Most gun owners need to disassociate themselves from the extremists

Minneapolis Star-Tribune ^ | April 25, 2003 | Bob Johnson

[jdege]

As a gun owner, hunter and sportsman, I'm concerned about a common misperception: the belief that gun owners are a monolithic body of people who all march to the tune of the National Rifle Association.

As legislators debate the measure that would put more concealed, loaded handguns onto our streets, they should not assume that most gun owners would be happy with a looser permitting system. Some very misguided policies are propounded in our names, and many common-sense measures that would protect all of us are never enacted -- all out of fear that gun owners will exact their revenge at the polls if our interests are not defended.

[PuNcH]

I dont want everyone to think gun owners are extremists either which is why we need to ban hunting. Most gun responsible gun owners dont feel the need to actually murder an innocent animal for sport with a Sniper Rifle that makes a ak47 look like a children's toy. These are rifles that fire effectively at upto 4 times the range of an assault rifle. The projectiles are usually around 2 to 3 times heavier. Not to mention the incredible lead poinsoning that is contaminating our environment.

Responsible gun owners need to seperate themselves from those that find "sport" in uselessly killing Bambi. /sarcasm

[from occupied ga]

England, Australia, Canada, California; register weapons and it leads to illegality and confiscation

You forgot the assault weapons registration in NYC in 1976 that led to the assualt weapons confiscation in NYC in 1996

[Search4Truth]

"We need more men like you, and fewer men like Bob."

You are too kind.

I am humbled on a daily basis by the sacrifices good men are making on our behalf.

All of them give some, some of them give all.

[Liberal Classic]

If Mr. Johnson thinks the NRA is ``a rather extreme element of the gun-owning population'' then who is a moderate organization? The VPC?

There is no threat to losing our right to own guns for sport.

Repeate after me: The security of a free state does not need defending from hordes of deer.

[Shooter 2.5]

That's what it sounds like.

Unfortunately this is getting to be a situation where some GOA members feel the need to lie.

If they would only stick with telling facts as to how their group has accomplished something, I could understand it.

Pathetic.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Bob Johnson is living in comfort, out on a 10 acre spread in Farmington, 35 miles from downtown Minneapolis, yet uses this mostly metropolitan newspaper to vent his quaint idea about gun ownership. Seems to me Mr. Johnson is talking out of both sides of his mouth...

[ndafill]

Maybe you can help me, but I still don't know what an assault weapon is. Never have known and I've used a wide variety of weapons over the years, military and civilian.

[The Other Harry]

I used to think about the way that is expressed in the above article. As I've gotten older and learned more about the real world, the more extreme I become in my views in favor of the right to keep and bear arms.

I now believe that the NRA is correct when it says, "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."

I also believe that guns are ultimately in the hands of the public for reasons of self-defense, and that that guns usually function pretty well in that respect -- not perfectly, but much better than the lack of them. Hunting and sporting uses are secondary to that.

[from occupied ga]

An assault weapon is something (anything) that the politicians and bureaucrats want to ban. It is defined on the premise that if they can get some guns banned now by calling them "assault weapns" they'll be able to get the rest banned later by calling them "assault weapons" later.

[Polonius]

The 2nd Amendment isn't about hunting season...

Worth repeating.

[Screaming_Gerbil]

"It's time for gun owners to disassociate ourselves from the extremists who argue that any attempt to sensibly regulate firearms takes us down the slippery slope toward confiscation..."

Doesn't this person know that in the minds of those who wish to ban all firearms, (as well as those who would enforce such bans such as government agents / police) ANYONE who owns a firearm is a dangerous extremist...

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Bingo. Witness the reaction to the new .50 Cal S&W.

[ndafill]

Like shotguns, rifles, bowling balls, knives, 2x4's.
I think I have it now. Thanks.

[Liberal Classic]

S4T, what are you trying to say here? Tell us what you really feel, don't hold back now.

``If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.''

Samuel Adams to the Philadelphia Legislature, August 1, 1776

[asformeandformyhouse]

There is no threat to losing our right to own guns for sport

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you let people talk long enough you'll eventually see the whole reason behind their arguments. This guy has no idea of what the 2A is about and he shows his ignorance with this statement. All this fellow wants is a government kind enough to allow him to pursue one of his favorite activities. Is this what they call 'Freedom' now?

[LibWhacker]

What a lightweight. Another duck hunter who has never studied American History -- or the Constitution. Wonder if he's got any good recipes?

[KC_for_Freedom]

Doesn't this person know that in the minds of those who wish to ban all firearms, (as well as those who would enforce such bans such as government agents / police) ANYONE who owns a firearm is a dangerous extremist..

Of course he knows this, he simply grew up in the education system that taught him that the second amendment was designed to make sure some hunters would not be deprived of their annual deer tags. That education system also preaches that the world will not be safe really until everyone embraces socialism. He is simply doing his part by repeating this cr*p. BTW, the education system is still in place, and still repeating this stuff.

Count me among the extremists here.

[from occupied ga]

Like shotguns, rifles, bowling balls, knives, 2x4's.

Assault weapons of the near future. All you have to do is look at England. The bureaucrats' appetite for making citizens into serfs and then making serfs helpless is without bound.

[from occupied ga]

Like shotguns, rifles, bowling balls, knives, 2x4's.

Assault weapons of the near future. All you have to do is look at England. The bureaucrats' appetite for making citizens into serfs and then making serfs helpless is without bound.

[Search4Truth]

No go away Mr. Johnson, or I shall taunt you second time. :)