40 years ago I hunted ducks and doves.

[Photographer]

And I ate them after cooking them. I lived in the country and it was a way of life for me. I had a 12 gauge Remington which I had purchased from Sears. I could also hit 100 out of 100 hand thrown skeet.

Then I grew up.

I decided I didn't like killing things. I sold the gun and never owned another.

A few years later, my life took me to manage a Woolworth's which had a sporting goods center where we sold everything except handguns. Mini-14's Old Mauser 8mm's a variety of 30-06's and shotguns. I learned a lot there.

The Mini-14's are .223 cal like the guns used in yesterday's violence. I learned that they weren't that good for hunting deer because the caliber was too small and would often just breeze through the target before bouncing around and destroying organs. They are pretty much designed to kill people. At the time, most of the Ruger Mini 14 customers were cops who would buy large clips and tape a couple together so they could flip it in a moment to increase the fire power. The guns would then reside in the officer's trunk and wait for a riot or something that the cops in Atlanta seemed to be expecting back in the early 70's there.

I also learned about straw buyers and killers when ATF came in tracking guns that were sold there before my arrival.

I guess this walk down my memory lane is cementing the fact that I feel I left guns behind is because "I grew up." Both physically and spiritually in the sense that I wanted to have as little to do as possible with the taking of life. I left Woolworth's after only a couple of years.

I also have to wonder after reading many pro gun posts how the hell I have lived so long without owning or carrying a gun. I have lived in inner cities, sketchy rural areas, even had guns pulled on me a couple of times. All that and never once was shot. None of the people I know or known have ever been shot or had to shoot someone in self defense.

I feel that many of the posts we read here today rallying around the gun and how it's necessary for self defense are pure bullshit. Those sorts of situations are scarce as hen's teeth but I'm sure someone will post articles about a convenience store operator scaring off or killing a robber.

The thing is, I don't want to kill a robber or anyone else. I can only speak from my personal experience in which I have lived without a gun with no repercussions from deciding to live in such a fashion. Chances are most people in America can fare as well.

[randys1]

1. Basketballs are recreational, I play with them, therefore it is a toy, in a sense.

PS4 is recreational, and a toy.

WEre I to find out either of these was killing people , i would give them up.

Turns out a gun, which many say is for "recreational" purposes, not only kills but it is DESIGNED for ONLY two reasons, recreational shooting and killing.

My basketball is not designed to kill, though when in the hands of Stephen Curry, it is deadly...

[Photographer]

4. Dunno... I'm a gamer and have killed a lot in Mass Effect and Dragon Age

[randys1]

5. My grandson turned me on to the new NBA game, PS4, I am addicted.

He was shocked at how good I got in less than an hour

[Photographer]

6. I seem to have been addicted to one game or another since the first Doom

Oh, god... Make that Pong. I'm really showing my age here.

[Aerows]

11. LOL Gamer after my own heart.

I've created enough havoc in BOTH games (God, I love Isabela in DA:2) for a lifetime .

Haven't gotten around to DA:Inquisition, yet. Heck, I haven't even finished ME:3.

[Photographer]

18. I was really disappointed in Inquisition,

But Isabella! And Cassandra!

[hibbing]

38. There is a gaming forum on DU

It is not very active, but certainly are some interesting threads there and reviews. I liked Dragon Age Inquisition. I'm currently playing GTA5 and good gosh, I've probably ran over as many people as I have killed by other means.


Peace...odd to put my usual sign off after this post!

[daleanime]

22. No rush.....

I plan to get to it when I clear up some of my backlogged games. It will be cheaper then.

[Photographer]

3. Sorry that ever happened to you.

Last edited Thu Dec 3, 2015, 03:59 PM - Edit history (1)

[darkangel218]

9. You're "sorry for the bloodlust the event seems to have instilled in me"??

Last edited Thu Dec 3, 2015, 04:48 PM - Edit history (1)

You have no shame, do you.

[Photographer]

13. Apologies. I'm a pacifist and a Buddhist

and don't have much understanding of the need to feel a need to be able to protect myself with lethality.

[darkangel218]

14. Then delete the post.

If you're sorry.

