here isn't to prevent the spread of "heretical doctrines" so much as the spreading use of truck bombs. Surveillance of people in contact with the planners of such actions is a good idea. There are people in the United States now who continue to attempt such things. So far the would-be terrorists have been stopped, but there is no guarantee that will continue.

Just a small sample:

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives.

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle.

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

San Diego: Woman Guilty of Conspiring to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

Nima Yusuf, 25, a resident of San Diego, pled guilty to conspiring to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization.

More here.

He's right. At one time, I "had a friend" that would have put a bullet through Assanges' head on "unofficial" orders.

Is that a fact? And your friend actually told you this*? Leaves me wondering what kind of a friend you have there, sharing what would obviously be highly classified information. . .if true. . . for you to spread around? Even more so, does he have friends . . . . or maybe a team (?) of his own preparing for action against Assange . . . . maybe with FBI support?

I would think that when it comes to Assange, even if the US government was inclined to direct action, they would be open to following Napoleons advice: Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. Assange has made plenty of them, and they seem to be continuing. Instead of going to Sweden to clear his name, he has managed to commit actual offenses in the UK (jumping bail and fleeing the law) and confine himself in a small apartment for an indefinite term. As things are going he could easily be there for years, ultimately be captured and sent to Sweden, be cleared in Sweden, and then returned to the UK to face charges for jumping bail and fleeing the law.

Besides, since the US only waterboarded three people, the most recent in about 2003 in pretty much the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to try to get some insight into Al Qaeda's next attack after having just suffered 3,000 dead, and there has been endless carping about it ever since, what do you think would happen if the US employed your "friend", or someone that is actually dangerous, to kill a "journalist" like Assange, and word got out -as it inevitably would? Somehow I just don't see that happening since Assange hasn't actually participated in direct warfare against the US, unlike Al Awlaki.

In any event, you can rest assured that Julian Assange takes strong evasive measures whenever possible - no catching him with his pants . . . down.

* So you fancy your friend as the ruthless sort then?

He's right. At one time, I "had a friend" that would have put a bullet through Assanges' head on "unofficial" orders.

Is that a fact? And your friend actually told you this*? Leaves me wondering what kind of a friend you have there, sharing what would obviously be highly classified information. . .if true. . . for you to spread around? Even more so, does he have friends . . . . or maybe a team (?) of his own preparing for action against Assange . . . . maybe with FBI support?

I would think that when it comes to Assange, even if the US government was inclined to direct action, they would be open to following Napoleons advice: Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. Assange has made plenty of them, and they seem to be continuing. Instead of going to Sweden to clear his name, he has managed to commit actual offenses in the UK (jumping bail and fleeing the law) and confine himself in a small apartment for an indefinite term. As things are going he could easily be there for years, ultimately be captured and sent to Sweden, be cleared in Sweden, and then returned to the UK to face charges for jumping bail and fleeing the law.

Besides, since the US only waterboarded three people, the most recent in about 2003 in pretty much the immediate aftermath of 9/11 to try to get some insight into Al Qaeda's next attack after having just suffered 3,000 dead, and there has been endless carping about it ever since, what do you think would happen if the US employed your "friend", or someone that is actually dangerous, to kill a "journalist" like Assange, and word got out -as it inevitably would? Somehow I just don't see that happening since Assange hasn't actually participated in direct warfare against the US, unlike Al Awlaki.

In any event, you can rest assured that Julian Assange takes strong evasive measures whenever possible - no catching him with his pants . . . down.

* So you fancy your friend as the ruthless sort then?

The chances of a person being killed by a terrorist attack are by far lower than the chances of dying from a traffic accident or a heart attack. Actually they are far less than the chances of an innocent person to die accidentally shot by a police officer.

Tell that to the Iraqis, who suffer bombings and assassinations daily, and for whom truck bombings in market places was a regular hazard for years.

Or maybe you can tell it to the FBI for that matter. The make regular arrests and attain convictions for plot after plot after plot. I will show a few at the end of the post.

The only reason it is rare, is the United States takes active, effective measures against it, not because there aren't people trying to conduct attacks. Frankly, your post makes as much sense as saying that statistics show so few deaths from food poisoning that it obviously isn't a problem, so we should do away with refrigeration.

