As a Democratic competitive shooter and hunter, I would ask Mr. Carter's view on the 2nd Amendment and gun control in general. Frequently I attend competitive shooting matches in the tri-state area with semi-automatic rifles (traditionally called high-power matches by shooting enthusiasts). Will Mr. Carter protect my right to carry firearms, own and shoot semi-automatic weapons (dubbed assault rifles by the uninformed), and carry concealed? This is a very important topic; so important in fact that the Supreme Court will rule on it in the next month or so. I feel the right to keep and bear arms is not negotiable and is as important as the first or fourth amendments. Often times political candidates say they support hunting and sportsmen afield as a way of deflecting the their actual views on gun control. What do you think?
James Rivers - Watauga County North Carolina
Comments
You make some good points...
...many of which I already knew of, or agree with, and think further discussion of would be relevant and enlightening.
Look, I can't imagine any responsible, intelligent citizen not being concerned about illegal/irresponsible gun use and shooting deaths. It's obscene. So are deaths caused by drunk drivers and a variety of other tragedies caused by irresponsible or criminal behavior. There are places in the world where guns are commonplace yet they don't have the problem we have. I just don't think the idea that banning everyone from owning a gun because of the actions of a few is a reasonable and fair solution. Obviously some disagree.
As to the toughness of our people...maybe you're correct, but I hope not. There are those, Democrats and Republicans alike, who are all blustery about patriotism and the law, but refuse to share the responsibility for protecting our nation in any way other than talking about it. It's Congress's fault they're allowed to do that. Of course Congress won't fix it until they absolutely have to because it might mean someone in their family might have to make a sacrifice. Sacrifice and shared responsibility is for the little people...not Congress and other politicians (with a few exclusions, of course, like Webb's son, etc.). Our troops have performed magnificently. It's the citizenry that's supposed to support them that hasn't done their job well enough.
I didn't comment on Mr. River's post. He stepped in the poop...let him extricate himself or go under on his own I thought. As to God given rights...I guess that depends on one's beliefs. I don't agree with Mr. Rivers. Owning a gun has nothing to do with God.
John Edwards drew connections between poverty, disease, war, and the destruction of our environment. I'd add to the list poor parenting and folks that don't give a crap about their neighbors or anything else unless it directly impacts them. I suspect the last two contribute directly to many of the US gun death related stats you mentioned.
Sorry you can't "stan" it anymore. But at least you made your case without being rude or sarcastic or without portraying yourself as a know-it-all. I like that.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Stan Bozarth
Muahahahaahaha~~~~
What wouldn't I do right now for a picture of that dog that rode with Snidely Whiplash/Dick Dastardly in the "Wacky Races" cartoons of yesteryear ~
yrs,
Muttley
God didn't kill?
Nearly every part of the United States with very liberal gun laws sees crime rates equal to that of Japan or other socialist countries. The problem is, racist anti-gun liberals such as yourself have created what are known to criminals and psychopaths as "gun free zones". These zones are great killing grounds in that everyone within these zones are defenseless!! Washington DC is a great killing zone. Cook County, Ill. is another. Placing guns in the hands of law abiding civilians has been shown, time and time again,to lower crime and violence.
