Light dust up in Glasga

"We can get called to a gang fight and there'll be fathers n' grandfathers shouting 'C'mon, get him'. This is what we are dealing with in West Scotland."

I'm not sure if someone thought that the light dust up in George Square after the Independence Referendum was somehow any indication of Scotland handling this issue in an "uncivilised manner".

FYI, It doesn't take too much to start a fight in Glasgow.  I should probably be proud that I have never been in one while there.  Glasgow has had to live with an often deserved reputation for trouble with "booze and blades" for generations. There is "an inherent culture of knife crime, and violence, giving it the title of being the “Murder Capital of Europe"".

In other words, It doesn't take too much to start an "ugly scene" there.

Although, I have to admit a bit of surprise that the people causing the "ugly scene" were Unionists, since they were winning.  I would have thought the people getting ugly would have been the pro-Independence side being sore losers.  The Unionists were winning--why cause trouble?  Just get drunk and...

But, as I said, it doesn't take too much to start a fight in Glasgow.  Fuel the rage with alcohol and you are sure to have a fight on your hands.

Well, no one was killed and the knifing seem to be only a rumour.

It was just a light dust up by Glaswegian standards.

And a light dust up is a very different thing from armed voter intimidation.

See also:

• Glasgow is still Scotland's most violent place despite drop in offences | Herald Scotland
• glasgow | David Gillanders
• Fear and loathing in the city of rage

Armed Voter Intimidation in Wisconsin?

If you wonder why I prefer the UK to the US.  Yesterday's referendum was carried out in a peaceful manner, despite strong sentiments on both sides.

On the other hand, it seems that in the US some people feel that they have a right to prevent people from voting.  I believe there are federal laws which prevent this sort of activity, but still:

In Wisconsin, it is a Class I felony to use or threaten to use force, violence, or restraint to compel a person to vote or not vote in an election. It is also a felony to impede or prevent someone’s ability to vote in an election, to bribe voters, or to coerce someone to vote for a particular candidate or ballot measure.

Voter intimidation is also illegal under federal law. The Voting Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act make it a crime for election officials to attempt to “intimidate, threaten, or coerce” anyone from voting or attempting to vote, or registering to vote.

Call the police immediately if you see these people.

In fact, contact and file a report with the DoJ's Civil Rights Division:

• www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/misc/contact.php

And

• Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board (in charge of elections)

The facebook page has been mirrored.

"Law abiding gun owners", my arse.

The more I see of you, the more I am convinced that the US needs strong gun regulations.  The pro-gun side is the best argument for strong gun control.

See also:
Legal Protections Against Voter Intimidation in Wisconsin.pdf
Government Accountability Board | STATE OF WISCONSIN
Voter Intimidation Complaints | Government Accountability Board