something to think about

[alan]

Page 41, the November issue of The American Rifleman magazine contains that famous 2004 photo of John Kerry and Sarah Brady, with their heads together. A box immediately above that photo describes Mrs. Brady as "optimistic" re gun banners chances on election Day 2006, quoting her as follows, "This is the opportunity we've been waiting for".

There are roughly 80,000,000 gun owners in the U.S. I don't know how many of them are of voting age, how many are registered to vote, however I suspect that the votes of gun owners could well make or break Sarah's day. Let's hope that gun owners go to the polls on Election Day, and that their votes are directed toward ruining the day for the gun banners, Mrs. Brady included.

BTW, it isn't necessarily a case of voting Republican as opposed to Democrat, for not every Republican is pro gun, not every Democrat is anti gun. Additionally, re some who seem suddenly to have become pro gun, check to see where they stood yesterday.

Finally, respecting some of the current administration's more questionable stunts, some Republican office holders might be in jeopardy. While in my view, Bush and Co. have some serious questions to answer, answers are not likely I suppose, and one could question how "pro gun" this administration actually is, looking at things not done, it would be a real shame to see significant damage to the rights of the law abiding gun owner, as a result of perhaps misplaced "throw the bums out" sentiment, and or votes cast by gun owners.

 

[Green Lantern]

Just knowing there are 80 mil gun owners does NOT give me comfort.

Sorry if I ruffle some feathers, but a non-voting gun owner is pretty well useless. Or to clarify, a gun owner that dosen't VOTE like a gun owner.

80 million gun owners. Only 4 million of them in the NRA, currently the single biggest 2A force in Washingtin. Of THEM - only a paltry 100,000 members bothered to send postcards of protest to the people behind the U.N./IANSA gun ban summit this summer!!!! NOT letters (I don't have a printer, so even I could not print the letters and mail them ), but pre printed and addressed POSTCARDS that NRA MAILED to people.

All it took was a stamp and a signature, and what - only one out of 250? NRA members even bothered to do that.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[alan]

Green Lantern wrote:

Just knowing there are 80 mil gun owners does NOT give me comfort.

Sorry if I ruffle some feathers, but a non-voting gun owner is pretty well useless. Or to clarify, a gun owner that dosen't VOTE like a gun owner.

80 million gun owners. Only 4 million of them in the NRA, currently the single biggest 2A force in Washingtin. Of THEM - only a paltry 100,000 members bothered to send postcards of protest to the people behind the U.N./IANSA gun ban summit this summer!!!! NOT letters (I don't have a printer, so even I could not print the letters and mail them ), but pre printed and addressed POSTCARDS that NRA MAILED to people.

All it took was a stamp and a signature, and what - only one out of 250? NRA members even bothered to do that.

---------------------

The numbers you quoted certainly are "a bummer". For mysaelf, I never cared for canned post cards, I usually either call and or write my own comments.

Sad to say, I do not know what could be done to "energize" a large portion of the 80,000,000, which certainly would get attention, if accomplished.

 

[Biker]

Throw the bums out. The Pubs had a chance to make history and reverse some horrible wrongs, but they just took the opportunity to to gut the BORs and fatten their own wallets.
Throw the bastiges out.

Biker

 

[progunner1957]

This time, they want CONFISCATION

Sad to say, I do not know what could be done to "energize" a large portion of the 80,000,000, which certainly would get attention, if accomplished.

Another gun ban, I fear. By then, it will be too late.

The "new and improved" gun ban the leftist/Democrat/socialist antigun bigots want to sign into law is much more far reaching than Clinton's symbolic gun ban. They want to ban ALL semiautos - rifles and handguns. And they want confiscation of currently owned semiautos.

 

[DRMMR02]

You have to keep in mind, that while gun-rights are certainly an extremely important issue, it is not the only issue. There may be a lot of voters out there who simply have other issues in mind when choosing condidates. Abortion, Affirmitive Action, Free-Money-For-Slacker(welfare) are all important things to be dealt with as well. I personally think it's wise to pick a candidate based on many of his views, not just one.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

Yeah, and the republicans in power apparently want the right to monitor my computer usage, mail, telephone calls, whereabouts, financial dealings, grocery purchases, reading list, worship, and so on, without probable cause or a warrant. In addition to the right to arrest and detain me "proactively," before the evidence I'm going to do anything wrong has been created. And so forth.

Which is worse? Rights aren't a partisan issue, dammit.

 

[Critter183]

DMR said:

I personally think it's wise to pick a candidate based on many of his views, not just one.

I used to be basically a one issue voter, the 2nd amendment, but now I see even bigger threats, and I've learned a lot in the last 6 years about what my enemy really looks like.

If a guy gives lip service to 2A issues, and even votes in favor of the 2nd on most occassions, but then also votes for things like the Patriot Act 1 and 2, and the this new Military Commissions Act, or the Real ID act, or any number of other fascist bits of legislation, is he really my friend, or is he my worst enemy?

I think he is my worst enemy, to be honest, and he's not getting my vote, period.

 

[ZeSpectre]

yes,
Please vote
Please vote based on the actual stance not the party membership

oh and Green Lantern... I actually took the time to send a couple of hand written letters regarding the U.N./IANSA gun ban summit (though in retrospect maybe I should have typed them as my handwriting is terrible).

 

[alan]

CRITTER and DRMMR02 made some interesting points.

In fact, the Second Amendment is not the only issue, though it is an important issue.

Perhaps even more important seems to be the fact thas a vast majority of our "elected things" Democratic as well as Republican, are all to willing to trash individual rights, in the name of public safety and security.

Equally unfortunate seems to be the fact that a majority of the people appear all to willing to swallow the line of crap headed safety and security, seemingly having forgotten, if they ever knew and understood the circa 1759 observation of Benjmain Franklin, to the effect that "he who surrenders essential liberties to security temporary security deserves neither liberty nor security.

Re such persons, I'm given to recall something written by John Donne. The late Mr. Hemmingway used it in the title of one of his books. Donne offered, "send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee". The liberty for security types will likely never get it.

 

[Molon Labe]

the Second Amendment is not the only issue

It is the final issue.