On Thu, 8 Jul 1999, David Johnston wrote:

Mike Allen wrote:

Anyone found with a weapon that belongs to a lower caste
can be summarily executed.

I assume you mean "higher caste."

[Posession of a weapons about your clearance level is treason.]

Ouch, What I meant to write, but didn't, is this:

Anyone of a class lower than Freeman found with a weapon can be summarily
executed.

I hadn't thought of weapons clearances based on hierarchy. Hmm.

In fact that was traditional in Japan (for part of their history).  
Although a "middle-class" non-samurai could wear a sword, wearing daisho 
was an execution offense and so forth.  The heavy emphasis on the 
martial arts, implies that this Japan only allows guns to the military.

Lest this grow too far out of hand, and start a historical debate on a
fanfic that uses alternate Japanese history, let me just say that my
little comment in the [] was another bad Paranoia joke, and wasn't meant
to be taken seriously. 

-Natsume Ranma Ranma
-------
The sardines weren't worth the trouble.  A few more shots, then 
Ryoga-san would overheat and explode.  Ducking around a corner, 
I managed to lose him as I entered the ramshackle residence of 
my Anime supplier.

One look at his face and I knew that I was betrayed.  "Tell me."
I insisted.  He refused, so I slammed him against the wall.
"Last chance.  Where can Ranma-Ranma find good fanfics?"
"Try Jason Liao." he whispered, before he slumped to the floor.
I heard the sounds of a door splintering as I left through the 
window, one step ahead of Tendo Heavy Industries...