Photo of President Obama compensating for an inadequate package:

[bvar22]

...because the ONLY reason for owning and shooting a gun,
isn't it?

[EastKYLiberal]

1. He's the President. We know he's not going to kill any innocents with it. nt

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. Well duh!

That's what drones are for.

[Fla_Democrat]

14. Ouch

that's gonna leave a mark.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

21. I'm not trying to be a smart-ass but

when someone who has substantially more power than me is given a free pass to do something others would make me a criminal for doing I start to wonder when the worship of particular people replaced equality under the law as a progressive virtue. The President is the last person on this planet that personally needs a gun. Yet, here are some who say he's allowed to do for fun what these same voices would not allow others to do out of necessity. No mocking, no insults (nor should there be); that's reserved for the peasants that step out of line.

[Squinch]

54. Which proposed legislation, exactly, would make you a criminal for shooting a

gun like the one he is using?

Or are you one of those pearl clutchers who, against all evidence, insists on clinging to the notion that someone wants to ban guns?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

57. Ya know, that whole "pearl-clutching" meme is getting fairly exhausted.

It's gotten to the point where anyone using it can pretty much be dismissed out-of-hand as hiding behind cheap caricatures to compensate for a lack of discourse.

I also find it tiresome that the "noody is going to take away your guns" meme is usually made to imply that any skepticism towards gun control regimes should remain muted thus allowing the anti-RKBA faction to have its way without opposition. I have never seen someone who claims to not be seeking a ban actually argue with those who do call for a ban.

I'll make you a deal: since so many on DU want to see an absolute ban on guns -- handguns, long guns, magazine fed, more than 6 rounds, sport, hunting, etc. -- then I will leave it to you to defend your position from them. Why am I a threat to your position but they are not?

For extra credit feel free to tell me what aspects of the right to self-defense you do support.

[Squinch]

64. "Nobody is going to take away your guns" is not a meme. It's a fact. It isn't meant to imply

anything. Because, dear, nobody is going to take away your guns.

There are no "gun control regimes." There are people who support gun control. I don't think we are in any danger of the gun control supporters "having their way without opposition." You can rest easy that Uncle Wayne will see to that.

For extra credit, I will point out that you forgot to mention any proposed legislation that would outlaw the gun that the President was using. Though you did provide a very long, and very defensive answer with lots of asides that steered away from the question. That's a lot of discussion for someone who is dismissing me out of hand.

Now clutch away. Exhausting though you may find it.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

66. I don't have an uncle; Wayne or otherwise.

I can speak for myself. I will speak for myself. I'm not your dear; so keep your condenscending sexist tripe to yourself.

For extra credit, I will point out that you forgot to mention any proposed legislation that would outlaw the gun that the President was using.

My rights are not about only using what a president does or does not use. My rights are my rights. I want to own a magazine fed long gun then that is OK. I presume you're OK with that too because, like you said, it would be, against all evidence, insists on clinging to the notion that someone wants to ban guns"

[Squinch]

68. And still, dear, you haven't answered the question. nt.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

70. Why answer it?

You said no one is going to ban guns so what's to argue about? You've convinced me that you obviously affirm the right of people to own semi-automatic rifles with magazine that hold up to 30 rounds because that is what people want and you support their inherent right to do so whether for sport, hunting or defense.

But you're still a condescending, sexist ass. I'm not your dear. Since you insist on repeating the insult even after I made a point of it I can only assume you've mistaken the internet for bravado.

[Squinch]

73. So you concede that there is no proposed legislation

that would, as you stated in the beginning of this conversation, make you a criminal for doing what the President is doing in that photo.

I'm glad to hear that you realize there is no basis to the statement you made.

And by the way, "dear" is not a sexist term, especially coming from a woman.

"Condescending sexist ass" is pretty obnoxious though.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

75. Do you concede I never said legislation?

The post you reference is --

when someone who has substantially more power than me is given a free pass to do something others would make me a criminal for doing I start to wonder when the worship of particular people replaced equality under the law as a progressive virtue. The President is the last person on this planet that personally needs a gun. Yet, here are some who say he's allowed to do for fun what these same voices would not allow others to do out of necessity. No mocking, no insults (nor should there be); that's reserved for the peasants that step out of line.

