Gun owners: It's time for us to stand up against the Second Amendment death culture

[Social Media]

 

As a resident of Florida, I have carried a concealed firearm almost everywhere for years, everywhere, except where it's specifically prohibited by law or by the policies of a specific business.

Hanging in my office is a 100% American-made Gadsden flag. For quite a while I voted exclusively for Republicans, including twice for former Donald Trump, and once for Ron DeSantis, in 2018. I was formerly a lifetime member of the NRA — until I renounced my membership. I used to own an AR-15.

And I'm here to tell you that Second Amendment mythologies and revisionist history continue to result in needless firearm-related deaths, suffering and trauma. If law-abiding gun owners do not start publicly speaking up, we cannot expect to find solutions to our nation's unacceptable levels of gun-related violence.

I understand and appreciate why gun owners — the large majority of whom are law-abiding — are reluctant to risk the slings and arrows of the Republican Party, the conservative media, right-wing pundits and conspiracy theorists and pundits, and perhaps even their friends and family.

 

I ask gun owners this, respectfully: Which is more uncomfortable — the pain of potential ostracization, or the pain of a nonstop loop of stochastic and targeted terrorism, aided and abetted by an endless supply of handguns and rifles, the latter often equipped these days with 30 bone-shattering rounds per magazine? If you're a parent with school-age children, the fear of a Columbine, Parkland or Uvalde-type event is impossible to fully suppress.

Last week in Jacksonville, Florida's most-populous city, we saw a ghastly mass shooting perpetrated by a delusional neo-Nazi yearning for the resurrection of the mythical Aryan super-race; in addition to taking his own life, he made his contribution to the ever-growing tabulation of gun-death statistics gun-dead, murdering Anolt Joseph "A.J." Laguerre, 19; Jerrald Gallion, 29; and Angela Michelle Carr, 52.

Such a violent death — from machines with the sole purpose of killing so swiftly that their victims are rarely allowed time for the dignity of final breaths — is uniquely American. A victim of any age is of course traumatic for their bereaved, grieving families, but the death of a teenager qualifies as yet another Molochian offering. Jacksonville's mayor, Donna Deegan, took office in July; it took less than two months for her administration to be christened with the blood of gunned-down innocents. Responding to a mass shooting is a rite of passage for every elected executive of virtually every jurisdiction in America. Deegan now joins the club of elected officials whose membership increases daily.

 

FULL STORY

[Tug]

Elections matter vote!STOP THE CARNAGE!vote!

[2baht]

Damnit, Bobby Joe, wherrrre's ma gun?

[Olav Seglem]

Im norwegian so not my business, but dont understand:

Constitution made 1778-wild indians, dangerous animals, no police and just after fought war for independence, so can understand people liked weapons (firing one shot at the time only available)

But today----- really ??? :-)

you have police, dangerous animals in zoos and you have  the Marines :-)

Weapons for hunting and sports ok-but personal protection ???

This really say you dont trust your own police and strangely it seems like people arguing the most for stong police also say people must have own arms. Normal thinking should be opposite ..

 

[Tug]

22 minutes ago, Olav Seglem said:

Im norwegian so not my business, but dont understand:

Constitution made 1778-wild indians, dangerous animals, no police and just after fought war for independence, so can understand people liked weapons (firing one shot at the time only available)

But today----- really ??? ????

you have police, dangerous animals in zoos and you have  the Marines ????

Weapons for hunting and sports ok-but personal protection ???

This really say you dont trust your own police and strangely it seems like people arguing the most for stong police also say people must have own arms. Normal thinking should be opposite ..

 

You are quite correct and thank you for your concern the problem is in my opinion amoral politicians create a big  problem were there isent any the majority of Americans want stricter gun control but the republican politicians are worried they can’t get re elected if they support it to me the answer is to elect politicians who will support it and it’s trending in that direction thankfully 

[pgrahmm]

I  carry when there....

I no longer hunt or have horses  but we do RV / dry camp boondocking style at times in primitive areas....

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, Olav Seglem said:

Im norwegian so not my business, but dont understand:

Constitution made 1778-wild indians, dangerous animals, no police and just after fought war for independence, so can understand people liked weapons (firing one shot at the time only available)

But today----- really ??? ????

you have police, dangerous animals in zoos and you have  the Marines ????

Weapons for hunting and sports ok-but personal protection ???

This really say you dont trust your own police and strangely it seems like people arguing the most for stong police also say people must have own arms. Normal thinking should be opposite ..

 

A well armed populace is the best defense against a totalitarian government.

