Oops. I thought I had posted the same thing twice, so I deleted it. I'll try this again. This incident happened last year and not all that far from where I lived. I know a few people that knew one of the people involved and they were just as puzzled as the police.
Road rage incidents seem to be on the rise, though most do not involve firearms, even in states that are full of gun nuts and second amendment enthusiasts. I like how you focus on the tool involved and ignore the circumstances. Kind of like: Car Enthusiast and Alcohol Fanatic Goes on Rampage at Festival.
No, I don't ignore the circumstances. I note that guns are not just another tool. They are an incredibly deadly tool when in the hands of irresponsible people. Yes, cars are as well. But until we perfect self-driving cars, we need cars to get around. We don't need guns. But the NRA and gun right's groups keep pushing gun ownership. They have succeeded very well, and since the last public school shooting, conservatives have further weakened gun laws, and aimed to get more people access to guns, even in public places. People like you, who are responsible with guns, as I have said many times, seem to have no understanding (nor desire to understand) why those of us who fear guns do so. My wife has said recently that she is kind of glad I am out of the classroom now. She works in a big corporate building that will never allow open carry. But the movement you back is pushing to have guns in every public building they can. Just because. Not because it makes us safer. Just because you can. And because the rights of the gun owner trump everything.
I also notice that you have had nothing to say about the NRA hosting the now infamous "Sarah Palin wants to baptize terrorists with waterboarding" speech. To loud applause.
You know my position on waterboarding and Sarah Palin. I thought that speech was horrible on many levels and I wish the NRA would quit trying to appeal to low information voters.
I can understand that some people are not comfortable with OC. What I don't understand is the notion that people are actually safer because of a ban. Almost every major mass shooting in this country has been in a place that banned guns. The FedEx shooting in Georgia was at a place that, pursuant to corporate policy, banned open carry, concealed carry, and firearms. Regardless, this is private property and this company certainly has the right to ban items as they see fit. On the other hand, public spaces do not.
I hate to point out the obvious, but that is exactly what the NRA is all about now. They are the same as the Republican party in that way. I am less horrified by the fact that Sarah Palin said this--as she is going to do this to get attention. I am horrified that the NRA crowd loved it. But I am not surprised, and think that you are overlooking the NRA's role in pushing this very ideology.
Are you suggesting that any restriction on gun ownership makes us less safe--all the time? The alternative to just easing gun laws is to ban them entirely? And that is the only way we can talk about it?
I am not comfortable with the NRA/GOP alliance, but I am pragmatic. The GOP has a long history of supporting gun control. From the 1930's up through the early 1990's, they supported every major gun control law. Recently, the GOP has been a lot more reluctant to do so, which is believe is the major reason for NRA to get in bed with them. I don't like it, but if the Democratic party is going to continue to support gun control, then I don't see this changing any time soon.
I am not suggesting that any gun control measure makes us less safe. There is research out there that suggests loosening restrictions is linked with a decrease in crime, but I think there are too many factors to say it is causal. There is also research that suggests increased control does nothing to lower crime or make people safer. In my opinion, since we are dealing with a right, the burden should be on the state to show why there needs to be more control.
It isn't just the link to the GOP. The NRA crowd is unhinged sociopaths, as I have said before. I am not sure what else to call people who cheer torture. Pragmatism is one thing. This is awful.
6 comments:
Oops. I thought I had posted the same thing twice, so I deleted it. I'll try this again. This incident happened last year and not all that far from where I lived. I know a few people that knew one of the people involved and they were just as puzzled as the police.
Road rage incidents seem to be on the rise, though most do not involve firearms, even in states that are full of gun nuts and second amendment enthusiasts. I like how you focus on the tool involved and ignore the circumstances. Kind of like: Car Enthusiast and Alcohol Fanatic Goes on Rampage at Festival.
No, I don't ignore the circumstances. I note that guns are not just another tool. They are an incredibly deadly tool when in the hands of irresponsible people. Yes, cars are as well. But until we perfect self-driving cars, we need cars to get around. We don't need guns. But the NRA and gun right's groups keep pushing gun ownership. They have succeeded very well, and since the last public school shooting, conservatives have further weakened gun laws, and aimed to get more people access to guns, even in public places. People like you, who are responsible with guns, as I have said many times, seem to have no understanding (nor desire to understand) why those of us who fear guns do so. My wife has said recently that she is kind of glad I am out of the classroom now. She works in a big corporate building that will never allow open carry. But the movement you back is pushing to have guns in every public building they can. Just because. Not because it makes us safer. Just because you can. And because the rights of the gun owner trump everything.
I also notice that you have had nothing to say about the NRA hosting the now infamous "Sarah Palin wants to baptize terrorists with waterboarding" speech. To loud applause.
You know my position on waterboarding and Sarah Palin. I thought that speech was horrible on many levels and I wish the NRA would quit trying to appeal to low information voters.
I can understand that some people are not comfortable with OC. What I don't understand is the notion that people are actually safer because of a ban. Almost every major mass shooting in this country has been in a place that banned guns. The FedEx shooting in Georgia was at a place that, pursuant to corporate policy, banned open carry, concealed carry, and firearms. Regardless, this is private property and this company certainly has the right to ban items as they see fit. On the other hand, public spaces do not.
I hate to point out the obvious, but that is exactly what the NRA is all about now. They are the same as the Republican party in that way. I am less horrified by the fact that Sarah Palin said this--as she is going to do this to get attention. I am horrified that the NRA crowd loved it. But I am not surprised, and think that you are overlooking the NRA's role in pushing this very ideology.
Are you suggesting that any restriction on gun ownership makes us less safe--all the time? The alternative to just easing gun laws is to ban them entirely? And that is the only way we can talk about it?
I am not comfortable with the NRA/GOP alliance, but I am pragmatic. The GOP has a long history of supporting gun control. From the 1930's up through the early 1990's, they supported every major gun control law. Recently, the GOP has been a lot more reluctant to do so, which is believe is the major reason for NRA to get in bed with them. I don't like it, but if the Democratic party is going to continue to support gun control, then I don't see this changing any time soon.
I am not suggesting that any gun control measure makes us less safe. There is research out there that suggests loosening restrictions is linked with a decrease in crime, but I think there are too many factors to say it is causal. There is also research that suggests increased control does nothing to lower crime or make people safer. In my opinion, since we are dealing with a right, the burden should be on the state to show why there needs to be more control.
It isn't just the link to the GOP. The NRA crowd is unhinged sociopaths, as I have said before. I am not sure what else to call people who cheer torture. Pragmatism is one thing. This is awful.
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