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Goldman and Guns? Yeah, Not So Much.
So remember that Bloomberg story about how Goldmanites were arming themselves to resist a popular uprising? You know, the one that some people took (incorrectly) to mean that some sort of secret connection enabled Goldman employees to get concealed carry permits in New York City when almost no one else could? We looked at it pretty carefully here on Zero Hedge and wondered if the Goldman bashing hadn't gone a bit far. Well, the story turns out to look pretty much like bullshit.
“We haven’t seen a surge of applications of any kind for Goldman Sachs employees,” said [NYPD spokesman Paul J.] Browne.
We wouldn't go so far as to accuse the author, Ms. Schroeder, of outright fabrication, but it was pretty clear that she was out of her depth when it came to the subject matter.
There are plenty of things to be scrutinizing Goldman for, people. No need to invent any. And, by the way, if you really need to invent something damning, the legal exercise of the Second Amendment probably isn't the ideal choice.
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Good one Marla. People deciding to buy weapons is not supposed to be newsworthy. About as exciting as running a story about how they all decided to goto the Grocery Store!
-Michael
Well, if the best and brightest went that way, I see no reason why the rest should do anything differently.
They went to the f****ng grocery store, and nobody told me?
HaHa!
I expect they had their Chefs goto the grocery store. It might actually be news if Goldmanites did so! :)
They would walk in with their new pistol in a fanny pack and ask:
"Miss, on what aisle might I find bullets?"
Oh, that's good.
I am Chumbawamba.
Fanny pack...lol...I picture the off-duty Goldmanite walking around town in a velour tracksuit and spotless New Balance sneakers, looking like one of the goombahs from the Sopranos.
And, the last time a law stopped a Goldman employee from doing something illegal was....when?
the 2nd amendment is alive and well in NYC
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/permits/handgun_licensing_information....
and Marla you didn't comment on the other part of the article about the electrified fence that Lloyd had installed
Sorry anon but the 2nd Amendment is nowhere to be found in NYC. If you want a pistol permit you will need to lawyer-up.
http://www.pistolpermitattorneynyc.com/
Anyone talking, showing or writing about their guns on a financial blog is clearly exhibiting their insecurities. Just ask Cognitive Dissonance, he'll tell you.
Alice Schroeder is a fruit basket. I'm glad she's not one of the Marla's. Sorry to see that she wasted your time digging into the Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole.
Huh, did someone call me? Sorry, I was busy cleaning my guns and didn't hear you.
BTW, my insecurities are safely tucked away in my briefs, thank you very much. It's my personal security I'm worried about. :>)
Anyone overlooking lead and brass tangibles as an investment needs to hit the books - investors without the ability to diversify and see opportunities doesn't last long. Put your personal biases aside, please. Ever heard of a contingency plan?
re:insecurities?
Are you one of Vienna's most famous psychiatrists?
Am I insecure for posting this, given that I now train others with weapons?
I own 8 handguns, two shotguns, and three AR styled rifles of different calibers. I do not live in the NE any longer. I am not SWAT trained to work in a unit, but I have trained with SWAT officers and Federal officers to the extent that with carbine or handgun, if some has a gun at my wife's head and I have a shot at their head from 15 yds I will take it with 95%+ results. Ive done it under stress fire in simulations. And those are good odds to take as lowering your weapon is NEVER a good idea.
What's my point? I state the following as I fired handguns for 20 years before leaving the NE and breath free air now and I carry a licensed weapon at all times because there are sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. (read Lt. Grossman's "On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs" to understand how sheepdogs are necessary). Prior to training, I could never have properly carried a weapon. The only cops who probably shoot better than someone with good training are the instructors as the regular cops don't make enough to afford the ammunition. I see some officers at a nearby range and everything they do from the moment they touch their weapon is generally wrong. It's why cops are, as a rule, very poor shots.
I have prevented an armed robbery of myself and a convenience store as well as a carjacking of myself where my car was pinned into the spot seconds after I entered it. ONLY training for such things allows you to act and get inside your assailant's loop.
I find the purchasing of weapons by some GS officials to be laughable. I have fired approximately 30,000 to 40,000 rds in each of the last 5 year with the proper training in how to use weapons. Sure, you might get lucky and shoot someone who is after you if you buy a gun and shoot 500 rds a year, but don't count on it as you will likely panic as under stress you WILL drop to your lowest level of training and you also have no idea if you can "drop the hammer". And if you have notraining, you will likely die as the guy attacking you intends to shoot you and has fired his weapon before. And if the person after you has any decent training he will present to you in a way that leaves you with no idea of what to do, which is quite sufficient a time to kill you. You might as well throw the weapon as you will have no idea how to use it properly.
Anyone from GS arming themselves can't afford a bodyguard. So if they have done such things that they feel the need to buy a gun I hope they have many sleepless night for how they have raped America.
