Gun control advocates know the key to tricking people into supporting civilian disarmament: demonize the enemy. The enemy being anyone who opposes civilian disarmament. Which is, it must be said, a great many people. Millions of people, from all walks of life. Americans of all colors, creeds and religions support the Second Amendment. Democrats and Republicans, gay and straight, old and young, urban and rural. This transcendent – perhaps transcendental – love of firearms freedom makes the gun grabbers’ anti-agitprop a difficult proposition. But not impossible . . .
The “gun lobby” is the gun grabbers’ go-to bugaboo. It’s composed of unnamed firearms industry magnates and their supposed mouthpiece, the NRA. As the above video illustrates, the former is portrayed as a conclave of craven capitalists who dance in the blood of innocents. The National Rifle Association is positioned as their evil minions, stalking the corridors of power to seduce the people’s representatives on behalf of the rapacious manufacturers – when they’re not busy stoking the fires of racial hatred and paranoia amongst America’s bitter clingers.
This cartoonish characterization works best among so-called “low-information” voters; people who don’t have the time or inclination to pay attention to the meme behind that curtain. Which is not to say that “evil gun lobby” propaganda doesn’t resonate with left-leaning intellectuals, too. The concept of a profit-driven conspiracy to thwart “common sense” gun control pushes all the left’s buttons, from their hatred of free markets to their belief that a cabal of intelligence-challenged country club conservatives stand in the way of an egalitarian utopia.
Fortunately, gun grabbers have failed to fully embrace Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Perhaps they’re triskaidekaphobic. Rule 13 advises agitators to “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” How can you personalize a group as inherently amorphous as the “gun lobby”? OK, the Nazis did a fair job with the Jews. And Wayne LaPierre is a pretty good poster boy for anti-OFWG (Old Fat White Guys) animus. But most Americans who care about such things – a small group to be sure – see the NRA for what they are: an advocacy group representing millions of gun owners.
In some ways gun control advocates who demonize the “gun lobby” are doing gun rights advocates a favor. When Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America claims that the “gun lobby” wants “guns everywhere” – as they did during their singularly ineffective campaign against Georgia’s recent extension of firearms freedom – the militant Moms are promoting the idea of eliminating “gun-free zones.” Every time the gun grabbers warn of Wild West shootouts, every time blood doesn’t run in the streets following concealed and open carry liberalization, the “guns everywhere” concept gains a measure of acceptability.
Of course, we all know that the “gun lobby” does exist. American is home to a dynamic firearms industry profiting from citizens exercising their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms. And yes, the firearms industry has lavished cash contributions on the organizations that work to defend and extend gun rights and, thus, protect and enlarge their market: the NRA, NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation), SAF (Second Amendment Foundation) and even this website (e.g., FN’s and GLOCK’s advertising).
But this “gun lobby” does not revel in bloodshed. It strives to ensure that Americans have access to tools they can use to put food on their tables, protect themselves from criminal predation, enjoy their well-earned leisure time and defend against government tyranny. In the main, the “gun lobby” is a force for good. (We’ll discuss gun makers’ collusion with the U.S. government’s surreptitious efforts to supply firearms to vicious drug thugs, corrupt cops and unaccountable military men south of the border at a later date.) Those who can’t see the benefits of a healthy industry and powerful pro-gun advocates never will.
Again, that’s a good thing, not a bad thing. By banging-on about “the [evil] gun lobby” the antis perpetuate the “lobby’s” influence. (Alinsky: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.”) In fact, we should be thankful that gun grabbers can’t grasp the simple idea that the “gun lobby” owes it existence to popular support, both financial and political. If civilian disarmament advocates made that leap they might devise a new and possibly more effective strategy for their assault on gun rights. In that sense, their ignorance is our bliss.
The problem the antis face is that, ultimately, their cause has no factual basis. The reason Sandy Hook wasn’t our Waterloo as gun owners is because even the low information voters understand that crazy people do crazy things.
Further, the only places which actually advanced anti gun regulations were areas already culturally biased against gun ownership.
Which brings me to another reason why their movement ends in the next twenty years- I say that because even in anti rights areas, people are getting positive exposures to firearms. Thanks to the Internet, people who would be behind a media “blockade” are instead exposed to good examples of law abiding citizens using guns properly, like Hickock45 among others. New Yorkers, Californians, and Chicagoans watching him wring out a Glock wonder why the same thing is illegal in their neck of the woods.
