*Rant warning. If you don’t want to read a gun control rant, then skip this. I’ve closed comments because I honestly don’t feel like dealing with trolls, or having trolls go after commenters. Feel free to rant on your own website/Fb profile pro/con what I’ve said. tl;dr – I am a gun owner who is in favor of gun law reforms and other measures to help curb gun violence.*
I am a gun owner. I am a concealed-carry permit holder. I shoot skeet. I was raised with guns. I am NOT anti-2nd Amendment. That’s to tell you where I stand. (I really associate with Tilly when in Impact she told the gangster that she is a native daughter of the motherfucking state that put motherfucking stand your ground on the motherfucking map.)
It is important to acknowledge that responsible gun ownership and a commitment to safety go hand in hand. As gun owners, it is crucial to stay informed about advancements in firearm technology, safety practices, and legal considerations. Websites like https://460rowland.com/ provide a wealth of resources for gun enthusiasts to expand their knowledge and stay up to date with the latest developments in firearms, ammunition, and related accessories. By actively seeking information and education from reliable sources, responsible gun owners can ensure they are equipped with the necessary tools and understanding to exercise their rights while prioritizing safety. Additionally, engaging in discussions and dialogues with fellow gun owners and experts can foster a community of responsible firearms enthusiasts who strive for continuous improvement in their knowledge and practices.
HOWEVER…
(You knew that was coming, right?)
I am a liberal Democrat, and an eclectic, solitary Pagan witch. I am a non-Christian, liberal gun owner. I haaaaaate the NRA.
That means I can easily piss off 100% of the demographics of any given room at any given time because of my patchwork of political, spiritual, social, economic, and other views.
I love arguing with people who defeat their own Constitutional arguments by ignoring the parts they don’t like, and then I point out those points right back at them, using variations of their own argument against them, to render their original argument invalid.
Then I get called a poopy-faced libtard and they go away butthurt.
I feel that it is an unquestionable fact that we have a gun violence problem in this country. No, I don’t know what the answer is, but allowing average, untrained citizens to own assault weapons is DEFINITELY NOT the answer. There needs to be some sort of reform on multiple levels. There is no easy answer to this.
My Sunday started out today getting drawn into a Facebook discussion (ugh) with a mix of really rational people and a few rabid 2nd Amendment supporters. I have VERY little patience this morning after 2 days of son and Hubby battling stomach plague (and doing my damnedest not to catch it).
This is an approximation of how that conversation went:
Them: “We can’t change the 2nd Amendment!!”
Me: Why not?
Them: Because, REASONS!!!
Me: We added the right for women to vote and eliminated slavery, among other things.
Them: SECOND AMENDMENT!!!!
Me: First Amendment was defined as prohibiting things like shouting fire in a crowded theater.
Them: SECOND AMENDMENT, DAMMIT!!!! YOU CANNOT TAKE MY GUNS!!!
Me: The founding fathers never envisioned a day when any idiot without a criminal history could buy a weapon that fired multiple rounds per SECOND and could hold more than enough ammo to wipe out a classroom full of CHILDREN. Do you really think they mean THAT when back then they were having to hand load every ROUND and it took close to a minute to reload?
Them: GAH ACK SECOND AMENDMENT YOU DAMN POOPY-HEADED LIBTARD!! RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS!!!!
Me: “A well regulated militia…” Are you therefore saying that we need mandatory military service for all able-bodied people so that they can then be defined as militia? Because, basically, that’s the only way to literally interpret that amendment.
Them: NO YOU SMELLY COMMIE-LOVIN’ LIBBIE BITCH!! DON’T YOU TAKE MY GUNS! ENFORCE THE LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE, DON’T MAKE NEW ONES! CRIMINALS NEVER OBEY LAWS!!
Me: So then you’re saying we shouldn’t have laws prohibiting sex offenders from having sex with children, or animals, because they’ll just ignore the laws anyway?
Them: THAT’S DIFFERENT!!!
Me: Okay… Then it’s okay for us not to modify cyber-crime laws that will prevent someone from accessing your bank account information and committing ID theft on you because criminals will only ignore those laws anyway?
Them: NO, that’s NOT what I mean and YOU KNOW IT!!!
Me: Then it’s okay not to have laws regulating pharmaceuticals or food safety?
Them: TOTALLY DIFFERENT!!! That’s not GUNS!!!
Me: Well, then why can’t we enact newer, stricter laws on gun control to reduce access to assault weapons, ammo for assault weapons, tax those weapons, require stricter licensing, and longer waiting periods?
Them: NO!! SECOND AMENDMENT!! ENFORCE THE LAWS WE HAVE!
Me: Where are your statistics that the laws aren’t being enforced?
Them: Uhh…SECOND AMENDMENT!
Me: The Second Amendment says, “A well regulated…”
Them: THAT’S NOT WHAT THAT MEANS!!!
Me: The Second Amendment doesn’t say you can’t give guns to militant terrorists. By their own definition, they sort of consider themselves a militia. So…that’s okay, then, if they don’t have a criminal history, right?
Them: YOU KNOW THAT’S NOT WHAT THAT MEANS!!!!!
Me: So…we can go ahead and arm all Muslims, gays, POC, and women then, because they are in legitimate fear of violence?
Them: NO!! NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! GUN DEATHS ARE HIGHEST IN PLACES WITH THE STRICTEST GUN LAWS! HA! Beat THAT you libbytardo!
Me: Actually, no, that’s incorrect. Did you know that Alaska has one of the highest gun death rates per 100k residents, and New York is the third LOWEST? (http://politicsthatwork.com/graphs/gun-deaths-by-state)
Them: SHUT UP YOU LIBTARD!!!
Me: Sigh. Go away now, little one. You have a lot to learn yet.
(I wish I was making this up, but no.)
In Case You Missed It
Impact (Suncoast Society) is available at third-party sites
Hubby’s book Can’t Dance Forever is on pre-order
Code Monkey (Drunk Monkeys 8) is now available!