Is Gun Control a Leftist or Rightist issue?

[DireStrike]

Is it?

"X politician said so, or did so" is not a good argument to prove your point.

I suspect we need to define "gun control", "leftist" and "rightist" in order to have a coherent discussion.

What rights are we protecting exactly? What line is being crossed, that we need to step in, and what exactly does "gun control" entail?

I am not picking fights here. We need to communicate.

[Peak_Oil]

1. This is an issue meant to divide the masses. Don't bite.

As long as we argue religion (rural vs urban), guns (urban vs rural), civil rights (white vs black vs hispanic), g/l/b/t (urban vs rural), we will lose sight of the biggest division of all.

Capital (2%) vs Labor (98%).

It's Capital vs Labor, it's always been. The vast majority of us get our income from a job or maybe a small business we own. It's the very small minority who make $200K and up (2%) or have a net worth north of 2-3 million (don't know the % anymore).

It's divisive. Throw a bone to the rural working class, and give them their guns. Let it be a local government decision.

[InvisibleBallots]

6. I agree with you

there is no need for gun control in rural areas - leave it up to the states and local governments.

The issue is Labor vs. Capital, always has been.

[vpigrad]

2. It's a safety issue!

It cuts across all divisions of society. After all, not getting killed by one of those things is something important to every single person.

[sangh0]

3. It's a liberal issue

Liberals believe that govt has a role in protecting it's citizens. Conservatives believe in a govt that has no right to interfere in their private lives until AFTER they kill someone.

[DireStrike]

4. Then, it's weighing two government obligations

The right of protection is in conflict with the right of weapon ownership. Liberals want to protect both, right? We have to find a balance.

Unless you want to stick with a certain interpretation of the second amendment.

[sangh0]

5. I dont think so

I dont see how liberalism requires us to defend an individual's right to own a gun for purposes of self-defense. The Constitution doesn't support that right, and neither does liberalism, IMO.

Unless you want to stick with a certain interpretation of the second amendment.

It's not so much what *I* want to stick with as it has to do with what *liberalism* has already chosen to stick by, and the idea that the 2nd Amend was designed for self-defense of an individual is a distinctly conservative argument, IMO.

Which is not to say there aren't any liberals making that argument. Some liberals *do* make that argument. My point is that *liberalism* does not.

Remember, the question isn't do I, a liberal, support gun control. It's "Is gun control a liberal issue?" (or something like that)

[DireStrike]

11. Alright... what makes that interpretation of 2nd amend. a liberal one?

You say liberalism(which consists of liberals in general) has already chosen to stick by it. I can see that, it's an easy and well supported argument.

And actually... as I'm thinking on the second part of your claim, that it's inherently liberal, I find myself agreeing. The whole "big government" thing... that's ours. And, of course, the pseudo-conservatives across the aisle.

That was quick.

[sangh0]

14. In addition

conservatives tend to believe in an unchanging moral order, (sometimes referred to as Natural Law theory) and don't like the idea that rights can be limited because the exercise of those rights are now infringing on others rights due to changes in society and our culture. To them, implementing restrictions as a result of cultural change sounds too much like moral relativism. To them, Americans could own guns without ANY govt intervention or regulation in the old days, and there's no reason to deviate from that "original intention".

In addition, the conservative emphasis on self-reliance (see also their opposition to welfare) as opposed to interdependence, makes them reluctant to hand their personal safety over to the govt because it would make them "dependent" and weaken them.

[LSdemocrat]

7. It's a urban/developed suburban issue

People in cities and established suburbs, regardless of political affiliation tend to support gun control. People in newer suburbs, or exurbs, and rural areas tend to oppose it.

[T Town Jake]

8. "Gun Control" is an attempt to abrogate...

...a clear-cut constitutional right. It's not a "Leftist" or "Rightist" issue - it's a freedom issue.

[sangh0]

9. "clear-cut"

LOL

[sandnsea]

10. "gun control" is a right wing frame

And when Democrats use the term, we help obscure the debate. That part of Lakoff I agree with.

Anything short of total free market gun sales is gun control. Nobody thinks we should have a complete free market on guns, so everybody supports gun control.

We need to start talking about gun crime again. That used to be the issue until it got diverted by the gun lobby.

[DireStrike]

13. "Gun Crime". That tastes good.

I haven't heard it used very often.

[Selatius]

12. Gun control is apolitical

If anything, it's a common sense type issue. No one party has a monopoly on this issue. It's politicizing an issue that doesn't need to be politicized that is incredibly stupid. If there is any side in this debate that isn't being heard, it's the people themselves, not the politicians.