General Discussion

needthetruth

(3 posts)

49. Let me shed some light on this....

Mon Jan 14, 2013, 01:29 PM

Jan 2013

This is my first post so please be nice I am a Republican. I am a gun owner.

I get so tired of seeing Democrats and Republicans do nothing but call each other names and talk about how their point of view is the only one.

As a Republican posting on a Democratic forum, I would like to try to explain why we gun owners are up in arms (pardon the pun). It's not that we feel the "government" is going to come knocking on our door tomorrow and we're going to have to "protect" ourselves. It's that we feel that if we allow even the slightest infringement on our 2nd amendment rights, then we will just be opening the door for further restrictions down the road. Governments don't fall in one fell swoop, it's something that happens slowly, over time. It's like the whole frog analogy: If you put a frog in boiling water it will try to jump out. If you put the frog in water and slowly turn up the heat, it will boil to death.

Putting your foot down now prevents anyone from getting their "foot in the door" for more restrictions down the road.

At least that is my point of view.

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To our friends who claim they need guns to protect them from the Government [View all] DainBramaged Jan 2013 OP

Once you shoot your first ATF- oder FBI-agent, you are gonna be an all-american hero. DetlefK Jan 2013 #1

Aim 'fer deh blue helmits. Dur hur hur. Dash87 Jan 2013 #20

I am yet to see that meme here or in real life. The closest I ever get is people concerned about ProgressiveProfessor Jan 2013 #2

I've seen it here. progressoid Jan 2013 #8

... n2doc Jan 2013 #3

Yup. Shadowflash Jan 2013 #31

Precisely Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #79

If they're so concerned about the government coming to get them, why not cut military funding a bit? ck4829 Jan 2013 #4

cut it * a bit* backwoodsbob Jan 2013 #6

It is also just a variation on Suicide by Cop. Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #5

There are some people in Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan SQUEE Jan 2013 #9

Apples and Oranges obviously. In those countries it was us against an entire country. A Simple Game Jan 2013 #14

my buddies.. giggle. SQUEE Jan 2013 #30

Yes, you are right. There are other things plethoro Jan 2013 #35

you and your buddies that dispise [sic] the left are in a very vocal minority.. frylock Jan 2013 #88

giggle..again SQUEE Jan 2013 #106

being that the military is a microcosm of society as a whole.. frylock Jan 2013 #119

The main problem with this theory is that in those campaigns the US Still cared about most UN and stevenleser Jan 2013 #132

wow, you really think SQUEE Jan 2013 #141

Thats the problem with your theory, its a catch 22. stevenleser Jan 2013 #143

on this we agree SQUEE Jan 2013 #152

They were not successful in opposing our military jeff47 Jan 2013 #15

wow SQUEE Jan 2013 #33

I don't know about Neocon formercia Jan 2013 #46

Today they're neocons. The same philosophy has existed for a long time under different names jeff47 Jan 2013 #110

Excellent!........nft plethoro Jan 2013 #19

What are you trying to say? nt Javaman Jan 2013 #26

So you think you could do that here?? DainBramaged Jan 2013 #40

Me? no plans at all to. SQUEE Jan 2013 #50

Did Uncle Wayne billh58 Jan 2013 #44

Nope, got it from Uncle Sam SQUEE Jan 2013 #48

Because they defeated our military and overthrew our government? Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #103

With the possible exception of Iraq, all of those were receiving material assistance from outside. Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #109

again I am not doing squat.. SQUEE Jan 2013 #153

Yeah, Iraq was a cakewalk (nt) Recursion Jan 2013 #11

The Iraqis had an army, and air force Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #101

Unless 51% of the troops agree with the insurrection. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #16

Well any military who defy orders in the heat of battle run the kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #27

You don't really know sarisataka Jan 2013 #47

Over restricting high capacity magazines and assault style weapons? Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #105

It's more of this question: "might there ever come a time.." NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #112

No, this conversation has context. Motown_Johnny Jan 2013 #123

I'll give you that, however I don't let freeper NRA turds speak for me. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #126

