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What got you into the RKBA fight?
- Thread starter Monkeyleg
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Sindawe
Member
Watching the [Art's Grandma] that was done to the Weavers in Idaho and later to the Branch Davidians in Texas planted the seed. The AWB finalized the course.
the 22 junkie
Member
The internets, then bought a copy of 1984, and then I was asking my dad to show my how his 1100 worked, and next thing you know, I've got piles of Ayn Rand and now I'm buying black rifles. That, and the apathy around me. In the schools. Like a disease, almost everywhere. I would not be one of them, I would not become "a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist: the fashionable non-conformist.". Nope, I would just be the crazy gun nut libertarian, that guy who spends all his free time writing essays for the abolition of the DEA, and hating on american idol, and buying Steely Dan albums. My own freinds call me "Kid Plato". Go figure.
Last edited:
JeffCinSac
Member
Rare post
I don't post here often, but I read every day. I'm too new to have much to contribute, and (so far), almost all of the questions I have have already been asked and answered by people more knowledgeable that I am.
But this is an important question for me, as a former "liberal Democrat" who bought the party line hook, line, and sinker. Nobody needs handguns. The Second Amendment only applies to the state militia. Stricter gun control would reduce violent crime.
I had never fired a gun in my life, and was from a big city (in California, no less), where there was nowhere to fire one outside of a firing range, anyway. In short, I was ignorant and apathetic.
A friend at work has guns. Lots of them. He asked me to go shooting. I made fun of his as a redneck jerk. I told him that if someone stole his guns, he would be complicit in the crime committed with them. I told him he shouldn't have loaded guns in his home (an apartment), because if he DID have to use one in self-defense, the round would be likely to penetrate the wall and hurt his neighbor, and that would be murder. I told him you were 43 times more likely to be killed with your own gun that you were to shoot an intruder.
Then I finally relented and went shooting with him.
I liked it. A lot.
It made me think. I started reading. Facts, not political BS. I re-read history, and tried to understand the Bill of Rights, in context. I read John Lott, and Gary Kleck, and Don Kates. I started to ignore the politically-motivated "guns are bad" statements coming from the left. The NRA no longer seemed evil; instead, it seemed like a beleagured minority, trying with all its might not to lose further ground.
Then I began to study gun laws on a state by state basis, and discovered what a disparity there was. And I'm living in one of the most restrictive states. It didn't make sense to me that I could drive 100 miles from my home and purchase anything I wanted, with no waiting period, and be in a shall-issue jurisdiction with, you guessed it, LESS "gun-crime."
Then Katrina happened.
Holy poop, I realized. If something were to happen - something serious - my wife and I would be on our own. The thin veneer of "the police will protect you" began to peel away. I realized that we are, in fact, responsible for our own protection.
Since then, I have become the proud owner of six guns - four pistols and two rifles. I want more. I shoot at least twice a month. I try to educate the people around me. I have changed my voting pattern - a politician's stance on gun rights is now my litmus test. I am working with a dedicated group of individuals at californiaccw.org to push for shall-issue CCW reform in California. As soon as I get the safety on my Beretta Jetfire fixed, I will be applying for my CCW from Sacramento County. If I am denied, I will appeal. If my appeal is denied, I will file a public records act. I write letters to my politicians and to the editor. I am INVOLVED. I am converting my family. My wife's family are east-coast urban Jews (no flame, please, I'm Jewish too); one of the least friendly groups to the cause. They are neutral on the issue now, I think.
Then, I saw how hard the NRA fought in California to defeat microstamping. I'm now an NRA member. Who would have thought? The RKBA movement has changed my entire political worldview. I feel more like an individual; like the free man I am supposed to be. I now view politicians in this light - "will you make me more free, or less free?" Less free is not acceptable. Making it difficult for me to own and use guns makes me less free.
-J
I don't post here often, but I read every day. I'm too new to have much to contribute, and (so far), almost all of the questions I have have already been asked and answered by people more knowledgeable that I am.
But this is an important question for me, as a former "liberal Democrat" who bought the party line hook, line, and sinker. Nobody needs handguns. The Second Amendment only applies to the state militia. Stricter gun control would reduce violent crime.
I had never fired a gun in my life, and was from a big city (in California, no less), where there was nowhere to fire one outside of a firing range, anyway. In short, I was ignorant and apathetic.
A friend at work has guns. Lots of them. He asked me to go shooting. I made fun of his as a redneck jerk. I told him that if someone stole his guns, he would be complicit in the crime committed with them. I told him he shouldn't have loaded guns in his home (an apartment), because if he DID have to use one in self-defense, the round would be likely to penetrate the wall and hurt his neighbor, and that would be murder. I told him you were 43 times more likely to be killed with your own gun that you were to shoot an intruder.
Then I finally relented and went shooting with him.
I liked it. A lot.
It made me think. I started reading. Facts, not political BS. I re-read history, and tried to understand the Bill of Rights, in context. I read John Lott, and Gary Kleck, and Don Kates. I started to ignore the politically-motivated "guns are bad" statements coming from the left. The NRA no longer seemed evil; instead, it seemed like a beleagured minority, trying with all its might not to lose further ground.
