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[etherealtruth]

88. I agree that civility and discussion have been degraded by the 'gun" issue in GD

The problem I see is that gun control has typically been considered a liberal cause (I realize that there are some very liberal, wonderful gun owners) and the acceptance that the NRA is a right wing group (clearly their almost exclusive support of Republicans is evidence of this) ... I think it is hard for folk with very liberal views to come to a a 'liberal' discussion board and be assailed by what we (I) consider a right wing point of view (I can't imagine anti-choice posts being tolerated like some decidedly right wing like gun posts).

Conversely, I can't imagine how upsetting and disheartening many of the anti gun posts and posters (I am one of them) are to truly liberal members of this site that (for whatever reason) are strident gun supporters. I have no doubt they have been made to feel "less than" (despite true liberal Democratic convictions and actions overall). This is very unfortunate and the discourse at DU is further degraded by silencing these liberal voices.

I am consistently thrilled when I see someone I consider a gun zealot writing eloquently and filled with compassion on other issues ... as an example my #1 issue :poverty.

In my "real life' I have friends that are "gun nuts" (not really, they like guns but do support limits) and plenty that are as strongly anti-gun as I am. Fortunately for us, it is not our primary topic of discussion AND we have the luxury of knowing and respecting each other before the conversation starts