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Alright, I've been involving myself more with gun rights issues of late, and discovered this forum through a friend. Figured it was about time to get on here and introduce myself.
I'm a fairly liberal Portlander who believes that gun rights are one of the main freedoms that need protecting as a liberal. I am active in the Multnomah County Democratic Party, and just last week gave a presentation at the county party meeting about the Democratic Party of Oregon's Gun Owners Caucus. (I'm the Multnomah County Local Chapter Representative of the caucus.)
At certain other online gun-rights forums, I've been attacked as "you dare call yourself a Democrat, you must be deluding yourself!" Well, for me, it was a matter of: Do I pick a party that I agree with the most, but have it a completely marginalized party; or do I pick one of the two major parties and try to influence that party more to my liking? I picked option B. And having decided to pick a major party, it was the choice of "one I like for about 75% of issues, but is perceived as anti-gun"; or "one I disagree with for 75% of issues, and will run me out of of the party if I try to influence them on those 75%." So I picked the Democratic Party.
I've been using guns since I was in Boy Scouts here in Portland, and while there were no guns in the house when I grew up, I was taught a good respect for them. I went to college in rural Arizona, and came to enjoy target shooting through much more "gun nut" friends there. (One of which is the person I found this site through - but I won't name him because he likes his anonymity.)
Since leaving college and moving back to Portland over a decade ago, I have bought a small 9mm (Kel-Tec P11, about a decade ago,) and inherited an old Sears-sold 12ga shotgun (JC Higgins Model 20, about five years ago,) in the last year, my activism and interest has increased, and I have gotten my CHL and last month bought a Mosin-Nagant (1939 manufacture, in great condition) and an SKS (receiver only, plus enough US-made parts to assemble a legal one,) from a co-worker.
I'm a fairly liberal Portlander who believes that gun rights are one of the main freedoms that need protecting as a liberal. I am active in the Multnomah County Democratic Party, and just last week gave a presentation at the county party meeting about the Democratic Party of Oregon's Gun Owners Caucus. (I'm the Multnomah County Local Chapter Representative of the caucus.)
At certain other online gun-rights forums, I've been attacked as "you dare call yourself a Democrat, you must be deluding yourself!" Well, for me, it was a matter of: Do I pick a party that I agree with the most, but have it a completely marginalized party; or do I pick one of the two major parties and try to influence that party more to my liking? I picked option B. And having decided to pick a major party, it was the choice of "one I like for about 75% of issues, but is perceived as anti-gun"; or "one I disagree with for 75% of issues, and will run me out of of the party if I try to influence them on those 75%." So I picked the Democratic Party.
I've been using guns since I was in Boy Scouts here in Portland, and while there were no guns in the house when I grew up, I was taught a good respect for them. I went to college in rural Arizona, and came to enjoy target shooting through much more "gun nut" friends there. (One of which is the person I found this site through - but I won't name him because he likes his anonymity.)
Since leaving college and moving back to Portland over a decade ago, I have bought a small 9mm (Kel-Tec P11, about a decade ago,) and inherited an old Sears-sold 12ga shotgun (JC Higgins Model 20, about five years ago,) in the last year, my activism and interest has increased, and I have gotten my CHL and last month bought a Mosin-Nagant (1939 manufacture, in great condition) and an SKS (receiver only, plus enough US-made parts to assemble a legal one,) from a co-worker.