Why Gun Culture Is So Strong in Rural America

New York Times ^ | March 16, 2018 | ROBERT LEONARD

[reaganaut1]

KNOXVILLE, Iowa — As Democrats have fled rural America — or rural America has fled Democrats — many of them, living in cities, are left without an understanding of rural culture and its core values. If it isn’t on abortion, our deepest cultural divide might be on guns. The guns issue also has a profound political dimension, reliably driving rural Americans into Republican arms.

It’s been many years since I hunted squirrels and rabbits with my Grandpa Leonard. I grew up around guns and remember the pride I had when I completed my N.R.A.-sponsored gun safety training in Boy Scouts, back when the N.R.A. was a group primarily known for teaching gun appreciation and safety rather than lobbying.

I have come to understand and appreciate arguments for more gun control. But guns are important to the culture in my conservative community in Iowa, and people around here reject most gun control legislation. So I do my best to understand where they are coming from.

One morning after the mass shootings in Parkland, Fla., I spoke about them with a police-officer friend. He has led active-shooter trainings in our schools. He believes that better background checks might help prevent some gun violence, and that people need to do a better job securing their firearms (especially from suicidal teenagers).

But he doesn’t believe that significant gun control measures will ever meet approval in rural America, including a ban on AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles. He confided that many conservative police officers do not want more gun control and that other officers have told him that should they ever have to start taking guns away from people, they will quit their jobs. Like most rural conservatives, he truly believes that taking guns away from law-abiding citizens will never solve America’s gun problems, including mass shootings.

[NorthMountain]

I have come to understand and appreciate arguments for more gun control.

He admits to having lost his mind.

[FLT-bird]

Never once mentioned how few people are killed by rifles......or that the primary reason for the second amendment I’d to act as a deterrent to oppressive government - no, not hunting nor to preserve “rural values”. Many of us actually respect the values the Founding Fathers stood for.

[BlueLancer]

We want guns, more horsepower, 5 different sizes of soft drinks at 7-11, a choice of jobs, the home that we like, etc.

My tagline says it all for me ...

[gnarledmaw]

Ill take multiple servings of either one.

[PROCON]

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[TADSLOS]

Shall not be infringed. That’s all that matters. All else is academic BS designed to parse an inaliable right out of existence.

[Elsie]

... should they ever have to start taking guns away from people, they will quit their jobs.

Not to worry; as others will do the job that Americans don't want to do.

[Elsie]

And then there is Utah...

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/20/news/mn-28924

Can you say Stepford Wives?

[Elsie]

She?

[Elsie]

Yes

[Elsie]

Revenooers...

[Elsie]

Santa Anna wanted a cannon back.

We said, “Come take it”

[Elsie]

Abortion that takes far more lives than guns do.

 

 

 17 dead students: HORRIBLE!!! We MUST do SOMETHING!!!

1,000,000 dead future American citizens every year: So? It's legal.

 

I would have LOVED to have to take my chances with being shot in school; instead of...

1,000,000 dead future American citizens every year: So? It's legal.

 

I would have LOVED to have to take my chances with being shot in school; instead of...

[Elsie]

 

 Proverbs 31:10-31      on steroids!!!

 

How to Identify the Perfect LDS Woman, as Identified by Focus Groups in Written Surveys and Oral Discussion

 

Cultural Artifacts

Children are active in the Church

Children's artwork/trophies

Drive minivan or suburban (or BMW=Big Mormon Wagon)

Food storage

Piano

Pictures of Christ

Pictures of married daughters

Pictures of temple

Proclamation on the Family

Wooden plaques with sayings like “Love Begins at Home,” “Return With Honor,” or “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Wreath on the front door that matches everyone else's because they made them in Relief Society

 

Family

Cares for home and family/has lots of kids

Children excel

Children have their jobs/chores done

Children don’t fight

Children get good grades

Confides in husband if she's sad or angry

Makes sure family reads scriptures

Drives kids around (soccer mom)

Family does everything together

Family eats dinner together

Good mother

Good wife

Helps kids with homework

Holds Family Home Evening

Home is clean but cluttered, smells like cookies or pie

Home is somewhere you want to be—feels safe, comfortable

Laundry done and folded

Lives close to extended family

 

