A common misperception about gun control

[SecularMotion]

Most of us, regardless of our personal beliefs about gun control, want to build a safer and more prosperous nation. Standing on that common ground, we should address a common misperception.

Quite often, Second Amendment hardliners — politicians, pundits, and ordinary folks alike — give the impression that those who support firearm regulations do not identify with this country’s rich heritage.

The hardliners seem to believe that opposing the unrestricted manufacturing and sale of guns is suspect if one wishes to be considered a true-blue American.

The fact that so many in our society distrust or dislike those who are not fundamentalists about the Second Amendment is very troubling. There is no valid reason for political disagreements to create such a massive divide.

http://www.starbeacon.com/opinion/columns/a-common-misperception-about-gun-control/article_8f506562-1bfa-5956-b67b-1e341e75c1a0.html

[Duckhunter935]

1. Of course almost nobody is for

"unrestricted manufacturering and sale of guns" most are just for reasonable restrictions. Controllers seem to be fo unreasonable restrictions that will do little like cosmetic bans and magazine limit sizes without touching the billions already in public ownership. So how have the "gun safety" organizations promoted gun safety.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Is this guy supposed to be doing satire of the gun control movement because

he spends the first half of his column calling people "hardliners" and "fundamentalists;" terms often reserved for terrorists and repressive regimes, but then goes on to say --

It bears repeating that each of us can get along well with those around us if we respect each other’s views.

Common sense as they see it tells them that the fewer privately owned firearms there are, the less gun-related crime there will be.

Really? Common sense says the fewer criminals there are the fewer crimes there will be and non-criminals don't commit crimes regardless of what they might own.

To wit --

Decent, responsible people from coast to coast own guns. Whether for self-defense or sport shooting, they use their guns legally and safely.

In what civil society, though, is the private possession of assault weapons necessary?

If they're decent, responsible people what does it matter what they own? Guilt is not transferrable.

Gun control proponents do not see the value in allowing people to stockpile high-capacity ammunition clips and magazines, and their understanding of the Second Amendment does not lead them to believe that this is a constitutionally protected right.

Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. The author started out talking about misperception. Well, this would be an example of a misperception on the author's part.

The author's other errors have been dealt with at length in this group.

[TeddyR]

4. On the last point

I like the use of the loaded term "stockpile," which people might connote with preppers or those otherwise afraid of government authority. What exactly is a "stockpile" of "high capacity clips and magazines" anyway?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

5. "What exactly {are}... 'high capacity clips and magazines' anyway?"

My husband is a vet and he says 30-round magazines were standard issue. So I'm guessing "high capacity" would be anything substantially higher than 30.

[Fast Walker 52]

3. in other words, Second Amendment fundamentalists are paranoid assholes

i.e. right-wingers.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. Did you miss the part of the OP calling for respecting the views of others?

[sarisataka]

7. So to sum up,

those tiny dicked, gun fucking, Second Amendment terrorist ammosexual cowards need to man up and start supporting gun bans.

It is the patriotic thing to do.



P.S. if you support strict background checks, training mandates, safe storage laws or any of the myriad of other proposals put forth while opposing bans, just know you are a fundamentalist Second Amendment hardliner. You need to stop demanding the unrestricted manufacturing and sale of guns and learn to quit being a racist gun humper and accept your guilt for each and every gun related death in our epidemic murder rate. {any general downward trend in gun deaths derived from FBI data is simply NRA propaganda}

[TeddyR]

10. This

Is the best summary of anything I've read in a long time.

[jmg257]

8. "If only, if only", the woodpecker sighs.

"If those opposed to gun control would simply realize that the other side includes a lot of patriots, they would score a major victory for political moderation..."

Yep - if only.

"hardliners seem to believe that opposing the unrestricted manufacturing and sale of guns is suspect",

Please, keep reminding those "hardliners", AND the rest of us, how even though "the right to keep and bear arms must not be ignored or infringed", it is VERY MUCH OK the right to keep and bear arms should be ignored and infringed.

Despite the fact "Decent, responsible people from coast to coast own guns...and they use their guns legally and safely", it is just common sense there should be:
- fewer privately owned guns
- a complete ban on "assault weapons"; and
- restrictions on "stockpiling" high capacity magazines.

Because...well..."need".


Quite imperative (and sensible) we should all get along - after all it is simply gun control proponents' lack of clarity and their misunderstanding of the Second Amendment which leads them to believe that {owning guns, Semi Autos, and hi-cap mags} is not a constitutionally protected right.
Respect!!


"The position of this column is that legislation at the municipal, county, state and federal levels will tackle the dangers of assault weapons"

Or not. But at least NOW we are talking some common sense - legislation, by the representatives of the people; and not - for example - lawsuits targeting manufacturers and dealers for producing legal products and advertising.

[beevul]

9. Ahh, the old "piss down their backs and tell them its raining" routine.

The hardliners seem to believe that opposing the unrestricted manufacturing and sale of guns is suspect if one wishes to be considered a true-blue American.

The hardliners are the ones who intend to see the word "arms" interpreted as "Some guns, the ones which we approve of", and the nice thing about this article, is that they admit it:

In what civil society, though, is the private possession of assault weapons necessary?

I rest my case.

The fact that so many in our society distrust or dislike those who are not fundamentalists about the Second Amendment is very troubling.

Spoken like a true hardliner.

There is no valid reason for political disagreements to create such a massive divide.

AKA: Anyone that disagrees with me is not valid.

[Eleanors38]

12. I think this commentator wants to sound mainstream, but can't give up the ol' time religion.

The symbolism is a little bulk-rate: that "Assault Weapon" thing again, and the comfort-level notion of "need."

[Eleanors38]

11. Hell those supporting "firearms regulations" aren't even particularly liberal...

....since their approach is prohibitionist-centric, and gives short shrift to efforts and policies designed to reduce the causes of violence. Bloomberg and Brady Center don't impress me as activist progressives.

[benEzra]

13. Rifles account for about 5 murders a year, per state. Five.

"Decent, responsible people from coast to coast own guns. Whether for self-defense or sport shooting, they use their guns legally and safely.

In what civil society, though, is the private possession of assault weapons necessary?"

"Decent, responsible people from coast to coast own rifles with handgrips that stick out. Whether for self-defense or sport shooting, they use their rifles legally and safely.

In what civil society, then, is putting people in cages for owning protruding rifle handgrips necessary?"

FWIW, all rifles combined account for less than 270 murders annually, out of ~12,000. That's around five murders per year, per state. Many states have zero rifle homicides annually. And yet you want to outlaw the most popular non-automatic civilian rifles in U.S. homes. Just who is the fundamentalist, again?

[pablo_marmol]

14. Thank you, SecularMotion!

By providing one OP after another that receives a thorough slap-down while receiving zero cogent support, you've done the cause of gun rights an enormous service!

Thank you amigo!