I disagree with you concerning the socialist countries that you mentioned not taking advantage of their people. In England, since the handgun ban went into effect, the violent crime rate has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Officials in England are at a loss of what exactly to do. Never mind they disarmed the law abiding citizens and created another, yep you guess it, GUN FREE ZONE where thugs armed with guns, knives, and screwdrivers wreck havoc on anyone they want. Forget about protecting yourself with a gun. If you do then you are the one who goes to jail, not the poor criminal!! Australia. Now here's a good one. Australia confiscated guns from its citizens similar to England. Similar to England their VIOLENT CRIME RATE TOPS THAT OF THE US. If things weren't bad enough in socialist Australia, the government has decided to wield its racist powers against, and I would never have guess this one in a million years, the Aborigines. The Aborigines were singled out for child abuse; the end result being Aborigines in the Northern Territories can own Zero guns, Zero alcohol, and Zero porn. Now I am not advocating that porn is necessarily a good thing, however I would never advocate the singling out of a group of citizens based on color for some stupid law. Those Aborigines, or an Australian for that matter, has not recourse to go along with it. Imagine if that were to occur at this very minute in the US. No way Jose!!! To add injury to insult, one of the Australian politicians instrumental in discriminating against the poor Aborigines was arrested for public drunkenness outside a New York City strip club last year!!!! Talk about hypocrisy!!!!!!!! And to even go FURTHER with this one - Australia now has the ability to bar admission to anyone coming into Australia based on CHARACTER. If they don't like your looks, attitude, political persuasion or anything else they can ban you. Ask Snoop Doggy Dog how that feels!!! And they aren't out of control? How do you know they won't take it a step further ( I hear they want to start sterilizing Aborigine girls). In other words, nothing is in place that allow the common citizens of that screwed up country to stop them.
As for the God Given thing. Why is it surprising that God wouldn't want me to defend myself against a criminal or out of control govt. Does this mean God thinks the Revolutionary War is wrong? Or that we defeated Hitler? You say God did not advocate killing. I beg to differ. As a Christian who reads the Bible I can say God killed wholesale at times. Yes, the very hand of God killed people, not to mention the Christians he ordered to kill others. Remember Sampson, one of the old testament heros? He killed 500 Philistines with the jaw of an ox. God wiped out the first born sons of non-believers. Many, many other example abound. God and guns go together like tacos and hot sauce. I firmly believe God would want me to protect me and my family against any threat. Would you not use deadly force to protect yourself or your kids? And if you did, do you say that God would disapprove? If the "Book of Heston" is not approved canon then I guess you are a racist who thinks Martin Luther Kings March should never have taken place. Mr. Heston, let me remind you, marched with Mr. King when doing so was very, very unpolitical correct. Heston is not a good one to pick on - you will surely lose that one (like the God comment)
The hunters who paid for the Wolf to be reintroduced have the right to keep their numbers in check. If not the numbers of elk and deer will decrease to the point there are none left to hunt. With no hunters, no license or fees will be paid (already happening in Idaho) and wildlife management agencies will become underfunded. As for leaving nature alone, great. Tear down your house, move to a communal dwelling in the city so the place where you live can return to the natural balance.
To become more like Somalia or South Africa all we have to do is follow your prescription of more gun control. The common folks living in Somalia are not allowed to own weapons. Because of this, government sponsored militias run rampant in that country. They rape, pillage and torture innocent civilians who have no recourse except to submit. So no, adding more guns into the hands of citizens will never drive us closer to fascism. So your well intentioned enlightenment is really wishful thinking at its worst. Perhaps if we were to disarm Americans the way the Aussie Govt. has disarmed ordinary Aussies, our black could once again be discriminated against like they were in the 60s. Would you like that? You seem to advocate that based on what you wish and hope for. In addition, I don't think God would think too much of that.
I have lived all over the world myself. I know that I cannot wait to return to the United States each and every time. I was once robbed in Mexico by the police. I have seen the effects of strict gun regulation in places like Cairo or Tegucigalpa. There are many, many places where you just don't go in those countries. And what about Switzerland? They have the highest rate of gun ownership in the world. They are required to keep fully automatic weapons in their homes. They have an incredibly low crime rate which goes against everything you have said!!!!!! I wouldn't mind raising my family their (in a place with its priorities straight).
James Rivers
James Rivers
Pure fallacy
Nearly every part of the United States with very liberal gun laws sees crime rates equal to that of Japan or other socialist countries. The problem is, racist anti-gun liberals such as yourself have created what are known to criminals and psychopaths as "gun free zones". These zones are great killing grounds in that everyone within these zones are defenseless!! Washington DC is a great killing zone. Cook County, Ill. is another. Placing guns in the hands of law abiding civilians has been shown, time and time again,to lower crime and violence.
