Reply #48: There is a difference between smoking & furs on the one hand, and guns on the other...

[SteveM]

"There are the Anti's that focus on guns just like the anti's that focus on smoking... furs, etc. Not very different from the pros on the issue."

The aspect of animal rights which crows over furs is rather marginalized, and smokers are (as yet) poorly organized to "defend" their position against any prohibitionist efforts, and cannot focus their efforts in meaningful political action.

Guns are different. You have a powerful force of pro-2A folks who will not be marginalized, who are focused and who have a proven track record in defending (and now promoting) the Second Amendment. Perhaps most Democrats don't "think about the issue," but the GOP clearly does.

I don't much care for the bushel-basket posting of so many self-defense incidents, but I see the point when compared with the Johnny-on-the-spot coverage by a generally pro-gun-control MSM of some nut case shooting people at a mall. The examples should be reduced and a finer point made.

As for concealed carry, I don't see where you can characterize people who carry concealed as "paranoid." Maybe you aren't fearful (a different psychological state), but you can't extend your state of mind to the larger population of those carrying concealed. You aren't in their shoes, and they are not in your's.