Revisiting VA Tech, the recent gang wars in Chicago, every bad thing about "gun" violence (never 'people violence' using guns, but as if the tool was the criminal actor), the National Park carry controversy, and other issues.
I am expecting a massacre somewhere, just because those seem to happen while some rights-robbing proposal is in the hopper (but, really, tinfoil aside, when isn't there a Bill in the bin, so to speak).
The whole blur between full auto/select-fire weapons and the semi-auto look-alikes continues and is ever reinforced by referring to a mini-14 in the hands of a farmer by the same terms used to define an AK-47 in the hands of a terrorist from Hamas: "assault weapon".
While current owners who aren't Fudds have been able to hold the line, the generation raised in schools where even the plastic rifle from the GI-Joe set can get a kid expelled over some no-tolerance crap is coming of age. Never before in the history of our nation has a generation been so systematically and thoroughly bombarded with hoplophobic nonsense, and I fear it will affect their vote at a tender age where many have yet to grow out of their aodlescent liberalness.
Experience is a fine teacher, but until they become acquainted with it, many are vulnerable to the liberal babble spurting from MTV and other venues.
What can we do as individuals? Take a young man or young lady of good character to the range, teach them to shoot. Get them to realize that weapons are empowering in a good way, and not inherently evil talismans of certain and rampant destruction. Win those votes one at a time by letting them know who would ban the very device they are having fun with.
I try to do that each year with the young men at church. I teach them safe handling skills and give them a chance to fire the Ruger MKII .22LR, S&W 686+ with 38SPL, Magnum Research BFR (45-70) with 10" barrel and the Ruger Super Redhawk with 454 Casull. I may bring a 1911 this year and/or the S&W 500 Magnum revolver. Suffice to say they have a good time and leave more aware of safe handling. I bring paper targets that they can take home as well. It was a bit expensive last time I took the kids out. It will be much more so this year. It's a good investment to teach safety and familiarization.