These idiots believe the military will join them. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #28

Still waiting for the government to come after me Franker65 Jan 2013 #7

Getting people to live in fear is $$$ SomeGuyInEagan Jan 2013 #24

Also, if people hate their government it lets business do as they wish.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #39

Big bidness is reducing government to the size they can hire their own thugs to do it. freshwest Jan 2013 #60

Their dream is to link business to government so talking back to your boss is Treason. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2013 #96

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #10

Petition in Meta... Turborama Jan 2013 #12

To be fair, what does that say of the original revolutionists? Were they wrong to revolt? NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #13

If you win, you are a revolutionary patriot jeff47 Jan 2013 #17

You can just drop that "willfully ignorant shit" right now, thank you. To continue... NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #21

So you asked the question knowing the answer was "no"? jeff47 Jan 2013 #107

People are free to, and may do, disagree. In fact, the 1% are doing just fine! NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #113

Ok, let's compare that to 1760 jeff47 Jan 2013 #127

Maybe for some, but worldwide, there is more slavery glowing Jan 2013 #23

Still a tiny fraction compared to 1760 jeff47 Jan 2013 #108

Slavery is coming back into vogue....it's just color-blind now. loudsue Jan 2013 #99

We have the ability to vote and select our own government. A Simple Game Jan 2013 #18

Oh, they were certainly traitors Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #80

The winners write the histories. Lizzie Poppet Jan 2013 #114

What I don't get is this. jimmil Jan 2013 #22

Thanks Jimmil - people like me make up the government ciao_bella Jan 2013 #37

WELCOME TO DU DainBramaged Jan 2013 #41

Thanks and welcome. I know that many good workers are unable to advocate publicly. freshwest Jan 2013 #56

I thought that the use billh58 Jan 2013 #51

Working for the state, a coworker once commented, "If the government knew ..." Kennah Jan 2013 #150

It's in Article III, section 3. If anyone is interested. MsPithy Jan 2013 #25

Their argument is that the government is not "legitimate" kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #29

Red staters lark Jan 2013 #36

Pretty much what the Founding fathers said ..... oldhippie Jan 2013 #90

People who hate the United States and don't want to be a part of it need to go live in another kestrel91316 Jan 2013 #92

I agree with that TalkingDog Jan 2013 #32

Besides AgingAmerican Jan 2013 #34

Not to mention the fact that the U.S. Military is well funded Bluzmann57 Jan 2013 #38

You have a very static view of social movements. former9thward Jan 2013 #42

Social movements may be dynamic creatures, but... Blanks Jan 2013 #77

Your points are true but assume some normalcy exists. former9thward Jan 2013 #85

I'm aware. Blanks Jan 2013 #89

A Friendly Edit cer7711 Jan 2013 #43

"need guns to protect them from the Government" RedstDem Jan 2013 #45

Let me shed some light on this.... needthetruth Jan 2013 #49

How many guns do you need? Why do you need assault-type weapons or automatics and massacre magazines DainBramaged Jan 2013 #54

Massacre mag? SQUEE Jan 2013 #61

Go polish your guns DainBramaged Jan 2013 #68

I have nothing shiny.. SQUEE Jan 2013 #104

Honest discourse? billh58 Jan 2013 #71

Some call them killer clips... ileus Jan 2013 #142

It's better to have and not need then to need and not have... needthetruth Jan 2013 #63

If you are concerned about Government control DainBramaged Jan 2013 #66

"We don't walk around carrying assault rifles"...LIKE HELL YOU DON'T! VOX Jan 2013 #75

