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Why Gun Culture Is So Strong in Rural America
New York Times ^ | March 16, 2018 | ROBERT LEONARD

Posted on 03/16/2018 2:16:31 PM PDT by reaganaut1

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — As Democrats have fled rural America — or rural America has fled Democrats — many of them, living in cities, are left without an understanding of rural culture and its core values. If it isn’t on abortion, our deepest cultural divide might be on guns. The guns issue also has a profound political dimension, reliably driving rural Americans into Republican arms.

It’s been many years since I hunted squirrels and rabbits with my Grandpa Leonard. I grew up around guns and remember the pride I had when I completed my N.R.A.-sponsored gun safety training in Boy Scouts, back when the N.R.A. was a group primarily known for teaching gun appreciation and safety rather than lobbying.

I have come to understand and appreciate arguments for more gun control. But guns are important to the culture in my conservative community in Iowa, and people around here reject most gun control legislation. So I do my best to understand where they are coming from.

One morning after the mass shootings in Parkland, Fla., I spoke about them with a police-officer friend. He has led active-shooter trainings in our schools. He believes that better background checks might help prevent some gun violence, and that people need to do a better job securing their firearms (especially from suicidal teenagers).

But he doesn’t believe that significant gun control measures will ever meet approval in rural America, including a ban on AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles. He confided that many conservative police officers do not want more gun control and that other officers have told him that should they ever have to start taking guns away from people, they will quit their jobs. Like most rural conservatives, he truly believes that taking guns away from law-abiding citizens will never solve America’s gun problems, including mass shootings.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: banglist; bitterclingers; democrats; fakenews; guncontrol; guns
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To: reaganaut1
I have come to understand and appreciate arguments for more gun control.

He admits to having lost his mind.

81 posted on 03/16/2018 6:23:52 PM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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Never once mentioned how few people are killed by rifles......or that the primary reason for the second amendment I’d to act as a deterrent to oppressive government - no, not hunting nor to preserve “rural values”. Many of us actually respect the values the Founding Fathers stood for.


82 posted on 03/16/2018 6:24:25 PM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: Bryanw92
We want guns, more horsepower, 5 different sizes of soft drinks at 7-11, a choice of jobs, the home that we like, etc.

My tagline says it all for me ...

83 posted on 03/16/2018 6:29:17 PM PDT by BlueLancer (Black Rifle Coffee - Freedom, guns, tits, bacon, and booze!)
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To: 50mm

Ill take multiple servings of either one.


84 posted on 03/16/2018 6:40:35 PM PDT by gnarledmaw (Hive minded liberals worship leaders, sovereign conservatives elect servants.)
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To: reaganaut1; mylife; Joe Brower; MaxMax; Randy Larsen; waterhill; Envisioning; AZ .44 MAG; umgud; ...

RKBA Ping List


This Ping List is for all things pertaining to the 2nd Amendment.

FReepmail me if you want to be added to or deleted from the list.

More 2nd Amendment related articles on FR's Bang List.

85 posted on 03/16/2018 7:05:05 PM PDT by PROCON (Repeal the Gun-Free School Zone Act, Protect Our Children!)
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To: PROCON

Shall not be infringed. That’s all that matters. All else is academic BS designed to parse an inaliable right out of existence.


86 posted on 03/16/2018 7:18:22 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Alex Jones isnÂ’t quite the wing nut now, all things considered.)
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To: reaganaut1
... should they ever have to start taking guns away from people, they will quit their jobs.

Not to worry; as others will do the job that Americans don't want to do.

87 posted on 03/16/2018 8:01:06 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ameribbean expat

And then there is Utah...

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/20/news/mn-28924

Can you say Stepford Wives?


88 posted on 03/16/2018 8:03:28 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Vaquero

She?


89 posted on 03/16/2018 8:04:51 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: SoFloFreeper

Yes


90 posted on 03/16/2018 8:05:38 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: DannyTN

Revenooers...


91 posted on 03/16/2018 8:06:35 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Lexington Green

Santa Anna wanted a cannon back.

We said, “Come take it”


92 posted on 03/16/2018 8:08:31 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: goldstategop
Abortion that takes far more lives than guns do.

 

 

 17 dead students: HORRIBLE!!! We MUST do SOMETHING!!!


1,000,000 dead future American citizens every year: So? It's legal.

 


I would have LOVED to have to take my chances with being shot in school; instead of...


93 posted on 03/16/2018 8:10:09 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
 
 Proverbs 31:10-31      on steroids!!!
 
