How do non-gun-at-all people feel about the "well organized militia" bit?
Out here it's amazing to me how many people have guns (everyone) but so far as I can tell the hunter types are all fanatical about proper gun safety and storage and education. For them it's part of the mountain self-reliance thing.
It's weird for me, because even before I was any flavor of lefty, I was pro gun control. It was actually my first exposure to partisan politics and I found it very startling.
And these days I'm a pacifist, but a cynical one, and I agree that I would like to know how to handle a gun. Actually, I'd rather be like ita and know how to disarm someone, but there's a lot of ow between me and getting to that point, so I don't know how. But in my line of work, it comes up, and I wish I were less ill-prepared.
I say ban guns, legalize drugs. Again, I know that makes me wingnutty, but, well, that's not so bad.
I'll sit on this wingnutty bench.
My father taught us how to use the guns, but I haven't handled one since I was a kid. I understand the use of guns for hunting and the enjoyment of shooting targets in sport. And yet if given the opportunity I would do a Nox thing and make them all disappear.
I wanna see some gangbanger strutting along all hip with a loaded crossbow stuck in his waistband. See how cool he feels with razor-sharp steel aimed at his crotch with a 100-pound-pull cocking mechanism involved.
Is that a smoky BBQ flavor, or more of a tangy citrus-soy blend?
It probably involves arugula. Or sushi.
How do non-gun-at-all people feel about the "well organized militia" bit?
I suspect if I were elected President I'd be lobbying for a repeal of the 2nd Amendment.* Not to ban guns altogether, but having them constitutionally protected for civilians freaks me out more than a little bit. (I'd be happiest if guns were treated similarly to cars - completely legal, but you do have to be licensed to own or operate one BECAUSE THEY CAN KILL PEOPLE.)
*Far from the only reason I will never ever be President, but definitely On The List.
How do non-gun-at-all people feel about the "well organized militia" bit?
Basically, I understand why it's that way given the historical context in which it was written, but it shouldn't be holy writ. The militia that it refers to is the tradition of military recruiting that was badly outdated (and horribly, bloodily proven so) by the time the civil war came around -- not the "every man for himself" version that pro-gun propaganda wants it to mean now. And, yes, it's currently the law of the land, and it would be a rough-assed fight to change it, but we'd be a better country if we did.
(Also, I'll note that the constitution as it's currently written
does
say that people have a right to bear arms. I'm not saying that the militia clause negates the main clause of the amendment; that's a willfully fucked-up way to read English. I just think that the militia clause itself should be changed.)
Ow. Everything hurts. Wanna see a doctor. Want to not hurt.
Hil, is it completely out of line to go to an urgent care facility?
I just made an appointment for Tuesday, the day that the doctor I like is supposed to be back at Student Health.
Because out here in the West, you still have a LOT of people who hunt for game for food purposes. We used to watch a guy's chickens and get deer meat in exchange. (I have noticed that progressives in the Western US seem to have differing opinions on guns than progressives east of the Rockies.)
My mother, who is one of the most pacifist, live-and-let-live people I know, owns a shotgun and brings it whenever she takes a solo flight or any flight that will take her more than 2 miles outside the airport flight path. (Yes, my mother is a bush pilot.) She's never shot it, it's never even been taken out of the case except to check on its maintenance, but it's there. Hopefully, she'll never need it.