I disagree with you concerning the socialist countries that you mentioned not taking advantage of their people. In England, since the handgun ban went into effect, the violent crime rate has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Officials in England are at a loss of what exactly to do. Never mind they disarmed the law abiding citizens and created another, yep you guess it, GUN FREE ZONE where thugs armed with guns, knives, and screwdrivers wreck havoc on anyone they want. Forget about protecting yourself with a gun. If you do then you are the one who goes to jail, not the poor criminal!! Australia. Now here's a good one. Australia confiscated guns from its citizens similar to England. Similar to England their VIOLENT CRIME RATE TOPS THAT OF THE US. If things weren't bad enough in socialist Australia, the government has decided to wield its racist powers against, and I would never have guess this one in a million years, the Aborigines. The Aborigines were singled out for child abuse; the end result being Aborigines in the Northern Territories can own Zero guns, Zero alcohol, and Zero porn. Now I am not advocating that porn is necessarily a good thing, however I would never advocate the singling out of a group of citizens based on color for some stupid law. Those Aborigines, or an Australian for that matter, has not recourse to go along with it. Imagine if that were to occur at this very minute in the US. No way Jose!!! To add injury to insult, one of the Australian politicians instrumental in discriminating against the poor Aborigines was arrested for public drunkenness outside a New York City strip club last year!!!! Talk about hypocrisy!!!!!!!! And to even go FURTHER with this one - Australia now has the ability to bar admission to anyone coming into Australia based on CHARACTER. If they don't like your looks, attitude, political persuasion or anything else they can ban you. Ask Snoop Doggy Dog how that feels!!! And they aren't out of control? How do you know they won't take it a step further ( I hear they want to start sterilizing Aborigine girls). In other words, nothing is in place that allow the common citizens of that screwed up country to stop them.
As for the God Given thing. Why is it surprising that God wouldn't want me to defend myself against a criminal or out of control govt. Does this mean God thinks the Revolutionary War is wrong? Or that we defeated Hitler? You say God did not advocate killing. I beg to differ. As a Christian who reads the Bible I can say God killed wholesale at times. Yes, the very hand of God killed people, not to mention the Christians he ordered to kill others. Remember Sampson, one of the old testament heros? He killed 500 Philistines with the jaw of an ox. God wiped out the first born sons of non-believers. Many, many other example abound. God and guns go together like tacos and hot sauce. I firmly believe God would want me to protect me and my family against any threat. Would you not use deadly force to protect yourself or your kids? And if you did, do you say that God would disapprove? If the "Book of Heston" is not approved canon then I guess you are a racist who thinks Martin Luther Kings March should never have taken place. Mr. Heston, let me remind you, marched with Mr. King when doing so was very, very unpolitical correct. Heston is not a good one to pick on - you will surely lose that one (like the God comment)
The hunters who paid for the Wolf to be reintroduced have the right to keep their numbers in check. If not the numbers of elk and deer will decrease to the point there are none left to hunt. With no hunters, no license or fees will be paid (already happening in Idaho) and wildlife management agencies will become underfunded. As for leaving nature alone, great. Tear down your house, move to a communal dwelling in the city so the place where you live can return to the natural balance.
To become more like Somalia or South Africa all we have to do is follow your prescription of more gun control. The common folks living in Somalia are not allowed to own weapons. Because of this, government sponsored militias run rampant in that country. They rape, pillage and torture innocent civilians who have no recourse except to submit. So no, adding more guns into the hands of citizens will never drive us closer to fascism. So your well intentioned enlightenment is really wishful thinking at its worst. Perhaps if we were to disarm Americans the way the Aussie Govt. has disarmed ordinary Aussies, our black could once again be discriminated against like they were in the 60s. Would you like that? You seem to advocate that based on what you wish and hope for. In addition, I don't think God would think too much of that.
I have lived all over the world myself. I know that I cannot wait to return to the United States each and every time. I was once robbed in Mexico by the police. I have seen the effects of strict gun regulation in places like Cairo or Tegucigalpa. There are many, many places where you just don't go in those countries. And what about Switzerland? They have the highest rate of gun ownership in the world. They are required to keep fully automatic weapons in their homes. They have an incredibly low crime rate which goes against everything you have said!!!!!! I wouldn't mind raising my family their (in a place with its priorities straight).
