Anyone from- or familiar with- Albuquerque, NM

We lived in ABQ through 2003.

Certainly, you do NOT need a handgun in ABQ. Nobody NEEDS a handgun. My recommendation was a bit tongue in cheek. I carry a handgun but that's me - one guy's opinion.

What the hell would be irregular about a 21 y/o carrying a weapon? Nobody who has a CCW permit would be stupid enough to try to carry through the gates of Kirtland or the labs. Or into a bank or a school. Or the Sunport.

STD info is from NM Dept of Health quarterly stats by county.

Sure ABQ is different than it was ten years ago. And ten years ago was different than 1970 when we first went to NM. Just like everywhere else.

What's up with the PhD? Field of study? Just curious.
Does Ward Churchill teach at your school?

 

PhD in Artificial Intelligence (specifically, Machine Learning)... based on a Computer Science foundation.

Though I certainly respect your opinion, I think 21 is too young to handle the responsibility of carrying a handgun. I don't want to hijack this thread, and this topic is naturally a debate for a different thread, but CCW is a huge responsibility (obviously much more so than driving). At 21, you really think you've got the cool head it takes to be able to handle the use (and, er um, lack of use) in all the right situations? No way man.

In any case, I respect your advice, and could argue effectively for it (if challenged to do such an exercise), but for a bright youngster intern like we have here, I personally just don't think it's the most prudent advice. That said, it was tounge in cheek . But ABQ is not a crime haven and it is your duty, having given and taken from that city, to not perpetuate that (false) reputation.

Interesting about the STDs. It certainly never impacted me at all in 2.5 years... But it is interesting to note. (Note, I have to take your word for it since I'm not able to corroborate your assertions on the STD issue... I wonder if it's not just "as bad" in many other places?)

Got your point about places changing in 10 years. For ABQ, though, I think it has modernized a bit in the past 10 years--an important change--where many cities have already done so, and now change more incrementally. Just one analysis, I really lack the 1st hand perspective to be making these kinds of calls with any authority.

Ward Churchill? I have no idea. I stopped following it out of disgust. I think he used to teach or something. I refuse to put any effort or thought into that completely absurd situation .

Tim, go get 'em!

--Mike

 

Well, Mike, I do believe we're on the same page.

The gun-totin' 21 y/o would have to have had me for a grandfather. My 8 y/o grandson has been brainwashed since age 3 with the NRA Eddie Eagle gun safety video. If he were to opt to "carry" when he's 21 I would have ultimate confidence in his ability to do so with wisdom and maturity. Truth be told, since I introduced him to firearms at such an early age, he has no curiosity and begs off at least half the time when I ask if he wants to shoot his Red Ryder BB gun. He has bigger fish to fry - as it should be.

RE: STDs - It IS bad just about everywhere else. I stay abreast (no pun there) of these topics as I have been engaged in practicing the "art and science of medicine" for 39 years. Pretty sad statement when you have to think of ordering VDRL (test for syphilis) on an 80 yr old patient who comes in with early dementia. They were fairly randy in the 40s, you know.

Bottom line? Albuquerque, Si! Even if it's only for a summer internship.

Remember the WIND in March?

 

Sure do! Man, my first spring, I can remember trying to change the spark plugs in the Ferrari and I couldn't, because the wind was gusting to like 30mph! Crazy!

As it turns out, Boulder gets pretty windy in the spring, too!