Gun control ???

[armedpolak]

With 36 "shall issue" states, you would think hippies (commies, libs, dems, etc) are loosing the gun-ban war, right?

What do you guys think? Are the gun laws getting better or worse in this country?

 

[Erebus]

Currently I think they are getting better. But by the end of '08 it could easily be going the other way.

 

[Baba Louie]

As the pendulum swings, if you live in some states, things are better due to the hard work of a few. Other states seem to have no end to gun-control nonsense.

As Erebus pointed out, the upcoming elections, both this fall and in '08, will probably have some effect... I doubt, for some strange reason, that it'll be slanted towards More Freedom from legislative intervention vis a vis firearms control & regulation... even tho' that'll probably be a point no one running for office will address forthright (kiss o' death, doncha know?) but rather wait until they're sworn in to "Uphold and Protect the Constitution... blah blah blah"

For years, and for some reason that I cannot fathom, it has appeared that whatever California does, or has done, the rest of the nation soon follows. Let's hope that the rest of the nation can buck that particular trend in this regards.

 

[Stauffenberg]

We're on top right now. Here in Wisconsin we've tried multiple times to get a CCW law through, and once we send Doyle packing in November, I think we'll finally pull it off.

One high-profile shooting, though, and it could turn around.

 

[Stauble]

At the state levels in particular, gun laws are going very well. here in Florida they passed the "stand your ground" law with and overwhelming majority.
however, gun laws at the federal lever can change quickly, depending on the upcoming elections

 

[Molon Labe]

We are in the lull of a storm.

Five years from now we will look back on 2006 and say, "Remember when you could buy thousands of rounds of surplus ammo for little money and no paperwork? Remember when you could buy an AR-15 or FAL? Those were the good 'ol days."

These are the good 'ol days.

 

[BergaminoCAV]

Depends on where you live, Alot of the country seems to be winning, but here in Jersey we seem to be losing

 

[Punkermonkey]

I can tell you that here is California we are circling the bowl.

 

[atlctyslkr]

We just got "Stand Your Ground" here but with our crazy public gathering rule there are not too many places you can dig your heels in.

 

[The Cavalry]

Gun laws are only getting more restrictive here in the Democratic Party paradise trifecta that is New Jersey. I'm not whining or otherwise complaining, just raising awareness.

This is what Democrats do to gun ownership when they're guaranteed sufficient votes by dependent state union employees and welfare recipients:

No CCW for us regular citizens, and no reciprocation w/ other states.

No "assault weapons" allowed, mag capacity is limited to 15 rounds or less. (having a 16 round or greater capacity magazine is a higher offense than possession of drugs, even if you don't have the firearm it fits)

Bill pending to "strengthen" the state assault weapon ban to drop the threshold to one evil feature instead of two. If it has a pistol grip and a detachable magazine, it will be an assault weapon.

Bill pending to eliminate private ownership of handguns unless you can convince your local police chief that you have "justifiable need" to own one.

Both of our senators voted against the disaster disarmament prevention act.

In my humble opinion, any Democrat supporting the 2nd A is either afraid for his/her job, or represents the extremely rare exception.

 

[Molon Labe]

The Cavalry:

With all due respect, why do you choose to live in tyranny?

 

[The Cavalry]

I moved here because the job offer was too good to pass up, the kind of resume builder that pays dividends for years to come. I'll stand on my head for a few years to accelerate my retirement.

I'm finding I also derive a large amount of satisfaction from joining up with fellow gunnies here behind enemy lines while I'm here, raising the volume and intensity of lobbying efforts.

The previous 35 years of living in red states was easy, and I look forward to returning in a few more years...sooner if things unravel as they appear to be starting.

Since moving here I've brought 6 newbies to the sport and continue to do so. Two of the newbies have each brought at least one newbie apiece...and so on. I've gained new respect and appreciation for gun owners willing to stay behind the lines, relentlessly writing/calling their state goverment to fight stupid bills to a standstill.

 

[Soybomb]

I think the outlook now is pretty good. A TON of gun owners think permits are a good idea, would support more more training requirements, or other "sensible gun control." I really think right now the biggest danger to gun owners is other gun owners. Most people are fine with restrictions on freedom as long as it doesn't effect them too badly.

Its a matter of time until a wacko with a ccw loses it and goes on a shooting rampage (who would have done it either way), then you might see the backlash more. Certainly here in Illinois we can't relax anyway.

 

[10 Ring Tao]

We're in a temporary reprisal. If we play our cards right, we can weather the upcoming hard times without losing ground we gained. Then we things swing our way again, we can continue where we left off and gain more ground.

Its all cyclical.

 

[ceetee]

you would think hippies (commies, libs, dems, etc) are loosing the gun-ban war, right?

I think you'll find that the best way we have of keeping the ground we have, maybe even gaining a little, is to get more people who are presently against gun rights to convert into shooters. I also think you'll find that kinda hard to do as long as you keep on throwing these labels around like bricks. After all, at one point or another, I've been three of these four, and some would say I still am one or two.

I really think right now the biggest danger to gun owners is other gun owners

Yup.

 

[Mick_In_Texas]

NEVER RELAX!

There have been many victories this physical year, both nationally and on the state level.

BUT...

Liberals do NOT "get it", and they are working for control, including the UN. We are NEVER safe, we law-abiding, common-sensical gun owners and users. Is that a shame, in America? Yes. But, is it a fact? Yes.