One last thing. What type of assault rifle can kill 5 people at 500yards in 5 seconds? I think you don't know much about long range shooting. Even our very best Marine snipers wouldn't be able to come close to that feat!!
James Rivers
James Rivers
You have saved me a lot of trouble.
So it's ok if God did it? Then you are putting yourself on the same level as God, ok. Well far be for me to be so presumptuous as to debate with a deity.
Saves me the tedium of pointing out the ignorance, idolitry, inconsistencies and idiocy of your ramblings. This line of yours stands out:
You've snorted one too many lines of black powder. Give it a rest.
Person County Democrats
I actively oppose gerrymandering. Do you?
cherry picker
persondem,
With this being your only commentary concerning my comments, I can only believe you agree with everything else I said!!!! Is this true? Or do you not wish to engage on topics that you know are safely in the "winning column"?
One of your fellow detractors asked if God would think it ok to kill people. I responded by saying that "God killed wholesale at times". Your twisting this around (liberals are excellent at this as they have no sound arguments of their own)serves only to showcase your ignorance.
How about going through the "tedium of pointing out the ignorance, idolatry, inconsistencies and idiocy of my ramblings". Please do. I think if you could have you would have. But, like many others on this post, you resort to contrite remarks that add nothing of value to your side of the argument except to highlight your own glaring idiocy. I would include inconsistencies here, but you haven't posted anything of substance so I am unable to do that. As for ignorance, you lack of knowlegde speaks volumes. LOL!!!
And what lines of yours stand out? Do you have any thoughts going on in your head that have a modicum of originality? Or do you swallow what the liberal professor gave you hook, line and sinker? You may not agree or like my lines, but they surely trump what you post (or don't post as the case may be).
James Rivers
James Rivers
persondem, With this being
persondem,
With this being your only commentary concerning my comments, I can only believe you agree with everything else I said!!!! Is this true? Or do you not wish to engage on topics that you know are safely in the "winning column"?
One of your fellow detractors asked if God would think it ok to kill people. I responded by saying that "God killed wholesale at times". Your twisting this around (liberals are excellent at this as they have no sound arguments of their own)serves only to showcase your ignorance.
How about going through the "tedium of pointing out the ignorance, idolatry, inconsistencies and idiocy of my ramblings". Please do. I think if you could have you would have. But, like many others on this post, you resort to contrite remarks that add nothing of value to your side of the argument except to highlight your own glaring idiocy. I would include inconsistencies here, but you haven't posted anything of substance so I am unable to do that. As for ignorance, you lack of knowlegde speaks volumes. LOL!!!
And what lines of yours stand out? Do you have any thoughts going on in your head that have a modicum of originality? Or do you swallow what the liberal professor gave you hook, line and sinker? You may not agree or like my lines, but they surely trump what you post (or don't post as the case may be).
James Rivers
James Rivers
James Rivers
Again for your perusal
Persondem,
So you don't get away with your liberal, cherry picking ways, here is the post again. Please go through, in tedium, and pick it apart - if you can. LOL!!!!!
Nearly every part of the United States with very liberal gun laws sees crime rates equal to that of Japan or other socialist countries. The problem is, racist anti-gun liberals such as yourself have created what are known to criminals and psychopaths as "gun free zones". These zones are great killing grounds in that everyone within these zones are defenseless!! Washington DC is a great killing zone. Cook County, Ill. is another. Placing guns in the hands of law abiding civilians has been shown, time and time again,to lower crime and violence.
