Anti Gun, Anti Motorcycle: Same crowd

[vito]

While certainly not universal, it appears to me that it is the same crowd of "anti's" that fear and dislike both guns and motorcycles, and maybe more importantly, the freedom and risk that go with both. We know that guns are inherently dangerous, and that is why we are so focused on gun safety, but we also know that guns protect, not limit our freedom and it is well worth whatever risks come with guns for the value they bring to us. Its the same with motorcycles which are inherently more dangerous than cars or trucks, but those of us who love to ride are willing to accept those risks for the joy and freedom of motorcycling. I have often encountered people who are scared to death of being on a motorcycle, yet they see the obvious enjoyment it brings to those of us who do ride, and they resent not having that joy. Sort of, "I'm afraid to ride because it is so dangerous, so I want to stop you from riding and enjoying it as well". It seems many of these same folks, at some level, recognize that having a gun gives one a degree of self reliance that dialing 911 and waiting for the cops does not give. Yet their fear of guns makes them want to level the playing field by limiting or banning the ability to have a gun for everyone. I've never been with a group of riders that are anti-2nd Amendment, and most shooters that I have associated with are at least tolerant if not enthusiasts for motorcycling. Maybe I'm not explaining it clearly enough but I think its the same group of people who are afraid of living their life, who want big Daddy government to take care of them and protect them, and who are jealous and fearful of anyone who doesn't think like them.

 

[HKGuns]

They're also anti 20oz soft drinks, freedom and personal responsibility / accountability. Formally known as Socialists.

 

[KAC1911]

Vito, I don't think your to far off. I've been riding since 1973 and shooting longer than that. I kook at myself and my friends I ride with the iron cowboys of today. And most if not all the riders I know have guns and suppport the 2A and beleive in the values that this country was made on.

 

[Gordon_Freeman]

Motorcycles hurt my ears when I'm walking on the sidewalk and put other drivers at risk when they weave through traffic at over 90 MPH. Firearms don't have those issues.

 

[beatledog7]

I disagree with your premise that guns and motorcycles are inherently dangerous. The people who operate them determine that.

They are, of course, potentially lethal. So is a rubber band or a glass of water.

 

[jerkface11]

The "safety" squad forces motorcyclists to wear a helmet. However they want to ban people from wearing body armor...

 

[SuperNaut]

We know that guns are inherently dangerous

Guns are not inherently dangerous.

This is one of the things that Anti's try to promote, but it is false. For example, I could set a 1911 down on the ground and empires will crumble, societies will rise and fall, continents will drift, thousands of species will go extinct and thousands more will adapt and thrive, yet the gun will not fire by itself. Ever.

You are the weapon.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Motorcycles hurt my ears when I'm walking on the sidewalk and put other drivers at risk when they weave through traffic at over 90 MPH. Firearms don't have those issues.

I've never seen a motorcycle go 90mph without a rider making it do that.

Pretty sure there are plenty of cars and trucks with loud exhausts, too. The percentage of motorcycles with loud exhausts is certainly higher. However, they are all sold from the factory with an exhaust that meets Federal noise regs. Future owners then install louder exhausts. Again, I fail to see how the motorcycle is at fault.

Firearms and motorcycles are both only machines and simply do what the operator commands.

(note: I'm not a motorcycle rider because "I'd kill myself". I have plenty of fun in my four wheeled death traps without adding all the potential hazards of two wheels. I have total respect for those with the guts to ride a motorcycle anywhere near traffic though!)

 

[G.barnes]

I read a post where a guy said he has gotten rid if his gun and now diets better because of bloombergs soda law and a bunch of other things and is thankful that his government cares so much about him that they limit what he is allowed to do. There are many many people out there to lazy to help themselves so they are happy the government makes them and we should all do the same.

 

[MErl]

not really the best comparison.

Motorcycles are more dangerous than other modes of transport. Operator aside, if something happens outside your control you lack the steel cage and airbags. Mechanical failures, road conditions, weather, other drivers are not fully under your control.

Firearms don't have another mode of protection to compare against. I doubt many will seriously compare having a gun for protection against pepper spray or a tazer and say they are equal. This means that even if there is a slight increase in danger have firearms around that increase is completely overwhelmed by the improved protection.

 

[xwingband]

Motorcycles hurt my ears when I'm walking on the sidewalk and put other drivers at risk when they weave through traffic at over 90 MPH. Firearms don't have those issues.

That's a certain segment of motorcycle riders that's no different than the crowd of gun owners that only like black rifles, or "FUDDS" that only shoot their wood bolt actions.

I ride with a non-stock exhaust that's louder than the stock (not near a harley in many cases). I also ride with gear... because riding a heavy machine down the road can hurt if I hit the pavement. Same with shooting... I use eye and ear protection because there's a controlled explosion near my head.

I like the analogy because it's showing how both "cultures" have detractors and different segments that need to stick together. I ride a Ducati and I wave to the harley riders, because we ride.

 

[xfyrfiter]

I've been riding since 1965, and shooting since 1956, and other than being a little deaf and having tinnitus I feel no ill effects from either one. So inherintly dangerous no, will they hurt you if you act stupidly? Yes, and as far as noise I have stock exhaust on all three of my bikes and I can sneak up on just about anyone, a 22 rimfire is louder.

 

[bainter1212]

I ride as well. Neither activity is "inherently" dangerous. It's all about the attitude and responsibility of the operator. Example: here in CA there is a pretty startling statistic - 90% of motorcycle accidents happen to riders who have NOT taken a Motorcycle Safety Course. Taking the time to do things right and do them safely makes all the difference.