There are plenty on DU that want to ban guns. Totally. Completely. I could rattle off a dozen or so user names without effort were it not for the TOU. They are the ones I was referring to, as was the OP.

OK, so you're not a condescending, sexist ass; you're just a condescending ass.

[Squinch]

79. You said that you would be made a criminal. For criminalization there has to be a law that has

been violated. There are no laws being proposed to do anything of the sort.

And as for your opinion of me, that's fine, dear.

Quibble on.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

81. No quibble. You're misrepresenting what I wrote.

when someone who has substantially more power than me is given a free pass to do something others would make me a criminal for doing I start to wonder when the worship of particular people replaced equality under the law as a progressive virtue. The President is the last person on this planet that personally needs a gun. Yet, here are some who say he's allowed to do for fun what these same voices would not allow others to do out of necessity. No mocking, no insults (nor should there be); that's reserved for the peasants that step out of line.

There are plenty of people who want to see gun ownership criminalized. The fact that they are not legislators is immaterial to my comment. You're making an issue of a point never raised in the OP or my posts. I address my comments to them and will continue to do so.

[Squinch]

83. "given a free pass to do something others would make me a criminal for doing." nt.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

92. Yes. That is what I wrote and that is what I meant. There are plenty who demand gun bans

[cthulu2016]

76. That's a preposterous goalpost move

[datasuspect]

20. D'OH!

[bigwillq]

62. BWAH!

[fadedrose]

10. I bet his package is okay

But he's doing this to be better aware of why gunlovers have such a strong position against gun control measures. It's research, if you ask me, to help him understand both sides of one of the most controversial issues of the past and new mileniums....

And with the very special assistance he's getting, he's also aware of the dangers of gun ownership when a person hasn't been properly trained to handle a killing machine. (like Cheney, maybe)

[Drahthaardogs]

24. Maybe he likes to shoot trap?

Maybe he hunted birds in Hawaii as a boy. Why do you assume he is doing this as some sort of experiment to see what "firing a gun feels like to get into the mind of gun people"?

Personally I would expect it to be more of a "gentlemen's" pastime thing, much like golf. I abhor that stupid game, but lots of business types love it, so I have to play a little. Lot's of dignitaries like to shoot trap and skeet. I would suspect most Presidents have at least a rudimentary understanding of shoot trap and skeet.

[fadedrose]

31. Because the last thing he needs is a "gentlemen's pastime"

at this point in his career. The gun thing is the biggest headache he has and he has to speak with knowledge and authority on the subject.

I never fired a gun and don't know the "thrill" of shooting at a target. I don't even want to...how could I be a spokesman for gun control when I don't understand why they love them so much...I'd probably do what Obama is doing - try it..

[Go Vols]

43. So you think he was lying

when he said he shoots skeet all the time at Camp David?

[fadedrose]

46. Partial lie

He's not interested in ruining skeets, he wants to familiarize himself with a subject he is not knowledgeable about. The man can't abide ignorance, his or anybody else's.

[Go Vols]

47. k

Asked whether he had ever fired a gun, Obama said he had gone skeet shooting with guests at Camp David, a country residence in rural Maryland where presidents traditionally host foreign leaders.

"Up at Camp David, we do skeet shooting all the time," Obama said.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

58. I hope he teaches his girls about responsible weapon handling.

[BVictor1]

63. I'm sure they've had the birds and the bees chat.

[bvar22]

37. THAT is your story? ... and you're sticking with it?

....A complete fabrication attempting to create a small exception where President Obama is NOT shooting for fun,
but doing sociological RESEARCH?
.
.
.
.
Oh MY.
I expected to see some creative rationalizations,
but you surpassed my wildest expectation.
You get some points, and have won my respect.
I value creativity, where ever I find it.
KUDOS!

[fadedrose]

45. It's hard to see a truth with all the routine explanations..

this is our first black president and nothing he does is what anybody'd expect. And he's smart, and would like to be even smarter - learning, always learning. He's always prepared.

