Many of the comments are worse than the column, viz:
I don’t understand how the country I think I live in is so different than the country my fellow citizens who believe in unlimited gun rights live in. Despite living in NYC, a place that many not living here think is some sort of place boiling over with crime, I do not live in constant fear. I have never once thought that I’d be safer if I had a gun.
I don’t understand why anyone would want to live in a place where they are in such constant fear that they think they need to be armed.
I don’t understand why people who believe that unfettered access to any kind of firearm will make for a better, safer country don’t ask themselves why crime rates are so much lower in countries without guns.
I don’t understand why so many armed people think that in a circumstance in which they are being threatened by someone else with or without a gun would be one where they would have time to react, draw their weapon, aim accurately and shoot their assailant and not put innocent bystanders at risk.
I don’t understand why so many of my fellow Americans have a fear that President Obama is part of a of cabal that has some sort of sinister plans for the country.
I don’t understand why so many people in this country appear to be living lives centered on fear.
I don’t believe that “an armed society is a polite society”, I believe it is a sick society.
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People who are fearful and paranoid are the exact people I do not want to have firearms. I want potential gun owners to be asked, “Why do you want a gun.?” If the answer is, “To protect my family,” the next question should be, “From whom?” “Why do you think you need an assault weapon?” Please provide five specific reasons.
If the person cannot provide sane, reasoned, rational answers they cannot get a gun. If not, they will receive a piece of paper telling them where to enlist in the military or how to become a police officer, These are the people who have legitimate reason to carry lethal weapons.
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Some ago I read “The Turner Diaries,” Timothy McVeigh’s blueprint for Oklahoma City and what he hoped would follow. It was horrifying. Mr. Blow’s subjects seem like they’ve been reading it too. These so-called “patriots” are potential murderers, fully prepared in their own imaginations to destroy the United States for the sake of their own fantasies. Their numbers are small and their ignorance of what is best in American history is complete, but that does not mean they are not able to cause huge damage.
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Here in Texas we are all too familiar with the kind of paranoid, delusional rhetoric that Mr. Blow describes. After all, this is the state that elected a governor who kinda-sorta supports secession as well as the single most ignorant member of congress - Louie “Terror Babies” Gohmert.
Regrettably, however, they should not be laughed at. They are sick, dangerous and violent people. What they are engaging in is rank intimidation. They are openly threatening the lives of public officials, representative government and our free institutions. They are not patriots bravely protecting their sacred freedoms from tyranny. They are a bevy of fascists, Theocrats and home-grown terrorists.
The first amendment does not entitle one to incite riots and publicly advocate violent insurrection and the killing of public officials. Congress should investigate the unAmerican activities of groups like Gun Owners of America and the American Family Association. Men like Bryan Fisher and Larry Pratt are a real and present threat to our American way of life. They should be prosecuted for the violence they are inciting.
From the comments: “People who are fearful and paranoid are the exact people I do not want to have firearms. I want potential gun owners to be asked, “Why do you want a gun.?” If the answer is, “To protect my family,” the next question should be, “From whom?” “Why do you think you need an assault weapon?” Please provide five specific reasons.
If the person cannot provide sane, reasoned, rational answers they cannot get a gun. If not, they will receive a piece of paper telling them where to enlist in the military or how to become a police officer, These are the people who have legitimate reason to carry lethal weapons.”
OMG...the ignorance is astounding. Who gets to ‘interpret’ the answers? If the person can’t articulate acceptable answers they are directed to join the military or law enforcement?
Really? This is exactly why we dare not let the libtards win.