If there’s anything we need to be concerned about, it is NOT a direct assault on our rights via open legislation. That’s a battle they’ve lost. No, we need to be concerned if they go after the FIRST AMENDMENT . Without true exercise of free speech, Hickock45, TTAG, and tens of gun forums and hundreds of educational gun blogs hit the skids. And with it, the positive voices for the RKBA.
That is about as low as you can go. Complete exploitation of those kids and their families. And they have the gall to accuse the firearms industry of exploitation?
I’m still wondering about the “high-powered magazine”, and the truthfulness of the statement that 11 kids escaped in the time it took him to reload. Does that mean he was slow at reloading, the kids were quick, or they simply weren’t in his field of view at the time? Or is it complete BS? How would they know?
Excuse me while I go throw up.
Unfortunately all the antis have is to wave the Bloody shirt.
To try and play on peoples emotions.
Otherwise they haven’t a leg to legitimately stand on.
Nothing they say has anything to back it up or more importantly.
None of what they ever propose will stop a criminal from preforming his/her dastardly acts on others.
Except a good person with a gun.
“If civilian disarmament advocates made that leap they might devise a new and possibly more effective strategy for their assault on gun rights.”
Can anyone conceive of a scenario where that “more effective strategy” does not include state-sanctioned profiling, discrimination, repression – essentially an apartheid situation?
Other than food the most valued possession in the Warsaw ghettos was gasoline, which when poured into glass bottles made short work of German Panzer Mk IV tanks, armored cars and personnel carriers.
They are making their own rope to hang themselves with. We may lose a few battles in places that weren’t exactly gun friendly to begin with, but their logic is so full of holes, it falls under the “it will sort itself out eventually” category.
It’s like communism: it looks REALLY DAMN GREAT in paper, but is an absolute clusterfvck in execution. We will win the war, ladies and gents. It’s only a matter of continuing to stay United in our message and playing the waiting game with a big ass bag of popcorn and watch the Obama-Biden Co. Hang itself out to dry.
Why does this crazy lady insist on trying to take our right to personal protection. She should ashamed to call herself American, we the people will not be giving anymore of our guaranteed freedoms. Not to anyone. You don’t represent me, or the many who would gladly fight again to ensure such freedoms. United we stand, or together we hang
Right, buddy–Let’s make the rest of the country look like Chicago. Dolt.
I’d prefer they not carry guns at all. Cops are janitors, nothing more. They come after the fact to clean up the mess, its rare for them to stop a crime in progress.
Also consider that statistically the leading killer of cops is other vehicles. Guns and up armored vehicles should be their last worry.
Finally the majority of weapon discharges by the police are negligent, miss their intended target, hit an innocent or innocents property, a dog or a fellow cop.
The government and Paul T McCain would have you believe that your local PD, DHS, ATF, FBI, CIA, IRS etc need armored vehicles to protect them against the assault weapon toting criminals, but again statistics just don’t bear that out.
And the Cato institute brings you this map of botched swat raids across the country.
http://www.cato.org/raidmap
So yeah, cops don’t need APC’s and anyone who believes that, and tries to defend it, is a statist, or a complete loon.
Actually their main job is revenue collection. Why else do you think they support the War on (some) Drugs. Busting a guy for selling pot and taking his home and car is a lot safer than dealing with actual criminals.
“The right of a Muslim to travel on an airplane is second to my right to life.”
Complete 180 degrees off base. Not only do I feel safer in states with liberal (in the old fashion meaning of the word) gun laws but statistics show I AM safer. What an idiot.
Guns in the hands of citizens are the antibodies to the infection of BG’s with guns. When you have a sterile environment with disarmed citizens then you are open to the infection of rampant crime and political tyranny. And from a history professor no less – what a joke.
You see this AR15?
I built it myself. It’s now a family heirloom, one that I can pass down to my child and he to his.
I take him shooting in the field next to the river. I let him help me clean my guns and teach him how to safety check them. I taught him the Four Rules and always remind him if he makes a mistake. He’s making fewer and fewer.
He sees people railing against the NRA and the powerful gun lobby, saying that they want guns everywhere and don’t care about children. He sees how those people seem to hate the gun lobby.
He turns to me and asks, “Dad, who’s the gun lobby?”
I respond, “We are, son.”
“But, Dad, we aren’t anything like what those people say.”
I swear, my son is smarter than some adults.
*Disclaimer: I don’t have children. But it it would make a pretty good TV spot. I’ll even narrate for free.
My kids have all three figured this out as well.
Two girls in college. One son in Middle School.
They totally get it.
