my one and only BIG political rant of the season
first, let me say that rants are usually free form. when the brain kicks into hyper-drive, thoughts may become disjointed and fragmented. if that happens, sorry. but bear with me, because i really do have a point.
i have really worked hard to keep my posting about politics to a minimum this year, as i did during the last of the previous presidential election. the hateful and vituperative posts you find across the political spectrum around the blogosphere really turned me off. but i've been stewing over this for a long time, and i thought i'd get it out there, and get it over with.
first of all, it should come as no surprise to anyone that as a life member of the NRA, guns are important to me. i wrote a post years ago called Late Night Musings. the post and the responses are worth a read just to get a taste of what gun ownership means to me, and what responsibilities that ownership imparts. possession of the means to protect family, my home, and myself against those intent on doing harm is of paramount importance to me. many local police agencies have no legal liability to answer a 911 call (many cited articles, but here's one that is actually intelligently written, with little hyperbole here. it's a little dated, but there are many "fresher" citations available with a little search engine time)
(here's another.) what does this have to do with this presidential election?
one of my most favorite and frequent debater about politics this year has made the election into a single issue concern. well, she has others, but the main concern is that the next president will probably install at least two supreme court judges. her concern: overturning Roe v. Wade. yes, abortion rights are at the top of her concerns. so my turnaround argument is this: the next president is most likely going to install at least two supreme court judges. and the latest ruling from the court in Heller v. Washington D.C. which holds that private ownership of firearms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. that decision was upheld by a vote of 5 to 4. 5 to 4. me, i am ambivalent about abortion. i really could give a rats ass what a woman does with her body before viability. sorry folks, but that's just the way it is. i've long held that anyone that is anti-abortion because of the sanctity of life, but pro capital punishment is either delusional about what sanctity means, or is a hypocrite. and vice versa. again, sorry if i'm stepping on toes, but there it is. i've been around for 54 years, and have learned to think for myself.
but taking away my right to own firearms?
consider the following: the dem contender has publicly stated that he sees no reason to own guns. of course, he's had to modify that a bit as the election draws to an end. but just look at his comments during a dinner in SF where he thought he was among like minded folk. his disdain for private gun ownership is evident in many of his early speeches (easy to find using a google search. go ahead, it won't take long). but even if he DID have a change of heart, the folks he would consider for judgeship will be drawn from the same pool he climbed out of. and in that pool, guns are BAAAAAAAD BAAAAAAAD BAAAAAAD, and all gun owners are criminals just waiting for the time and place to break the laws.
so if it's a single issue campaign, anyone that even considers abridging my rights as a law abiding citizen of this country to own and use guns is my single issue. i don't think any right minded, intelligent human being should base their decision on one and only one issue, but if push comes to shove, you've just read mine. the fact that the government is in a rapid slide to hard core socialism, with a "spreading around of the wealth" for example, frightening as it is, is not my primary concern. having a veto proof congress, with a president that travels in circles that think i'm a criminal, those concern me more. socialism may cost me money, but the other will cost me freedom.
i have really worked hard to keep my posting about politics to a minimum this year, as i did during the last of the previous presidential election. the hateful and vituperative posts you find across the political spectrum around the blogosphere really turned me off. but i've been stewing over this for a long time, and i thought i'd get it out there, and get it over with.
first of all, it should come as no surprise to anyone that as a life member of the NRA, guns are important to me. i wrote a post years ago called Late Night Musings. the post and the responses are worth a read just to get a taste of what gun ownership means to me, and what responsibilities that ownership imparts. possession of the means to protect family, my home, and myself against those intent on doing harm is of paramount importance to me. many local police agencies have no legal liability to answer a 911 call (many cited articles, but here's one that is actually intelligently written, with little hyperbole here. it's a little dated, but there are many "fresher" citations available with a little search engine time)
(here's another.) what does this have to do with this presidential election?
