I propose we open drive by shooting ranges near urban centers plagued with frequent "drive by" shootings. So often you here about victems of drive-by's who just happened to be near the person(s) marked for removal, such as kids and neighbors(Boys in the Hood, Falling down).
This idea can be thought of as an elaboration of the old Nintendo game, Paper boy. Like a wild west shooting gallery, cuttouts of rival gang members can be placed into an urban setting along with those of innocent by standers. The (game) is based on a point system. If any bullets stray from the target(s), points are lost (sensors in the buildings?).
At the end of each block, points are tallied determining the number of rounds alloted for the next block. Fewer points= fewer bullets= "better shoot straight". There could also be challanges for the drivers, like cars, and pedestrians (all fake of course). (Paper Boy)
An aggrement could be worked out with local law enforcement officials. The authorities could adopt a "turn the other cheek" approach as long as no by-standers were hurt. I think any gang member would play along if it meant a chance at avoiding jail time.-- demtangs, Jun 20 2003 nintendo games http://www.nintendo.com [demtangs, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] Drive Through Firing Range http://www.halfbake...gh_20Firing_20Rangeby Aristotle. Um, isn't this mostly the same? [my face your, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004] 'bone for giving *any* incentive to drive-by shooters.-- thumbwax, Jun 20 2003 There are shooting ranges where you can do some pretty crazy stuff. But not this crazy.-- snarfyguy, Jun 20 2003 Some time I'll have to recount the anecdote about how I had to take a well-known science fiction writer who was visiting our town to a shooting range so he could shoot a machine gun at bowling pins. But not today.-- krelnik, Jun 20 2003 Look, I'm not saying the whole subject of shooting people is right. It's not. I'm just saying that it would be nice, if it did happen, if there wouldn't be a hundred slugs randomly released in no particular direction.-- demtangs, Jun 20 2003 Well, evil honing potential aside, I think it's a clever idea.-- bristolz, Jun 20 2003 It's amazing, [demtangs] how you've managed to come up with three ideas, all of which are currently scoring even. (time sensitive comment)
That aside, I'm thinking you could just double up fair-ground activities to bake this idea. For instance, have a ring toss from the spinning tea-cup ride. That would reduce some of the nerve-making suggestion in this gang-related idea.-- k_sra, Jun 20 2003 Clever - perhaps, but it's not sensible or safe at all. If you have amateurs firing automatic weapons *inside* moving cars, someone's going to get shot.
Can you imagine the insurance policy this place would have to get?-- snarfyguy, Jun 20 2003 Hopefully, after practice, the participants would no longer be considered amatures.
There would be no insurance, just safety wavers saying that it's your own damn fault if you get hurt or dead.-- demtangs, Jun 20 2003 Would you hand out Certificates of Completion? Ribbons?
"This Plaque is to certify that 'E-Z Muthah' has successfully completed the Detroit Drive-By Gang-Bang Obstacle Course.
Of course, it would snowball into 'professional gangs' who would require completion of the course to enter, with the best gangs competing for the most qualified individuals, and then onto ISO-9001 certification of streetgangs, gang name registration, zoning laws, etc...-- RayfordSteele, Jun 20 2003 Waivers don't mean anything. They'll still get sued.-- snarfyguy, Jun 20 2003 This is just for practice, no? So when they come to do a real one, fewer innocent bystanders are hurt?
So why not practice with those laser gun thingies that were popular a while back? Gang members could compete with each other to see who gets the best (i.e. lowest) score.-- egbert, Jun 20 2003 Scarey, bet they use us for fucking target practice. fishbone-- The Kat, Jun 20 2003 <egbert>Have you ever used a laser gun? Or a real one? Using simulated weaponry would be like practicing for a big car race by playing Grand Tourismo.
Cops don't practice with fake equipment. Imagine a cop shooting at/near someone for the first time. <Blaam> "whoa! I was way off! These things got a lotta kick! Was that yours or mine? "-- demtangs, Jun 21 2003 I think something rather important is being left out here. First off let me tell you from a position of experience, that few " gang-bangers" use high quality weapons. No matter how much they may practice, an inferior, inaccurate weapon is still going to yield inaccurate results.
Would you now suggest we help them gain access to better weapons? fishbone-- jackhandy, Jun 21 2003 I think that it would at least encourage more thinking into the matter of shooting and maybe the whole thought process would be enough to deture some would-be killers.-- demtangs, Jun 21 2003 Invite rival gang members to shoot at the driver-by-shooters who shoot too amy "civilian" targets. Film it and make a T.V. show-- althyr, Jun 24 2003 The US Army has laser simulation guns that accurately imitate the kickback of a real weapon. (I believe they used compressed air to generate the kickback.) I agree, If people are going to be so crude as to do a drive by, they ought to at least engage in non-lethal practice first.-- Zimmy, Jun 24 2003 I am told they actually set one of these up at burning man before it got too big and crazy for there to be guns used.-- silverstreak, Aug 24 2004 random, halfbakery