"They're Gonna Take Your Guns"

I bought my first pistol

After the election.  I would have bought one anyway but yes, I was afraid of a major push to restrict gun rights or institute user fees/taxes.

And I'm not sorry I did it.  The reaction of gun owners was clear, and I think that Democrats realized they needed to do something to extend a peace offering.

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by: Haners @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 16:11:53 PM CST

Nope

Obama was going to do this anyway. The rash of gun buying was a knee-jerk reaction to a threat that didn't exist.

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 16:36:11 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't say that the threat doesn't exsist

There are many members of the Democratic Party that would love to outlaw guns.  However, there is a sizeable enough block of pro-gun Democrats (many were elected in 2006 and 2008 from districts with a strong conservative under currrent) to keep an across the board outlaw in check.

But there are other avenues one could pursue to make gun ownership more difficult or expensive that could pass.

But the threat exists.

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by: Haners @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 16:44:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Perhaps, but not BECAUSE of Obama

Which is what many were saying

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by: Colorado Pols @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 16:50:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Nothing would happen overnight, even if something did take place.

It's not like you and others would wake up one morning regretting that you didn't stop by Joe's Shootin' Shack on the way home and pick up that AK.

But the tides are actually moving the other way.

Fear is an awesome eraser of logic.  

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 20:19:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There are also more members of the Democratic Party

for whom gun control is either way down on the list of priorities or who are pro-gun rights themselves.  The whole idea that Dems as a group are just burning to take away your guns has long been nonsense. Now that moderate, hunting, gun-toting western Dems have had so much success in leading the party to winning back congress and electing a Dem President, the impetus among Dems to make this a big issue is even less, much less. Hats off to the NRA for admitting that their sky isn't falling after all.  

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 10:44:43 AM CST

[ Parent ]

if you would've bought one anyway..

...why did you wait until after the election?

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by: Jambalaya @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 19:02:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'll admit it

There was some fear there.  I looked at the massive Democratic gains in the House and the near filibuster proof majority in the Senate, and a liberal Democrat in the White House, and I thought "man, if they wanted to make gun owner's lives difficult, they could".  So I talked to my wife about it, and we decided that if I could find a good enough deal, we should make it a priority (along with getting a CCP).

While all the stores in the Springs were completely empty, I was able to find a really good deal elsewhere ($600.00 hand gun for $389.00) so we did it.

Also, I finished paying off a significant loan in the middle of November and we didn't have any extra cash before that point.

Lastly, it was also close to Christmas and what else says "I love you" from a wife to a husband then a nice pistol?  

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by: Haners @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 13:12:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

HA. Love it!

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by: Jambalaya @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 18:35:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Classic

"Nice driveby spin" -- Libertad

"This site is filled simpletons..." -- JO

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 22:21:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm sure you did, Haners

I mean, nothing's scarier than a black President, right?

When I use lots of words, they always form an analysis (and, while producing high volume, also produce high information-density).
--Steve Harvey, 2009

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by: Ralphie @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 21:18:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There are plenty of racist Republicans on this board

I don't think Haners is one of them.

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 00:07:47 AM CST

[ Parent ]

are we talking about Gecko?

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by: One Queer Dude @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 11:37:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Uncalled for Ralphie

Haners has never given any indication of being afraid of Obama because he's black.

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by: BlueCat @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 10:45:58 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Thanks sxp151 and Bluecat

I hope it was a poor attempt at a joke, but if not it is nice to know that y'all have my back.

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by: Haners @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 13:14:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

i tried at the time to head that off at the pass,

...what little influence i could have on this blog and my own.  i'm a serious hunter and gun owner, and was 19,354% for Barack.  the NRA always tries to stoke delusional paranoia in its funding base when it can, and this election was the perfect opportunity.  i don't disagree that there are many deep urban dems who would love to go all UK on us, but it just ain't ever going to happen.  we will have full revolt in this country if we get anywhere close to that.  unfortunately the gun-owner set tends to be more inclined to paranoia than most, so the NRA's scare tactics work well.

In fact, I just registered
www.veryliberalagitatedpissedoffpeoplewithnoorganization.com
-Laughing Boy

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by: indipol @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 17:31:58 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Next cheeseball canard?

