Then and now

[Tony50ae]

For many older folks on this forum, there was a time when gun control was in its infancy, kids could carry rifles to school to go hunting afterwards, nobody cared if little Johnny drew a picture of a gun at school, and machine guns were alot easier to own.

Today of course things have changed. Draw a picture of a gun at school and your looking at a supension at least. Machine are still available but extremely expensive. Carry a rifle to school? SWAT will be there in record time!

However some things are better than the old days. The Supreme court ruled that the second amendment actually means what it says. States are passing laws to make it much harder for a dirt bag you shot in your home to sue you afterwards. And States that allow you to carry concealed is at a record number. Gun control on many fronts has lost some ground they gained in the last decade.

It not be the golden age of firearm rights, but perhaps a silver age? I like to look at gun control like this. When they attacked us it was like when Japan attacked us at Pearl Harbor. And afterwards we struggled till finally at Midway we had our first major victory. It still was a long road to victory but we finally won.

Admiral Yamamoto declared after Pearl Harbor " I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant". I dare say that maybe, just maybe, that all these anti gun groups have done is just that. After all, they have lost much ground. But the fight continues and we must remain ever vigilant against new enemies of the second amendment.

 

[Walkalong]

However some things are better than the old days. The Supreme court ruled that the second amendment actually means what it says. States are passing laws to make it much harder for a dirt bag you shot in your home to sue you afterwards.

In the "old days" the 2nd was understood, and we did not need the court to verify it, and no one would sue you if you shot a scumbag in your house, but perhaps my "old days" are earlier than yours.

 

[Johnny_Come_Lately]

...., kids could carry rifles to school to go hunting afterwards, nobody cared if little Johnny drew a picture of a gun at school, and machine guns were alot easier to own.

Now 12 year olds come to school with pistols in their bookbags to protect themselves against the thugs who would rob them on the way home of the $$$ they made selling pills at recess.

Today of course things have changed. Draw a picture of a gun at school and your looking at a supension at least. Machine are still available but extremely expensive. Carry a rifle to school? SWAT will be there in record time!

But, back in the old days kids weren't coming to school and shooting other kids.

 

[mnrivrat]

Although I will not discount the victories I am far from thinking this is the silver age of firearm ownership. Although that may end up being very true.

Much was lost starting in 1968 until recently, and I'm concerned that a lot of that loss will never be regained. We may have won the SCOTUS case regarding individual rights, but I feel bitter, and concerned, that it was not unanimous. By one person we could have lost out constitutional and natural rights to self protection. That, and the fact the case should have never have had to be heard if the laws had not already overstepped constitional authority concern me.

I have in the last 45 years watched as many of the Bill Of Rights amendments have been watered down and left less effective. The 2nd, along with others, seem to be always under siege and that is an issue of diminishing freedom.

The struggle to protect our freedom and human rights will never be over.

 

[1894]

The way I figure it, any time the gov't makes a law, restrictions are placed on citizens' behavior. The 2nd was in its heyday a long time ago. The only way to regain our rights is to repeal legislation - not pass more.

 

[Owen Sparks]

There was a time in America when there was no concept of an illegal THING, only actions were criminal.

 

[NMGonzo]

Golden age will come when the AZ gun law becomes the standard.

 

[Ole Coot]

I lived during the "old days" and I don't think the 2nd amendment ever came up except in school. I had guns 60yrs ago, didn't carry any but I can't remember when I didn't have a knife. I have been the route with them growing up in E. KY we learned respect for them early and learned to hunt and shoot. In school we did take guns to school to hunt later that day but we never thought of shooting anyone. We had some pretty good fights also but no kid ever pulled a knife. It was the Golden Age of growing up, hunting, fishing and just plain roaming the hills. Guns and knives were tools that could be used as weapons. Most of us didn't have TV so we did what young people today would think as mundane entertainment. We sneaked beer a little shine but still didn't try to really harm anyone. In the '60s the draft changed life for us but we or most of us readjusted. Today we are fighting to get what was natural and a right taken maybe for granted. No big difference between people then and today.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

i went to a small school in the 80's. we wud have theme days where we dressed according to the theme. on western day i walked in carrying a cap and ball 44, gunbelt and cowboy hat.when i got tired of carrying the heavey thing and it bangin off the desks, the prinicipal kept it for me till time to get on the bus.one of my buds was actually a dealer for parker frost cutlery and we wud order knives from him and he wud giv them to us in civics class.then during civics class our teacher would tell stories about how his buddy in the peace corps got killed by headhunters and he actually ended up with his shrunken head.lol brings bak memories

 

[teumessian_fox]

In the "good old days," the only people authorized to carry concealed were law enforcement. I think now is the best time, but then again I'm a middle aged white guy over 6'0" tall living in a free state that allows both CCW and full auto.