“The right to privacy is second to Americans’ right to be safe from terrorism”
I just came back from working out. Saw a young cop acquaintance of mine.(he’s a CTA Transit cop). I asked him if he’s looking forward to all the new concealed carriers in Illinois. He freaked out & told me I ruined his workout(LOL). Poor baby.
This crazy hypocrite needs to go away far far away, and leave her armed security here along with her concelled carry permit.
On vacation from the left coast, walked into a GA gun shop and stood gobsmacked as rifles stood at attention, unlocked in isles, and the dreaded 30 round magazine (or clip if your a ignorant politician) hung on a peg. Casually walked over, reached and braced for enforcement…then…no noticeable disruption of space time, held a second one. Owner of the shop in the finest Georgina drawl asked if he could hellpme. Still in a daze, walked over to aforementioned rifles and picked up an AR, held close and repeatedly cycled the mag release, ejecting the evil bullet box. The good ole boys concern heighten, noting body positions and their open carry, calm restored when I uttered…from California.
Those two actions deemed unlawful in one state, fully supported in another, leads to wonder the term “these United States”.
I will take her! First of all, who is she and where can I find her?
I think they were not shown because they were all confiscated from the shop.
+1 Jus Bill. He was a “real”cop in Burnham,Illinois. More $,less gangbangers to deal with. I sure WOULDN’T trust him in civil insurrection. Or with a Bearcat.
I hope she chokes on a pork sandwich
Gov. Scott will sign it. Just like the last major firearms law signed in FL that uniformed state law to stop certain counties from usurping an otherwise anti gun profile. WPB, Tampa, etc,..Marissa should be pardoned an reimbursed. This law also covers warning shots which I do not agree with. Fl was a bell weather state in regards to ccw and stand your ground. And over two million ccw permits later, our crime rate is still lower than restrictive states averages
I feel slighted.. LA didn’t make his list… once they get rid of that stupid rule against carrying in a business that servers alcohol for on-premises consumption it will get even better.
Don’t tell him that here folks can just strap on a holster and a gun and walk the streets… loaded even! Hell, keep one or two stashed away in your vehicle (concealed even)… without such much as a permit or permission from the gov’t. OR if you want to pay the ‘tax’ you go to some silly class wait 6 months or more to get a piece of paper so you can hide a gun under your shirt.
Sounds good. If the goal is to discourage a criminal from harming you, and you can do that with a warning shot that doesn’t endanger anyone and doesn’t take your attacker’s life, then why should you be prosecuted for that?
Just to be clear, the bill does not advocate warning shots, does not provide any kind of legal immunity for having fired a warning shot that causes harm, and does not even mention the phrase “warning shot” nor the words “warning” or “shot”.
“Warning shot” makes for good headlines, so that’s what the bill gets labelled as.
All it really is intended to do is treat the mere THREAT of defensive force in the same way that the actual USE of defensive force is considered under Florida’s self-defense statutory framework.
–Andrew, @LawSelfDefense
I understand 134 convictions of how many millions of guns? If we were limited by this law, to only firearms made in the USA, would be very restrictive to those who want to have a choice. There are more deaths from hammers, rocks and screwdrivers than this. I am not callous to the loss of life that has happened, but there is more death and destruction in countries that do not allow any kind of gun to be sold, imported or manufactured. Just like Chicago, with all of it’s laws, should be the safest lace in America, but it just does not happen. We must remain free or we will be like the other countries.
commens sense gun laws. go figure and spin this.
It’s not whether you think they need an armored vehicle, It’s that they are getting them. And Boston isn’t the only one.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x334203561/Joplin-police-acquire-military-vehicle
As MRAV’s come out of service, expect metros to snap them up.
These treasonist radicals refuse to go after criminals and gang bangers cause they shootback instead they disarm law abiding citizens cause they won’t…..YET!
My experience was the SD9ve was it one of the worst guns I ever owned. The trigger felt so bad and gritty it actually hurt to pull it after a few magazines. Took way too much trigger control to shoot straight (8.5 lbs…mine was closer to 10 lbs), especially with any kind of rapid fire. My G19, my M&P9, and my Sig226…now those are pleasure to shoot and worth every penny more. Sure you can alter this and that, but in the end you could have spent the same amount and got a much better gun.
No comparison at least for me. Love S&W, have several including ARs but I would take a hi point over this gun any day. Anybody who raves about this gun needs to shoot a wider variety of guns. Every single friend that shot it said it was a horrible horrible trigger and wouldn’t shoot it more then a few rounds. That and 3 FTFs and 2 stove pipes in 500 rounds with factory ammo.