[Photographer]

16. I edited it leaving only that I'm sorry for your experience.

[philosslayer]

20. So you would willingly sacrifice your life without fighting back?

If someone was attacking you with the intent to take your life, and you could take that persons life while sparing your own, you would forgo that option and willing die? Quite admirable.

[Photographer]

21. I have thought about that a lot.

I am sure I would fight off death as much as I could, but the taking of another human life is a bridge that I don't want to cross.

[darkangel218]

33. Thats your choice. But you shouldn't call people that they "bloodlust" because they want to defend

themselves!! I almost died when I was raped! I lived in a country which banned guns, and even if I could legally buy one I was underage! It is not your place to call anyone that they bloodlust" because they refuse to be a rape victim again.
I don't even care that you "edited" your post, you posted what you posted, and thats sick. You didnt even have the guts to delete! Not everyone is fine with dying as a victim of an assault WITHOUT protecting themselves.

Have a nice life.

[Eleanors38]

50. Ahimsa, the practice of doing no violence to living things,

was followed by both Gandhi and King in their political movements. Both, however, warned against passive inaction in the face of violent threats to themselves, family, and property. They called for active resistance to these threats, even if one's own life is sacrificed in the process. Doing nothing was termed "cowardice" by Gandhi. Both preferred violent action to doing nothing when personally (as described above) attacked. Their's is an honorable position.

I continue to hunt dove, waterfowl, deer, squirrel, etc. I'll accept the inadequate term "blood sport" (somehow, using hunting and tennis under the same heading of "sport" seems far-fetched), but it is not "blood lust." Being up to my elbows in a deer's steaming blood while field-dressing is not the most appealing task when hunting. A wanton killer of any sort might fall under the Lust category.

[Brickbat]

10. .

Deleted because you apologized and deleted.

[DashOneBravo]

15. Damn that's terrible

Did you read her post?

[darkangel218]

46. He read it obviosly, because he replied to me.

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. I am also a rape survivor.

And I agree with you 100%.

[Brickbat]

8. It's interesting, everyone has their own path and perspective; it can be difficult to see others'.

My perspective changed when I went through an event that made me start to rethink my concept of personal safety and my responsibility toward protecting others. It's still a process but one that has brought me to a very different place than I was years ago. I would no more imply that my path must be valid for all people than I would accept that your path must be valid for me.

[retrowire]

17. "40 years ago I hunted ducks and doves."

YOU BASTARD.

Sincerely,

A friendly vegan who isn't seriously mad at you about it.



I couldn't resist the joke. lol

[Photographer]

19. LOL... I still eat meat on occassion.

Not often but I always feel guilty?

[retrowire]

44. there's a cure for that guilt!

but I'm not pointing any fingers.

---->veganism

jk lol do what you feel! and welcome to DU

[jalan48]

23. Great post.

Who the hell needs a military type assault rifle?

[Photographer]

88. No one. Thanks.

[Rex]

24. There has been and always will be idiots that own firearms...wait is this something new here?

We all know it. The question is how do we reduce the odds?

[Photographer]

25. See Australia.

[Rex]

29. The Land Down Under!

They did it before they were swimming in firearms.

[Photographer]

32. But they did do it.

So, I guess we shouldn't try because it might take longer or be hard?

[Rex]

40. I don't know, but I think a lot won't comply.

What would we do with them? What would it take?

[Photographer]

43. Not at first. After they see arrests made for non-compliance many would change their tune

after that, natural attrition and their heirs would turn them over.

[Rex]

47. Sounds great to me.

It won't work in a capitalist society imo, but I would be willing to try it.

[jtuck004]

26. "Then I grew up" < i.e. you got other people to do your killing for you. The American Way. n/t

[Photographer]

27. How do you figure that?

I've been anti-war since Nam, against capital punishment forever... Do tell.

[Skittles]

30. people who enjoy killing animals never admit it

they think if you eat meat you are a hypocrite for being someone who finds kiling for entertainment uttlerly sickening

[jtuck004]

52. You can't just pull yourself out of the muck and pretend to be more moral than anyone else. Well,

unless you are channeling Evilhair.