 

[geist262]

I own quite a bit of firearms. I HATE overly loud motorcycles. I used to live in town and the one neighbor that lived down the street always woke me up Friday nights or should I say Saturday morning around 2 am.


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[Roadking Rider]

When it comes to motorcycles and others on why a motorcycle? As the old saying goes if I have to explain they wouldn't understand. If they tried to explain why not I'm afraid I would understand. Weather it be guns or motorcycles haters are going to hate. To them every gun owner or MC rider is a bad guy. FV(K them both. I wasn't put on this earth to live by someone elses standards.

 

[Greenmachin3]

The funny thing is that most accidents involving motorcycles involve automobiles. And most of the time the driver of the automobile was at fault. I'll try to find them to post, but the statistics are rather incredible. Many people are openly hostile to motorcycle riders on the road because of a perceived notion that motorcycle riders are dangerous to other motorists, when if I recall correctly, motorcycle riders are up to three times safer in the motoring habits.

Gordon_Freeman proves this, I think. I don't own a motorcycles, but I've seen car drivers obviously and intentionally unobservant of a motorcycle on the road with them. Changing lanes into them etc. It's disgusting behavior.

As for firearms. Yeah, I think most anti's are like many car drivers in thinking that firearm owners are inherently dangerous much like motorcycle owners are, when the funny fact of the matter is they tend to be more safe and aware than the anti's, whether firearm or motorcycle.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

I've also noted the affinity between firearms & motorcycles. Not that either inanimate object cares, but the people who possess one seem to also have the other with great regularity. Which speaks more to a mindset than possessions. It would be interesting to determine what other aspects, if any, of the mental map also correlate.

Xwingband, you're referring to your Duc as heavy? Which one are you riding? My 848 goes about 410 wet & I really don't notice it feeling heavy at all.

900F

 

[G'dale Mike]

I dont care what you drive, as long as YOU are prepared to PAY for the consequences if things go bad. Too many times taxpayers get stiffed for the million $$ ICU stay of motorcyclists that dont have proper insurance to cover their injuries. That what bugs me, folks want the freedom ,, but not the responsability that goes with that freedom.

 

[JRH6856]

Maybe the antis just watch too much Sons of Anarchy.

 

[Greenmachin3]

G'Dale Mike,

Well said. The longer I've lived, the more I've noticed if you give people responsibility, they tend to become responsible, or at least more responsible over time. If you take away responsibility, they tend to be less so over time.

It's like an article I read a year or two ago about a toddler drowning in a city canal in Phoenix I think it was. The parents blamed the city and sued the city and demanded adequate signage of the canal. Where the F were the parents?

When someone, accidentally or intentionally, shoots another person, the people of the same mentality of the parents in the above situation (antis) will blame the system by which the person acquired the firearm, or blame the firearm itself... it's like blaming the city or blaming the canal, and not the parents.

 

[Drail]

I believe that most of the people who are anti motorcycle became that way simply because so many jerks insist on running straight pipes to gain every last ounce of power from their Harley Davidson engines. On a race track? Sure. On the street? Sitting next to me at a light while blipping your throttle does not have anything to do with "safety". Grow up people. One day my wife and I came out of a store and proceeded to put our helmets and gloves on to get on my motorcycle. A little girl was standing there by her mom and as soon as I climbed on the bike she placed her hands over her ears and started to scream and cry because she was convinced that it was suddenly going to get stupid loud. It made me angry to see this reaction to any knid of motorcycle (even though I understand it). For the record my bike runs so quietly that I could ride past your house and you wouldn't even hear it. Loud pipes do not save lives, they only turn people against us. The anti gunners are simply misguided and misinformed by all of the media attention on criminal use of firearms. Sadly, most Americans believe everything they see and hear on television.

 

[splattergun]

I'm not anti-motorcycle, I just never got over the willies after a crash while learning to ride. Couldn't get back on the horse, so to speak. But I gotta say, a lot of riders are very irresponsible with their speeds, risky maneuvers, and noise. Not poster children for a cause!
Few things, in my opinion, are more annoying than being waked up at 5:00 while camping by a group of straight-pipe motorcycles on their way to the great Sturgis cattle-thon.

I hope that gun owners present a better public front than motorcyclists.

 

[gym]

The difference with bikes is you "are" going to fall, it's just a matter of when. With guns you aren't going to get shot, unless you aren't watching what you are doing and paying attention. People will hit you while standing still on a bike, waiting for a light to change. It's too much power left in the hands of everyone else on the road vs a gun is usually not subject to the recklessness of others.
I have a dozen friends who have had minor to life ending accidents while just out for a ride, and plowed by some older person who didn't see them, or someone just not paying attention, or drunk. That's why we no longer ride in FL, Too many seniors, in South FL. You have to go out after 4pm, and stay off of 95, or someone will nail you. I am further up north now, but still dangerous when I see people weaving in and out doing 90 on either 95 or the turnpike.
A friend called us 2 days ago, her daughter was arrested at 2 am, buy the State Police, she was on the back of a bike doing 130, they chased him and clocked him at 160, locked them both up, let the girl go. The boyfriend was on a crotch rocket and is a bad kid only 20 yrs old. He won't be around long.

 

[Sam1911]

Not really close enough to topical for THR. Guns =/= motorcycles and we're (once again) having a motorcycle discussion.