Posted on May 20, 2008 at 4:47 p.m.

Mr Campbell should have kept his HIV-tainted spit where it belonged - concealed in his glove compartment.

On Dallas court identifies saliva as a "deadly weapon"

Posted on May 20, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.

I didn't quite understand the "heckle"... sounded like he yelled "thommy!"

On Video: Radiohead at Superpages.com Center

Posted on May 20, 2008 at 4:17 p.m.

Tony, the Uzi and grenade are illegal. You're busted.

On New Texas law allows us to carry all kinds of weapons in our cars without a license

Posted on May 20, 2008 at 4:13 p.m.

Pavel and jtmbls, y'all are funny - I have a liberal sense of humor, I laughed. But, once you witness or experience this sort of random violence and are forced to make decisions about defending yourself and others, you begin to see these issues in context.

Once while walking out of a pool hall on 6th Street in Austin, I saw a crowd of people surrounding two, apparently homeless individuals locked in a desperate struggle. One had a very large Bowie knife held above his head and the other, smaller man, was straining to hold the attacker's arm away. A crowd of people stood there staring at this scene. I questioned whether I should involve myself and why others hadn't already done so, but overcame the fear long enough to raise a fist and move in to help the smaller man. Just as I approached, cops bust through the crowd and wrestled the man to the ground.

The law we're discussing doesn't apply to this situation - the Bowie knife is illegal to carry around and the assault is obviously illegal. But, experiencing events like that force you to consider defensive contingencies. Most streets are not as well staffed with vigilant police officers and I've now witnessed, experienced and heard firsthand accounts of too many of these situations to not take it seriously.

On New Texas law allows us to carry all kinds of weapons in our cars without a license

Posted on May 20, 2008 at 3:25 p.m.

Word, Scott. Call me slow on the uptake regarding this news. :-)

But, enraged drivers and drunk rednecks have always carried weapons - the law doesn't make their weaponized assaults legal. Neutralizing them, however, has now gone from dangerously necessary to legal for the rest of us.

On New Texas law allows us to carry all kinds of weapons in our cars without a license

Posted on May 20, 2008 at 2:23 p.m.

What a bunch of fear-mongering. I've long carried a steel bar in my trunk for use with my tire iron. It's ulterior use was self defense - I've never instigated a problem, but I have seen others assaulted in parking lots and have been approached by drunk rednecks that have randomly assaulted members in my group. Friends have witnessed enraged drivers leave their vehicles in traffic to beat on the windows of elderly drivers - they were neutralized by other citizens. Ever since, I have wanted to keep a club under the driver seat, but didn't want to create a problem should I be stopped by the police. I also train in kung fu - carrying some of the weapons to class have actually been illegal. I transport them in the trunk and store them safely at home. However, the law would have placed me in jeopardy had I been pulled over for a minor traffic violation. I have a right to "bear arms" for self-defense. If you don't like it, please do move.

On New Texas law allows us to carry all kinds of weapons in our cars without a license