 

When the founding fathers created the constitution, IMO they desired to prevent the rise of "kings" in the US, and took measures to ensure it would not happen.

 

Given what I've been seeing happen in the US the last 6 or so years I wouldn't be giving up my guns, for sure.

[impulse]

18 hours ago, Olav Seglem said:

This really say you dont trust your own police and strangely it seems like people arguing the most for stong police also say people must have own arms. Normal thinking should be opposite

If I called the police on a murder in my neighborhood, they'd descend on the location in droves.  In about 15-20 minutes. 

 

I trust our police.  I actually like our town's police.  But they're generally nowhere near us.   They can't be.  There's not enough of them.

 

What I don't trust is that the people who commit crimes will be punished when they're caught, or isolated from polite society when they're caught again and again.  And I also don't trust the statistics about how many crimes (including murder) are stopped by a good guy with a gun.  Partly because the crime that didn't happen rarely makes the news, and partly because there's an agenda on the left to take away our ability to protect ourselves.

 

Edit:  And the politicians who want to take guns away always seem to have their own private, well armed security. 

 

[2baht]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

A well armed populace is the best defense against a totalitarian government.

 

What utter rubbish, look at the senseless carnage in the USA, never got over the cowboy mentality! Americans killing Americans! ????Poorly educated!

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, 2baht said:

What utter rubbish, look at the senseless carnage in the USA, never got over the cowboy mentality! Americans killing Americans! ????Poorly educated!

That has nothing to do with the statement you quoted. Your reply has nothing to do with preventing a totalitarian government.

[2baht]

8 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

That has nothing to do with the statement you quoted. Your reply has nothing to do with preventing a totalitarian government.

That can only happen if the tyrant Trump is re elected! Damnit Chip, wherrrre's ma gurn! Capital Hill insurgency? He makes you look sooo silly! 

[impulse]

US workers probably owe their 40 hour workweek, paid holidays, and collective bargaining rights to the 2nd Amendment.  Had workers not been armed when management (and gub'ment) sent in the goons to break them up, the strikes would have been over toot sweet.

 

https://www.history.com/news/strikes-labor-movement

 

To anyone who claims that an armed populace can't defeat the military, you're right.  Nor does anyone want to.  We just want them to think twice about the consequences before slapping on the cuffs and dragging the workers out.

[ozimoron]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

A well armed populace is the best defense against a totalitarian government.

 

When the founding fathers created the constitution, IMO they desired to prevent the rise of "kings" in the US, and took measures to ensure it would not happen.

 

Given what I've been seeing happen in the US the last 6 or so years I wouldn't be giving up my guns, for sure.

Shame about everyone who gets killed while the insurrectionists wait for the government to become totalitarian.

[2baht]

5 minutes ago, impulse said:

US workers probably owe their 40 hour workweek, paid holidays, and collective bargaining rights to the 2nd Amendment.  Had workers not been armed when management (and gub'ment) sent in the goons to break them up, the strikes would have been over toot sweet.

 

https://www.history.com/news/strikes-labor-movement

 

To anyone who claims that an armed populace can't defeat the military, you're right.  Nor does anyone want to.  We just want them to think twice about the consequences before slapping on the cuffs and dragging the workers out.

So, America, the enemy is........................................Americans! Wow! How about that! ????

[impulse]

6 minutes ago, 2baht said:

So, America, the enemy is........................................Americans! Wow! How about that! ????

Is it so hard to believe that, in a country that's probably more diverse than all of Europe combined, there are some factions that want us to give up our cars, open up our extra rooms to homeless strangers, and eat bugs?  And other factions that are not going to let that happen... 

 

May as well say, "So, Europe, the enemy is..... Europeans".

 

[2baht]

Just now, impulse said:

Is it so hard to believe that, in a country that's probably more diverse than all of Europe combined, there are some factions that want us to give up our cars, open up our extra rooms to homeless strangers, and eat bugs?  And other factions that are not going to let that happen...

 

....and then there's the Proud Boys! OH, come on America, WAKE UP!

[novacova]

31 minutes ago, 2baht said:

What utter rubbish, look at the senseless carnage in the USA, never got over the cowboy mentality! Americans killing Americans! ????Poorly educated!

What utter trash, look at the senseless lack of understanding of the US constitution, never got over the prejudice mentality! Criminals killing criminals! Poorly educated! 

[2baht]

Just now, novacova said:

What utter trash, look at the senseless lack of understanding of the US constitution, never got over the prejudice mentality! Criminals killing criminals! Poorly educated! 