Your taxes pay for just as much killing as anyone, whether you proclaim yourself free of all that sin or not.

And as long as you live and breathe and eat on this same ground as we do you profit from the lives that have been given, and are given every day, just to secure it so you can pretend to whatever you want to call it. And if you aren't here, you are somewhere where someone most likely sacrificed for...you.

Tell you what - I'll leave you with your fantasy. bye.

[jwirr]

63. Thank you and it is called collective quilt. First heard of it

from a professor who was 10 years old in Nazi Germany. He told his class that because he did nothing to stop Hitler he shared in the quilt of Nazism.

I know here on DU that will get a scream but I remind you we are not in his position - it was him who carried that guilt. At that age he knew that his society was not okay.

Think about it - we know our culture is not so hot anymore either.

[jtuck004]

66. An injury to one is an injury to all. That was the philosophy behind one big union, the WWW.

Mine too.

We are all connected, and when someone pulls on the string, it often pulls us along whether we want to go or not.

I'm not so concerned with collective guilt, however, as I am with collective-sitting-on-our-asses, pretending the solution doesn't required our participation.

We have things to do, to fix, and it is gonna take a lot more people accepting responsibility than there are today.

So, faint hope..

[Squinch]

83. So your argument is that because the US is involved in wars, these domestic mass slaughters are

acceptable?

That's pretty sick. And then you laugh about it.

[jtuck004]

89. I am laughing at the self-righteous who think they are better than others while still profiting

from their evil. Plenty of material, and you just added to it.

You should at least sound like you read the post in your rush to appear judgemental. Now it just makes you sound petty. bye.

Oh yeah -

[Squinch]

93. Well good for you. So as long as the US is invoved in wars, you find these massacres to be

perfectly acceptable. Noted.

And you laughed again. You should probably seek help.

[Skittles]

28. agreed

the main reason most people hunt is they find killing animals entertaining - they'll never admit that though

[Rex]

31. Trophy hunters not only admit to it, they proudly display their kills on the wall.

They love killing, they call it a sport.

[Skittles]

34. but that is the excuse

they don't say I LOVE SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS - they claim they are participating in a "sport", or it is needed because the herd needs to be thinned, or they just HAVE to eat, etc.

[Rex]

41. Yes, they call it 'sport' because

'animal murderer' doesn't really look as good on trophy plates.

[Skittles]

72. wouldn't want to think of them as cowards, would we Rex

so presto: it's a SPORT!!!

[Rex]

74. I would not mock them if they took on the beasts with their bare hands in a loincloth.

Id still think they are morons, but not cowardly. Shooting something in a cage is pathetic, putting the head on your wall makes it 10 times moreso imo.

[jwirr]

65. Who are you that you can attest to the fact that herds do not

need thinning or that some family does not need the food.

I live where the deer are all around us and in bad years they are starving. Not just one but the entire herd because there is not enough food for all of them. They are healthier if that does not happen. That is why the Department of Natural Resources determines the number of licenses given out each fall. Good years allow the herd to increase in size which endangers them even more when the bad comes.

As for food? Most of the families living around us are low-income so they do need the food. But of course they should use food stamps to buy what you want them to eat.

DU is really showing their stripes this week.

[Skittles]

71. EXHIBIT # 29837

I didn't say they did not needed to be thinned, Einstein- - I said the MAIN reason people hunt is because they find KILLING ANIMALS ENTERTAINMENT

[Squinch]

84. Well, Skittles, we know how this goes. Of course your statement is correct, but it's the

official cue for the gungeoneers to swarm and say you are starving poor people.

Because those poor people really need to own 8 guns on average, and the only reason they have those 8 guns is to thin the herds and feed their babies.

[smirkymonkey]

96. I'm afraid you are right.

I know of a family that is friendly w/ my sister and her family. They are teaching their young daughters to hunt. They were so proud when one of the daughters "bagged her first deer". They are fairly well off and do not need to hunt for food. I was horrified that an 11 year old girl was happy about shooting animals. I couldn't imagine that my 11 year old niece would even think about doing such a thing.

