question about "the left wing"

[amZo]

Sorry, I can't agree with that. I am sure this is dripping with sarcasm, but I find it just a tad annoying that anytime someone brings up any kind of regulations on firearms, these arguments pop up.

Besides, it just leads to the argument of "Well, a populace needs to protect itself from its would-be oppressors" and then you could point to the current situation in the Ukraine as an example. Okay, if the people of this country rose up against the government, do you honestly think they would win? I doubt it. If they really wanted to take out any opposition, a barrage of well-placed airstrikes would do the trick. Then once you destroy critical elements of the infrastructure, you could just sit back and watch as large swaths of the populace turn on one another and kill each other, loot, riot, etc.

Think it couldn't happen?

I got just the opposite reaction from what happened in Ukraine. The people did win, they got rid of the Putin puppet. If the citizens did have arms, they may never have found themselves in this situation to begin with and I don't think Putin would dare begin rolling troops into Ukraine aside from the pro-Russian sections.

[MadeleineG]

"An armed society is a polite society.  Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."
- Robert Heinlein

I am willing to bet there are hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who wish they were armed right now, in the face of evil leftist aggression.

Are you calling Putin a leftist? 

[VeryGnawty]

Anyone find it funny that we have to spend at least 3 months with a shrink to get pills but to get a gun all it takes at most is a background check? Those pills cannot hurt anyone else other than ourselves but guns can

Yeah.  But, you're talking about a society that shows people getting their heads blown off on TV as a matter of course, but if you see a nipple all hell breaks loose.  So, clearly, any pills that might increase the size of your nipples is obviously much more problematic than guns.

[amZo]

Where are people getting the three month counselor requirement? I don't believe my doctor ever inquired about counseling.

[michelle]

Respect, and not guns, create a polite society.    Respect does not come from the barrel of a gun, death, fear, vengeance,  and misery come from the barrel of a gun.    In a society that is not based upon the respect for the life of every person in that society,  guns create chaos, destruction, and death.   Protecting yourself with a gun does not give anyone the right to kill every individual that you fear.   We don't change politics in the United States with the bullet, we change it with the ballot.   When you are denied your ballot, you go to the courts.

Our government is not our enemy,  our government is the guarantor of our liberty and freedoms.   When our legislatures have been destroyed in the past, the people in the state just elected a new one.  When our elected governors have been shot, we have elected a new one.    Protecting and exercising our right to vote protects us from our government.    Guns will never protect us from our government,  private militias are dangerous.

[MadeleineG]

Our government is not our enemy,  our government is the guarantor of our liberty and freedoms.   When our legislatures have been destroyed in the past, the people in the state just elected a new one.  When our elected governors have been shot, we have elected a new one.    Protecting and exercising our right to vote protects us from our government.    Guns will never protect us from our government,  private militias are dangerous.

The challenge in contemporary democracies is that the period of governance has not been adjusted to better reflect the speed of change and public opinion. Long periods of governance without the threat of imminent displacement will prompt politicians of all stripes to become arrogant and overreach.

In Canada, the functioning of democracy could be greatly enhanced by replacing federal elections where all 335 seats are up for grabs simultaneously with an endless staggering of by-elections.

In the US, no change would bring about more positive change than eliminating the presidency.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Respect, and not guns, create a polite society.

[Shantel]

The challenge in contemporary democracies is that the period of governance has not been adjusted to better reflect the speed of change and public opinion. Long periods of governance without the threat of imminent displacement will prompt politicians of all stripes to become arrogant and overreach.

In Canada, the functioning of democracy could be greatly enhanced by replacing federal elections where all 335 seats are up for grabs simultaneously with an endless staggering of by-elections.

In the US, no change would bring about more positive change than eliminating the presidency.

You're absolutely right, the Presidency is subject to term limits, congressmen and women should be subject to term limits as well, rather than entrenching themselves and making life-long careers as legislators because they become jaded and protect their own interests rather than the interests of their constituency, their biggest concern is being continually re-elected so they can live lavishly on the taxpayer's dime.

[MadeleineG]

You're absolutely right, the Presidency is subject to term limits, congressmen and women should be subject to term limits as well, rather than entrenching themselves and making life-long careers as legislators because they become jaded and protect their own interests rather than the interests of their constituency, their biggest concern is being continually re-elected so they can live lavishly on the taxpayer's dime.

I've always thought that the 22nd was brilliant and been disappointed we don't have similar legislation up here.

[Shantel]

I've always thought that the 22nd was brilliant and been disappointed we don't have similar legislation up here.

We need a similar one for congress so that they look to the business of governing the nation and perhaps those who serve won't be so driven to plunder the treasury with pork barrel legislation in order to garner more votes from constituents for their reelection.

[amZo]

John Dingell just retired from congress after 60 years or so. Spent his entire adult life there. Way too long. I think eight years or so is long enough for all positions in government. Something needs to be done about family dynasties as well, no more Kennedys, Clintons, or Bushes.

[MadeleineG]

John Dingell just retired from congress after 60 years or so. Spent his entire adult life there. Way too long. I think eight years or so is long enough for all positions in government. Something needs to be done about family dynasties as well, no more Kennedys, Clintons, or Bushes.

+1

Let's take it a step further: nominal pay for politicians, no formal party affiliations, and no third-party campaign financing

[Shantel]

+1

Let's take it a step further: nominal pay for politicians, no formal party affiliations, and no third-party campaign financing

I like your thinking Gwynne! Originally congress was made up of those who took time off from their occupations and performed their duties on a voluntary basis, now all we have is basically paid mercenaries.