An Armed Citizen
anybody see SWHC pop when that news broke and then the dump after? hmmm......
Everyone carve this in your cranium...
Particularly the legal exercise of the Second Amendment part. Everyone who is not an indicted felon, (GS's escape clause) has he right to own a firearm. That includes the squid and its minions as of 12-10-09. Security lies in the fact that far more of us non-affiliated minions own them as well. More importantly, we own pitchforks and torches as well, but that is a whole different topic. Disclaimer: I include lead as part of my PM collection.
Legal in the context of being part of a well regulated militia, of course.
If you are trying to argue about the collective meaning of the 2nd Amendment, that has been put to rest and was BS from cowards who do not trust their fellow man, but trust only the government, with guns.
If you want to believe that Goldman execs are unarmed & dangerous that's your choice. I think Alice Schroeder is much more credible than some low level "spokesman" for the NYPD. Do you really think the NYPD or the Mayor's office will admit to favortism in granting pistol permits? Let's see the result of the FOIL request. This story is about law abiding citizens in NYC that are unable to get permits. NYC doesn't even honor a pistol permit granted by the State of NY. Is there something in the 2nd Amendment about that? I guess I missed it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UaNMeVSgEk
The legal exercise of the Second Amendment is permitted in New York City?
Bravo. And the list of cities restricting you right to own (forget about carry, concealed or otherwise) is growing.
This is a slow, gradual, but relentless Tip Toe Towards Tyranny.
That's why like, with gold, I got in early with firearms. In this case I had a lifelong headstart, but took some time off in the middle and had to catch up. Now I just need to get me a turret mounted .50 cal and my arsenal will be complete. At least where ground forces are concerned. Got to start looking skywards now because that's where the real battle is going to be. Can you say, "Suburban drone aircraft?"
I am Chumbawamba.
Anti-aircraft guns? Guided missiles? Man it's getting expensive.
I have ideas. Some low tech, some high. But low tech is where it's at. Hit them where they least suspect it. You may control the skies but I own the streets around my neighborhood. IED mother fuckers. Bring your silly predators.
I am Chumbawamba.
marla you rock!
10,000 US employees and only 3 have applied for permits since 2003. I call bullshit.
I think the scope of the story is those in NYC, not 10,000 US. It does seem like a small number to have applied, regardless. But cops being in on the Goldman conspiracy, wow, that is a lot to assume.
They own 535 politicians. A few cops would be cheap.
Make that 536.
Fear.
Thanks for pointing to the article that called bullshit. If it had come to them getting guns, I would have stood by the idea that they brought the fear on themselves by their choices. I actually think they should be scared enough to be buying guns, too bad for them the story is not true. Some of them may well need to protect themselves.
"People deciding to buy weapons is not supposed to be newsworthy. About as exciting as running a story about how they all decided to goto the Grocery Store!"
The availability of many types of firearms has not been all that difficult lately in my area. But there has been an ongoing shortage of ammo for over a year now. It's hard to find some of the popular calibers.
Go online. There's plenty.
Anon, I agree some ammo is hard to find. When you do find it, it is double or triple what it was before Obama was elected.
You can't get everything you want...much is 'backordered', which can be a longer wait than the posted date of availability - but if you're not brand picky you can always get something. And 2-3X the cost since late 2008? Maybe 20%, if that, but not 100-200%!
Maybe we're not shopping the same websites...
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/pistol-ammunition-caliber-45-a...
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=2&tabId=3&ca...
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ItemListing.aspx?catid=104
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&...
The calibers I've have found the most difficult to acquire locally are the 9mm and .45 ACP - and all of these websites have both for personal defense and practice.
Guys, if Goldman Sachs has guns, they're not for self defense. What the guns are for, is if you won't hand over your money to them peacefully.
~~~~~
- Is that a gun? Please tell me it's not.
- It's a gun.
- What are you doing?
- Meet me in the back.
- Don't fuck around!
- Meet me in the back. On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.
- What are you doing? Come on!
- Hands behind your back. Give me your wallet.
~~~~~
Now you know Goldman's "Plan B" for getting your money.
Ms. Schroeder, is that you?
@Ms the story is not true
Really? Marla is just quoting a spokesman for the NYPD, Paul Browne. I don't believe him, why would I? I would have much preferred if Zero did a little digging on its own. Perhaps a Freedom of Info request or something we could sink our teeth into. Just quoting a government spokesman doesn't quite live up to the high quality journalism I've come to love here.
I admit it is weird that there are so few applications. I bet anything a number of them carry, not just the guards.
They don't carry in NYC without a permit. It's a felony and a mandatory minimum of over 1 year in jail. Try having your SEC licenses with a felony...not to easy unless you are Geithner.
I think the Author of the article in question (Where it is mentioned about gun buying) is unable to stay on topic. Last time I read about this I was guilty of falling for it like a Gullible idiot.