I disagree with you concerning the socialist countries that you mentioned not taking advantage of their people. In England, since the handgun ban went into effect, the violent crime rate has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Officials in England are at a loss of what exactly to do. Never mind they disarmed the law abiding citizens and created another, yep you guess it, GUN FREE ZONE where thugs armed with guns, knives, and screwdrivers wreck havoc on anyone they want. Forget about protecting yourself with a gun. If you do then you are the one who goes to jail, not the poor criminal!! Australia. Now here's a good one. Australia confiscated guns from its citizens similar to England. Similar to England their VIOLENT CRIME RATE TOPS THAT OF THE US. If things weren't bad enough in socialist Australia, the government has decided to wield its racist powers against, and I would never have guess this one in a million years, the Aborigines. The Aborigines were singled out for child abuse; the end result being Aborigines in the Northern Territories can own Zero guns, Zero alcohol, and Zero porn. Now I am not advocating that porn is necessarily a good thing, however I would never advocate the singling out of a group of citizens based on color for some stupid law. Those Aborigines, or an Australian for that matter, has not recourse to go along with it. Imagine if that were to occur at this very minute in the US. No way Jose!!! To add injury to insult, one of the Australian politicians instrumental in discriminating against the poor Aborigines was arrested for public drunkenness outside a New York City strip club last year!!!! Talk about hypocrisy!!!!!!!! And to even go FURTHER with this one - Australia now has the ability to bar admission to anyone coming into Australia based on CHARACTER. If they don't like your looks, attitude, political persuasion or anything else they can ban you. Ask Snoop Doggy Dog how that feels!!! And they aren't out of control? How do you know they won't take it a step further ( I hear they want to start sterilizing Aborigine girls). In other words, nothing is in place that allow the common citizens of that screwed up country to stop them.
As for the God Given thing. Why is it surprising that God wouldn't want me to defend myself against a criminal or out of control govt. Does this mean God thinks the Revolutionary War is wrong? Or that we defeated Hitler? You say God did not advocate killing. I beg to differ. As a Christian who reads the Bible I can say God killed wholesale at times. Yes, the very hand of God killed people, not to mention the Christians he ordered to kill others. Remember Sampson, one of the old testament heros? He killed 500 Philistines with the jaw of an ox. God wiped out the first born sons of non-believers. Many, many other example abound. God and guns go together like tacos and hot sauce. I firmly believe God would want me to protect me and my family against any threat. Would you not use deadly force to protect yourself or your kids? And if you did, do you say that God would disapprove? If the "Book of Heston" is not approved canon then I guess you are a racist who thinks Martin Luther Kings March should never have taken place. Mr. Heston, let me remind you, marched with Mr. King when doing so was very, very unpolitical correct. Heston is not a good one to pick on - you will surely lose that one (like the God comment)
The hunters who paid for the Wolf to be reintroduced have the right to keep their numbers in check. If not the numbers of elk and deer will decrease to the point there are none left to hunt. With no hunters, no license or fees will be paid (already happening in Idaho) and wildlife management agencies will become underfunded. As for leaving nature alone, great. Tear down your house, move to a communal dwelling in the city so the place where you live can return to the natural balance.
To become more like Somalia or South Africa all we have to do is follow your prescription of more gun control. The common folks living in Somalia are not allowed to own weapons. Because of this, government sponsored militias run rampant in that country. They rape, pillage and torture innocent civilians who have no recourse except to submit. So no, adding more guns into the hands of citizens will never drive us closer to fascism. So your well intentioned enlightenment is really wishful thinking at its worst. Perhaps if we were to disarm Americans the way the Aussie Govt. has disarmed ordinary Aussies, our black could once again be discriminated against like they were in the 60s. Would you like that? You seem to advocate that based on what you wish and hope for. In addition, I don't think God would think too much of that.
I have lived all over the world myself. I know that I cannot wait to return to the United States each and every time. I was once robbed in Mexico by the police. I have seen the effects of strict gun regulation in places like Cairo or Tegucigalpa. There are many, many places where you just don't go in those countries. And what about Switzerland? They have the highest rate of gun ownership in the world. They are required to keep fully automatic weapons in their homes. They have an incredibly low crime rate which goes against everything you have said!!!!!! I wouldn't mind raising my family their (in a place with its priorities straight).
