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.

[TexasRepublic]

"Extremity in the defense of Liberty is no vice!"

[Djarum]

...more concealed, loaded handguns onto our streets...
...carrying concealed, loaded handguns.

WHAT!? I thought this CCW legislation was to allow carrying of unloaded handguns. I'm shocked! </sarcasm>

[tet68]

It's not called the "RED" Star trib for nothing.

[Richard Kimball]

And the next article is titled, "Bob Johnson, Useful Idiot, or Just a Liar?"

[Maelstrom]

Mr. Johnson might actually be a gun owner, a hunter, and a sportsman. If so, he's one of the more short-sighted gun-owners in America. It's probably the fault of public education in the area. Gun rights and the gun control movement has a very rich history. This history, when viewed objectively teaches us that the crime rate is associated with Prohibition. Modern Prohibition is called "The War on Drugs" and I'm not going to address that issue, becuase it is gun rights that are under attack today.

Should Bob Johnson decide to review the legislative history of gun control, he would quickly realize that there is an inescapable conclusion to be drawn: There is no line at which "reasonable gun control measures" will stop. It is a shame that he feels the need to label as "extremist" people whom have comes to this inescapable conclusion. Perchance he'll realize it when they come for his shotgun as a ".50 calibur weapon" (See Illinois) or when he suddenly finds that he is a criminal for possessing a .308 when "sniper rifle" legislation changes our law-abiding gun owner, hunter, and sportsman into a criminal at the stroke of a pen.

Hopefully, he'll realize his mistake before it's too late to turn back the trend which organizations founded by, run, and maintained by former government officials and insiders have created since 1968, perhaps he won't realize his mistake until he stares in astonishment at the lawmen outside his door in SWAT gear, cocked and ready in anticipation of this extremist, Bob Johnson, with a sniper rifle...the same gun he calls a "hunting rifle".

(Posted)

[Jhoffa_]

Oh yeah.. This is just what Gun Owners need.

The hunters, self defence guy's & trapshooters all turn on the "assault weapons" crowd, because they are "giving shooters a bad name" with their "junk guns"

Then the self defence guy's & trapshooters turn on the hunters, because they are un-pc, some use "sniper rifles" and are "giving shooters a bad name"

Then the trap shooters turn on the self defence guy's, because their sport is bloodless and their weapons of choice can't be concealed as easily as handguns, which "cause" crime anyway.

Then the Left turns on the trapshooters for their "dangerous" "scatter" and "riot" guns which could be so lethal in the wrong hands..

AND THEN, we get to argue over "sensible, knife control measures.."

[RussRoberts]

"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."

Do you ever notice that only gun rights supporters are labeled exremists by the mainstream media? The ACLU is very aggressive on a number of issues, as are NARAL and NOW on abortion. None of these organizations compromise. Yet I have never heard them described as extremists. We will know that we have a fair and balanced media when either the extremist label is gone, or when all such groups are labeled extremist. I hope for the former, but will not hold my breath.

[Shooter 2.5]

Blacksmith, Are you going to post that link already? Still waiting.


< sound of crickets >

Joe, Did you notice that when someone tries the divide and conquer tactics with the gun owners, everyone gets all excited but when someone tried the same method with the gun GROUPS, no one says a thing?

[HenryLeeII]

Gee, I always thought that those who want to nullify the Second Amendment are the extremists. I'm glad you've found a letter by this Constitutional scholar setting me straight!!! Have a good one... ;>)

[FSPress]

Bump - I like it!

[Joe Brower]

Hmmm... Maybe he's on his way to the NRA Convention in Orlando! $;-)

That's where I'm heading, so I'll catch up with you in a couple of days. It's going to be a fun weekend!

[Shooter 2.5]

He's not a regular Freeper. I noticed that was the only post in his history.

Have fun in Orlando. I need a full report.

[Oztrich Boy]

1986 ban automatic military spec rifles

1994 ban "assault weapons" which got around the 1986 "loophole" by being semiautmatic rifles with the cosmetic appearnce of Miltary assault rifles

200? ban Semi-automatic hunting sniper rifles which are functionally identical to 1994-ban weapons but which got around the 1994 "loophole" by being of non-military appearance.

201? ban bolt action sniper rifles. What hunter needs to shoot game more than 100 yards away anyway?

202? ban...

[epow]

This routine is getting old. I remember when Clinton was pushing the AW ban through congress, some enterprising TV reporter found a group of 3 or 4 people claiming to be hunters somewhere in upstate NY who seemed extremely eager to denounce the evil AWs and to explain why no hunter needs an AK to hunt deer. One particularly goofy character piped up and said there was no reason why anyone except cops and the military needed more than 6 rounds in any gun. All of them agreed that the Clinton AW ban was urgently needed to prevent more massacres in schools and drive-bys in the ghettos.

I found the interview very unconvincing for a couple of reasons. For one thing, it was summer and they were out in a field dressed in hunting garb,(no hunting season in summer) and for another they were very careless in how they handled their shotguns, which suggested to me that they were quite inexperienced in gun handling for hunters of their age. I wasn't convinced they were really gun owners then, and I'm not convinced the writer of this piece is either.

Since that time in '94 when I first saw the technique used, I have seen it used over and over on newspaper opinion pages and on the tube. It must be that the antis think they gain credibilty by portraying themselves as gun owners and hunters just before ripping into those of us who believe the 2nd A actually means what it so clearly says, and denouncing us as extremisits.

I for one don't believe the author of this garbage owns a gun, and I doubt he could figure out how to load and fire a single barrel shotgun without help. I would bet that if someone were to do a bit of research on this guy they would find his name on the roll of at least one antigun org, but would search in vain for his name on the MN state list of hunting licensees. I don't put ANY dishonest tactic past the leftist anti-gun crowd, especially lies and misprepresentation.

[junta]

My guess is that this mope is up for some investment advisory bidness with the gooberment of MN.

[FSPress]

I have seen it used over and over on newspaper opinion pages and on the tube. It must be that the antis think they gain credibilty by portraying themselves as gun owners and hunters just before ripping into those of us who believe the 2nd A actually means what it so clearly says, and denouncing us as extremisits.

=============

Sound just like the way Republican RINOs here on FR behave.