[ScreamingMeemie]

37. He is not here to speak for himself, because...guns

But the driving factor behind my husband hunting was sitting alone out in a field/up in a tree and listening. He never taught our children to hunt and there were never antlers on our walls or even a picture of a "bag." It's why so many times there was either no deer in the freezer (and we made do) or a deer given to him by some idiot who found it entertaining.

[Skittles]

73. they always have a "reasom"

they never admit it's because they simply enjoy stalking and killing animals

[ScreamingMeemie]

80. No, my husband didn't have a reason.

Not one that he defended. I was sharing with you that he had often said he enjoyed the peace and quiet. I suspected it was to get away from us. He kept us fed during some very lean years. I am anti-gun because of my family history and belief that it opens the door for tragedies such as I experienced, but I don't believe that they all simply enjoy stalking and killing animals. Some of them do. Those are the guys with the pictures and racks and whatnot, IMO.

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. "scarce as hen's teeth"... maybe in your neck of the woods.

Last edited Thu Dec 3, 2015, 05:21 PM - Edit history (1)

They are a reality here in Houston and have been for some time. They happen from inner city on up to the hoity toity Woodlands and beyond. In fact, convenience store owners are the only people who really make sense for gun ownership here in Houston. I'd love the rest to be taken away.

Here's your article, but it isn't about "a" it's about an epidemic:

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/For-clerks-deadly-robberies-a-reminder-of-6387351.php

Our police response often sucks. I worked at a convenience store, right here at the front of my middle class neighborhood (you have to see Houston zoning to believe it). I took the job because I could walk and it was a great way to meet my neighbors. I quit after the third armed robbery. I was luckily never there because I only worked 5-10 hours/week (I write and edit for a living).

That said, my husband collected WWII rifles and had a pistol that belonged to his father. He hunted with either a 22 or a .308. I had the guns taken out of my house two days after he killed himself. But that is my story. Yours is yours. And there are several in between. I fully support banning the sale of automatic weaponry to any Joe on the street. I fully support people owning a handgun or a hunting rifle or even a historic collection, even as I hope they don't have a really bad day.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

57. I agree with you.

All automatic weaponry should be banned, although I do support the right to own firearms for hunting and home safety.

[Agnosticsherbet]

36. The vast majority of 318 million Americans never need a gun for anything.

The Supreme Court made it clear that guns can be regulated. What we lack is aa Congress with the will to oppose groups like the NRA that exists to lobby in behalf of 40 billion dollar a year industry.

[yardwork]

39. Wise post. Thank you.

[RoccoR5955]

42. One way to get rid of guns in the long run

Is to nip it in the but at a young age. Get rid of the pink Daisy rifles for girls, and the little cowboy guns for boys. Get rid of toy guns. If kids don't have them as toys, they will not grow up thinking that they are toys.
I was in Europe in October, and while in a department store, noticed in the toy department that there were NO GUNS! I asked a local why not, and was told that it was illegal. It certainly would not be illegal to make TOY guns illegal. They are not arms, and do not fall under 2nd Amendment protection!
It may take a while, but it will work over time, and I hope that we have enough time here.

[Photographer]

45. We romanticize guns and violence way too much here in the states.

Duck Dynasty... Palin's Alaska...

[darkangel218]

60. Romanticize guns ???

There are 100 million Americans who own guns. And most if not all own them for self defense!!

Many of them are Democrats!! Why do you feel like invoking RW assholes ?? Do Democrats don't own guns??

[Photographer]

61. Quit stalking me. "Invoking RW assholes?" Really?

[darkangel218]

62. Didnt you just post this in the post above??

Photographer
45. We romanticize guns and violence way too much here in the states.
Duck Dynasty... Palin's Alaska...

No one is stalking you. I'm responding to your posts.

[Munificence]

69. The Presidents Security Guards.

[Munificence]

48. Ah

but you have not left guns behind, you have simply put them into the hands of others for your security. Those guns are there for your protection, you as a U.S citizen have put them there. Right in the hands of those men in blue and black. That blue that we've been railing on and demanding that they stop with their authority.

