Democrats and gun ownership

[Dwayne Hicks]

First I would like to point out I am a staunch Democrat but also a gun owner. I own both a rifle (Mosin Nagant) and a handgun (Ruger SR45) and on top of that I live in NJ. With that said, I believe in sensible laws such as universal background checks and a mandatory training class. I am torn between banning 30 round magazines and "assault weapons". However it seems the Democrats have this stigma of wanting to go door to door and confiscate all guns, which simply is a laughable idea.

Are Republicans so naive to think every Democrat hates guns and that none own any? It seems to me that we hate IRRESPONSIBLE gun ownership and overly lax laws. The voting down of the gun bill was disgusting as it would not have banned anything and only expanded background checks on the federal level requiring the gun show loophole to close. Because lets face it as long as the red states (mainly in the south) continue to allow for unrestricted purchasing at gun shows and private dealers all the bans and restrictions on various state levels is useless. Whats to stop someone from buying a 30 round magazine and an AR15 converted to full auto at a gun show in Mississippi?

As a Democrat how do I support gun ownership while speaking out against the NRA and other paranoid people who do nothing but add fuel to the fire of paranoid conservatives?

[Deep13]

1. I have no idea.

The NRA is going to fuel the fire regardless of what we do. They have made this such a polarized issue that being for any regulation, no matter how innocuous, makes you a "gun grabber."

I really enjoy target shooting with pistol or rifle, but I have resigned myself to the likelihood that I will have to give it up. I do not think my hobby is worth the danger that the gun culture creates. Usually, I shoot .22LR because it is cheap and paper targets do not fight back.

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. I will have to respectively disagree with you on one issue:

The NRA is going to fuel the fire regardless of what we do. They have made this such a polarized issue that being for any regulation, no matter how innocuous, makes you a "gun grabber."

I classify the "gun grabbers" as the ones who openly call for complete bans and confiscation of ALL firearms, with no quarter given. It's *my* personal opinion that these people should be banned the minute they post such nonsense, as they are NOT supporting Democrats, or the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party Platform supports and endorses the 2nd Amendment.

It's hard enough on those of us living in the "Deep Red South" to change the minds of the willfully ignorant, the politically unaware, and the "**my grand pappy AND my pappy would come outta their graves and get me if'n I voted for a Democrat, because they want to take our guns away!"** kind of people. Then you bring them to our site, and right there it is in black and white: Democrats wanting to ban and confiscate ALL guns!!

** an actual quote from someone in my County when I was out canvassing, trying my damnedest to register some new Democratic Voters.**

Peace,
Ghost

[Deep13]

9. Well, of course the DNC endorses the Constitution.

I've been over this before. The 2nd Am. gives the states the power to keep their own militias for the purpose of state security. The only thing it has to do with this debate is people's misunderstanding it due to reading it out of historical context.

[Dwayne Hicks]

10. Perhaps

The wording could be interpreted both ways. There is no reason why a law abiding citizen who is of good mental stability should not have the right to own a firearm.

EDIT: Lets face it, we have allowed gun ownership from the start. A complete ban and confiscation is not reality.

[Hoyt]

12. If it were just "a firearm," we wouldn't have a problem. Unfortunately, it's not "own just a

firearm." It's own a bunch including assault type weapons, carrying them on city streets and anywhere else, promoting more guns in more places, and in the south where I live, most of the gun nuts are bigoted right wingers.

Appreciate your post, and fact you own only two firearms. But, too many gun owners aren't "reasonable." And they are fine with the NRA supporting a right wing, bigoted agenda as long as the NRA promotes more guns in more places.

The fact that they blocked universal background checks is proof enough that gun owners and promoters are not reasonable.

