Friday, January 21, 2011

On Common Ground

As a liberal Democrat, I worry about the damage we might do by rushing toward a fresh raft of gun-control laws. It's very hard to demonstrate that most of them -- registration, waiting periods, one-gun-a-month laws, closing the gun-show loophole, large-capacity-magazine restrictions, assault-rifle bans -- have ever saved a life... 

Gun control not only does no practical good, it actively causes harm. [More]
So "as a liberal Democrat," do you feel no complicity for enabling that harm, by giving aid and comfort to those "liberal Democrats" inflicting it on us?

I mean, it's fine and good that you say you understand the truth about "gun control." Now bring yourself up to speed on the evils of collectivists usurping undelegated authority, and we just might find some of that "common ground" your side keeps making noises about as they advance from a beachhead they've already captured and controlled.

[Via jfc]

9 comments:

Defender said...

Progspeak:
"I think the crime drop has more to do with changing demographics and smarter policing."
It's an accident and more government control is still the answer.
"I worry about the damage we might do by rushing toward a fresh raft of gun-control laws."
Incrementalism is still The Way. At least for a while.
If he were not a true progressive, he would not be on the Huffington Post website.
Sorry if that's harsh. I know no way of judging the future but by the past, as Patrick Henry said.
Between the progs and the prags on BOTH sides, we're pranged.

Pat H. said...

A very observant fellow wrote that article, however, I didn't read any call for repeal of the onerous gun confiscation laws already on the books, laws that harm us all.

Repealing the GCA of 1968 and the NFA of 1934 are a must.

Nothing less is acceptable.

Defender said...

Prolific Progressive critic of constitutionalists objects to being pwned by TSA.


http://www.opposingviews.com/i/video-david-pakman-gets-porno-patdown-at-airport

Are we learning yet?

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

Dan Baum is also the silly clown who has argued that the 2nd Amendment protects a "right" to strict gun regulation:

It’s a mystery to me why the gun-control community has allowed their opponents to walk off with the Second Amendment. If the amendment guarantees an individual right to own a gun, it also confers a right to regulate gun ownership. It’s right the text: “...a well-regulated militia....” Even accepting the gun enthusiasts’ definition of the militia as the broad community of armed citizens, it seems clear that the Second Amendment not only allows but requires regulation. Put another way, Sarah Brady has Second Amendment rights too: the right to have the militia -- the community of armed citizens -- well regulated. Why is she -- and the rest of the country that wants tighter restrictions on guns -- not making a Second Amendment case?

If he's on "our" side, I think it's time we ask him to turn his coat.

Defender said...

More Free Speech Follies.
Glenn Beck says what WE say -- you'll have to kill me to shut me up, and I'll shoot back -- and you can guess what happens.

http://www.redstate.com/dan_mclaughlin/2011/01/20/glenn-beck-did-not-tell-his-audience-to-shoot-anybody/

Anonymous said...

Excuse me, but "well regulated" means DISCIPLINED. It has nothing to do with the feds "regulating" anything. The "shall not be infringed" part trumps all. More gun control? No, I don't think so. Not only do we refuse to debate NEW infringements, we are going to reclaim lost rights as well. Thank you for waking the sleeping giant.

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

Speaking (as I did in this comment) of a "right" to restrictive gun laws, I don't know if WaPo made a Freudian slip here, or if this is what they meant (my emphasis):

The administration does not have a staffer who regularly speaks on gun control rights, as it does on labor or environmental issues.

Hmm . . . "gun control rights."

Gaviota said...

It is not possible to talk to a committed collectivist. They are convinced that they are the dominant, superior lifeform on the planet, and all others are prey.

The salient characteristic of the collectivist is this:

They are not capable of making a distinction between political opponents and personal enemies.

They're impossible to get along with, but strangely enough, compared to their "inferiors," they're much easier to kill.

Defender said...

Sarah and Jim Brady's divorce is final.
Not from each other. From reality.

The Brady Coalition claims the Constitution was written by Progressives, and modern Progressives should reclaim it and interpret it their way for us all.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/brady-message-to-progressives-reclaim-constitution

It's everything 45super says about Dan Baum plus pooh-poohing the concept that in-state gun makers with only in-state sales are exempt from FEDERAL gun laws and INTERstate commerce regulations.
They want the whole enchilada and a side order of fajitas.