From the looniest of the loons:  Rick "my shadow frightens me" Wagner and Janet "Bestiality" Rowland.  When the far right has no intelligent plan for governance, they always fall back on the boogeyman under the bed canard. Fear is their mantra when not holding the reins.

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: WesternSlopeThought @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 16:33:46 PM CST

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

What a great quote!  It sums up those of us who are often on the outside, refusing to participate in what is so obvious - to us - manipulation by fear.

I think I'll change my long in the tooth quote to that one.  

"Collective fear stimulates herd instinct and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd." -Bertrand Russell

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by: parsingreality @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 20:21:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

All of you that bought a gun keep in mind...

...that having a gun in the house increases your odds of being shot. Most likely cause is suicide. Second is your spouse thinking you're a burglar.

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 22:39:00 PM CST

Keep in mind too

If you get a concealed-carry permit and your spouse starts shooting at you, thinking you're a burglar, you can fire back and defend yourself.

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by: RedGreen @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 23:08:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And we all know how that ends up...

Amazon tax? Bad Idea!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Mar 04, 2009 at 23:17:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'd be like

Go ahead! Make my day!

Non impediti ratione cogitationis.

"Some of the people that wanted to engage me in conversation appeared to have been the losers in the 'Are you smarter than Michele Bachmann contest?'." --Rep. Barney Frank

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by: ThillyWabbit @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 02:46:08 AM CST

[ Parent ]

You may not have meant that to be funny...

But I got a good laugh out of it.

To David's point-the first part is technically true, but no one commits suicide just because they have a gun in the house.  Suicide is a seperate problem and the gun association is beside the point.

Spouses shooting at each other though....that's just plain silly.  Not because I am questioning whether it happens but because it is completely avoidable.  Good training comes to find first, followed closely by communication.  "Hey honey, I'm going to be late tonight..." seems like it could avoid some accidental shootings.

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by: Haners @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 13:22:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Suicide is slow and bitter

unless you have a gun readily available.

The desire to commit suicide is obviously a sign of a serious mental illness, and nobody will suddenly decide to do it just because they have the means. However, lots of people have this disorder.

If guns are not readily available, and methods of suicide are more complicated, then there's enough time to possibly rethink it until one can get help. People try and change their minds.

If you have a gun in the house, and you get drunk one night and feel like killing yourself because something bad happened in your life, you're more likely to do it immediately. I knew a person who did this.

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 22:57:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'm sorry to hear that

That's a pretty sad experience to have to go through.  With that in mind, I don't want to take this too much further.

All I will say is that if someone does want to commit suicide, there are various means by which they can accomplish that-some violent, some peaceful.  But whatever the method, suicide is a sad option that usually leaves many behind in a state of confusion and hurt.  I am sorry for your loss.

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by: Haners @ Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 00:18:23 AM CST

[ Parent ]

"desire to commit suicide a sign of a serious mental illness"

.
Would that it were so.

Suicide ideation is normal.  Even acting out in a way calculated to be interrupted (the so-called "suicide attempt," understood as a cry for help) is not that far from the norm.  

The intention to complete a suicide is rare, and if we could determine post facto which deaths were truly attributable to that intent, maybe we could test your assertion.
But most actual suicides were really intended to fail (the person wanted to be stopped, but was unlucky.)  

Suicide is not so much a byproduct of mental illness, as it is the consequence of hopelessness.  While the two are often related, they are yet distinct.  

Which is why Pols admonishes "be good to each other."  Respect is the best known antidote to suicide.
.  

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by: Barron X @ Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:19:35 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't go so far as to say it's normal

It might be fairly common, but many people don't have it.

And my post above wasn't meant to shut down debate or anything about guns; it was just to say that the transition from ideation to execution can be much faster if you've got a rapid, painless, and usually effective means readily available.  

"You need to move past Fourier transforms and start thinking quantum mechanics!" --The Transformers

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by: sxp151 @ Sat Mar 07, 2009 at 12:24:05 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Good for the economy

A few guys at work have been talking about buying their guns while they can. They are even buying stockpiles of ammo because they heard they were going to start making ammo that expires and has to have a s/n on each bullet. At first, I thought I would tell them the truth, but then I figured what the heck... Let them go on a spending spree. It is good for the economy. And the next time they here some wild rumor, maybe they will think twice.

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by: lanman2k @ Thu Mar 05, 2009 at 09:14:15 AM CST