Now I ask you, if this should ever escalate (like nearly everything like this does) are you simply going to stand there and let yourself become a victim? Now I don't not mind if your simply answer "yes" as we've all got our beliefs and rights to make that decision.

Now the above is just a thought for consideration I certainly am not a "humper" but I likewise was raised country boy taking game in rural America growing up. I later became a combat soldier and lived with a weapon and knew that this was my last line of defense from another with a similar weapon. I swore an oath to uphold those rights, those rights were never understood by me until I swore and oath to uphold those rights and understand what those rights mean.

There are millions across this land that will not give up their rights. Rights are not to be controlled by government. Rights are to be controlled by the people in protection from any form of government.

I will not simply relinquish right to own a firearm on Monday to simply give up my right to free speech on Friday.

Also, do not forget where you came from and why you get to live in your security of today, as those guns forged this society and they are still out there today in many lands across this world blowing the hell out of shit for our "supposed safety".

Again, I do not like what has transpired with these weapons and the killings. But to make any attempt to remove or heavily restrict these is to challenge millions of Americans who only own guns simply for this reason, to protect their right to defend against the men in blue and black when they attempt to take away any of our rights that were never there in the first place for them to "give to us". Our government does not "issue" us "rights", they are OUR RIGHTS and can not be taken away from any form of government...period.

You think you have "grown up", I say you have become complacent and with this we move ever and ever closer to tyranny. We are out there blowing the hell out of the earth and not in our names, none of the people voted for this shit. At what point do they not represent us anymore?

Yes they are slaying young African-American men in the streets. They are slaying brown-skinned people all over this world with the "gun". Will you care when it hits the suburbs?

[Photographer]

49. Due to the TOS of this site I can't say what I think of your post.

Please feel free to use your imagination.

[darkangel218]

51. You had no problem saying how you felt to me

[IMG][/IMG]

Thanks for triggering PTSD :'(

[Photographer]

56. Per your request, I edited that post to delete what you found offensive.

I'm surprised that you wanted it reinstated in this thread. As far as PTSD, I can relate. Home just burned down, I lost everything except a laptop and my phone, months hospitalized and all a month after my mother passed.

Yeah, PTSD sucks. Bad things happen.

[darkangel218]

58. You merelly edited.

Anyone can click on the post and see the former version.

Yah, bad things happen when trolls trolll rape victims.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

[DashOneBravo]

70. I tried

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: You alerted on a post which was already alerted
On Thu Dec 3, 2015, 05:01 PM you sent an alert on the following post:

Sorry that ever happened to you.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7409683

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

YOUR COMMENTS

Poster said a rape victim has a blood lust because she chooses to arm herself.

JURY RESULTS

Someone else already alerted on this post before you alerted on it, and only the first alert was sent to a Jury. A randomly-selected Jury of DU members completed their review of the post on Thu Dec 3, 2015, 01:51 PM, and voted 3-4 to keep IT. Please note that even though your alert was not sent to a Jury, it has been forwarded to the Administrators who review all alerts.

Thank you.

[Eleanors38]

55. If you attack gun-owners in GD, there are few consequences...

...and in any case, despite TOS, imo, you can post those kinds of post in GD anytime. Just my opinion, based on good authority.

[Munificence]

64. Oh, I'll play:

My imagination says:

You hate me because I'm a former combat soldier?

Our government makes soldiers swear an oath over these rights. When I "grew up" like the OP, I understood that they were making me say the oath so I would protect against them if need be....they demanded that oath from me. Every veteran walking the street took the same oath.

We are still here for you guys and most will always be. If that makes me a "gun nut, humper,... etc" it does not bother me in the least if you want to call me that. As I will sacrifice the petty insults and wear that badge so that you can have your rights.....all of them.

[Photographer]

67. "You guys?" Who, Liberals?

And "we" owe YOU our rights?

Get over yourself.

[Munificence]

68. No

"You guys" being the ones that never took the oath. Non veterans.

For if you do not take the oath, you are never fit to be a U.S Service member. Our government only wants the best to defend "you guys" and your rights.

(If You are a vet I will apologize, if you are not then "carry on&quot

Remember, our government that you want to ban guns is the same government that made me and all vets swear an oath to not let them do it. For it is a RIGHT.