40 Americans Have Joined Al Qaeda Group

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

The chances of a person being killed by a terrorist attack are by far lower than the chances of dying from a traffic accident or a heart attack. Actually they are far less than the chances of an innocent person to die accidentally shot by a police officer.

Tell that to the Iraqis, who suffer bombings and assassinations daily, and for whom truck bombings in market places was a regular hazard for years.

Or maybe you can tell it to the FBI for that matter. The make regular arrests and attain convictions for plot after plot after plot. I will show a few at the end of the post.

The only reason it is rare, is the United States takes active, effective measures against it, not because there aren't people trying to conduct attacks. Frankly, your post makes as much sense as saying that statistics show so few deaths from food poisoning that it obviously isn't a problem, so we should do away with refrigeration.

40 Americans Have Joined Al Qaeda Group

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

The chances of a person being killed by a terrorist attack are by far lower than the chances of dying from a traffic accident or a heart attack. Actually they are far less than the chances of an innocent person to die accidentally shot by a police officer.

Tell that to the Iraqis, who suffer bombings and assassinations daily, and for whom truck bombings in market places was a regular hazard for years.

Or maybe you can tell it to the FBI for that matter. The make regular arrests and attain convictions for plot after plot after plot. I will show a few at the end of the post.

The only reason it is rare, is the United States takes active, effective measures against it, not because there aren't people trying to conduct attacks. Frankly, your post makes as much sense as saying that statistics show so few deaths from food poisoning that it obviously isn't a problem, so we should do away with refrigeration.

40 Americans Have Joined Al Qaeda Group

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

The chances of a person being killed by a terrorist attack are by far lower than the chances of dying from a traffic accident or a heart attack. Actually they are far less than the chances of an innocent person to die accidentally shot by a police officer.

Tell that to the Iraqis, who suffer bombings and assassinations daily, and for whom truck bombings in market places was a regular hazard for years.

Or maybe you can tell it to the FBI for that matter. The make regular arrests and attain convictions for plot after plot after plot. I will show a few at the end of the post.

The only reason it is rare, is the United States takes active, effective measures against it, not because there aren't people trying to conduct attacks. Frankly, your post makes as much sense as saying that statistics show so few deaths from food poisoning that it obviously isn't a problem, so we should do away with refrigeration.

40 Americans Have Joined Al Qaeda Group

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

I think the most scary thing from the poll you linked is that 8% of Muslims did not agree that: Muslims living in the U.S. do not sympathize with the al Qaeda terrorist organization.

This means that 1 in 12 Muslims interviewed could believe that Muslims living in the U.S. sympathize with an organisation who openly hates western society.

No need to believe polls when you can see open activity, arrests, and court cases.

The recruiter: Anwar al-Awlaki, portrait of an American jihadist CNN: Al-Awlaki threatens Americans
40 Americans Have Joined Al Qaeda Group
U.S.-educated Misunderstander of Islam pleads guilty to jihad war crimes, turns government witness

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011

I think the most scary thing from the poll you linked is that 8% of Muslims did not agree that: Muslims living in the U.S. do not sympathize with the al Qaeda terrorist organization.

This means that 1 in 12 Muslims interviewed could believe that Muslims living in the U.S. sympathize with an organisation who openly hates western society.

No need to believe polls when you can see open activity, arrests, and court cases.

The recruiter: Anwar al-Awlaki, portrait of an American jihadist CNN: Al-Awlaki threatens Americans
40 Americans Have Joined Al Qaeda Group
U.S.-educated Misunderstander of Islam pleads guilty to jihad war crimes, turns government witness

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization. Full Story

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland. Full Story

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia between October and November 2010, and to attempting to damage veterans’ memorials at Arlington National Cemetery. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 13, 2012

1.Tampa: Florida Resident Charged with Plotting to Bomb Locations in Tampa

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Florida was charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle, and other explosives. Full Story

2.Baltimore: Former Army Solider Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

A man who secretly converted to Islam days before he separated from the Army was charged with attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and was arrested upon his return to Maryland after traveling to Africa. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 9, 2011

Seattle: Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Attack Military Processing Center

A former Los Angeles man pled guilty in connection with the June 2011 plot to attack a military installation in Seattle. Full Story

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 2, 2011