[Dwayne Hicks]

13. You do make a point..

About the background check bill, it was totally reasonable and I fully supported it. But to say most gun owners are not reasonable is simply false. There are plenty of reasonable gun owners. Its just the NRA is very powerful and get the paranoid crowd riled up. Also even though I live in NJ where open carry and concealed carry are all but a myth, how common is it to see people walking around with "assault rifles" everywhere? Yes owning 20 guns is excessive and highly expensive in terms of ammunition. But if the person is responsible then I say have at it. The problem is these deep red states who against any sort of common sense regulation. People see right through the hypocrisy.

[pinboy3niner]

2. Why would you feel a need to "support gun ownership"?

It doesn't seem to be threatened. The NRA may portray attempts at sensible regulation as "threats to gun ownership" but you don't have to buy into their spin.

You can actively support reforms without abandoning your principles and beliefs.

Of course, if you don't believe me we're gonna come and take away your guns.

[Dwayne Hicks]

3. n/t

Perhaps I should clarify, I support gun ownership but I do not support the NRA or the idea that all American need to own 20 guns with 100 round magazines.

[pinboy3niner]

4. Your OP explained your views very well

My only point is that gun ownership itself, not being threatened by proposed legislative and regulatory reforms, doesn't need anybody to actively "support" it.

By all means, speak out and express your views--but don't feel like you are betraying some principle of gun ownership that needs defending.

Welcome to DU. Note that "n/t" in a subject line signals that there is "no text" below. So if you say more below the subject line, you don't want to put "n/t" there. Again, welcome!

[Dwayne Hicks]

6. Thank you

I wasn't aware of the n/t thing, thanks

I just hate that I somewhat agree with the conservative argument on gun ownership. They do however take it way to far. I feel there is no need to own fully automatic weapons or armor piercing rounds. This to me is where the Democrats really hurt their chances at gaining a house majority. People scare very easy and all it takes is a few NRA talking points to get everyone riled up.

Yes sensible people understand that Democrats do not want to get rid of the 2nd Amendment, however quite a few independents will buy into the rhetoric and vote against their own interests in the long run. And for Democratic gun owners it could convince them to stay home on election day. Look what happened in 2010, Democratic turnout was abysmal. This however wasn't due to gun control, but a failure in defending the ACA and the terrible economy at the time. And now three years later we are still paying for that mistake.

We have voted out a large chunk of tea party extremists but there are still just enough to cause problems in congress. The Democrats really need to pick their arguments carefully. People like mayor Bloomberg do not do Democrats any justice at all.


EDIT: And thank you for the welcome reception. On another board I would be flamed and called a communist for even this post.

[pinboy3niner]

7. Don't worry

You'll probably have your turn at being flamed. Par for the course on a discussion board, especially for a new poster on a contentious subject.

[Dwayne Hicks]

8. All good

I'm used to it, at least it won't be done by right wing extremists!

I understand its a contentious topic but as its been pointed out in another thread (it escapes me right now) it does Democrats and their supporters no justice when people advocate for a complete ban and confiscation. Which I DO NOT support.

[Notafraidtoo]

11. NRA will do everything they can..

To keep the paranoia coming, NRA doesn't serve gun owners they service gun manufactures and gun manufactures make a ton of money from illegal gun sales to drug cartels in Mexico and South America, If guns are better regulated,accounted for and gun show loopholes are ended then thats less crime cash. This is why they charged hard with fast and the furious, operations like that interfere with that crime cash.


You would have to be low functioning to believe that the second amendment is going to be changed in any way in our lifetimes.

One more thing welcome and you will find that most democrats here feel the same way you do,there is a few teabaggers here that only post in the gun forum and you will notice their unreasonable paranoia and hyperbole but if you pay attention you will see only a hand full of Democrats are for confiscation of any kind. Not enough to make any movement on the subject and defiantly not enough to spend millions of dollars claiming they are a threat to Bubba.

[Dwayne Hicks]

14. Agreed

It's all about money and favors. The NRA is a giant scam that hurts more than helps. That doesn't stop the teabaggers from spreading outright lies that Democrats are "coming for your guns". They have to know the 2nd Amendment is in no danger, they use it to rile up the base. This is why I think Democrats should back off on the issue. It scares away alot of independents.