With all the pirate attacks off Africa lately and the US ship just taken, why the hell don't the ships carry weapons? I read that the pirates are obviously heavily armed but they are in small boats and have to board with ladders propped up against the hull of the container ship. How tough would it be to shoot those bastards from up on the deck of the ship? They don't even carry weapons, they have to use water cannons! WTF? Wouldn't it be cheaper to hire on-board security forces with rocket launchers to fend off the pirates than just letting them on board then paying the ransom?

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I advise against trying to figure out what insurance companies are thinking.

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They try and board the ship using basically ropes and ladders. Gimme a break. There's gotta be a defence against that! Boiling oil works right?

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Armed teams on board with heavy machine guns will do for now.

What really needs to be done is what we have gone over before. We need the USN and the RN to send a flotilla of frigates each to the area. A couple shots with a 5 inch gun will take care of any pirate...

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Sound advice

I am surprised that they don't carry at least a few rifles...$5,000 in arms per ship would be saving millions in goods

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Think of the flocks of lawyers who would see an opportunity to sue over wrongful death of undocumented immigrants trying to stow-away to come to the land of opportunity. We are a nation of immigrants. Do it for the children. Etc.

I suspect there's a very good reason or two why the ship's crew in unarmed.
In the past there have been few if any injuries and I haven't read of a death. The insurers pay the ransom and the ship and it's crew and cargo go their way.
Read up on why these piracies started.

not really sure, but are those boats (near africa) uh [U]all[U] coming to america?

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

looks like the crew took the ship back, but the captain traded himself as a hostage to free the rest of the crew. wow, thats one cool captain

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy

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i wish the crew (and captain) the best.

that said, not really sure how a thread about hijacking turns into a rant against lawyers in america??? ah, dogma leads people in strange directions.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

You are confusing a trial defense with a search for truth and justice.

no, really, i am not confused. thanks. tho.

boats in africa cannot carry weapons,...because of american trial lawyers.

ok, yes, i see the logic now. must have been a lawyer on the grassy knoll, too.

you are a comedian. will you be here all week?

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

You lost me.

please explain?

how did lawyers get involved in the piracy thing? or the idea of ships carrying weapons to defend themselves against pirates off the coast of africa?

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

I have heard they ARE heavily armed, including RPGs.

But I too have wondered, hire some exMilitary, (Sniper type), give him a 50 Cal rifle. A very potent weapon.

As they get close he gives them a warning shot, second shot goes through the boat, maybe through the engine.

Don't even let them get close enough to use their weapons.

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