Treylis
Some of us think ahead longer than just the next election. If you want to keep sanctioning evil, don't act surprised if it gets worse, and it will.
How, exactly, will a Kerry Presidency be better for gun owners than a Bush 2nd term? I am no Bushbot - I'm royally P.O.'d about campaign finance reform (i.e. gutting the 1st Amendment), elements of the Patriot Act (gutting the 4th), excess spending, not fighting for judges, immigration and a bunch of other things...but consider the following:
The next President will almost certainly appoint between 2 and 4 Supreme Court Justices, along with the usual 100+ lifetime federal judges on the District and Appeals Court levels. Whether merely considering the gun issue, or looking at a host of other issues of major importance to this country, which of the 2 will do far more damage to our country? Courts rule based on precedent (usually), and the precedents established by 2-4 "living Constitution" Justices will echo through many generations of history. Maybe Bush's Justices will be raging moderates on average, but what is the alternative? On this issue, how is defeating a less-than-perfect Bush better in the long run for gun rights than the alternative?
Bush, while not actively pro-gun, has told the UN to shove it regarding gun control. What would Kerry have done and, more importantly, what WILL he do when the issue is inevitably revisited?
Bush has also not lifted a finger to help the cause of gun control (and even demanded a "clean" lawsuit protection bill this past March). He also signed a concealed carry law in Texas back in '95. Compare and contrast to Clinton's 8 years. Now, which of these would Kerry emulate? What has Kerry EVER done that could even remotely be called neutral on guns, let alone pro-gun? What do you expect from each of them in terms of Executive Orders, support for legislation, etc. on the gun issue? Kerry will be FAR worse, no doubt about it - and we may never recover. At least with Bush, you won't have too many changes (if any), and with the growing number of carry licenses out there, we have a chance of turning the tide - not so with Kerry.
Regarding foreign and defense affairs, I can't see Kerry being as proactive in defending this nation against terrorists, or in keeping this nation's military as well supplied and keeping its moral high. Argue however you will about the current war in Iraq, at least Bush is viewing Islamic Fundamentalism as an enemy, not a criminal enterprise, and is DOING SOMETHING about keeping the SOBs off of our shores by killing them in large numbers.
What about the economy? Bush is a proven tax cutter, and Kerry is proven to be the opposite. Tax increases are promised by Kerry (one of the few promises that I believe, given his past record), and won't improve the economy.
Again, I'm no Bushbot, but unless Bush signs a renewal of the AWB, then he's got my vote (and if he does, I'll either stay home or vote Libertarian). Kerry is just too much of a disaster waiting to happen on too many issues that he CANNOT be allowed to live in the White House.
The perfect is the enemy of the good. Waiting for the perfect candidate on the gun issue is like waiting for Godot - he'll never arrive. Politics is the art of the practical - you can never get everything you want, but if you want to win over the long run, then you get what you can now and try to stave off disaster until your position is stronger - and then you get more.. Gun control as we know it came by the salami slice over a period of some 60 years (1934 NFA to '94 AWB), and it won't be rolled back overnight. Please keep this in mind when casting your ballot, and when talking to other potential voters.