Know who you're voting for, as far as their records on our issue. Stay in constant contact with the folks who ARE elected, INCLUDING the president. I do, and always have.

Politically correct is an abberation, but, it is the "rule of thinking" to many. Cliches, while being cliches, usually ARE what they are, because they are true: "Guns don't kill people, people do"... "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns"... that second is FRIGGIN' true, BUT, libs, California pols, and the UN, DO NOT "get that", because they are elitists, libs, and hypocrites, among many other things.

In America, we are in an "Idiot Generation" situation. I am sorry, but, common sense, is about as frowned upon by some, who have "power", as smoking a cigarette. It is up to us common-sensical folks... or it is our burden, duty, responsibility, fight, whatever you want to call it, to remain constantly VIGILANT and ACTIVE and VOCAL to these SO-CALLED representatives of "the people". I tire sometimes, and have limited financial resources, but, I never, NEVER, give up the fight. Complacency, will kill the Constitution of the American's country. Folks in other countries--England, Scotland, Australia--have learned this the hard, and almost irreversible, way!

Sorry for the rant, but, pertinent to the thread. "Fight", Y'all. I do.

Y'all all take care and be safe.
Mick

 

[Soybomb]

Liberals do NOT "get it", and they are working for control

Its so easy to say "liberals" are the problem but its not just that.

Let me give you a brief clip of my discussion from earlier this week when talking about concealed carry permits and regulations of them with someone that has a permit, lots of guns, and is in the military:

You have to get a permit to conceal & carry. F'ing deal with it. It's a minor inconvenience. Overpriced? More than likely...but over all, a minor inconvenience. It's probably just a tax revenue source anyways.

Alcohol is legal in this country (I forgot which ammendment abolished prohibition), but you have to be 21. OH MY GOD THEY'RE RESTRICTING MY RIGHT TO DRINK WHEN I'M 18!!!

The issuing of permits does isn't a restriction on freedom, merely helps to ensure that responsible competent people are allowed to do so. A permit is merely a demonstration of maturity and competence, NOT A CIVIL LIBERTY RESTRICTION

This is from what should be "one of us." So many gun owners like gun control its scary.

 

[mbs357]

you would think hippies (commies, libs, dems, etc) are loosing the gun-ban war, right?

I don't think the name calling is necessary...
I believe fence sitters (those that have no opinion on the matter) are more likely to swing towards the crowd that are more polite and fair than not...
If they see the anti-gunners calling us hicks, rednecks, and idiots, and then see us call them communists, hippies, and idiots, what will the fence sitters think?
But if they see us call the anti-gunners by proper names, such as their real name, nick name or title, they may be more inclined to take us seriously.
Kind of a kill them with kindness thing.
One of the most important thing a good man has to remember is to not become the evil that he fights.

 

[kengrubb]

Arguably there are now 40 Right To Carry states. 2 with no restrictions, 35 Shall Issue, and 3 Do Issue.

Of the 8 May Issue states, there is reason to be hopeful in a few.

Of the 2 No Issue states, in Wisconsin as Stauffenberg noted, if Doyle is sent packing it's close to a lock.

Call it maybe 43 RTC states going into the '08 elections, with 7 states that will be danged near impossible to crack.

Under 12 years of Bush41-Clinton, gunowners had no friend in the White House. And there were but 10 RTC states in 1986.

Our friends grew in strength and number in the Congress, but there's still a ways to go.

If one looks at history, only once since 1953 has one political party held the White House for more than 8 years. Odds are good that the 44th President will be a D and not an R. Of those floating their names and/or likely to run, I know of no friend in the field of Ds. A strong legislature might hold an antigun President in check nationally, but there's still a lot of harassment that can be levied from the Executive Branch with the BAT-Men of F-Troop.

Stand Your Ground and No More Katrina Disarmament Programs are a great start, but there's still a ways to go.

Here in Washington state, despite an antigun Governor and an antigun Democratic Leadership in the legislature, no antigun bills are getting thru--but not for a lack of trying. Make no mistake, the Forces of Darkness are hard at work everywhere. If they can just eek out a few more seats here, maybe they'll have a go at it.

This fight, I suspect, will never be over. With the abolition of slavery Free Blacks might well have been thinking the same thing. While slavery isn't likely to recur here in the U.S. anytime soon, discrimination and disparities do still exist.

Perhaps, in time, the R2KBA movement without any antigun zealots in office to fight will evolve and more and more fight infringements on 1st, 4th, 9th, 10th Amendment and other rights.

Either that or the NRA will be to guns what AAA is to cars.

 

[#shooter]

We need more women

I read posts all the time of women being scared of guns, afraid to look at them or touch them. As if the gun will just jump up and start firing. I think it is imperative to get mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends, and daughters involved. When you consider that women outnumber men and women are more likely to vote than men; it is essential that we include women in the shooting sports. Women need to be educated and not scolded about firearms.

For the last few generations women have been excluded or neglected from shooting (target, hunting, clays, ccw etc). Shooting has traditionally been a father/son event for the last 100 years or so. The good news is times are a’ changing. I see a lot more women at the range today than say 10 years ago and that is a good thing, but there is still a ways to go. I have yet to see a woman alone or with other women at the range by themselves. IMHO I think getting women interested and educated about firearms is one of the best ways to minimize gun control.