Reply #404: Here's what I don't understand... [View All]

[MrBenchley]

Your average politically active gun owner" is basically willing to screw over the entire rest of the country and happily accept war, a wrecked economy, open corruption, open bigotry, environmental disaster and the dismantling of the Bill of Rights, all for the sake of their popgun fetish. (And as Democrats, we are asked to acept that the average politically active Democratic gun owner is aware of all those negatives and STILL disregards it for the sake of his fetish.) Why shouldn't such specimens be marginalized? And what on earth makes such a person in any way a "potentially Democratic voter"? I would define a person who rejects EVERY aspect of the Democratic platform including the party platform on gun control as "not a Democrat." And I see no reason to pretend that anybody who thought the key issue in this last election was whether John Kerry was going to take away his popgun is likely to ever vote Democratic.

Furhtermore, if one looks at the candidates "Your average politically active gun owner"enthusiastically endorses, we find that they are not only Republican, but overwhelmingly the Shi'ite wing of the Republican party--the same people who are currently howling for theocracy, gay-bashing, and a host of other repellent issues. If we look at the public spokespersons for "Your average politically active gun owner" we find a virulent mix of racism and far right wing extremism that evidently bothers "Your average politically active gun owner" not even a tiny bit.

Black and Jewish voters support gun control even more enthusiastically than white voters. Why should we go out of our way to alienate the millions of voters who do support gun control (and a whole range of other Democratic issues) for such a selfish lot?

Most of the population in this country is urban (79% lives in ruban areas), and urban voters support gun control. Why should we jettison support from urban voters for a handful of gun-besotted yokels, especially since we have a chance to capture pro-gun control moderate Republican voters in urban areas by increasing our efforts?

"What would you think if the someone started talking about "common sense" or "reasonable" restrictions on a womans right to choose?"
I'd think it was the sort of person who also spouts rhetoric about "gun grabbers", and it seems, for good reason. Take a look at the yobbos who make up Congress' Second Amendment Caucus.

"the leaders of this party NEED to know WTF they are talking about where guns are concerned."
That IS funny. Think of the pro-gun politicans, and you will be talking about some of the most pig-ignorant buffoons on the planet. And talk about guns with a gun yobbo, and you'll swiftly find them making wildly inaccurate and dishonest claims--for example that the Assault Weapons Ban covered only bayonet lugs, or that it banned pump shotguns.

"Its been said that many people voted against their interests in this last election. This is true, but I don't think that the depth of it is truly understood. Gun owners (in my experience) would vote to lose their houses, cars, left nuts, before voting against guns. They feel as though their backs are against the wall, and that they have no alternative."
Gee, wonder why anyone would think someone like that is a paranoid loony? (snicker) It's hilarious to hear that a bunch of flabby middle class white guys with guns (such as make up your "average politically active gun owners") feel "their backs are against the wall."

"I don't think that the depth of it is truly understood."
On the contrary, I think you've put your finger on the reason why "labels like extremist, rambo, paranoid, loonie, or starts inferring that a gun is a penis extension" fits these irrational, dishonest folks to a "T"....
Furthermore, I've yet to see ANY evidence that this desperate left-nutless gang of extremists makes up the bulk of gun owners, or represents anything more than the same little clot who are virulently anti-gay, anti-reproductive choice, anti-environment, anti-civil rights, anti-public schools right wing nuts. Nor do I see any good reason to abandon trying to appeal to traditional Democratic supporters and reasonable moderate voters to try to woo irrational people who are willing to endanger public safety for the sake of a hobby.