One last thing. What type of assault rifle can kill 5 people at 500yards in 5 seconds? I think you don't know much about long range shooting. Even our very best Marine snipers wouldn't be able to come close to that feat!!
James Rivers
James Rivers
James Rivers
To be for, or against gun control does not mean
one is for or against government.
I have never seen any reasonable Pro-Gun advocate call for absolutly no parameters on the ownership of guns, neither have I ever read reasonable Anti-gun advocates who call for the abolishment of all gun ownership rights.
For the most part, both have agreed that , within the parameters of the Constitution, there can be a way forward in responsible and adequate measures in addressing the fact that there are millions of guns in private hands in America.
I do not think anyone has called for an interpretation of the 2nd Amendment which would restrict any boundries at all regarding gun ownership, nor an interpretation which would grant the government absolute authority to restrict ownership of any kind. Consequently, the extreme arguments from either side are not only ridiculas, but irrelevent to the argument.
To construe the pro-gun person to being anti government is also skewed. The pro-gun person believes he/she is defending the Constitution, but not just th second amendment, but the spirit of the document and the motives of it's authors.
The Anti-gun person believes in the authority of the constitution as well, but also believes our society has grown from the USA of 1775 and has evolved to the point where the interpretation should fit into some of the mores of America today. Both good citizens and both persons who love America.
I do not like the reality of having to identify with one group or the other, but that is a fact in our America today. That being the case, I then am identified as a Pro-Gun person, even though it does not define my position at all. Am I getting too deep in the weeds here?
Marshall Adame
2014 U.S. Congress Candidate NC-03
Thanks Marshall
I appreciate that clarification. I didn't read you that way earlier, which is what made me so curious. I didn't *think* you were an asbolutist.
But I'm sure you can appreciate how the argument gets muddied. People do cite the Second Amendment when denouncing efforts at gun control. Mr. Rivers started the conversation off in that manner by the title he chose, though his appreciation of guns seemed attached to hunting activity rather than to any anticipation of forming a militia.
In fact, though Mr. Rivers is (as he told us he would be) out of pocket for a while, his remarks regarding the conditions for his support of the NRA do suggest that he would resist ANY limits. And again, the argument gets muddied because when I initially inquired about how those limits are drawn (given that the principle advanced for ownership assault rifles is the 2nd Amendment), I interpreted your remarks as dismissing the point by noting that there are alternative prohibitions in place for ricin and nukes. That's why I came back to it.
At least it isn't uninteresting!
But we do come back to the question of what the purpose of the Second Amendment was and whether it is applicable to the country in 2008 as opposed to the fledgling republic established in the late 18th century.
Applicability
I'd say the Second Amendment is applicable to the individual as long as the State and private military contractors can themselves bear arms.
Should we repeal the Third Amendment as well? When we finally do get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, Blackwater's going to need something to do. Perhaps they will be part of a bold new initiative to increase the security of the homeland by quartering "security officers" in the homes of immigrants from Middle Eastern or majority-Muslim countries.
Let's not overlook the militarization of our police forces, either.
--
relocating from Indianapolis, IN to RTP, NC soon; got any advice for me?
I wouldn't recommend drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. -- Hunter S. Thompson
--
Garner, NC
I wouldn't recommend drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity for everyone, but they've always worked for me. -- Hunter S. Thompson
In pocket
I found an internet cafe and can continue our discourse. Here in Bucharest I inquired about gun control. The European Union is trying its best to have Romania live by its gun control laws. Romania is resisting so far. The peasant population has guns and are not willing to give them up. Interestingly enough the government doesn't seem all that concerned that peasants own weapons. Perhaps they know the peasants would go a long way in repelling another communist takeover.
I would resist any limits on my 2nd Amendment rights. Would you resist any limits on your other Constitutional Rights? The argument is not muddied but very, very clear. Also, where is the law that says I can't own a nuke? The 2nd Amendment has always been about owning weapons that won't allow a government to become overzealous (like Australia for instance - read above)in its interactions with the citizens of a nation. Guns are a great counter balance just as we have talked about. What are your thoughts on abortion and the Patriot Act?
