Posted on 06/08/2007 9:43:45 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Im a liberal. My voting record is largely Green Party and Democrat. Im a strong environmentalist - I respect and treat all life equally. I think equal opportunity is a good concept, and I view our international policy with distaste.
Im also a gun collector and strong proponent of the Second Amendment.
People have been misled to think that guns are a Republican thing. Thats unfortunate. Gun ownership is the most liberal thing I can imagine. Its about keeping power in the hands of the people instead of being exclusively the tools of government and the rich. Its about equality, letting an old woman defend herself as well as a bodybuilder. Its about being able to protect not only the people that are important to us but the rest of our freedoms as well.
In an effort to garner votes, the Democrats have used guns as a scapegoat like the Republicans have used terror. Theyve created boogymen like assault weapons to convince constituents something is being done about the fundamentally human problem of violence. By banning guns, Democrats want you to believe something is being done to bring down crime. Do you know the definition of assault weapon? Its not a machine gun. Its a gun that has features like a grip that protrudes from the bottom or a bayonet lug. Whens the last time anyone was bayoneted? Another sensationalized item is hollow point ammo - bullets that flatten when they hit something. The police switched to hollow points because the alternative, round bullets, had a tendency to go straight through objects, ricochet and they also require a greater number of shots to stop attackers.
Guns arent even the most damaging method of killing. In the Happy Land Fire, a man killed 87 people with one dollars worth of gas. The record number of deaths at a school is held by a person with a bomb, not a gun. A nut job with a car in a crowded area can do more damage than a man with a bag full of guns. Wheres our gas licensing? Lets ban cars. Americans understand cars; not many understand guns because theyre getting their information from a media that loves to sensationalize. You hear about one psychopath killer, but not about the thousands of people who were saved from being murdered or raped.
Guns are the best tools we as citizens have for defense. Not only has the Supreme Court ruled that police have no obligation to protect individuals, but its a physical impossibility for police to be there at all times. We shouldnt rely on others for self-defense.
Guns also protect our freedoms. They ensure that, if necessary, the people have means to offer resistance to rogue authority. It wasnt long ago that rogue police officers, after illegally disarming the citizenry, took advantage of Hurricane Katrina to steal much-needed food and supplies. A liberal should know that authority figures commit crimes every day. If we take physical power away from the people, whats left to balance against governmental abuse? If we take guns away from the people, only criminals and the government will have them.
Banning guns to reduce violence is like playing Whac-A-Mole, remove one weapon and another will pop up. People have one less way to hurt each other out of billions. Unfortunately the unique benefits guns provide are gone, along with the lack of shootings, and theres no replacing them.
Its a citizens duty to vote with an informed understanding. Next time you see a gun control bill, dont agree because it looks like common sense. Take the time to educate yourself on the terms, try substituting gun for car to remove an emotional bias. Place Second Amendment infringements in the context of better understood ones. Should we ban Ferraris because theyre too fast for normal citizens, or revolutionary texts because theyre too powerful? Go to a range and try out a gun. How could someone whos never shot a gun dictate what types are and arent allowed?
Bearing arms is a constitutional right. Its an empowerment of the citizenry that, like free speech, must be preserved for the most dire circumstances, lest we find it gone when we most need it. Lets not define a freedom by its abuse, and lets not give it up just because we dont understand it.
[Michael Helmeste is a UCSB staff member.]
A conservative in the making. All he needs is to get mugged a time or two and the change will be complete.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The author is deeply confused. If he were truly in favor of gun ownership as he says he is he would re-think his other positions — particularly environmentalism. The modern enviro movement is all about removing power from the individual to supernational authorities who will dictate how we live.
I went to the site and there was another commentary quite critical of the immigration bill. And this from one of California’s most liberal schools. There may hope for our future yet.
I hope for his sake he is tenured
Bears repeating!
Just my .02 But the Democrats are *SO* out to lunch on guns that they lose many elections that they would win if they bent on RKBA.
He calls himself a liberal? But he sounds more moderate/conservative than he thinks.
The Left have never learned that the only way they can repel the Repressive Gov’t in the end is their Right to Bear Arms.
Exactly. I don’t have a problem living my life “greener” (because I’m probably greener than the Goreacle as it is), but I do have a problem with ecotax or the church of global warming.
I think he means “classical liberal” i.e. pretty much like the founders. The socialists (RAT Party) have stolen the term “liberal” btw.
By the by, I’ve taken the editor of the Nexus trap shooting. Her boyfriend helped me get the UCSB collegiate marksmanship program going.
Shhhh...
Better get that post deleted ASAP - If the Dems wised up...
nevermind ;-)
Funny you should say that. I just finished reading a diary over at dKos where Iowa Boy, who at one time posted here as Thomas Pained, has been talking about using the strategy employed in the above article to convince independents (and freepers if he can) to vote blue.
bttt
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.