This, my friends, is why we must tread lightly. In my younger years, which if you know me is quite young, I used to make fun of a certain person for being a Democrat. As I found out, he is more oriented towards liberty than I was at the time.
Of course, that was also when I considered myself a Republican.
You, Riy, have had a hard life. I have had a hard life as well, but one not propagated by any one person.
You recognize that firearms are a tool. You recognize that they cannot inflict harm without outside force, any more than an automobile or a baseball bat.
I thank you for that, and I thank the powers that be for giving you the ability to find truth even in a world clouded by unfiltered emotion.
You are a remarkable woman, I can tell that merely by your words and your courage to step into the lion pit, or so we might seem.
Why then, given the fact that "I" am capable of giving "you" that benefit; given the fact that I am able to objectively reason through the illogisms that struggle so hard to compel me to not only write you off, but also commit my considerable energy and resources to supporting, with pen and with pocketbook, the cause of those that would see your rights decimated and ground to shards... WHY THEN do you choose to disparage me and others of those like me?
Why do you call us sheep?
Why do you assail the fact that some of us, like me, choose to live in San Francisco?
Why does our concern with the environment and healthcare result in invective?
You see, there are many, many of us out here who all of you consider "antis' who are not at all. There are some of us who, were we to give in to the temptation to slip logic in kind at the butt of your own tendencies to do so, would have damn fine reason to be "antis", would be very good at it, and would represent a considerable benefit to the cause of your nemeses.
We are legion. And our words are mightier than bullets. And we don't run out of ammo.
So, the next time you feel like hurling wisdom at us, the next time your own brush feels heavy and wanting for a target, consider that there are a few of us who haven't yet decided which ring to throw our dogs in. And our dogs are big. And our dogs are hungry.
With regards,
A loud, powerful, logical, well-connected, female and liberal California journalist who really doesn't want to take away your guns, but leans further in that direction every time she sees your lack of personal self-control.
I, unfortunately, cannot speak on the behalf of my comrades at THR. I cannot say why they may do what they do.
But many, many of us here will not say such unthinking and petty words, and that the owner of this forum, Oleg Volk, is one of them.
From Oleg Volk's thread "Changes at THR: LEGAL BOARD, READ BEFORE POSTING":
Oleg Volk said:
I'd like to reiterate the main mission goals of THR:
* Introduce new people to RKBA
* Support new shooters with information and encouragement
* Present a civil, peaceable and friendly image of gun owners to the world
* Organize actions to protect and expand our rights...
...Special care must be taken to ensure that we appear as reasonable and peaceable to the world as possible. Antis are sure to pluck even a rare example of uncivil, bigoted or Rambo conduct out of context and use against us. With that in mind, make sure that remedy of shooting anyone is only considered if all other legal options are exhausted. No more "feed the hogs!" or "from my cold dead hands!" If we ever come to that, the last thing you want is a discussion of tactics in an open forum, where the likely opposition can read and which they can use to justify bigger budgets and heavier armor.
Conduct becoming ladies and gentlemen is expected, without religious, national or other prejudices. That means no slurs on Californians, French, Muslims, cops, women or anyone else. If a particular group of people does something you dislike, let their actions speak for themselves. When debating, please avoid the typical logical fallacies common to debates at lesser forums. Remember that we should be more interested in a Socratic discourse, a search for the truth and a plan of action more than on winning the debates.
This forum is the extension of the company I wish to keep. Consider yourself invited by me personally and please do not abuse my hospitality by picking on other guests or by misusing the venue provided for discussions of topics specifically excluded from its brief, such as celebrity misbehaviors or non-RKBA politics.
I cannot speak for some people, and neither can Oleg. But we
can speak for ourselves.
Welcome to THR.
P.S., I know you addressed us wanting to take you shooting, but perhaps you have seen shooting as a Judas.
I always found it very sad that the name "Judas" will forever mean "betrayer" because I found that it was an almost unequally beautiful name. So I have often wondered what would happen if a child today were named "Judas" and then went on to do great and good things in the future, forever redeeming the name for generations.
Shooting is your Judas. It represents your father and many, many things you have come to hate. When, or if, your father taught you to shoot, he probably gave you the biggest gun he could find and watched as you hurt yourself firing it. He, possibly, laughed when you hit yourself from the recoil. If he was the bully you say he was, and I have no reason to doubt you, then it was probably just another way to put himself into a superior position, just the same as those that other sociopaths use.
Allow someone to redeem shooting for you. Allow someone to take that concept, that has a scar on it from your father's heinous acts, and clean it. You may find something you truly enjoy.
