daleamn wrote:We REGULARLY get confronted with folks claiming to be stanch 2nd Amendment supporters, many times touting their firearms expertise and proficiency that then come out and say stuff like "But I have to say I support more gun control because..."
Does anybody have an example of the opposite? There probably is one out there SOMEWHERE and if anybody has run across one could you post a link?
What I'm talking about is somebody saying something like "I definitely support stricter laws concerning guns but I can't support THIS particular gun law."
It would cheer me up a bit to think some on the other side would do this once in a while just to show they were giving some thought rather than just knee jerk reactions.
Ok, this probably isn't my brightest decision, but since you asked nicely, I figured I can answer your question. I'm just here lurking for cheap ammo and interesting guns, but I guess I can dabble a bit on the political side.
I'm a registered democrat. I think Biden has been doing a good job, especially the master class of diplomacy leading up to the Ukraine war. It felt great to watch professional statesmen do their jobs. He actually had an infrastructure week that delivered a ton of benefits to the country, not just a phrase used to distract from the latest scandal.
I do support more restrictions on owning firearms, but there are some particular gun laws I don't support. For example, bans on semi-auto rifles is too far for me, but I do support some restrictions. Enhanced background checks (as has been discussed on this board) are fine to me, as well as red flag laws. I would consider an age limit for semi-auto rifles like 21, although the devil is in the details for that one. I'm also on the fence about licensing for some guns. I also support bans for people convicted of domestic violence, until their terms of probation are complete. Plus 5 years.
Literally everything above has caveats, but it's tough to keep this succinct without the whole post being pedantic. Like the ban for domestic violence. Maybe I would support bird guns, or they can have a range where they check their guns in/out for target shooting at the range. Who knows? It depends on the specifics, and I'd listen to the experts discuss the pros and cons to details like this. Maybe I'd be willing to compromise on something I think is just a nice to have in order to get something I really want (national carry licenses, removing suppressors from NFA, stuff like that).
I have a lot of friends who are politically in the same boat as me. I do know some people who are on the extremes of banning firearms of course. Overall the breakdown on what my friends overall will support breaks down similarly to America in general. Some want all guns banned, some want absolutely no restrictions at all, but the majority are for some limitations. I don't think that the democratic party as a whole doesn't
really wants to ban guns. I see what happened to the GOP when Roe v Wade was overturned, and I think the democratic leadership realizes they don't want to be the dog that catches the car too. It's great to fund raise on but be wary of having the most extreme get their way.
You know what I think the biggest problem is? All the divisiveness. This site doesn't do a lot to listen, and I think it's a damn shame. It's not welcoming. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only democrat here, but you'd have to have pretty thick skin to want to stay here and participate when you're called a communist every day. Yes, some democrats are communists, but the vast majority aren't. Just like some members of the GOP are Nazis and think January 6th was just some "tourists" taking a self-guided tour. But we're all just people trying to take care of our friends and families. That's just my time on the soapbox, and I'm probably better of talking to a therapist about it than putting it out there, but as long as I have your attention...
So yah, that's where I sit. Proud veteran, capitalist, liberal "gun grabber" who just wants to shoot a deer and pheasant every now and then. I hope this answers your question, so I guess... AMA?
Laws and regulations preserve freedom by striking a balance among individuals' liberties.