James Rivers
James Rivers
Talk about muddying waters
Brunette,
You are again saying things that did not occur. Re-read my initial post and you will see I included a "balance of power" in the initial post. Nowhere do I talk about forming a militia. Who said you needed a militia to achieve a balance of power? A militia might be a result of widespread gun ownership, but isn't an end result.
James Rivers
James Rivers
Thanks Marshall
I appreciate that clarification. I didn't read you that way earlier, which is what made me so curious. I didn't *think* you were an asbolutist.
But I'm sure you can appreciate how the argument gets muddied. People do cite the Second Amendment when denouncing efforts at gun control. Mr. Rivers started the conversation off in that manner by the title he chose, though his appreciation of guns seemed attached to hunting activity rather than to any anticipation of forming a militia.
In fact, though Mr. Rivers is (as he told us he would be) out of pocket for a while, his remarks regarding the conditions for his support of the NRA do suggest that he would resist ANY limits. And again, the argument gets muddied because when I initially inquired about how those limits are drawn (given that the principle advanced for ownership assault rifles is the 2nd Amendment), I interpreted your remarks as dismissing the point by noting that there are alternative prohibitions in place for ricin and nukes. That's why I came back to it.
At least it isn't uninteresting!
But we do come back to the question of what the purpose of the Second Amendment was and whether it is applicable to the country in 2008 as opposed to the fledgling republic established in the late 18th century.
Clarification on Assault Weapon
The assault weapon ban is an example of legislation that was completely ill-conceived. To be sure, the assault weapon ban did not ban "assault weapons." It ban weapons that looked like "assault weapons."
The Assault weapon ban did not ban any weapons, it just make buying the "cool looking" ones harder to find. The fact that a bayonet mount being one of the qualifications for being listed as an assualt weapon should tell you something.
Delicate Balance
James Rivers,
Thank you for posting your thoughts on this issue and for encouraging such a lively discussion. I know that the original intention of your post was to find information regarding Roy Carter's stance on gun ownership so I will attempt to give a *brief* summation of what I understand his ideology to be, and then I will include ways for you to directly contact him and his staff.
One of the main reasons why I support Coach Carter is because he believes the federal government has a sacred responsibility to uphold, not take away, constitutional freedoms.
Regarding gun ownership, he believes our government must uphold the constitution without loosing sight of our duty to protect citizens from the misuse of weapons. Mr. Carter understands that this is a delicate balance. He believes we need to continue to keep weapons out of the hands of those who are likely to misuse them (i.e. convicted criminals), and supports gun-safety programs that are built through the cooperation of local authorities and gun owners.
If you are truly interested in learning more details about Mr. Carter's ideas regarding this issue (or any other), then I strongly encourage you (and everyone else) to contact him and/or his staff directly. Coach Carter is always happy to talk with voters and his staff is just as accessible. He is thoughtful, caring, and genuinely concerned about what is on the hearts and minds of the constituents in NC-05. He really believes in putting people above politics and knows that the first step in being able to represent everyone in the district is to listen to them.
You can find contact information for the Roy Carter for Congress Campaign on the contact page of his website, http://www.roycarterforcongress.com/CONTACT.html
All the best,
Amy aka BoilerGirl
RoyCarterforCongress.com
I'm an idealist without illusions. JFK
Doesn't anyone have a silver bullet?
Put this puppy out of our misery already, please.
Progressive Democrats of North Carolina
Oh, come on.
I don't find it that bad, actually. If you ask direct questions, you get direct answers. I try to stay away from dogma with friends like James Rivers (who is a Democrat just like me) and see if we can find common ground. There's a little bit. We both like the outside.
And don't be shooting puppies, loftT, or I'll have to ask to see your carry permit. :-P
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
Silver bullets are for werewolf pups ;}
as this monster surely is.
Progressive Democrats of North Carolina
nah, not a monster.