Nothing wild about my theory. I'd be surprised if he didn't experiment to see just what all the love for these weapons is all about...

I bet he's even fired a semi with a big magazine that fires 50 at a time, just to see for himself the damage it does..(I don't know what a semi even looks like)

[bvar22]

13. Well, get together with your committee,

....and let us know the other exceptions to the "Killer" or "Small Penis Compensator" Gun Owner Postulates that were posted here last week.

[hughee99]

59. Exactly, that's what drones are for. n/t

[samsingh]

2. i'm sure he's okay with reasonable controls and doesn't need to carry it around all the time

[Recursion]

3. Excellent shooting posture

Admittedly he probably has some of the best marksmanship instructors in the world right now, but his firing position is great.

[bvar22]

7. Leftys ALWAYS look weird shooting a gun,

or throwing baseballs or footballs.
Whenever I glimpse that, it makes my brain hiccup..... Wait, WHAT?

[bluestate10]

60. I noticed the perfect form too. nt

[oldhippie]

82. Why does it appear that there is a screw in choke ....

.... only in the upper barrel? I could see that for trap, but not skeet.

[Recursion]

84. Maybe he's only sighting in?

That explains the muzzle elevation, too.

[oldhippie]

86. Or maybe just a staged photo-op ....

... not that I begrudge him one. Somewhere there's a picture of me leaning on a golf club.

[Recursion]

87. There was a picture of me sober in grad school, too

Not sure how, but that's the one that made it to Facebook...

[oldhippie]

88. Actually, I think he may be shooting trap ....

That would explain the one choke, the elevation and the stance. It just didn't look right for skeet. I wonder if he knows the difference?

[X_Digger]

96. I'd advise him to lean into it a bit, personally. n/t

[JaneyVee]

4. That one is rented.

[MotherPetrie]

5. Get back to us when he slings it across his chest and walks into a J.C. Penney's.

[CTyankee]

69. good one!

[Motown_Johnny]

8. Who says he owns that?

And nobody is saying anything about shotguns.


Distort much?

[bvar22]

22. Nobody?

I remember global condemnations of all gun owners and shooters,
and mass ridiculing of anyone who claimed they shoot for fun and sport.

I don't remember anyone excluding shotguns from the category of Penis Enhancers.
Do you?

[Buzz Clik]

9. Wow. Who saw this coming? (aka fail)

[bvar22]

19. Fail?... No.

The FAIL is all the hysterical posts from last week claiming the everyone who owns or shoots a gun is a killer, or compensating for a small penis.


A minority of us DID see this coming,
and cautioned DUers against Global condemnations of Gun Owners & Shooters.
Now I'm gloating and saying "Told Ya".

So, whats it to ya?

[JoeBlowToo]

28. No way! But there are certainly many full blown paranoid personalities...

among the NRA cheerleaders.

[bvar22]

34. YES there ARE "full blown paranoid personalities

... among the NRA cheerleaders. Nobody has denied that.

...but I really don't believe that President Obama fits into that category,
and neither do I,
and neither do the millions of other responsible Gun Owners,
or the millions who enjoy shooting for sport and pleasure.

I haven't observed many of these "full blown paranoid personalities" cheer leading the NRA on DU, so your response is a Red Herring.

I HAVE seen many posts condemning all gun owners,
and insisting that there is no reason to own guns except to kill
or compensate for a small penis.

[JoeBlowToo]

50. But the head of the NRA represents the full blown paranoids more than the other members who...

fully support such initiatives as background checks for every purchase--

Republican pollster Frank Lutz documents that gun owners support common sense gun legislation and believe that personal freedom and public safety can co-exist.

Luntz found that 87% of non-NRA gun owners, and 74% of NRA gun owners support requiring a criminal background check of anyone purchasing a gun. 80% of non-NRA gun owners and 71% of NRA gun owners support prohibiting people on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns.
Luntz Global, Gun Owners Poll, July 2012

The NRA’s executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, said in his four-page plea for cash that President Obama’s re-election would result in the “confiscation” of weapons and a possible ban on semi-automatic weapons. “The future of your Second Amendment rights will be at stake,” the letter said. “And nothing less than the future of our country and our freedom will be at stake.”
http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/gun-control-of-paranoia-and-bromides/

[bvar22]

95. My post was about President Obama,

and the proof that many perfectly sane, responsible Liberal Democrats
own guns,
and enjoy shooting them.

