benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
Note: I have crossposted this with permission of the author, "virginia mountainman" of Democratic Underground. I think it shows very well how a few gun-404 urban politicians and policy-setters (and the DLC) are alienating rural Democrats.
I have been “lurking†here for quite sometime, and I would like for some of ya’ll to meet an “alienated†rural Democrat.
First a little background about me…..
My family has STRONG Democratic roots, Both my parents where union organizers in some textile mills in southwest Virginia back in the 1970’s I was the “Democratic poster child†in parades back in the 70’s, we was also featured on the nightly news for a period of time, with my mother's work with bringing the union into town, (ultimately unsuccessful) My mother was also a delegate, from the state of Virginia, for Mondale, at the democratic convention
My wife’s family has just as strong roots. Her father has just retired from the coalmines. Her grandfather has served in local government on the democratic ticket for many years, and is also a union man.
My “alienation†began around 1993, when gun control started being a loudly contested issue. My WHOLE FAMILY owns guns, we ALL where raised around them.
Guns where NOT an issue, everyone had them. I was raised in a small house, my father’s long guns where stored in a rack over the headboard of my bed, his handguns where kept in his bed-side bureau and yes, he kept a .45 1911 pistol, loaded, in the open, on top of his dresser, no big deal, it was ALWAYS THERE, right beside his tie-tack box.
It was ready to defend everything my father held dear in his life at a moments notice.
To us kids, it was nothing special, they was ALWAYS their, very much like the butcher knives in the kitchen, they are both deadly, but they both are just “theirâ€.
Nothing special about them
Now I know some of you are thinking my father was a “gun nut†he was NOT, I don’t ever remember him buying any guns, he did not shoot them often, maybe a box of shells a year, right before hunting season. All the guns he had, he had BEFORE he had me.
I had uncles and cousins that “traded in guns†allot. It is a hobby to them and they are law abiding folks, each and everyone. They enjoy the hobby of collecting and shooting as do I
I remember, me and my (then hardcore democratic uncle) was watching the news about the Brady bill, he got very silent about it, but was still supportive to the Democrats. Then the AW ban came, I remember seeing Feinstein on the news, holding up a semi auto AK up saying that ONLY CRIMINALS would have one. (Between all of us, we had 4 of those rifles) in the next election my uncles and cousins went republican, I did too
I PROUDLY voted for Bill Clinton over Bush SR, he took my vote and betrayed me and my family.
We saw the party that we supported faithfully for generations literally turn on us overnight it seemed. Gun Control was all over the news and if you disagreed, you where “outside the mainstream†or a “gun nutâ€
Some will say we are just bigots, religious zealots, and “simpletons†and we don’t matter.
But the truth is I could not careless about gay marriage, I am supportive of abortion rights, I detest what is happened in Iraq, I BELIEVE IN ALL OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
And I am an outcast from the Democrats, because I believe in the 2nd amendment
It is about MORE than guns, it is about personal responsibility, I was taught at a VERY EARLY age, that it is MY number 1 responsibility to protect myself and family from “folks that have bad intentions†Guns are the BEST means of that, the police are ONLY CALLED AFTER there is a crime committed, if you cannot defend yourself effectively, or rely on OTHERS to protect your family, you have FAILED as a parent/husband.
All these gun control laws effect is how effectively I can protect my wife and kids, or my wife protecting herself and kids when I am not here, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!!
Let me point out the damage that gun control has done to the Democrats; my family has swung to the right. All my uncles and cousins proudly sport “Bush 2004†and “W†stickers on their cars. My father-in-law does not vote anymore, he cannot vote for the “gun banners†but he can’t bring himself to vote for the republicans neither. ONLY MY WIFE’S GRANDFATHER STILL OPENLY SUPPORTS Democrats. My wife has swung to the right, she is STILL gloating about the election.
My parents no longer vote/supports Democrats neither.
See the “gun issue†is about much more than guns to my family. My family would be willing to support the democratic agenda (some may be too far gone now) but I think most would. The Democrats lost us with all the “Hillbillyâ€, “redneckâ€, and â€gun nut†talk
It's not the 90 million U.S. gun owners or their guns that are the problem. It's the criminals, and the 20,000 gun laws have never deterred them.
Lines like “Mr. and Miss America turn them ALL IN†don’t help you at all in these parts.
And stop talking about “hunters†the INSTANT folks here, hear that, they KNOW that you’re a “gun bannerâ€
Kerry’s “canned†goose hunt was a joke; his 100% voting record against gun right was NOT a joke.
I have read “post after post†about how the NRA is a shill for the Republicans, they ARE NOT, they DO Support TRULY Pro-Gun Democrats, like my congress critter, Rep Boucher (D) VA 9th district.(and YES I do vote for him proudly)
And the talk of NRA money, PLEAZZZZ, it is the 4 million members that vote religiously that give the NRA its power
I made this post (MY first) because I WANT to see the Democrats come back, I am truly scared that soon if the party don’t learn, they will find themselves completely out of power. The Republicans being in complete control scares the crap out of me. I am new to forums so pardon if I have broken any un-written rules, PLEASE give me a canadate I can support whole-heartedly.