10 million in NYC and not a legal gun in sight. Open carry is banned, Conceal carry is only for Law Enforcement and any other ownership casts great problems. Especially when Mayor Bloomberg of NYC is a leader of Mayors against Guns group that includes about several hundred other mayors.
Thank you Zero Hedge for trying to seek the facts.
Personally I dont give a flying damn if someone wants go buy a gun. I will cheer and say go! No different than going to the hardware shop.
The last time I had to go to the hardware store is to get a toilet reamer to unclog the bull.
Move to a state where Guns and Second amendment along with all other Amendments in the COnsitution is free and defended and be happy.
Why whip yourself and torture yourself slaving for wages in a state that does not like Americans?
Vote with your feet. Ballot and Jury boxes have lost about 95% of their value since 1913.
No Guns? Shame.
http://moneyistheway.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-pistol-packing-bankers-at-g...
Then I'll do it for you:
And God forbid any act of violence against a GS employee come of this, may the blame be laid at her own feet.
Has the Goldman bashing "gone a bit far"?
Has the Goldman takeover of America’s political and economic system gone far enough? If I were a Goldmanite, looking at the millions of unemployed walking the streets, at the people who’ve already paid their health insurance soon to be rationed to the point they’ll be standing out in the snow waiting to get their teeth fixed, I think I might be equipping myself against a populist rebellion.
Here are a few words from Paul Craig Roberts, former assistant treasury secretary and past WSJ associate editor, on the pistol-packing Goldmans in Fool Me Once, Shame on You; Fool Me Twice Shame On Me:
“One can understand why the banksters are worried. The company, now known as Gold Sacks, has a large responsibility for the financial crisis and the fraudulent “securities” that wrecked the world economy and Americans’ pensions. A former Gold Sachs CEO had control of the US Treasury during the Bush regime from which he diverted $750 billion to bail out the banks, thus supplying them with free capital. Gold Sachs made $27,000 million during the first three quarters of 2009 and is paying out massive bonuses, leaving the busted taxpayers with the debt and interest charges.”
“… Obama is loading up the poor with enormous debts that imply hyperinflation in order to make Gold Sacks too heavy to lift and in order to reward the munitions industry for its service to world peace and American hegemony.”
As for the Goldman economy..."on November 30, 2009 the Detroit Free Press published a 127-page supplement of home foreclosures in its metro area. In Michigan 48% of mortgages are on properties that are worth less than the loan... Millions of laid-off workers lost their health insurance subsidies on December 1, the day President Obama announced a $30 billion “surge” in Afghanistan."
http://www.vdare.com/roberts/091203_obama.htm
As Ron Paul said on July 15: “We allow Lehman to go bankrupt so it helps Goldman Sachs. And then we bail out AIG that bails out Goldman Sachs…” Why?
Frigging Eh!
These money junkies and political power whores will wind up STARVING people down the road a ways...Literally
Bash away
AC
They are already literally starving people.
Well, investment bankers learning how to aim probably aren't much of a match against peasants with pitchforks who have been shooting since they could tie their shoes. Just saying...
OTOH, if bankers want to be safe, then they should move to, oh, rural Utah where full autos are legal and get a place outside of town surrounded by big barky dogs with rifles hanging near the doors. Actually, such people already exist. They're called "ranchers."
THANK you Marla / ZH for calling bullshit on this and standing up against the growing chorus of insanely asinine, misdirected angst towards goldilocks.
there's enough there on 85 broad to dislike, like 'some of the smartest guys in the room' and all else which is abundantly obvious. no need to make crap up or exaggerate when they themselves, if not sigma X alone, gives ya all the ammo u could ever need to make a case; just search Zero Hedge for sigma x or sift through the ginormous litany of hard-hitting, unique position pieces that both Tyler and Marla have been presenting for what seems like umpteen months now simply becuase of how voluminous yet thoroughly detailed their work has been.
sorry for ranting n running but gotta jet and just save this awesome heads up from Marla and felt compelled to say atta pseudonym !! will release a quick FTU sometime this evening after midtown meetings. enjoy your time at the casino today. and remember kids: always practice 'safe' trading; use protection.
Nice post.
perhaps the error in the original article wasnt so much that GS employees were buying guns for self protection,
but rather GS employees had suddenly become aware that possessing guns presents opportunities for additional 'revenue streams'
Point made.
Kings have armed protection. Dictators have guns. Rulers all have guns. Goldman Sachs is now king, dictator and ruler--making all the decisions, taking all the money away. And Goldman’s not going to have guns? LOL
"the legal exercise of the Second Amendment probably isn't the ideal choice."
Right. Because as long as something's legal, it must be a good idea.
Nice logic. Oh, wait, the author is a lawyer. Forget the part about logic being relevant then. Whether something's legal or not really IS all that matters.