If you would like to start a post about the NRA,
be my guest.

[hrmjustin]

38. Yes there are and congrats on 100 posts.

[Leslie Valley]

11. You call that a gun?

Now this is a gun...

[hrmjustin]

40. I have to admit this picture disturbs me.

[postulater]

12. Why is there smoke coming out of the side of the barrel?

[Recursion]

17. It's a kind of compensator (ironically)

You need X foot-pounds to get the shot going at the appropriate energy, so the gas system bleeds off any pressure above X.

[postulater]

26. Thanks

[OldDem2012]

51. It also reduces recoil to a certain extent....less impact to the shoulder. nt.

[Iggo]

91. .

[Fla_Democrat]

18. My guess would be top

It's ported, to bleed off some of the gas and limit recoil.



But, that's just my guess, since I don't skeet shoot. I learned you can't eat clay.

[Drahthaardogs]

25. The barrel is ported

or "drilled" with a series of small holes to let some of the gas escape. It helps tame the recoil and is popular on skeet guns and on big heavy magnum rifles with tremendous recoil. For skeet shooters who might shoot a hundred rounds in an evening, it saves their cheek and shoulder. It makes the gun louder though.

[Recursion]

27. Right... a "compensator". God I love irony (nt)

[bvar22]

29. ...a built in "COMPENSATOR"!!!!!!

now THAT is funny,
I don't care WHO you are!

[MicaelS]

35. The gun barrel is "ported" to help reduce recoil.

Here's the website from the company that invented porting via EDM (Electro-Discharge Machining). Has pictures to help you understand it.

http://www.magnaport.com/sgun.html

[otohara]

15. Not Impressed

at least he's not shooting anything that breaths.

[treestar]

16. He need not have bothered

Let's face it, it will make no difference when it comes to the idiots who insist that he is going to take their guns away.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

23. Will it make any difference with the other who demand he take their guns away?

Serious quesiton.

[bvar22]

30. Make any real difference? NO.

...But it WILL force some to readjust their Global Condemnations of all Gun Owners,
AND,
as a responsible rural Liberal Democrat who owns guns and enjoys shooting,
THAT was the point.

[Drunken Irishman]

56. You're no better than they are...

Which is amusing because your hyperbolic attitude is just as ridiculous as those who say all guns should be banned and all gun owners are nuts.

The fact is, though, there are few people, especially here, who shares that view. Instead, in reality, the scorn is directed toward people who hoard guns - look at 'em with a pornographic like gaze and brag about how big their arsenal is.

That type of culture is often mocked because it is an extremist culture - people who seem to value their guns over everything else.

So, yeah, the condemnation of all gun owners is such an insignificant amount here that getting worked up, which you seem to have done, is just as laughable and pathetic as those few who take on such an attitude.

Get a grip with these ridiculous threads.

[bvar22]

108. Mega FAIL False Equivalency by Drunken Irishman.

My "hyperbolic attitude" happens to be mirrored and repeated by President Obama.

On Sunday, Jan 23, 2013, President Obama stated:

" "Part of being able to move this forward is understanding the reality of guns in urban areas are very different from the realities of guns in rural areas," Obama said.

"So it's trying to bridge those gaps that I think is going to be part of the biggest task over the next several months. And that means that advocates of gun control have to do a little more listening than they do sometimes," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/27/us-obama-guns-idUSBRE90Q0BA20130127

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022269308

Now THAT sounds very familiar.
I wonder where did we hear that before Obama said it?

Oh YES.
On Friday, Dec. 21st, 2012,
on a thread titled "Fuck the NRA and ALL gun owners",
some really smart dude
who was well ahead of the game
named bvar22 posted the exact same thing to Democratic Underground
more than a MONTH before President Obama restated bvar22's position.!!!

