[tcostell]

The problem here is that progressives see themselves as an elite class who are (or at least should be) anointed to make the rules for the rest of us. That doesn't jive with the second amendment, under which all men are equal.

The only new law I've ever heard that I think gun owners might consider supporting would be one which makes the penalties SEVERE for committing a crime with a gun. Prohibition doesn't work because it punishes the innocent, not the guilty.

[Mrs.Z]

If “progressives” really support gun-rights, why are they banned in all the big blue state cities run by “progressives”?

[taxcontrol]

Step 1 - Reject the conventional wisdom
I agree. Guns should no longer be considered evil. In fact, we should begin “My gun, my friend” classes right away. Start with kindergartners as they will have the most opportunity to learn. In fact, lets start by having the government purchase .22 cal rifles (Ruger 10/22s? modified with peephole and post sights) and ISSUE them to all of the 18 year olds. They can go pick them up with their year supply of condoms.

Step 2 - Own the Second Amendment
Once again, I agree. Every single American should be taught the Second Amendment ... heck, lets teach all 10. We could use it as an entrance exam for college or required to get a drivers license. Don't worry about the interpretation, just make sure they can quote it exactly in English. This would help with the illegal immigration issue as well.

Step 3 - Redefine the issue from Gun Control to Gun Safety
Yep we need to teach the four laws of gun safety to every single man, woman and child

Step 4 - Criticize Conservatives for Failing to Enforce Existing Gun Laws
Whoa there, lets change this to Criticize Politicians for Failing to Enforce Existing Gun Laws. But at the same time, lets reduce the thousands of gun laws to something more reasonable.

Step 5: Promote Centrist Gun Policies with Centrist Language
Yes, hitting the center of the target is good policy. Not sure I understand this “language” thing - other than perhaps the centralist language is English.

Step 6: Take Your Message Directly to Gun Owners – Don’t Let Your Opponent Define You
Yes, we should communicate directly with all Americans and let them know their rights and when others are trying to put restrictions and limitations on those rights.

Step 7: Implement Your Gun Plan and Watch the Gun Votes Roll In
Yep, if you follow these simple steps you will lock up the gun vote.

[jdege]

Progressives have to take back the Second Amendment – ending all equivocation on the meaning of the Second Amendment by inserting strong support for the individual rights interpretation in all gun discussions. They must define the right in a way that makes sense to the vast majority of voters – as a right that comes with responsibilities for individual owners and for society to support tough enforcement and closing existing gun law loopholes. And they must preface all of their policy pronouncements with genuine support for the Second Amendment.

I've said it long ago. If they want us to believe they're seeking a middle ground, they need to actually seek a middle ground.

That means there have to be as many gun control proposals they oppose as there are that they support.

That's what being in the middle means.

If they believe that the Second protects an individual right that is subject to reasonable restrictions, there must then be some restrictions that are unreasonable.

I can think of a few things that the progressives could do that would convince gun owners that they'd changed on gun control:

• Work to see the gun bans in D.C., Chicago, et al., repealed.
• Work to end arbitrary discretion in all firearms licensing and registration laws. That means shall-issue carry permits, folks.

They won't do that, of course. Because they aren't really open to change. They still think they can change people's minds about them by changing the words they use.

Won't happen.

[snowsislander]

Very clever of these folks; this is an attempt at Clintonesque "triangulation" where these liars go something like "oh yes, we are for *some* gun rights, but with very reasonable restrictions!"

But if you read their bilge it turns out that there is not a single bit of gun control law that they actually object to --- and in fact, they are advocating even more, such as the ubiquitous call to "close the gun show loophole" (and which can of course be found in this very article) which actually is a call to end all private transactions in firearms.

(I normally don't characterize someone who takes an opposite stance from me as a "liar", but these people are pretending to be for gun rights when they are actually for gun control which makes them liars and worse in my book.)

[Billthedrill]

I wonder if the "progressive" who penned this realizes how very schizophrenic it is. The first recommendations call for an unmistakable statement in favor of individual rights, and the later ones recommend re-framing the old policies in terms less distasteful. You can't have it both ways and gun owners know that.

Progressives seem to take it for granted that they and not conservatives are the keepers of civil rights and hence are unassailable on those grounds. Yet one cannot interpret gun ownership on that basis and continue to attempt to insert the state into the equation. One might as well say that black people have the right to vote and the state has the right to limit it by testing and setting the bar higher and higher. Does that sound familiar? It may be described as many things - devious, mendacious, hypocritical - but a regard for civil rights it is not.

Unfortunately for the author, progressivism sold its soul to the collective quite some time ago, and the notion that individuals have rights that may not be mediated by the state is no longer a progressive position. That's really the crux of the matter. To take possession of this issue progressives must recognize hard limits on the powers of the state that constitute barriers to the state intervention they deem necessary for social progress. It's a self-contradiction. It's not going to happen.