one of my most favorite and frequent debater about politics this year has made the election into a single issue concern. well, she has others, but the main concern is that the next president will probably install at least two supreme court judges. her concern: overturning Roe v. Wade. yes, abortion rights are at the top of her concerns. so my turnaround argument is this: the next president is most likely going to install at least two supreme court judges. and the latest ruling from the court in Heller v. Washington D.C. which holds that private ownership of firearms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment. that decision was upheld by a vote of 5 to 4. 5 to 4. me, i am ambivalent about abortion. i really could give a rats ass what a woman does with her body before viability. sorry folks, but that's just the way it is. i've long held that anyone that is anti-abortion because of the sanctity of life, but pro capital punishment is either delusional about what sanctity means, or is a hypocrite. and vice versa. again, sorry if i'm stepping on toes, but there it is. i've been around for 54 years, and have learned to think for myself.
but taking away my right to own firearms?
consider the following: the dem contender has publicly stated that he sees no reason to own guns. of course, he's had to modify that a bit as the election draws to an end. but just look at his comments during a dinner in SF where he thought he was among like minded folk. his disdain for private gun ownership is evident in many of his early speeches (easy to find using a google search. go ahead, it won't take long). but even if he DID have a change of heart, the folks he would consider for judgeship will be drawn from the same pool he climbed out of. and in that pool, guns are BAAAAAAAD BAAAAAAAD BAAAAAAD, and all gun owners are criminals just waiting for the time and place to break the laws.
so if it's a single issue campaign, anyone that even considers abridging my rights as a law abiding citizen of this country to own and use guns is my single issue. i don't think any right minded, intelligent human being should base their decision on one and only one issue, but if push comes to shove, you've just read mine. the fact that the government is in a rapid slide to hard core socialism, with a "spreading around of the wealth" for example, frightening as it is, is not my primary concern. having a veto proof congress, with a president that travels in circles that think i'm a criminal, those concern me more. socialism may cost me money, but the other will cost me freedom.
posted by bothenook at 21:04
3 Comments:
I'm a liberal Democrat.
I agree with everything you've said here. The Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, that's it, that's the law, the ultimate law. People who want that changed ought to get an amendment passed.
I don't own a gun.
Honestly, I don't see either major party candidate particularly enamoured of upholding and defending the Constitution. I'm using my write-in vote.
I rarely comment although I'm a faithful reader. My oldest is a nuke MM(SS)...
thanks for your comment buck. i see by your profile, and from your comments, that you and i aren't that damned far apart on major life issues.
that's what has really got me pissedoff about this fractionalism that is so rampant between the two parties. we really aren't that different in our beliefs.
as far as the constitution is concerned, there have been several audio clips of obama that have cropped up lately that shows his take on the constitution is radically different than mine. and i use the word radically in all of its meanings.
and when you get the chance, please pass on to your oldest that a crusty old bubblehead from the cold war wishes to thank him for his service to our country. it's still damned important to our continued existence that our youngsters choose to serve their country, for the protection and betterment of us all.
I agree with you as well but as usual, have different perspective.
Gun control, in this country, started with the Kennedy assassinations and caught fire as the answer to curbing urban violence. It hasn't curbed urban violence (surprise,surprise) but has become a major wedge issue in partisan politics, along with abortion and entitlement programs directed at racial minorities.
The Democrats want to get in power and stay in power. They can't do it as long as any of these issues are still on the table.
They are back pedaling as quickly as they can on all three. Gun control is already a dead issue. Kerry was out shooting ducks last time and Biden is mouthing that old pry it from my dead hands line, every chance he gets.
Obama is the guy that can start dismantling the affirmative action and entitlements of the sixties, probably the only one.
Abortion is the toughest problem for the Dems and will take the longest but they have to give up Roe versus Wade. A few States may outlaw or severely limit abortion but my guess is not many and relief for most, will be only a short bus ride away.
New Day Commin', Brutha Bo, Hal-e-lu-ya, Praise De Load! We all g'wine be sosh-lists now, jus like them Frenchmens.
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