How to Identify the Perfect LDS Woman, as Identified by Focus Groups in Written Surveys and Oral Discussion
 
Cultural Artifacts
Children are active in the Church
Children's artwork/trophies
Drive minivan or suburban (or BMW=Big Mormon Wagon)
Food storage
Piano
Pictures of Christ
Pictures of married daughters
Pictures of temple
Proclamation on the Family
Wooden plaques with sayings like “Love Begins at Home,” “Return With Honor,” or “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Wreath on the front door that matches everyone else's because they made them in Relief Society
 
Family
Cares for home and family/has lots of kids
Children excel
Children have their jobs/chores done
Children don’t fight
Children get good grades
Confides in husband if she's sad or angry
Makes sure family reads scriptures
Drives kids around (soccer mom)
Family does everything together
Family eats dinner together
Good mother
Good wife
Helps kids with homework
Holds Family Home Evening
Home is clean but cluttered, smells like cookies or pie
Home is somewhere you want to be—feels safe, comfortable
Laundry done and folded
Lives close to extended family
 
Mother
Never yells at her children
Stay-at-home Mom
Super Mom
Throws perfect kids parties
Sings in the car
Supports husband
Well-mannered children
 
Homemaking Skills
Cans
Cleans/clean house
Cooks fabulous meals
Crochets
Cross-stitches
Decorates with homemade things
Gardens—grows lots of zucchini to share with neighbors
Knits things for humanitarian service
Makes bread
Makes breakfast/dinner
Makes cookies
Makes crafts
Makes homemade doilies
Makes jam
Quilts/ties quilts
Scrapbooks
Sews
Tole paints
Uses a tablecloth
 
Personality Traits
Bubbly
Cheerful
Compassionate
Confident
Considerate
Courageous
Creative
Dignified
Friendly
Genuine—you can tell that she really cares
Gracious
Happy
Kind
Leader
Optimistic
Organized
Patient
Proper
Reliable
Resourceful
Self-confident
Smart/educated
Trustworthy
 
Physical Characteristics
Doesn’t overeat
Dresses modestly
Exercises (e.g. speed walks around the neighborhood while pushing a stroller)
Good-looking/beautiful
Mormon mom haircut (from having 6 kids and not wanting any of them to pull it)
Well-groomed
Random Items
Attends book club
Doesn’t compete
Doesn’t swear
Explores her talents and takes her own lessons in between running her kids around
Good friend
Good neighbor
Manages money well
Never loses temper
No such thing
Plays musical instrument (esp. piano)
PTA president
Sings
Well-rounded
 
Spiritual Characteristics
Admits mistakes/doesn't have to be perfect
At peace with self
Balanced life
Charity
Christlike
Doesn't pretend to be perfect
Enduring/doesn’t complain
Forgiving
Good example
Has a testimony and shares it
Has faith
Has the heart of a child
Has a light/happy glow
Humble
Integrity
Knowledge of the gospel
Knows she is a child of God
Learns from mistakes
Loves the Lord
Loving
Makes you feel loved
Meek
Not judgmental/accepts others
Peacemaker
Sacrifices
Selfless
Spiritual
Tries to improve
Understands her role (equal with priesthood)
Virtuous/high values
Religiously Motivated Actions
Attends all church meetings
Attends temple
Does genealogy
Follows spiritual promptings
Keeps commandments/covenants
Lives her religion
Magnifies callings
Prays
Reads scriptures, and gets up early to do so
Serves others
Visiting teaching
Visits neighbors and takes them casseroles

 


94 posted on 03/16/2018 8:12:26 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: reaganaut1

Rural America? When we lived in Long Island back in the late 50’s, my Brother took his .22 Rifle to School twice a week.

He was in the Gun Club and there was a Shooting Range in the Basement of the School. He walked to School with the Gun slung over his shoulder.

There wasn’t as much as a raised eyebrow along his route.

Then we moved to Suburban Southern CA. Not a Tractor in sight.


95 posted on 03/16/2018 8:12:57 PM PDT by Kickass Conservative ( An Armed Society is a Polite Society. An Unarmed Society is North Korea.)
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To: reaganaut1

The Feminazis say that you cannot comment on abortion if you don’t have female genitalia. I will counter that you cannot comment on gun control if you have never fired a gun.


96 posted on 03/16/2018 8:16:03 PM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: elcid1970

I don’t like AR-15’s. They are too small to take down grizzly bears.


97 posted on 03/16/2018 8:37:17 PM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: reg45

Disliked the M-16 since I was in Vietnam. A “large plastic toothbrush” it was called. The Kalashnikov was far more robust, made of blue steel & wood. I wanted one for a souvenir but had to wait more than a decade for a legal version. The Israeli Golani is the best of both worlds IMO.

But in the current climate I’ll buy an AR-15 just to p.o. the gungrabbers. BTW, I qualified with the M-16A2 until I was 62 (old warrant officer here). They are not getting our guns!


98 posted on 03/16/2018 9:13:11 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam. Buy ammo.")
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To: elcid1970

So an AR-15 and a .460 Weatherby Magnum.


99 posted on 03/16/2018 9:50:40 PM PDT by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: reaganaut1

Cops aren’t friends with guys like this, unless they are the politically appointed chief of police.

And, I’d love to meet his, cop friend, that attends county fairs where guys have AR15s slung over their shoulders, because it’s probably someplace I’d like to go.

His line about, Dem’s wanting gun control and Republicans wanting “control, period”, is utterly disgusting. Republicans, sane thinking people, in general, want people to have ‘self control’ and be held accountable for their actions. Not be coddled and given a light tap on the shoulders, while being told everything will be alright.


100 posted on 03/16/2018 11:17:33 PM PDT by qaz123
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