Mother

Never yells at her children

Stay-at-home Mom

Super Mom

Throws perfect kids parties

Sings in the car

Supports husband

Well-mannered children

 

Homemaking Skills

Cans

Cleans/clean house

Cooks fabulous meals

Crochets

Cross-stitches

Decorates with homemade things

Gardens—grows lots of zucchini to share with neighbors

Knits things for humanitarian service

Makes bread

Makes breakfast/dinner

Makes cookies

Makes crafts

Makes homemade doilies

Makes jam

Quilts/ties quilts

Scrapbooks

Sews

Tole paints

Uses a tablecloth

 

Personality Traits

Bubbly

Cheerful

Compassionate

Confident

Considerate

Courageous

Creative

Dignified

Friendly

Genuine—you can tell that she really cares

Gracious

Happy

Kind

Leader

Optimistic

Organized

Patient

Proper

Reliable

Resourceful

Self-confident

Smart/educated

Trustworthy

 

Physical Characteristics

Doesn’t overeat

Dresses modestly

Exercises (e.g. speed walks around the neighborhood while pushing a stroller)

Good-looking/beautiful

Mormon mom haircut (from having 6 kids and not wanting any of them to pull it)

Well-groomed

Random Items

Attends book club

Doesn’t compete

Doesn’t swear

Explores her talents and takes her own lessons in between running her kids around

Good friend

Good neighbor

Manages money well

Never loses temper

No such thing

Plays musical instrument (esp. piano)

PTA president

Sings

Well-rounded

 

Spiritual Characteristics

Admits mistakes/doesn't have to be perfect

At peace with self

Balanced life

Charity

Christlike

Doesn't pretend to be perfect

Enduring/doesn’t complain

Forgiving

Good example

Has a testimony and shares it

Has faith

Has the heart of a child

Has a light/happy glow

Humble

Integrity

Knowledge of the gospel

Knows she is a child of God

Learns from mistakes

Loves the Lord

Loving

Makes you feel loved

Meek

Not judgmental/accepts others

Peacemaker

Sacrifices

Selfless

Spiritual

Tries to improve

Understands her role (equal with priesthood)

Virtuous/high values

Religiously Motivated Actions

Attends all church meetings

Attends temple

Does genealogy

Follows spiritual promptings

Keeps commandments/covenants

Lives her religion

Magnifies callings

Prays

Reads scriptures, and gets up early to do so

Serves others

Visiting teaching

Visits neighbors and takes them casseroles

 

[Kickass Conservative]

Rural America? When we lived in Long Island back in the late 50’s, my Brother took his .22 Rifle to School twice a week.

He was in the Gun Club and there was a Shooting Range in the Basement of the School. He walked to School with the Gun slung over his shoulder.

There wasn’t as much as a raised eyebrow along his route.

Then we moved to Suburban Southern CA. Not a Tractor in sight.

[reg45]

The Feminazis say that you cannot comment on abortion if you don’t have female genitalia. I will counter that you cannot comment on gun control if you have never fired a gun.

[reg45]

I don’t like AR-15’s. They are too small to take down grizzly bears.

[elcid1970]

Disliked the M-16 since I was in Vietnam. A “large plastic toothbrush” it was called. The Kalashnikov was far more robust, made of blue steel & wood. I wanted one for a souvenir but had to wait more than a decade for a legal version. The Israeli Golani is the best of both worlds IMO.

But in the current climate I’ll buy an AR-15 just to p.o. the gungrabbers. BTW, I qualified with the M-16A2 until I was 62 (old warrant officer here). They are not getting our guns!

[reg45]

So an AR-15 and a .460 Weatherby Magnum.

[qaz123]

Cops aren’t friends with guys like this, unless they are the politically appointed chief of police.

And, I’d love to meet his, cop friend, that attends county fairs where guys have AR15s slung over their shoulders, because it’s probably someplace I’d like to go.

His line about, Dem’s wanting gun control and Republicans wanting “control, period”, is utterly disgusting. Republicans, sane thinking people, in general, want people to have ‘self control’ and be held accountable for their actions. Not be coddled and given a light tap on the shoulders, while being told everything will be alright.