Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

discntnt_irny_srcsm

(18,669 posts)
18. You're just not understanding the process
Sat Aug 18, 2018, 08:24 AM
Aug 2018

Objective: ban a group of guns --> pick a set of features --> name the grouping --> verify that somewhere someone has been shot by a weapon in the group --> start a protest, campaign or political action to ban the named grouping.

Assault rifle has specific technical definition. "Assault weapon" is anything a politician decides it is.
By all means please control the guns. Let me abdicate action and leave it to the government because "I'm busy and it's not convenient." Maybe "I'm not qualified."

"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters." - Daniel Webster, US Senator


I have no doubt that some politicians are actually earnest and candid regarding new gun laws. I am also quite sure that, for some, gun-"control" issues are merely rungs on a ladder leading to election, re-election or a higher office. The voters will decide who is in each group.

The single-minded pursuit to define, re-define and "control" assault weapons by some folks is a lie and a distraction. "Gun-control" is a myth. The only real control among people (short of places like ADX FLorence) is self-control.

The Dalai Lama: "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." (May 15, 2001, The Seattle Times)
The politician's answer to that is to make sure obtaining a weapon for defense requires overcoming a number of hurdles, takes a longer time, costs a lot and includes arbitrary government permissions. The weapons permitted will generally be less efficacious.

I can think of at least one place that really should have been a gun-free zone, 300 Midway Dr, Kent, OH 44242.

The message of many legislators is that more rules and laws are always needed for any problems that confront the people. For the rule breakers politicians will always find ways to build new Occoquan Workhouses and maybe even have private operators so someone can make a profit.
{wiki}:Civil Disobedience (Thoreau) >> I heartily accept the motto,—"That government is best which governs least;" and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe,—"That government is best which governs not at all;" and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have. Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. - Thoreau, Civil Disobedience


"The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes….Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson’s Commonplace Book, 1774-1776, quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria in Chapter 40 of On Crimes and Punishment, 1764.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Gunsplaining to conservatives [View all] 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 OP
Today's infantry doesn't have full auto rifles. flamin lib Aug 2018 #1
Yeah, bitd, the M16 I shot in basic had the full auto option 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #4
All branches except ship board Navy which flamin lib Aug 2018 #5
Heh 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #6
DC... discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #17
three round burst, gejohnston Aug 2018 #13
The Army has dumped the 3 round burst for the most part Alea Sep 2018 #42
Were you planning to get to a point? needledriver Aug 2018 #2
Sorry if it didn't come across 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #3
Of course it is - not. needledriver Aug 2018 #7
Well, I think I'm adding clarity. 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #8
The M14 has a selector switch needledriver Aug 2018 #10
As mentioned 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #12
That's as may be. needledriver Aug 2018 #15
Not all M14's had the selector removed Alea Sep 2018 #43
So ... Straw Man Aug 2018 #9
Querulous much? 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #11
Erroneous much? Straw Man Aug 2018 #35
Of course it is - Stephen Paddock couldn't have shot 600 people in 10 minutes with a .30 caliber rif gejohnston Aug 2018 #16
about gunsplaining: gejohnston Aug 2018 #14
You're just not understanding the process discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #18
Usual conservative chaff 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #22
Reminds me of... discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #24
Yeah, ge, you're right. flamin lib Aug 2018 #23
You clearly missed the point gejohnston Aug 2018 #28
You certainly are full of yourself. flamin lib Aug 2018 #29
everything you said gejohnston Aug 2018 #30
Oh, I see, flamin lib Aug 2018 #31
Don't look too honestly in a mirror. oneshooter Aug 2018 #32
The 7.62x 39 AK round is NOT a shortened 7.62X54R cartridge. oneshooter Aug 2018 #19
First insert magic wand... discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #20
Same caliber, shorter cartridge with less powder. 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #21
You were wrong. oneshooter Aug 2018 #27
regarding... discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #25
This issue has been rendered moot, of course, J_William_Ryan Aug 2018 #26
There are undoubtedly a good number of gun owners who voted for Trump... spin Aug 2018 #34
So its not a machine gun. aikoaiko Aug 2018 #33
recoil the rub, gun headaches may result jimmy the one Aug 2018 #36
you're opinion here would be interesting discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2018 #37
Thanks for the thoughtful reply 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #38
Hmm ... Straw Man Aug 2018 #39
You do specialize with strawman arguments, don't you? 1cheapbeemr Aug 2018 #40
You don't know what a straw man argument is, apparently. Straw Man Aug 2018 #41
5.56 vs 7.62 jimmy the one Sep 2018 #45
The 5.56 is not a good short range SD ammo discntnt_irny_srcsm Sep 2018 #46
This post is why people that can't gunsplain shouldn't gunsplain Alea Sep 2018 #44
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Gun Control & RKBA»Gunsplaining to conservat...»Reply #18