Just a different kind of Democrat. Like my neighbors, loftT. They're basically ok. They just think a little differently than a lot of us do. But at least they're not R's.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
Monstrous and Preposterous
Rivers lost me when he touted the Randy Weaver and David Koresh episodes as examples of victories for the gun lobby.
And though I SWORE I wasn't gonna do this, I'll point out that the accusations of hypocrisy against Rosie O'Donnell are just plain idiotic.
She opposes the unrestricted ownership of firearms. One cannot logically extrapolate from that position that she doesn't think security guards should have weapons. She has never suggested that bodyguards are unnecessary or a bad idea. Since her life and that of her children was threatened by lunatics who scream Second Amendment Rights while breaking every law of human decency, hiring security was not unreasonable or hypocritical. Nor is it in conflict with any statement she has ever made about unrestricted ownership of firearms.
But logic isn't Mr. Rivers' strongsuit, as his asking you to prove a negative demonstrates.
At any rate, I wouldn't have posted to this thread had I not seen your comment and been interested in what you had to say.
Mr. Rivers' longwinded rants have created a huge lag on this thread anyway, so that accessing it is hardly worth the trouble of noticing that he's just wading deeper into a zeal based on emotion rather than analysis.
I suppose the one point this thread has truly reinforced is that the label "Democrat" or "Republican" doesn't automatically signal an ideaological committment to the platforms or trends of either party. As a Democrat in the mountainous section of the state, it is likely that Mr. Rivers votes Republican rather consistently.
Well, I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what his voting habits are
But your points are well taken. Call it opposition research. I leave it alone now. :)
Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi
Pointing at Naked Emperors
Lost
Brunette,
I am surprised you weren't "Lost" when the other members of this site labeled, stereotyped, and got downright nasty. Seeing as how discrimination and racism don't seem to bother you then I guess the Randy Weaver and David Koresh episodes wouldn't bother you much at all. What do you know of those "episodes", and how is the very fact they occurred not resounding to the increased need for vigilence? So I guess you agree with the Patriot Act then don't you?
Your saying the accusations of hypocrisy against Rosie are plain idiotic is plain idiotic in itself. She opposes the right to keep and bear arms (as you too seem to). Of course she never suggested armed bodyguards are a bad idea - she wants and needs them. But you and me - the targets of her anti-gun rhetoric - shouldn't somehow be able to own a gun. Yes, Brunette, that my dear is pure hypocrisy (even for you folks with the blinders on). If someone threatens your life then why shouldn't you have the same rights as Rosie O'Donnel? Not quite sure how you reason this out, but it doesn't make any sense. She advocates a ban on handguns. Yet her bodyguards have handguns. Hmmmmmmm and who were you saying is short on logic?
What 2nd Amendment lunatics who break every law of human decency are you talking about? Give us some facts and figures or were you being a bit emotional?
And what meaningful analysis have you provided for us here Brunette? Aside from cheerleading, I see nothing that would indicate you have provided any analysis on anything except an emotional foray into a subject area that showcases your general lack of common sense and logic.
As per my voting preferences, they do happen to correspond to common sense and logic. In the case of the 2nd Amendment - my voting record is all over the chart. I commonly write in candidates who I believe will support the all important 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms. At this point, I believe Roy Carter will not support my 2nd Amendment rights, and therefore I won't vote for him.
Since you seem to be quitting this site, I will leave you with some mind food. Brunette, it is ok to have an original thought or two. The long winded threads I have provided on this site are all original thoughts; I posit you would find it hard to see them duplicated anywhere, anytime. Following the logic of others leads to all manner of dire situations if all you do is follow. Thinking for yourself is a mind skill that many like you find rather difficult in times of political correctness. But doing it is sort of liberating. Take this thread for instance. I started it, and I finished it and silenced all (except the cheerleader crowd)along the way. I didn't do that by following others. So, my little grasshopper, take a cup of Java and free your mind..............
James Rivers
James Rivers
Anyone else??
Looks like this little party is wrapping up my dear friends. Now that you see the light concerning the 2nd Amendment, I suppose you will vote in favor of pro-2nd Amendment candidates.
James Rivers
James Rivers
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