[El Gato]

The Message: I take a back seat to no one in support of Second Amendment rights, but those rights do not extend to terrorists and criminals

The Unstated Message: Let's treat everyone like terrorists and criminals.

[El Gato]

Finally, don’t be shy to marry your positions to those of prominent conservatives who gun owners trust with their rights. “My position on gun shows and the assault weapons ban is the same as George Bush and John McCain.”

George Bush and John McCain prominent conservatives? Especially on Second Amendment rights.

ROTFLMAO!

[Brucifer]

Step one... lie about what we really believe until there are enough of us to finally kill off the Second Amendment.

This is a loser issue and a waste of time. An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that we already have enough gun laws.

[The KG9 Kid]

Author is smoking model airplane glue.

Too stupid, didn't read.

[El Gato]

Remind me, how far to the left of “liberals” are the “progressives”. Are progressives to the right of Communists and left of mere National Socialists? Or are they about on the same position of “leftness” as Marx, Lenin, and Stalin.

[goldstategop]

They lie. They DO want to take away your guns. They just don't want to tell you to your face that's what they'll do. If they really supported the Second Amendment, they wouldn't be pushing for more gun laws on the books across the country.

"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

[Cheburashka]

“We’re the elites, we’re smart, we can pull a fast one on these dumb rubes from the sticks.”

[The KG9 Kid]

The author Jim Kessler ia a former advisor to Sen. Chuck Schumer and was the Democrat party's leading firearms restrictions guru.

He's the one who made all those anti-gun laws during the Clinton years and saw the AWB sunset in 2004. He's the one Democrats can actually blame for getting their asses kicked over the gun issue. Now he's all wrapped up in trying to revive his Frankenstein creations with new packaging from his little outfit called 'Third Way' that he keeps renaming when gun owners figure out what he's up to.

This proposal of his in the original article is just an attempt to salvage his lunacy and bring back the old Clinton anti-gun measures posing as 'common sense' to sell. Same old shit, different packaging.

Jim Keller, if you're reading this, go walk deep into the forest and drink a gallon of anti-freeze, please.

[andy58-in-nh]

The author's basic premise is false: laws proscribing the ownership of firearms do not prevent criminals and terrorists from using guns in the commission of crimes. Such laws only affect the law-abiding. Only laws that punish criminals and terrorists from using guns in the course of illegal acts will be effective - and it is these laws to which "progressives" most strenuously object. The purpose of the Second Amendment is to recognize the right of citizens to protect themselves from the actions not merely of criminals, but of their own government.

[Darren McCarty]

This is the old Mark Mellman/Mark Penn DLC line. Responses to the following beside the 2nd Amendment.

Step 1 Response - Mistrust is there for a reason.

2 - There is no gun show loophole. What the hell is an "assault weapon?" We stopped listening to you right there because we now know you are full of crap when you say you are for the 2nd Amendment. This is the problem with you "progressives." When it comes to guns, you are deceitful, untrustworthy, lying, patronizing, arrogant, ignorant, and insult our intelligence. You do not support the 2nd Amendment when you push for that crap. Your polls are wrong, because your issue stances lose when it counts.

3. This is more deceit. Gun Safety is taught by range officers and instructors, not dumbassed politicians.

4. That's a local issue.

5. There's nothing centrist about those issues.

6. This is the crap that AHSA and Gun grabber (Brady Donor) Ray Schoenke is shoving down our throats. John Kerry tried this in 04. We didn't buy what he's selling.

7. Your poll is crap, because elections repudiate it. The reason is that your candidates are not trustworthy.

[torchthemummy]

Maybe I missed it but the article means nothing if the polling they are using is not identified. Is it from one year? One polling outfit? Registered voters? Adults? Democrats vs. Republican percentages? Yada, yada.

[dbwz]

WTF is a "progressive"? Is that supposed to be some catchy new Orwellian term for gun-hating peon-fearing Democrats?

It's re-gressive. Regressive. Meaning going backwards, falling behind, clinging to old, tried-and-failed policies - all the things gun control is.

Don't let these SOB's bastardize another word.

[Nuc1]

Gun owners believe that progressives are anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment, and do not respect the values of gun owners;

Sorry Gun Owners and other Liberty loving Americans think you are communists and wannabe tyrants. Additionally, Gun Owners and other Liberty loving Americans believe and support our constitution, not strategies to deceive developed from focus groups. In fact "Progressives" are not just anti second amendment they are anti constitution, anti freedom and anti-American. And the American people are figuring you guys out.

[Still Thinking]

I can fix that problem in only THREE steps!

Fix that problem!

1. Buy a gun.

2. Shoot the gun.

3. Write a letter of resignation to the Dummy-crap party.

There...much more efficient than seven steps!