would this Deter you from buying used gear????

I am genuinely encouraged by the sensitivities displayed above by twl, asa, slipknot and others. This is seriously Orwellian stuff (more than Hegelian, if you ask me, since I think Hegel was interested in finding truth through dialectics, but I digress), and people need to examine what we are giving up in relation to the perceived threat. To turn a phrase, just because they are out to get us doesn't mean we aren't paranoid. Not only does the Patriot Act have a searingly ironic name, it's actually an acronym. It's the USA PATRIOT Act, meaning the Uniting and Strengthening of America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. This includes reading your email without a warrant, by the way. Paranoid and arrogant behavior around the world is why they hate us to begin with, and we just keep coming up with more medecines that are worse than the diseases.

Neighborhood watch due to sniper deaths? Phillip Morris (I refuse to say "Altaris") and Ford killed 1,000 people in the time those guys were shooting up your town.

My advice is not to mark up your gear. Don't concede the point to the thieves. Chances are tiny that you'll get ripped off and the markings aren't likely to help much anyway. If you want protection, get a dog. From a shelter. Win/win.

By the way, I would still buy your gear, but I would pay less for it than if it had no markings.

I don't have an opinion regarding engraving audio equipment. I do, however, think that every congressman and senator who have received campaign contributions from the NRA or gun manufacturers should have their foreheads engraved with the same.

Elinor,

That's a cute comment. Would you care to elaborate using constitutional and historical perspectives to support your opinion?

If every honest hard working citizen had a gun the crooks, thieves and murderers might think twice about thier line of work. Then people would not need to engrave their names on audio equipment.

Nrchy, this is a sad commentary on the American state of mind. I believe that in every culture there is a central image in almost every person's mind creating a commonality of perspective and interests. In the case of the USA it appears to be cowboys and Indians and their urban counterparts, cops and robbers. I still can't believe I read pronouncements like yours. I never knew how lucky I was to be a Canadian and I trust that you only represent a segment of your country’s population. Sad indeed.