"I am one of the many, many responsible Liberal Democrats who owns guns,
and will continue to do so. We support Common Sense, effective regulation.
Some people should never have access to fire arms.
Gun Regulation would also need to take into account the vast difference between Urban Dwellers, and those of us who live Out Here. "

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2049560

"your hyperbolic attitude is just as ridiculous as those who say all guns should be banned"?
No. Not even close.

Hyperbolic?.....no, in fact, very realistic and down to earth.
Ridiculous?... President Obama doesn't think so.

but thanks for sharing!

[Drunken Irishman]

109. oooh! You showed me!

You know you just proved my point, right? The anti-gun attitude on DU is limited in the sense that most here aren't completely anti-gun and most don't embrace hateful rhetoric toward those who own a certain amount of guns. Your thread, the one you posted in, is exactly what I'm talking about when I say their view is the extreme minority. One person in that entire thread replied in support of the original post - you know, to fuck all gun owners. Every other reply was dismissing the OP as rubbish.

The bottom line? Yeah, you are ridiculous. You make a mocking reply that brings nothing to the debate by using ridiculous examples of a minority opinion on DU that is hardly shared by most here. You prop a straw man attack and then don't quite understand when it's so easily torn down.

Nothing in Obama's comments mirrored anything from this original post - there was no mocking in his words or using petty, sarcastic rhetoric to push a point that doesn't work. It doesn't work because this post only works if a majority of DU went around calling all gun owners small dick'd men. But you and I both know they don't.

[msongs]

32. oh I thought this was going to be about Obamacare nt

[ProSense]

33. No one cares

"oh I thought this was going to be about Obamacare"

...about the U.S. health care system unless it's to slam health care reform.

High Health Care Costs Bankrupt One In Four American Seniors
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022300279

[Nye Bevan]

36. Well I certainly hope for Michelle's sake that the DU conventional wisdom is false (nt)

[bvar22]

41. I thought about that,

... and Michele certainly doesn't seem like an unsatisfied woman.

So what other explanation can there be for a man holding an instrument designed only for KILLING?

Judging from his posture and body language, it certainly looks like President Obama has done this before, and is enjoying himself.
But that can't be,
because the prevailing opinion is that THAT is a realm populated ONLY by NRA psychos, killers, and inadequate males.

[PennsylvaniaMatt]

39. Jon Stewart had a funny take on this!

After showing some of the right-wingers complaining about how there is no picture of the President skeet shooting, he said "Why won't the black man half the country lives in fear of release a picture of himself holding a gun!?!?". "That'll really calm people down!"

[Autumn]

42. He seems to know what he's doing

and that's a good thing.

[SWTORFanatic]

44. No, gun nuts are the inadequately endowed. Shooting a gun or even owning a gun

does not mean you have a small package - thinking a gun is your most sacred right and possession is what does.

[bvar22]

61. I certainly agree with that, which is the point of the OP,

...but people advocating for, or even willing to recognize that possibility in the aftermath of Sandy Hook were FEW and FAR between on DU.

[CTyankee]

71. And the point of the picture is that shooting a gun in a controlled, safe environment

by a person legally able to have that gun, well trained, is NOT what gun safety advocates are complaining about. It's pretty obvious...geez, he's even protecting his ears...I don't think he'll be featured on a future installment of an "I just effin shot myself!" thread...

[bvar22]

97. Invoking Bvar's Postulate:

Bvar's Postulate:

The first person to use in a discussion thread is not really laughing,
but has, in effect, made a public admission that they are no longer able to cogently defend their position,
and are desperately clinging to the absurd notion that no one at DU will be clever enough to see through their pathetic attempt to Save Face.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1240173114


The very fact that responsible Liberal Democrats CAN and DO enjoy shooting guns, and CAN do so safely and responsibly as YOU have so deftly pointed out in YOUR post was not a concept that many at DU were/are willing to acknowledge.

THAT was the entire POINT of this OP.
Thanks for your strong support.
Did you remember to Recommend this OP?

[CTyankee]

98. Gee whiz, why are you so mad?

Here I am agreeing with you about something and you get all snippy about it. Take a deep breath and relax a little...you'll be happier...