[ScreamingMeemie]

81. Breathe... and welcome to DU.

There are gun-owning Democratic voters on this site. You don't have to like it, but that doesn't mean we mean we can call them not liberals.

[Photographer]

82. Good point. Thx.

[RoccoR5955]

54. Didn't you read the ENTIRE 2nd Amendment

It reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Why do ammosexuals like you always forget the first part of this? Do you not understand what a well regulated militia is? Do you not realize that this amendment is for members of said militia to keep and bear arms, not any idiot?

Also, do you REALLY think that your little home arsenal is going to protect you from any incursion into your home by the authorities? Do you really think that you can protect yourself from the US Army, who has tanks, the Air Force who has Drones, and the Navy who has Marines? I don't think that you are being realistic when you dream that you can protect yourself from these entities.

No, the best way to defend oneself is to organize with other people and peacefully take over the government, and its entities whose desire is to take away your rights. Violence only creates more violence, and is not the way it should be done.

[Munificence]

59. Do think you fucking know me

Last edited Thu Dec 3, 2015, 08:07 PM - Edit history (1)

well enough to resort to name calling?

That's why we will never succeed with the "well regulated" part, as we tend not to have any adults that will engage in an honest fucking debate on an issue vs screaming and acting like "any idiot". Lose that argument every time and look like fools only to do the same the next time.

[RoccoR5955]

90. That's right

You lose the argument every time, because YOU look like an idiot!

[Munificence]

75. On this statement:

Also, do you REALLY think that your little home arsenal is going to protect you from any incursion into your home by the authorities? Do you really think that you can protect yourself from the US Army, who has tanks, the Air Force who has Drones, and the Navy who has Marines? I don't think that you are being realistic when you dream that you can protect yourself from these entities.

See, those are my brothers who took the same oath. Do you think that they will carry out their missions if the government should attempt to take away any rights via violence (military)? No, they swore to defend the population against that very same thing when taking the oath.

If this scenario ever happened where the U,S Government would attempt to take any rights away from us by means of force then in the first 5 seconds nearly all "brass" (college educated officers who run the show) would defect and join up to fight against that very thing. I'd say a firm 90% of enlisted soldiers would quickly dispatch the 10% that would go along with the government and in a matter of minutes the U.S government as we know it would no longer exist.

I think you think the only thing a soldier is responsible for is "killing bad guys". Our very own government wants us to over throw them should they ever resort to violence in attempting to remove any "rights" from the people. They have trained us in weaponry, logistics, tactics, etc. It's mutual agreement. It's not some private military, it's a military of citizens who they expect to rise up against them should they try to take away our rights.

Do you "willy nilly" around with these rights? If you were to exercising your right to free speech and the government was planning on using violence (military) to shut you down do you not think that those same soldiers would do the same for you?

Do you not see the relationship between our government and it's soldiers and it's vets? Good God man the government wants us to over-throw them should they attempt to take away any rights. They have enough vision to see that power un-checked is not a good thing and will lead to tyranny of which they do not want.

Maybe you've misunderstood what being a U.S citizen is and you certainly misunderstand the roll of us who have taken the oath. That oath does not expire, our very own government wants us to maintain that oath.

If Donald Trump was to be elected President and the house and senate went both Republican for the next 8 years would you not question them wanting to take away your rights should they come knocking?

Rights know no political boundaries and only a small percentage of Democrats want to trample on these rights and gun ownership. Just like the right would like to trample on our freedom of speech. Those rights are equal. They can not be taken away and there are millions of folks out there that would die fighting for those rights. Those rights are all that you have and there are only a few.

I do not fear my government, but who is to say what the landscape will be in another 100 years? You lose that right today and who knows the ramification of tomorrow.

[Squinch]

85. 400 posts and active since 2002. You must be a very selective person.

[RoccoR5955]

92. In case you already have not noticed

They have been taking away your rights since the "Patriot Act."
Where are your military buddies when it comes to that? I haven't seen any attempt to overthrow the government. They just give their surplus stuff to the police so that the police can now take away our free rights to demonstrate against the government. Look at the Occupy movement.
We have already lost a lot of our rights, and the only way that I see to regain them is in a non-violent way. I also don't see ANY military stepping up to restore any of the rights that have already been taken away. Just read the Patriot Act to find out which ones have been taken away.