Then I began to study gun laws on a state by state basis, and discovered what a disparity there was. And I'm living in one of the most restrictive states. It didn't make sense to me that I could drive 100 miles from my home and purchase anything I wanted, with no waiting period, and be in a shall-issue jurisdiction with, you guessed it, LESS "gun-crime."
Then Katrina happened.
Holy poop, I realized. If something were to happen - something serious - my wife and I would be on our own. The thin veneer of "the police will protect you" began to peel away. I realized that we are, in fact, responsible for our own protection.
Since then, I have become the proud owner of six guns - four pistols and two rifles. I want more. I shoot at least twice a month. I try to educate the people around me. I have changed my voting pattern - a politician's stance on gun rights is now my litmus test. I am working with a dedicated group of individuals at californiaccw.org to push for shall-issue CCW reform in California. As soon as I get the safety on my Beretta Jetfire fixed, I will be applying for my CCW from Sacramento County. If I am denied, I will appeal. If my appeal is denied, I will file a public records act. I write letters to my politicians and to the editor. I am INVOLVED. I am converting my family. My wife's family are east-coast urban Jews (no flame, please, I'm Jewish too); one of the least friendly groups to the cause. They are neutral on the issue now, I think.
Then, I saw how hard the NRA fought in California to defeat microstamping. I'm now an NRA member. Who would have thought? The RKBA movement has changed my entire political worldview. I feel more like an individual; like the free man I am supposed to be. I now view politicians in this light - "will you make me more free, or less free?" Less free is not acceptable. Making it difficult for me to own and use guns makes me less free.
-J
geekWithA.45
Moderator Emeritus
JeffCinSac:
I nominate you for "reformed liberal" poster boy.
I nominate you for "reformed liberal" poster boy.
wingnutx
Member
I read too much Heinlein and Niven/Pournelle as a kid.
Monkeyleg
Member.
JeffCinSac, that was an incredible post. Thank you.
The Cavalry
Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Messages
- 201
I was a passive member of the NRA for over 8 years while I lived in a "red" state, where my RKBA rights were unthreatened.
Then in 1994, the AWB and gushing/bragging press coverage promising more of same compelled me to step things up a notch. I raised awareness with family and friends and did my part to get our (now-former) US Senator replaced with a strongly pro-RKBA Republican that year.
I pretty much fell back asleep until 1999, when I moved to The Peoples Republic of New Jersey and encountered "gun control" the way Dems envision it.
No CCW permits for us commoners. State-level AWB with no expiration date. The law says 30 days for a Firearms Purchaser ID Card, mine took over double that and some take more as GeekWithA45 described. Restrictions on hollow point ammunition.
Some poor guy with a Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle hauled off to prison because it's an "Assault Weapon" due to its >15rd tubular magazine capacity.
And more laws proposed each session to further infringe on our rights...a complete, no grandfathering ban on handgun ownership unless the local police chief approves on a case-by-case...a "strengthened" AWB that allows only one evil feature such as detachable mag...no ammunition purchases without a Firearms Purchaser ID Card...etc.
This got me fully engaged in the battle to preserve what rights we have, while pushing for more. I started regularly writing state and federal congressmen. I began teaching interested neighbors and co-workers to shoot. (previously, I'd been brushing them off and referring them to NRA basic safety training)
And then came IANSA and their vision of complete victim disarmament. I joined JFPO and GOA, in addition to my NRA membership. I joined NJCSD.org and ANJRPC.org and spread the word.
For every action of the anti-gunners, there is an equal and opposite reaction from me and the growing number of pro-gunners I help bring to the sport.
Then in 1994, the AWB and gushing/bragging press coverage promising more of same compelled me to step things up a notch. I raised awareness with family and friends and did my part to get our (now-former) US Senator replaced with a strongly pro-RKBA Republican that year.
I pretty much fell back asleep until 1999, when I moved to The Peoples Republic of New Jersey and encountered "gun control" the way Dems envision it.
No CCW permits for us commoners. State-level AWB with no expiration date. The law says 30 days for a Firearms Purchaser ID Card, mine took over double that and some take more as GeekWithA45 described. Restrictions on hollow point ammunition.
Some poor guy with a Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle hauled off to prison because it's an "Assault Weapon" due to its >15rd tubular magazine capacity.
And more laws proposed each session to further infringe on our rights...a complete, no grandfathering ban on handgun ownership unless the local police chief approves on a case-by-case...a "strengthened" AWB that allows only one evil feature such as detachable mag...no ammunition purchases without a Firearms Purchaser ID Card...etc.
This got me fully engaged in the battle to preserve what rights we have, while pushing for more. I started regularly writing state and federal congressmen. I began teaching interested neighbors and co-workers to shoot. (previously, I'd been brushing them off and referring them to NRA basic safety training)
And then came IANSA and their vision of complete victim disarmament. I joined JFPO and GOA, in addition to my NRA membership. I joined NJCSD.org and ANJRPC.org and spread the word.
For every action of the anti-gunners, there is an equal and opposite reaction from me and the growing number of pro-gunners I help bring to the sport.
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