MR. NRA Parrot is gone DainBramaged Jan 2013 #83

Please excuse the histronics RedstDem Jan 2013 #144

The problem with gun rights are the gun fetishists. haele Jan 2013 #64

Welcome to DU! That's the "slippery slope" argument. immoderate Jan 2013 #67

And you just parroted billh58 Jan 2013 #69

Reply for needthetruth ciao_bella Jan 2013 #72

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #74

Lets put it this way, pubbie RobertEarl Jan 2013 #76

Let me shed some light billh58 Jan 2013 #81

My Father in law is Republican sarisataka Jan 2013 #82

OK. Fair enough. ElboRuum Jan 2013 #145

You mean this government? Nuclear Unicorn Jan 2013 #52

Those kids were committing treason! Dr. Strange Jan 2013 #53

they had guns? uponit7771 Jan 2013 #55

Nope, SQUEE Jan 2013 #57

Maybe. Dr. Strange Jan 2013 #65

Sorry, but Jefferson thought a revolution may be necessary every 2 decades Blue Palasky Jan 2013 #58

That's "Gov'ment". cartach Jan 2013 #59

Or the rural variant, "gum'mint." VOX Jan 2013 #70

Shit! I thought it was guh'mint! Kennah Jan 2013 #151

Oddly, the government is engaging in treason against the American people and Democracy itself. Fire Walk With Me Jan 2013 #62

well said! n/t guardian Jan 2013 #73

All true, with a footnote: the American people, on the sugar tit of capitalism, have ENABLED every patrice Jan 2013 #87

Also, since we ALREADY live in a police state Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #78

Spoken like a true billh58 Jan 2013 #91

The difference between what you view Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #115

I have absolutely billh58 Jan 2013 #120

You brought it up Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #133

LOL! billh58 Jan 2013 #135

Ah, now that makes sense Kelvin Mace Jan 2013 #137

Sorry about the confusion billh58 Jan 2013 #138

Those yahoos can go from SUPPORT OUR TROOPS to SHOOT OUR TROOPS in the blink of an eye Martin Eden Jan 2013 #84

"Our attachment to no nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty." One_Life_To_Give Jan 2013 #86

All of which add up to "Better dead than __________" but if freedom means anything at all, wouldn't patrice Jan 2013 #93

One life to give is fine as long as you make it your own & don't coerce others into the very thing patrice Jan 2013 #94

You know, don't you, that Thomas Jefferson was a VERY conflicted guy. nt patrice Jan 2013 #95

If Freedom isn't free, you* are not the ONE to decide the terms of its consequences for anyone patrice Jan 2013 #97

I thought the OP was plain and simple, why muck it up? DainBramaged Jan 2013 #98

Perhaps it doesn't matter to you that it appears our military, or police, could get involved in patrice Jan 2013 #100

See my previous answer DainBramaged Jan 2013 #117

I thought OP is flamebait. Can't take the heat? Quit mucking around in the kitchen. patrice Jan 2013 #102

Wow DainBramaged Jan 2013 #116

What does that mean? Do you have privileges I don't know about? nt patrice Jan 2013 #122

Not "the thread" that I "want to be 'mucking around' in" - Is that somekind of threat? Will patrice Jan 2013 #124

Perhaps you should tell us all what your privileges are here. nt patrice Jan 2013 #125

Dude you won't believe this... Kalidurga Jan 2013 #111

Great point, they don't get it, don't bother trying to explain DainBramaged Jan 2013 #129

explain? But then that wouldn't be "plain and simple" would it? Have your read this yet? patrice Jan 2013 #139

A Good Starting Point 4Q2u2 Jan 2013 #118

Yayayayayayayaya of course you folks are going to spew all kinds of examples that matters DainBramaged Jan 2013 #130

Wow 4Q2u2 Jan 2013 #148

Battle of Athens - would you call this treason? Mr. Blue Sky Jan 2013 #121

Nice of you to stop by DainBramaged Jan 2013 #128

Thomas Jefferson patriots Jan 2013 #131

debunked - he never said that OKNancy Jan 2013 #134

But that's what the NRA billh58 Jan 2013 #136

Another one sprouts in my thread, but that's ok, weeding time.... DainBramaged Jan 2013 #140

I'm glad I'm not one of "them" Timbuk3 Jan 2013 #146

kick samsingh Jan 2013 #147

Why do not these "patriots" show their true colors DonCoquixote Jan 2013 #149