Why Liberals Should Support the 2nd Amendment

[yskippy]

An excellent article BY a liberal FOR Liberals....encouraging them to support the 2nd amendment...

Daily Kos: Why liberals should love the Second Amendment

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[ZeroRing]

Good article. Just goes to show you that even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

 

[HalfNutz]

Great point of view. I admire the author for speaking out. I believe this could and should strike a chord with true liberals. Socialists?... not so much.

 

[el gringo loco]

I'm a lefty and this author pretty much says exactly what I've been saying for years. Well written and well organized. I wish gun rights advocates would quit cozying up so much to the right and start making these arguments. Progress, from a legislative perspective, isn't going to be made by further entrenching conservatives, but by expanding thebase to include both liberals and conservatives. Don't allow gun rights to be a partisan issue. Right now gun rights issues are more powerful to conservatives as a wedge issue that corrals people into voting for the Republican ticket. The Republicans have more interest in continuing the battle than in making a hard push, gaining ground, and passing expansive legislation that puts the issue to rest. Politically, they benefit more from talking about it than doing something about it.

 

[Trlsmn]

I'm a lefty and this author pretty much says exactly what I've been saying for years. Well written and well organized. I wish gun rights advocates would quit cozying up so much to the right and start making these arguments. Progress, from a legislative perspective, isn't going to be made by further entrenching conservatives, but by expanding thebase to include both liberals and conservatives. Don't allow gun rights to be a partisan issue. Right now gun rights issues are more powerful to conservatives as a wedge issue that corrals people into voting for the Republican ticket. The Republicans have more interest in continuing the battle than in making a hard push, gaining ground, and passing expansive legislation that puts the issue to rest. Politically, they benefit more from talking about it than doing something about it.

What a bunch of crap!

 

[Karma]

I'm a lefty and this author pretty much says exactly what I've been saying for years. Well written and well organized. I wish gun rights advocates would quit cozying up so much to the right and start making these arguments. Progress, from a legislative perspective, isn't going to be made by further entrenching conservatives, but by expanding thebase to include both liberals and conservatives. Don't allow gun rights to be a partisan issue. Right now gun rights issues are more powerful to conservatives as a wedge issue that corrals people into voting for the Republican ticket. The Republicans have more interest in continuing the battle than in making a hard push, gaining ground, and passing expansive legislation that puts the issue to rest. Politically, they benefit more from talking about it than doing something about it.

The reason that gun rights is a Republican vs. Democrat issue, is because by large the Democrat party doesn't support the 2nd Amendment. They may claim that they support the 2nd Amendment, but their support always comes with disclaimers. They believe in the 2nd Amendment when it is combined with "common sense" restrictions. That isn't acceptable.

Look at the recent Supreme Court decisions on Heller vs. DC as well as McDonald vs. Chicago. Both were 5-4 votes if I am not mistaken and were down party lines,Conservatives voting for and liberals voting against.

A lot of liberals on this board seem to be confused about why the majority of people seem to be confused how they can be a liberal, and support gun rights. Don't get me wrong, I am happy when anyone from any party supports gun rights. All you have to do is look at the Democrat's overall record on gun rights and you will gain perspective. I know that occasionally there is a Democrat in government who supports gun rights, and the occasional Republican who doesn't. If you weed out the exceptions and look at the rule, you will get it.

 

[Just Jim]

NAAAAAWWWW this would be a waste of time again Just like the rest of the threads with liberals

jj

 

[Jamie6.5]

I have said repeatedly on this board that we should "vote our gun rights." If more liberals did this, I would have more respect for them. Like the theme of the article, I believe most liberal voters and politicians fall into the hypocrite category when it comes to gun rights.

But there is also an issue with the entire article's/writer's rather broad range of assumptions, and the tone that reflects what most liberals tend to believe.
First and foremost is that it's only liberals that share these values.
Like this one:

The Founders well understood that the militia is the people, for it was not only the right but the obligation of all citizens to protect and preserve their liberty and to defend themselves from the tyranny of the government.