Shooting to kill is a solution, but it shouldn’t always be the only solution to diffuse a situation where you are being threatened.
Exactly how is an unarmed street legal armored car “militarized”?
Brinks trucks are basically the same thing, are they militarized too? Why is it OK to protect money with an armored truck but not people’s lives?
This sort of BS is pure clown shoes.
I can say this is a good step. Each case of course is unique. This at least keeps the door open to discussion so people can defend themselves and not go to jail.
Live in Mississippi , have gone to a class for my enhanced permit so I can carry in more places than non-enhanced permit holders , went through extended background check , which entails NCIS that is the FBI , state check , check with local Sheriff to see if he objected to my having a ccw , they even spoke with two of my neighbors , now tell me again about not being checked out enough to have a ccw permit ! There are states that I don’t feel safe going to , and will not be recieving any tourist dollars from me , they are New York , Rhode Island , Conneticut , Maryland , Colorado , and California , and any other state that enacts draconian gun laws . Be prepared and ready. Keep your powder dry .
Also have a MK114 Mod 1 here. Awesome rile. My only other experience is with Colts – Colts are great guns but I would rather be shooting my MK114 any day. The MK114 is very light, very reliable, and accurate enough… exactly what it was meant to do. Eats steel cased cheapo stuff all day long. Couldn’t be happier with my choice for an AR.
ROzcFailed policy? LOL. What coherent foreign policy do we have? From Kosovo, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan,etc.we DON’T HAVE A CLUE. Weapons of mass destruction? Sure. Start a trillion dollar war. Can’t kill Bin Laden? ‘Cause Pakistan hides him? Stay a dozen years. I have a bit of insight though. My oldest son works for the government. Speaks Arabic, EX army. Been to Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt. Very recently spent months in Jordan. His tv community had no CLUE the mso-called Arab Spring would spin out of control like it has. Robert Farago doesn’t know what he’s talking about? How about NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT. The Muslim world is completely & totally screwed up. Every country, even the “moderates”. Most of Europe being overrun by Sharia. Britain “inviting” Muslims to invest, set Sharia courts, exclusive Muslim
All true, but all irrelevant. People have been using famous works of art in the service of crass commercialism for years. This is about “guns are evil,” not “desecration of art.”
I seem to be the only one in the pro-freedom camp beating this drum, but here goes:
This is what happens when weapons are made for governments and governments buy them. Weapons are weapons period. If they exist they will fall in all kinds of hands. The genie is essentially out of the bottle.
Nobody in the anti-freedom, anti-gun camp has a problem w/ nation states having all sorts or weapons yet this is exactly what happens when they do. They sell their old arsenals to pay for the upgrades. Even when they sell to other (smaller) nation states, we know that many/all of these are corrupt and that many of the weapons will simply be sold (or stolen) to the highest bidder. As if there were not AK’s in Africa before the fall of Gadaffi.
ANY GUN CAN GO ANYWHERE.
Phallic much?
Honestly I think repeal of the NFA is within our grasp, or perhaps updating it to meet the 21st century. The onerous need for LEO sign-off and personal review by ATF agents reflects the technology of the age in which the legislation was passed, before easy collection and transmission of data was possible. I think an update to the NFA that would allow an NICS background check to be performed instead of the months-long backlog created by human oversight and signatures would be a reasonable step.
I have a lot of friends that will be out big money once this goes through, if you know what I mean.
Intercepted two “youths” trying to climb my livestock fence at midnight. Upon being lit up with a tac light hung on an Arsenal AK they stood on the opposite side of the fence, still on my property, and started with the “F You, you cant do shit, that guns not even real.” 6 rds into a nearby tree convinced them it was indeed, a real AK, upon which they took off post haste and have never returned.
Warning shots are fine depending on the situation. Not every armed encounter demands somebody be shot.
Seems to me that the Congressman just violated his oath of office. That alone should be cause for impeachment. Open and shut case.
Talk about misrepresentation. Your article title smacks of sensationalism. That is NOT what he said. Then again it would not be the first time Farago with about 5 years gun experience has ignored someone with Hickok45’s lifetime of knowledge.
This doesn’t change my mind on Maher one bit. I find it funny that he calls out Keith but doesn’t believe in rights of others to keep and bear arms. At this point, with Maher, my eyes continue to roll.
Platinum guns in jax,fl sucked. The dude behind the counter muzzle swept me when he was showcasing guns. The prices were horrible, and they claimed their nagants were the cheapest you’d find anywhere at 250. I couldn’t stand their arrogance and know it all attitude. Probably why they are no longer there