Dreaming Big
  • Home
    • Staff
    • Members Only
  • Contact
  • Our Books
    • Non Fiction
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
    • Children's Books
    • Audio Books
  • Coming Soon
  • Blog
  • Opportunities
    • Call For Submissions
    • Submissions Guidelines
    • FAQ
  • Gifts and More

'A Redundant Sign' by Nick "Novel" Gabanski

10/22/2017

2 Comments

 
​A Redundant Sign
By Nick “Novel” Gabanski
 
 
 
“Dangerous weapons are strictly prohibited within this building”
 
            This is the sign upon a library with government-sanctioned offices sharing space.  Now, I can understand the need for restriction of such items, especially in today’s society.  However, there’s something terribly wrong with this sign.
            “Dangerous weapons…”
            Well, what exactly is a dangerous weapon?  What makes a weapon dangerous?  Surely, guns and knives immediately rise to mind, but what else constitutes as a “dangerous” weapon?  If they’d said “dangerous objects,” that would make more sense.  Or if they had specifically listed off certain items such as guns, knives, batons, tasers, pepper spray, etc., it would make more sense.  However, they did not do that. They went with the redundant phrase “dangerous weapons”.  Let’s take a minute and exam each word individually.  You know, before we haphazardly slap them together in the same sentence in a half-hearted attempt at emphasis.
            Dangerous: Typically meaning something that could cause harm or damage to oneself or someone else, usually resulting in injury or even death.  Such things labelled as “dangerous” are things we are told to stay away from or not use for our safety.
            Weapon: An object that has been specifically designed for intent/use of injuring, wounding, harming, and even killing another living organism, such as another person.  Such items are typically used in warfare, hunting, or crime.  Some weapons are deemed too dangerous for civilian use and are termed “illegal” to own or possess.
            Do you notice anything with those definitions?  Do you notice how “dangerous” is already incorporated into the “weapon”?  Maybe we should take a different approach to this.  Perhaps examining a few specific items might clarify this issue.  A knife is obviously a weapon.  It carries an edge for cutting, slashing, stabbing, and/or cleaving meat, which we are comprised of.  Granted, not all knives are meant to be weapons.  A kitchen knife isn’t exactly made for combat.  Now let’s look at something not so obvious.  What about a folding-baton?  It’s blunt, has no edge or sharp points upon it, and it certainly doesn’t launch any projectiles that leave a hole in your body.  However, I’d argue a folding-baton can do far more damage than a mere knife.  Knives require accuracy for certain organs, veins, or arteries if your intent is to kill someone.  Even slashing and cutting is target-specific.  Whereas a folding-baton offers you more reach than most knives, and can break bones with one or two hits.  I’ve yet to encounter a knife that can break your arm or skull with one cut.  So which item is more “dangerous?”
            As far as knives are concerned, I always carry a three-inch, non-assisted folding EDC knife.  For those unfamiliar, “non-assist” refers to the lack of a spring in deploying the blade.  It’s supposedly safer because it’s slower than an automatic or spring-assisted knife.  The blade of my knife is non-serrated as well.  Is it a weapon?  Well, since the opening mechanism is my finger and physics, the blade is a measly non-serrated three-inches, and I use it as an every-day carry tool, that’s all it is-- a tool.
            The only dangerous thing here is the brain.  This wonderfully complex organ which grants us the ability to shape the world around us as we see fit and gives us the concept of turning a chair into a crude club when its intended use is for sitting.  The brain is what gives you the power to decide whether to use a knife as a tool or a weapon.  How do you think weapons came to be?  We created them.  We twisted objects’ purposes and intended uses into our desire to spread violence.  So, what is a “dangerous weapon?”
            It’s not a knife or a gun, I’ll tell you that.
 
 
Edited by: Anna Grace Dulaney 
2 Comments
best online essay writing services link
12/12/2017 02:07:53 pm

I see your point there. We don’t know how a certain person’s mind works. And here I am, still wondering what really is a dangerous weapon. Man keep on discovering new things. We use it to build and create something for the sole purpose of making our lives easier. But some people use these things for their own good. I don’t get why they have to do that. Isn’t it better for us to live a harmonious life? I still want to see that someday, even if I know that this is impossible.

Reply
pixel gun 3d hack ios no human verification link
9/6/2018 03:07:28 am

most interesting game

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Challenge Participant
    Parajunkee Design
    I review for BookLook Bloggers
    Professional Reader
    Book Reviewer Sign Up

    1888PressRelease
    YA Bound Book Tours

Services

Ask A Therapist
Blog
Our Books
Coming Soon

Company

About Us
Staff
​

Support

Contact
FAQ

Find and follow us on social media 
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.