Idiots killing innocent school kids?

Home of the Brave;

Land of the Free!

Damnit Peggy Sue, wherrre's ma gurn!

[2baht]

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

What utter trash, look at the senseless lack of understanding of the US constitution, never got over the prejudice mentality! Criminals killing criminals! Poorly educated! 

You really sum it up! 

[novacova]

In the US, I always pack my sidearm. And hiking in the mountains I pack a 44 mag. Anyway, this thread is thick with ignorance.

[2baht]

2 minutes ago, novacova said:

In the US, I always pack my sidearm. And hiking in the mountains I pack a 44 mag. Anyway, this thread is thick with ignorance.

Hand guns are'nt for killing rabbits! If you are not prepared to carry out it's intended use, you are kidding yourself! Damnit, Johnny Ray, wherrre's ma gurn!

[Trippy]

22 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Idiots killing innocent school kids?

Home of the Brave;

Land of the Free!

Damnit Peggy Sue, wherrre's ma gurn!

Just curious, have you ever been to the US? Pretty obvious you're a Brit.

[2baht]

2 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Just curious, have you ever been to the US? Pretty obvious you're a Brit.

No and no! Pretty obvious you are wrong! 

[stoner]

2 minutes ago, 2baht said:

No and no! Pretty obvious you are wrong! 

good night jon boy....good night mary sue...good night billy bob. 

[2baht]

Just now, stoner said:

good night jon boy....good night mary sue...good night billy bob. 

Well hello Mary Lou!

[novacova]

7 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Hand guns are'nt for killing rabbits! If you are not prepared to carry out it's intended use, you are kidding yourself! Damnit, Johnny Ray, wherrre's ma gurn!

Good grief, some have no clue of what it is they’re talking about. .44 magnum isn’t for rabbits, it’s for bears and mountain lions, you know…the critters with big teeth and claws. A gun is a security device. I had a liberal minded friend who refused to carry a sidearm and it got him killed by a grizzly bear. So please go for a walk in the northern mountains of Montana Idaho Washington or Wyoming for a week without a firearm and report back when you’re done. Again, the thread is full of such reactionary emotional rhetorical hyperbole most likely from the mental onslaught programming by the hysterics of the media. 

[stoner]

Just now, novacova said:

the thread is full of such reactionary emotional rhetorical hyperbole most likely from the mental onslaught programming by the hysterics of the media.

did you come up with all of this on your very own ? 

 

 

[2baht]

Just now, novacova said:

A gun is a security device.

Tell that to the victims of the 470 mass shootings, SO FAR, this year in the USA! How secure were they???

[Walker88]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

A well armed populace is the best defense against a totalitarian government.

 

When the founding fathers created the constitution, IMO they desired to prevent the rise of "kings" in the US, and took measures to ensure it would not happen.

 

Given what I've been seeing happen in the US the last 6 or so years I wouldn't be giving up my guns, for sure.

To some extent I know what you mean...all those fascist trumpers who want to overthrow the democracy and suspend the Constitution to which I took an oath. All those racists and Neo Nazis gunning down Blacks, Jews and Hispanics. The list of crazy, violent and/or gun-toting trumpers goes on and on.

 

Michael Estes, Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright, Patrick Stein, Adam Purinton, Jeremy Christian, Wade Page, Edgar Welch, Sam Woodward, James Fields, Dylann Roof, Robert Bowers, Ian David Long, Cesar Sayoc, Gregory Bush, Stephen Paddock, Christopher Hansson, Joseph Biggs, Patrick Crusius, Enrique Tarrio, Stewart Rhodes, Ryan Palmer, etc.

 

By the way, you do know the Federal Govt has weapons that can take on these small (nickname for Richard) trumpers with AR-15s. Sadly, nobody can get to the cultists fast enough to prevent innocent deaths.

 

 

[ozimoron]

15 minutes ago, novacova said:

Good grief, some have no clue of what it is they’re talking about. .44 magnum isn’t for rabbits, it’s for bears and mountain lions, you know…the critters with big teeth and claws. A gun is a security device. I had a liberal minded friend who refused to carry a sidearm and it got him killed by a grizzly bear. So please go for a walk in the northern mountains of Montana Idaho Washington or Wyoming for a week without a firearm and report back when you’re done. Again, the thread is full of such reactionary emotional rhetorical hyperbole most likely from the mental onslaught programming by the hysterics of the media. 

I had a conservative friend who had a gun and his kid was playing with it and accidentally shot him. Another conservative person I heard about had a son who stole his gun and took it to a school where he killed many kids.