And Obama really WON'T be featured in one of those little vids of people shooting themselves...it was the thought of that video that made me

Now you take care of yourself, buddy...

[bvar22]

105. I misread your post,

...but in my defense, your post IS vaguely worded and can be interpreted both ways.

I do not, and have never opposed gun safety and responsible ownership.

I DO resent the hysterical Torch & Pitchfork mob that swept through DU after Sandy Hook,
condemning and demonizing anyone who owns a gun for ANY reason,
or enjoys shooting one.

[CTyankee]

106. Actually, I expected more than what I saw.

To me, what we are seeing in that photo of Obama is how he is modeling good gun safety. In a funny sort of way, it was Norwegian style gun practice. I don't think a lot of gun control advocates would object to the kind of policy they have there, where you have a gun loving population who safely use their guns for hunting and sport shooting and impose much stricter gun control measures than we will ever have here. And they have one mass shooting, ONE, as compared to us. A bad thing is that one outlier is being used by NRA folks to tell us that gun control doesn't work! That's just nuts.

And now I see the sturm and drang from NRA about how ridiculous Obama's gun shooting photo is! This is what drives people like me crazy. He models everything RIGHT and is disparaged, put down, like it is some kind of insult to gun owners.

Some liberals don't like seeing Obama with a gun, however safely he uses it. I do not feel that way. I think he is doing a service by being a good example. I lost a family member to gun violence but what happened to her and what Obama was demonstrating were worlds apart.

[Spirochete]

48. Reverse psychology

The right-wingers will all get rid of their guns now, grouching "I want nothing in common with that Muslim, Communist nigger"

[RandiFan1290]

52. You can see them acting out in these threads

It really bothers them.

[B2G]

49. This photo was taken on his birthday

He played 6 hours of golf that morning/afternoon, then flew up to Camp David for a party.

He must really be an enthusiast.

[whatchamacallit]

53. Cool!

http://m.

&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAcEe0LbP2wY

[ZombieHorde]

55. This thread is great. nt

[Sissyk]

65. Let's see

Eye protection: Check
Ear protection: Check
Good form: Check

[CTyankee]

77. and the "port" which I have just learned will protect his cheek from getting

too severely impacted...

[Sissyk]

80. For the shoulder, mainly.

I have never had a problem with the cheek, but it can be sore on the ole shoulder after a few shots.

[CTyankee]

85. OK, thanks, yes add that to the list.

A good picture of safe sport shooting.

Norway, which has strict gun laws, is a nation of many sport shooting enthusiasts. It show that the two principles can indeed co-exist...

[Sissyk]

89. I agree!

And as a legal, law-abiding gun owner; I have zero problem with any of President Obama's EO's

[CTyankee]

94. So, have you had a chance to compare Norway's gun laws with our own?

do you have any problems with the gun loving population of Norway's having their gun laws?

[bowens43]

67. Yes that is correct

[whatchamacallit]

72. Too bad they couldn't work a bible into the picture

[geomon666]

74. Maybe that's what he was shooting at. n/t

[forestpath]

90. +1

[datasuspect]

78. at least he never let a pilot carry him in the back seat of a jet so he could land on an aircraft

carrier.

[randome]

93. What's THIS guy compensating for?

?73b8e21685896c3f2859310aaa5adb253919b641

[green for victory]

99. .

[IMG][/IMG]

[kentuck]

100. A left-handed shooter?

How rare is that?

[NNN0LHI]

101. About as rare as a left handed lead guitar player

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="

?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[slackmaster]

107. I'm right-handed and left eye dominant. I shoot long guns left-handed.

And handguns crossed over - Holding with the right hand and sighting with the left eye.

[liberal N proud]

102. The usual crowd is now claiming it is doctored.

[Agony]

103. Skeet shooting and home brewing?! what next?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/09/01/ale-chief-white-house-beer-recipe

"As far as we know the White House Honey Brown Ale is the first alcohol brewed or distilled on the White House grounds. "

[TheKentuckian]

104. Damn, I'd love to try that ale