David Mitchell
Wow!
I am amazed at how far we can stray from one point, and project inferences about topics that are separate and unconnected - based on philosphical generalities. I try to make one point, and it gets turned into a whole manifesto of other matters. Mixing them all together seems confusing and unfair.
To begin with, I do not beleive it is "elitism" to promote change and enforce common sense laws. I am forced to drive on the right side of the road and observe the speed limit. Is that "elitism" - taking away my rights?
Second, I am grateful for the informative artcile about what a gun is. I myself had no idea.
But I do know this. The Second Ammendemnt was writtten back when those gun things were single shot, ball & powder, muzzle loading devices. That means you had to stop and re-load after every single shot. I think you all knew that. Since then, I seem to recall that our world has changed just a bit and that document has too - as Franklin hinted it would. Now, I realize NRA folks swear that this one ammendment is "sacred" and therefore cannot be messed with. Except that we have "updated" the Documenet 27 other times! Like giving Women and African slaves the right to vote.
After 1836, when Samuel Colt patented the revolver, American murder rates spiked upward dramatically. In nore recent years, since we (for some unfathomable reason - maybe NRA lobby gifts) lifted the ban on "assualt rifles" * we have seen a dramatic resurgence in "mass killings" - (yes MM, by deranged, unguided, undicsiplined, and unloved lonely, young males - who need help in other ways). But if we can "update" any other portion of the "sacred" document, why in heaven's name can't we update this ammendment? Do you honestly think that our forefathers ever concieved of such weapons at the time of writing this Document? I think not.
* (Can we all agree on a point that is already clear to anyone this side of Mars? - "Assault rifles" = "military rifles" = "semi-automatic rifles")
And let me just take a wild guess here. As combat veteran, life-long conservative Republican, raised to beleive in respect and gratitude, and the dignity of all human life, (who agrees with SOME of the above concepts,) I ask, could it be that "his" being a life-long cheat, coward, and narcissistic, sociopahtic, whore monger - weaseling millions out of his sub-contrators, fleecing thousands out of their money with his "university" (you ought to read some of the details about that one- yikes) - could that maybe what engenders a little vitriol about this Chump guy?
Or could it be that his mouth is a non-stop sewer of divisive flaming, blaming, shaming, and inciting hatred in people, like few men in our history, and unprecidened in the office of President of the United States?
He insults patriots. He insults minorities (espcecaily judges). He insults the press - (yes the liberal press is annoying - but so is most of the conservative press). He despises our intelligence community. He seems to care little about the havoc he is wreaking in certain sectors of our economy (especially the shelllacking our farmers are taking right now, and even more specifically, Wisconsin's dairy farmers - who are on the verge of being wiped out by the trade wars).
But oh, how he adores a couple of our sworn enemies - including a couple of the most dangerous vicous, corrupt men on earth.
(damn it all anyway, he shoulda been more clever about that hotel deal in Moscow during the campaign. That would have netted him a fortune! )
Yes, I support better moral guidance in our society, more discipline in schools, and better mental healthcare. (see my next post) I worry about the degeneration of morality in our society - and his utterly disgraceful immoral contribution to it.
Well okay - smaller clips, more efficient backgroudn checks (currently a state by state mess), mandatory intsruction - (we do it for driver's licenses), MUUUCH stricter rules about "gun shows" (a virtual playground of illegal gun sales), and a few other things.
But my whole point from the beginning has been one thing - just as with fully automatic (machine guns), "semi-automatic", "assault rifles" have no place in the hands of the general public.
So, I'd say clips of maybe 8 to 10 rounds. The smaller the better. Start somewhere !!!!
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