And fighting against the tyranny of the government is certainly a liberal value.

Fighting against "tyranny of the government" is an American value. The very notion that it is a liberal value is at best elitist and at worst an outright lie.

This is one of the things that bothers me most about the overall liberal mindset. They think they are the only ones that care about liberties, and that's pure HOGWASH! Only the most authoritarian "subjects" (as opposed to citizens) believe in the abolition of the liberties outlined in the BoR.
Those are the socialists, and they are most closely aligned with liberals in today's political spectrum.
The extremes in both parties need to be avoided. As an example, I would no more vote for Pat Buchanan for Pres than I would The left's champions of socialism.
Gun rights are fundamental, and slightly more fundamental than the others outlined in the BoR. I say that only because it's the 2ndA that gives the citizen his/her teeth in the face of the government wolf. That's why most conservatives hate it when a liberal politician kicks gun rights to the curb.
I applaud the article for prodding the liberal voter to embrace gun rights. But at the same time I have to take exception with the notion that only liberals embrace fighting for our liberties in general.

 

[Redcap]

Liberalism is a mental disease.

 

[unionguy]

An excellent article BY a liberal FOR Liberals....encouraging them to support the 2nd amendment...

Daily Kos: Why liberals should love the Second Amendment

Great piece, well-written, thanks for posting it. Just ignore the liberal bashing that will follow. Making the political case to get MORE people to support the 2A is a good thing.

 

[FrontierFritz]

Che was pro-Gun!
But, like me, he wasn't a liberal. Hahahahahaha....

 

[rufus]

The libs should support the entire United States Constitution. Try reading it sometime, there's some good stuff in there.

 

[deen_ad]

The libs should support the entire United States Constitution. Try reading it sometime, there's some good stuff in there.

Why not everyone in the US!!!!!!?

Deen
NRA Benefactor/Recruiter
WAC member
SWWAC member

 

[LibertyorDeath]

The reason that gun rights is a Republican vs. Democrat issue, is because by large the Democrat party doesn't support the 2nd Amendment. They may claim that they support the 2nd Amendment, but their support always comes with disclaimers. They believe in the 2nd Amendment when it is combined with "common sense" restrictions. That isn't acceptable.

I totally agree with "common sense" gun control. My favorite form of gun control is the Weaver Stance. The Gangsta Grip (One handed, extractor skyward) is gun control lacking common sense.

 

[AGCR]

I've been contacted by Kos folks before. There seems to be a pretty vibrant pro-gun streak among them.

 

[OcelotZ3]

The libs should support the entire United States Constitution. Try reading it sometime, there's some good stuff in there.

Yeah, it would also be good if the Republicans did the same... There is more than just the 2nd in there.

 

[Karma]

Yeah, it would also be good if the Republicans did the same... There is more than just the 2nd in there.

Agreed, but what in particular would you like the Republicans to pay attention to?

 

[Karma]

Yeah, it would also be good if the Republicans did the same... There is more than just the 2nd in there.

Agreed, but what in particular would you like the Republicans to pay attention to?

I guess what I am saying is what part of the constitution do you think the Republicans are guilty of stomping on?

 

[FriendOfEvanWilliams]

I don't call myself a liberal, or anything political for that matter, but some people would call me that. I support the Second Amendment because this is America. Can't touch the Bill of Rights, so while reasonable people may differ on whether guns are good or bad, but once you touch any one of those ten constitutional amendments, that would set a legal precedent and soon free speech would be on the chopping block, or freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, etc. It is a slippery slope.

Also, no matter what your political affiliation, take 'em out to the range and everybody gets that same bubblegum-eating grin after they pull the trigger.

 

[dontreadonme]

Also, no matter what your political affiliation, take 'em out to the range and everybody gets that same bubblegum-eating grin after they pull the trigger.

That is so true! ... I have taken a couple flaming libs shooting and they have really enjoyed themselves. One interesting side-effect is their toned down rhetoric from that day forward. lol