Andrew
Alienated Rural Democrat
"virginia mountainman," Democratic Underground
"virginia mountainman," Democratic Underground
I have been “lurking†here for quite sometime, and I would like for some of ya’ll to meet an “alienated†rural Democrat.
First a little background about me…..
My family has STRONG Democratic roots, Both my parents where union organizers in some textile mills in southwest Virginia back in the 1970’s I was the “Democratic poster child†in parades back in the 70’s, we was also featured on the nightly news for a period of time, with my mother's work with bringing the union into town, (ultimately unsuccessful) My mother was also a delegate, from the state of Virginia, for Mondale, at the democratic convention
My wife’s family has just as strong roots. Her father has just retired from the coalmines. Her grandfather has served in local government on the democratic ticket for many years, and is also a union man.
My “alienation†began around 1993, when gun control started being a loudly contested issue. My WHOLE FAMILY owns guns, we ALL where raised around them.
Guns where NOT an issue, everyone had them. I was raised in a small house, my father’s long guns where stored in a rack over the headboard of my bed, his handguns where kept in his bed-side bureau and yes, he kept a .45 1911 pistol, loaded, in the open, on top of his dresser, no big deal, it was ALWAYS THERE, right beside his tie-tack box.
It was ready to defend everything my father held dear in his life at a moments notice.
To us kids, it was nothing special, they was ALWAYS their, very much like the butcher knives in the kitchen, they are both deadly, but they both are just “theirâ€.
Nothing special about them
Now I know some of you are thinking my father was a “gun nut†he was NOT, I don’t ever remember him buying any guns, he did not shoot them often, maybe a box of shells a year, right before hunting season. All the guns he had, he had BEFORE he had me.
I had uncles and cousins that “traded in guns†allot. It is a hobby to them and they are law abiding folks, each and everyone. They enjoy the hobby of collecting and shooting as do I
I remember, me and my (then hardcore democratic uncle) was watching the news about the Brady bill, he got very silent about it, but was still supportive to the Democrats. Then the AW ban came, I remember seeing Feinstein on the news, holding up a semi auto AK up saying that ONLY CRIMINALS would have one. (Between all of us, we had 4 of those rifles) in the next election my uncles and cousins went republican, I did too
I PROUDLY voted for Bill Clinton over Bush SR, he took my vote and betrayed me and my family.
We saw the party that we supported faithfully for generations literally turn on us overnight it seemed. Gun Control was all over the news and if you disagreed, you where “outside the mainstream†or a “gun nutâ€
Some will say we are just bigots, religious zealots, and “simpletons†and we don’t matter.
But the truth is I could not careless about gay marriage, I am supportive of abortion rights, I detest what is happened in Iraq, I BELIEVE IN ALL OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
And I am an outcast from the Democrats, because I believe in the 2nd amendment
It is about MORE than guns, it is about personal responsibility, I was taught at a VERY EARLY age, that it is MY number 1 responsibility to protect myself and family from “folks that have bad intentions†Guns are the BEST means of that, the police are ONLY CALLED AFTER there is a crime committed, if you cannot defend yourself effectively, or rely on OTHERS to protect your family, you have FAILED as a parent/husband.
All these gun control laws effect is how effectively I can protect my wife and kids, or my wife protecting herself and kids when I am not here, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!!
Let me point out the damage that gun control has done to the Democrats; my family has swung to the right. All my uncles and cousins proudly sport “Bush 2004†and “W†stickers on their cars. My father-in-law does not vote anymore, he cannot vote for the “gun banners†but he can’t bring himself to vote for the republicans neither. ONLY MY WIFE’S GRANDFATHER STILL OPENLY SUPPORTS Democrats. My wife has swung to the right, she is STILL gloating about the election.
My parents no longer vote/supports Democrats neither.
See the “gun issue†is about much more than guns to my family. My family would be willing to support the democratic agenda (some may be too far gone now) but I think most would. The Democrats lost us with all the “Hillbillyâ€, “redneckâ€, and â€gun nut†talk
It's not the 90 million U.S. gun owners or their guns that are the problem. It's the criminals, and the 20,000 gun laws have never deterred them.
Lines like “Mr. and Miss America turn them ALL IN†don’t help you at all in these parts.
And stop talking about “hunters†the INSTANT folks here, hear that, they KNOW that you’re a “gun bannerâ€
Kerry’s “canned†goose hunt was a joke; his 100% voting record against gun right was NOT a joke.
I have read “post after post†about how the NRA is a shill for the Republicans, they ARE NOT, they DO Support TRULY Pro-Gun Democrats, like my congress critter, Rep Boucher (D) VA 9th district.(and YES I do vote for him proudly)
And the talk of NRA money, PLEAZZZZ, it is the 4 million members that vote religiously that give the NRA its power
I made this post (MY first) because I WANT to see the Democrats come back, I am truly scared that soon if the party don’t learn, they will find themselves completely out of power. The Republicans being in complete control scares the crap out of me. I am new to forums so pardon if I have broken any un-written rules, PLEASE give me a canadate I can support whole-heartedly.
Andrew
