Hi,
just thought I's add my 100 Yen worth. ^_^
My comments indicated by ##.
In a message dated 3/4/99 3:26:23 PM, arromdee@inetnow.net writes:
The Ranma series includes plenty of instances where characters are
thrown >into rocks and smash the rock with the character just being
stunned,
fall >from great heights, withstand explosions, shrug off Breaking
Point rock
shrapnel, etc. A bullet is a small, powerful, impact, and characters
that >can't be seriously hurt by impacts may very well be immune to
bullets.
## It's not the impact it's the PENETRATION. Blood loss, bone and
tissue destruction and loss of vital components (eg. Brain and spinal
column.)
The difference is that most of those attacks are mostly _indirect_ (with
exception of chi attacks, which is not exactly solid projectiles and
usually dissipates after hitting its target). Bullets are different
matter
altogether.
They are very much solid and focused. So what if Ryoga's immune to rock
sharpnels (they're indirect and unfocused), bullets are focused and
direct- they can inflict substinal injuries even if the victims are
wearing
bullet- proof vests (impacts hurts like hell), or so from what I've
heard.
And what about anti-tank shells? ^_^
##1)I'm not sure what is meant by focused vs unfocused. I will note
that rock shards hurt like
%$& and many people have been killed or seriously injured by flying
fragments from explosions. These fragments produce penetrating wounds
that are the same or worse than those cause by conventional bullets.
2) body armor is the preferred term. (nothing is bullet �proof' ^_^)
And this still assumes that it's _possible_ for someone with no
training >to just sneak up on a martial artist, gun or no gun, if the
martial
artist >can sense other people's presence.
And you wouldn't have to sneak up to them. Just shoot them from
distance and the martial artists won't be able to detect bullets
because they're
inorganic and don't have any chi. Until too late, that is. If they
have excellent
sense of hearing, then better for them.
##1) chi or ki is in EVERYTHING, not just living matter. (Technically,
inorganic is
anything without carbon) [see Zhuangzi Speaks translated by Brian
Bruya; ISBN0-691-00882-5)
2)Shooting from a distance: Ultimate Sniper by Maj. John L. Plaster,
USAR (Ret.)
I'll just give this excellent reference and comment that shooting form
a distance is an
art in and of itself. And note that sniping existed long before the
firearm.
But even so, Robert- I don't recommend dealing with this matter. Things
are already complicated enough in Ranmaverse without including another
variable like guns and bullets into the equation. You might not like
the way
things might turn out. It's up to you, though.
## Just a few comments on the martial artist vs gun question. I'm
going to ignore the Ranma universe and stick with the real world.
1) Armed policemen/policewomen are killed on a regular basis by
UNARMED and HANDCUFFED suspects. This may be done with a) concealed
weapons b) expedient weapons c)the officers own weapon 4) bare hands
2) Also happens with suspects that are NOT handcuffed.
3)An armed policeman with his/her gun IN HAND needs a MINIMUM of 21
feet to react to an attacker armed with a knife. At 10 feet they might
get their hand on their gun. They will NOT have time to get a shot
off. At five feet of less they don't have time to even get their gun
in hand. And at 0-1 feet they have NO time to react. There are
several EMPTY-HAND techniques that have been developed in country's
where knives have been outlawed that are very lethal. This does not
include ASIAN martial arts.
4) Killing power vs Stopping power. A gun may kill you without
stopping you. There is an infamous BadGuy vs. FBI shoot out in FL.
The principle suspect was KILLED in the first seconds of the fight.
That is he received a shot to the heart that could not have been
repaired even had he been an operating room when he was shot. He
remained on his feet and active long enough to kill/cripple several
FBI agents. Therefore even if you shoot a martial artist he can remain
on his feet and fighting. He may even survive. (A .45 hardball round
has about a 50% chance of a one shot stop) You may not.
5) A firearm:
a) allows you to fight at a distance. So does a sling, arrow, spear.
b) Force multiplier. A 75 year old grandmother with a heart condition
can drive off 3 20 year old robber/rapists.
c) easy to use. Compared to the life time training for
knife/bow/empty-hand techniques
##BUT it is not magic. A firearm is a tool. Martial artist vs Gun.
????? There are too many variables to say GUN will always win. There
are many criminals that prefer knives because they:
1)Never Jam 2) Never run out of ammunition 3)No ballistic residue 4)
Silent
##Some criminals prefer to use guns they take from policemen because
when they can only be traced back to the policemen.
In a fight, winning depends on Speed, power, accuracy, tactics (esp.
the unexpected).
##There are no dangerous weapons, only dangerous women (or men ^_^)
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