General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Jon Stewart: The NRA has us at the intersection of ‘open carry’ and ‘stand your ground’ [View all]Half-Century Man
(5,279 posts)I have owned firearms for the majority of my life. Subsequently, I don't want that to end.
I am also awake and listening.
A massive groundswell is going on. To ignore it is stupid. The simple fact is, the vast majority of Americans want firearms ownership controlled.
The 1968 Gun Control Act was based, at least in part, on the gun control acts passed in Germany in the 30's. RKBA people saw that as the start of a slippery slope to the loss of ownership rights. This was an over reaction at that time, and the reason they are so poised for action today.
Just after the assignation attempt on Reagan, we passed the Brady Bill (2 republican politicians was shot, so republican politicians reacted). It went after "assault weapons" (not used in the attack on Reagan) by restricting them by cosmetic features (not lethality). The Brady Bill was a wildly ineffective and much hated piece of political fluffery. It served no greater purpose than advertising for "assault weapons" at the point it expired. The fact that a piece of firearms control legislation had an expiration date, was ample proof it was bullshit. Although it was touted by the MSM as a significant work, neither side was fooled by it.
RKBA has been screaming since 68 "da govenment is cummin fer da guns" instead of speaking in a calm reasonable voice. Instead of encouraging gun owners to stay calm and not taunt the other side. RKBA has let the least capable of us, explain us. Now, most non-owners think that, the calm seeming owners only recently acquired the skill to not drool on ourselves.
Please do not fall under the rabid RKBA spell of illusion. Accepting that someone with a different opinion than yours might have a valid point is not capitulation. Offering to roll back a bit on your demands to get closer to their perceived needs is not capitulation. Asking for them to roll back a bit instead of unconditionally surrendering is not capitulation. Both sides working to find an acceptable middle position, one acceptable to both sides, is negotiations, not the start of a tobaggon run into broken glass and barbed wire.
The more that we send the message we see their argument as a nest of broken glass and barbed wire. The more they will perceive that one of us will shoot all of them someday. We all need to not lose sight of them middle.
Compromise is how democracies work (or at least should).
Edit history
![](du4img/smicon-reply-new.gif)