[Munificence]

98. When our government decides

to use "force" against "we the people" to take away rights then they will be there. In the meantime they'll be letting you try and work through a peaceful solution.

My main point regarding all of that stuff, is that the day that 51% want to ban guns from the public and it passes and there is a turn in...that is the point that the revolution will start. And the military will side with gun ownership. And make no doubt about it, it will be a slaughter. Because the government can never take away a "right" and we swore an oath to never let them.

I pray for the day that we can set them all down in peace, but it has to start from the top. Leaders must lead by example. I'd personally love to see President Obama step up and disarm his security force that protects him via the gun and set an example. Because that is what leaders do.

[uppityperson]

100. Are you seriously saying President Obama should not have armed security?

That by doing so he'll set a good example? Seriously?

Edited to add you pm'd me that you did mean that. That Pres Obama's life if not worth more than yours, that even though as I put it he has a shitload more people happy to kill him, you said "it takes only one".

With that, you are going on mail ignore.

[davidpdx]

101. The results on the post below

AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
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On Sat Dec 5, 2015, 02:06 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Oooh, Munificence, you showed a little too much of your true self in that last reply you made to me!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7419803

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

My wife avoided violence in her life and a gun was the only thing that saved her. As sad as it is, it is the truth. This poster is stalking me and will not stop with the harassment. I can not post in this forum because the poster alerted on me for telling them to quit questioning my post count. As I have been a member for 14 years and recently retired and have time to post now. My post was hidden because my reply to this poster was replied to by me in my hidden post which you can not see and my reply word for word in response to them questioning my post count was "Got ya all fucked up doesn't it, wipe the drool off your chin" of which was hidden when this poster alerted on it. If that post can be hidden then I ask the jury to hide the poster is simply stalking me and harassing me now in a thread that I am no longer permitted to post in...it is bullying and intimidation. I will let a jury decide and I will leave the site after 13-14 years if it is not hidden.

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Dec 5, 2015, 02:21 PM, and the Jury voted 4-3 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This DUer should stop harassing people. He/she may think it is funny, but it isn't.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Strong LEAVE.

Let's see. You want "to see President Obama step up and disarm his security force that protects him via the gun ". You complain about a hidden post and return do a revenge alert. You also complain that someone that someone replies to you yet continue to reply back to them.

This seems very much a revenge alert rather than anything about the post. If you don't want to see someone's replies to you, put them on ignore. Or simply ignore them and don't answer. But alerting like this is wrong.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: At this point I don't know the truth here. I have to evaluate this post against the CS and it doesn't violate the CS. I recommend you put them on ignore and if you are being stalked, notify the Admins.
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: I agree with the alert and vote to hide the comment.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

53. So, you're a vegetarian?

If your reason for giving up hunting was because you didn't want to kill animals, that's an excellent reason to become a vegetarian, as well.

Of which I'm not, by the way.

[madokie]

76. Came home after 15 months of in country Vietnam

bought an old stevens 22 auto from a friend and kept it a few days then asked him if he'd take it back. I'm a no gun owner and have been since then.

[Photographer]

77. I can sure see how that happened.

Nam was bad medicine for so many.

[madokie]

78. I had grew up with guns

rabbits and squirrels mostly as back in the 50s there wasn't much else around here to hunt.

[Photographer]

79. I did bring home a few squirrels back then

downed with my crossman CO2 BB gun. Squirrel stew is tolerable. Better than Gopher.

[belcffub]

86. I see more people getting into guns and hunting then leaving

I'm a life long hunter... I'm not a trophy hunter and never cared to much about it... we hunt deer and squirrels mostly... eat everything we take...

I live in very liberal area just outside Buffalo, NY in an urban area, and am a Vol FireFighter... Joined a little over three years ago...

Since joining I have been used as a reference for 10 people to get their NY state pistol permit... these were not gun people... they did not grow up hunting... ages ranged from 25 through 50... several took up hunting... politics of the individuals ranged from very liberal to very conservative... being where we are from there were more liberals then conservatives...