[Kyra553]

Have you watched that video? Unless that woman had a gun strapped to her side in her own home, there is no way having guns would have stopped that attack.  The man just barged in and started punching her.  If you keep your guns locked up in the bedroom or somewhere safe, they wouldn't do ANYTHING to help you in the identical situation that woman went through. 

I used a random photo for my description not a video. But since you brought up speed and time into this debate then I will say use the nearest tools on hand to defend yourself with until you can reach a self defense weapon. I am unsure how this lady had her defenses set up in her own home but I will give you insite of my own. Because I deal with gangbangers, murders,crooks, and child rapists on a daily basis I feel as though I have a pretty good idea on what I NEED to insure the safety of my family. The criminal mind relies on speed and surprise and most criminals reflect that. In my home Ihave several barriers in place for a forced entry. One a alert system outside consisting of active cameras and roaming dogs that bark and gcrawl at anything on our property. Two I have two more dogs that bark and grawl at anything in the house unless directed not to. Three I have a firearm in every room of my home safely stored in a cabinet, drawer, or simply under a folded sheet. I leave tools around the house in case I need to defend the lives of my loved ones and I will not hesitate to stop any threat that enters this one. This house hold does not rely on physical barriers for safety. Instead we rely on training and knowledge.

So do some research your self of how brutal some home invasions are and how common it is for large groups to enter your home at once. Then look at yourself and say "sure I could defend with my hands only" then I want you to find a soldier and ask his/her opinion as well or even a police officer. Good luck

[MadeleineG]

I like your thinking Gwynne! Originally congress was made up of those who took time off from their occupations and performed their duties on a voluntary basis, now all we have is basically paid mercenaries.

Professional politician should be an oxymoron. 

[Sephirah]

Professional politician should be an oxymoron. 

Well, an interesting anagram of 'Professional Politician' is 'Serial pontifical poison'.

Rather fitting, lol.

[amZo]

I used a random photo for my description not a video. But since you brought up speed and time into this debate then I will say use the nearest tools on hand to defend yourself with until you can reach a self defense weapon. I am unsure how this lady had her defenses set up in her own home but I will give you insite of my own. Because I deal with gangbangers, murders,crooks, and child rapists on a daily basis I feel as though I have a pretty good idea on what I NEED to insure the safety of my family. The criminal mind relies on speed and surprise and most criminals reflect that. In my home Ihave several barriers in place for a forced entry. One a alert system outside consisting of active cameras and roaming dogs that bark and gcrawl at anything on our property. Two I have two more dogs that bark and grawl at anything in the house unless directed not to. Three I have a firearm in every room of my home safely stored in a cabinet, drawer, or simply under a folded sheet. I leave tools around the house in case I need to defend the lives of my loved ones and I will not hesitate to stop any threat that enters this one. This house hold does not rely on physical barriers for safety. Instead we rely on training and knowledge.

So do some research your self of how brutal some home invasions are and how common it is for large groups to enter your home at once. Then look at yourself and say "sure I could defend with my hands only" then I want you to find a soldier and ask his/her opinion as well or even a police officer. Good luck

We experience a home invasion about seven or eight years ago. Thankfully my wife and kids had just left the home to run some errands. It turns out these two thugs were serial rapists and killers as well as burglars. One of them is still at large, the other is on death row.

But speaking of speed, my wife (now ex) would've had time to get a gun from a safe place. The first door they tried to break thru was bolt locked, they had to go to a window and break thru that. There are predators out there that will stop at nothing. They're not near as uncommon as most people think.

[Shantel]

Another question about the Left Wing why the disparity while so self-righteous?

[amZo]

Another question about the Left Wing why the disparity while so self-righteous?

Careful, facts are dangerous things for many people. 

[Shantel]

Respect, and not guns, create a polite society.    Respect does not come from the barrel of a gun, death, fear, vengeance,  and misery come from the barrel of a gun.    In a society that is not based upon the respect for the life of every person in that society,  guns create chaos, destruction, and death.   Protecting yourself with a gun does not give anyone the right to kill every individual that you fear.   We don't change politics in the United States with the bullet, we change it with the ballot.   When you are denied your ballot, you go to the courts.

Our government is not our enemy,  our government is the guarantor of our liberty and freedoms.   When our legislatures have been destroyed in the past, the people in the state just elected a new one.  When our elected governors have been shot, we have elected a new one.    Protecting and exercising our right to vote protects us from our government.    Guns will never protect us from our government,  private militias are dangerous.

You may want to relocate if you aren't happy, here's why:

The Dick Act of 1902 also known as the Efficiency of Militia Bill H.R. 11654, of June 28, 1902 invalidates all so-called gun-control laws. It also divides the militia into three distinct and separate entities.
The three classes H.R. 11654 provides for are the organized militia, henceforth known as the National Guard of the State, Territory and District of Columbia, the unorganized militia and the regular army. The militia encompasses every able-bodied male between the ages of 18 and 45. All members of the unorganized militia have the absolute personal right and 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms of any type, and as many as they can afford to buy.
The Dick Act of 1902 cannot be repealed; to do so would violate bills of attainder and ex post facto laws which would be yet another gross violation of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The President of the United States has zero authority without violating the Constitution to call the National Guard to serve outside of their State borders.
The National Guard Militia can only be required by the National Government for limited purposes specified in the Constitution (to uphold the laws of the Union; to suppress insurrection and repel invasion). These are the only purposes for which the General Government can call upon the National Guard.