This season I took a member and her girlfriend hunting... by hunting they came with me and sat in the woods... they have not gone through hunter training so they did not have firearms on them but they have both have come out shooting with me before and are in the process of getting their pistol permits which takes about 18 months here.

I have taken other members to our land hunting in the past but they had gone through the training... but most were not life long hunters, having picked it up after moving out on their own...

I know my interactions are just what I have observed but I just found it odd... Hunting is something that most people do not pick up latter in life... Its not easy or exciting like TV and requires a lot of time...

So while I read about the trends my personal experience has been different...it seems more and more individuals from all walks of life, from both political parties, are getting into guns and hunting...

[Photographer]

87. I can certainly relate to your post.

And it's not the hunters that bother me, it's the folks that want to maintain small arsenals and feel so threatened by daily life that they only feel comfortable wearing a gun or having it within arm's reach. In my relatively empty head, I have come to my own personal belief that these people are much more of a threat than ISIS or a Mexican cartel could ever be to me or mine.

I do often miss the sitting and waiting in a duck blind on a cold winter morning with the steam of coffee clouding my glasses. I guess if I weren't so lazy I could get out a 4:00 AM with my camera and pick up a duck at the grocery later on the way home.

[belcffub]

91. I get out with the camera often

and bring it afield with me as well... I have probably scared a couple of deer away over the years catching a sunrise shot... no mater... this time of year I can get sunset shots in mid-afternoon... sunrise happens while I'm at work... can only see it on the weekends... and then it will be cloudy...

[Paladin]

94. Great post. My experience is similar to yours.

I used to hunt, but I gave it up years ago. Primary reason: I didn't like the increasingly radicalized, right-wing company I was having to keep. I still have my guns, and I will hold on to them, as long as another civil war appears more and more likely.

[Photographer]

95. Thank you.

[DashOneBravo]

103. Wait a minute

You slip in snide remarks when self defense is being discussed despite not having any professional training.

And yet you keep your weapons in case there is a civil war?

[Paladin]

104. I believe you need to back the fuck off. (nt)

[DashOneBravo]

114. You are too funny P

My user ID is a nickname we used when referring to our parachutes.

The MC1-1B

[Paladin]

115. You were in the military? Gee I never would have guessed.

[X_Digger]

105. Ooh, I got a sun tan, standing way back here. Good job! n/t

[Paladin]

106. You're easily impressed, aren't you?

And you've been around here a lot longer than DashOneSaluteMe has. You ought to know better.

[X_Digger]

109. Aww, poor Paladin.

Have a cookie!

[Paladin]

111. I gave you credit for knowing better. Big mistake on my part. (nt)

[X_Digger]

112. Oh noes, I'm scared!!

Seriously? You were called out on your hypocrisy and you lash out at anybody else who had the nerve to notice? Kinda pathetic, honestly.

[Paladin]

113. Bullshit.

I'm no opponent of justified self-defense, and I have never advocated public disarmament. If you gun militants want to label me a hypocrite, fire away. I know better. I will continue to voice my opinions about the rabid excesses of the pro-gun movement, while maintaining my status as a long-time, highly-experienced firearms owner. If you can't get your heads around that, all the better.

[BeyondGeography]

102. Having a gun lying around is a bad option, imo

I once lived on a marginal block (one block north of Barack Obama as it turns out) in NY in the 80s during the crack years. I remember one night specifically when the locals were partying on the landing below me, breaking glass and basically challenging people to come out into the hallway at 2 am on a work night. Wouldn't think of it, but, with a gun...who knows? There are too many situations like that in life; so much simpler if you don't have the means to escalate. I can reminisce now. Shoot and it becomes THE story of your life. Not worth it.

[aikoaiko]

107. You are free to make those choices, but I will fight you...

...if you or others try to force others to make those choices.

Evangelicalism is loathsome.

[Photographer]

108. I'll use my votes to try and change laws. That's as close as I would imagine we would fight.

[aikoaiko]

110. Good. I vote to change laws for the better, too.