Arkansas Blog

I vote conservative. I kill deer. I believe in the right to bear arms. But when Jay Dickey won a seat in Congress largely by drumming up fears across the huntin' south that democrats want to take your guns I was amazed. Who really believes that? IMO Every elligible American should have the right to own four guns...a .22, a deer rifle, a shotgun and a handgun. Register them and if you are caught with a gun that doesn't check out as belonging to you or someone at your address you lose it. If your wife doesn't want hers, you get access to eight. Isn't that enough? And as far as assault weapons...I wouldn't see a ban as a foot in the door and the nose under the tent.

Obama supports common-sense gun control. Supports faith-based initiatives. Supports stem-cell research. Supports gay rights but opposes gay marriage. He is wrong on abortion, but maybe a new day is dawning in America.

I am about as liberal as they come. But having said that, I just don't believe in registering guns. My fear is that another Bush type administration will come along and they, for what ever reason, think they should go house-to house and pick up everyone's guns. I know I will get a lot of flack on this position but I just don't think the government needs to know what is inside my house.

I also don't see the need for these simi-automatic assault rifles and some of the bullets folks think they need. Maybe I'm in the Clinton camp on this, have your .22, shotguns, hunting rifles and pistols, but if you must have an assault rifle, you should register that (them). What do people do with these things anyway? Shot cans?

I learned something observing the political career of Jay Dickey - there are fakes and then there are "real fakes". Jay Dickey is a real fake.....

"Seriously. After you have four assault rifles, one for each hand and foot, how many more do you need?"

If you're a guy, it depends on the length of your left thumb.

Isn't 4 guns enough? No way in hell.
When the zombie apocalypse happens I want to be as well armed as possible.

I just watched a news report on CNN about the rise in gun purchases. The customers were all white and were all stating that President Obama is going to take thier guns. Now, I wonder how these already fearful white people would feel about gun control if massive amounts of honest law-abiding black, latino, and middle eastern Americans started buying guns?

The rumors about what Obama plans to force people to do in this country are staggering. You can thank your friendly Republican dirty tricks operatives for this. A friend tells me of a McCain-voting friend who had been told that President Obama would force doctors to perform abortions. I know highly educated people who literally believe they will have to give up their rights to own a god-almighty gun. Guns seem more important than just about anything these days in this insane country, especially in Arkansas -- such a beautiful state with such kind people and so much beauty, but a stupidity in the stubborn heads of the populace that dismays.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say some people are clinging to guns and religion.

Big city police departments are the folks who need help with the gun issue. They deal with the carnage caused by idiots with guns every day and feel helpless to do much about it. That is a case where taking up the guns would not be a bad idea. The issue is who gets to decide who has a legitimate need for a weapon.

I would not have trusted George Bush and his crew to decide that issue. They would have probably come and got mine for sure since I had blogged on Arkansas Times and had read the Huffington Post.

I don't hunt anymore but have several guns and hope to be able to use them if I ever need to defend myself or my family from whatever threat.

The gun issue, as articulated by hunters, is not the same as the way police departments see it and both of those views need to be considered.

That being said, where did anybody get the idea that BHO was going to take guns away?

Also, Hugh, the older I get the fewer assault rifles I need regardless of left thumb size.

Sure, my world is a bit limited, but the only ones I know who have personal assault weapons are cops or former cops. (They're also the ones who seem to have more guns stashed around the house than we do.) That could be interpreted two ways (maybe more). Either they think they're gonna need 'em in the future, or they're simply gung ho about guns and left thumbs. Listen to one or two of these guys and you'll probably conclude it's the latter. (Now don't even ask me to categorize the one woman in the bunch.)
I'm mulling over KnockKnock's idea of a limit of four guns. Could I trade the handgun up for a 12 guage double barrel? Yeah, even though hubby keeps pointing out that it's not gonna be much use on a "journey". How come I can't have a sawed off shotgun for my trips to the mall, er, Wal-Mart? Ok, the second hand store. No? The dump to rag pick?

Scottie, if you were in Little Rock on election night you might have heard the nonstop gunfire from 10-10:30 PM when the press called the election for Obama. Who do you think was shooting? I bet anyone who didn't have a gun during those 30 minutes considered getting one, however briefly. I've never heard anything like that here, even during the early-90's gang epidemic. They were not lighting firecrackers. And was there any mention of it in the media? Not that I could find, and it didn't surprise me.

Obama's supposed anti-gun policies are not what prompted me to gun shop. I hadn't heard much about them until I went gun shopping. Before Anne Pressly was attacked, there were late-night door-knockers in my area. I considered what I could do if they stopped knocking first. Coincidentally Pressly was attacked that following weekend.

I'm with Earl on feeling uneasy about registering guns, since on October 25 there was a story in the NYT (bluename), also printed Oct 26 in the DemGaz:
"The Bush administration has informed Congress that it is bypassing a law intended to forbid political interference with reports to lawmakers by the Department of Homeland Security. The August 2007 law requires the agency's chief privacy officer to report each year about Homeland Security activities that affect privacy, and requires that the reports be submitted directly to Congress "without any prior comment or amendment" by superiors at the department or the White House."

There is no difference between bypassing a law and breaking it. We have yet to fully realize the ramifications of the Bush administration's disregard of law and individual rights.

How much freedom of speech do you need? How much freedom of assembly? How much reproductive freedom do you need? How much freedom of the press?

All of the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights really are tied together. The more we limit one the more logical it becomes to limit others. That said, gun owners should have little to fear, since DC vs Heller came down we are secure in our individual right to keep bear arms. The President can do little to change that beyond appointing justices. Even then, most judges have a high respect for past decisions of the SC.

What a dem congress and president might do is enact another Assault Weapons Ban, which isn't of much consequence if it much like the first, "Scary Looking Weapons" ban. If they want to do that, more power to them. It won't do much[anything?] to deter crime, unlike increasing food stamps to stimulate the domestic economy. Anyway, gun owners should relax.

Yes, I did mean to leave out the and. It is a joke.

ARK. BLOG: Thanks, but I wasn't speaking in legal terms, only practical ones. I understand you need rifles and shotguns and handguns, etc., of various caliber for various purposes. But multiple semi-automatic tactical weapons? Why? You can shoot only so many at once. I just don't get those who want arsenals. But ... I don't propose capping ownership by statute or Constitution. Collectors I get. I only need one car, but I understand some people collect them. But I don't think collectors tend to get a half-dozen Toyota Camrys, identical cars with identical funcitonality but not much by way of distinguishing characteristics for the fancier.

I can't imagine an adult with no guns. I think finally I'm past the stage where I get some guns every time a relative dies, but for years that was the case. Tears-hearse-guns! I have guns in this house I've forgotten about which must mean they're well hid. Too bad guns don't turn me on or I'd be erect at all times....watch out jazzy!

I think everyone should have one gun in their home. I don't have a Republican wired brain, fearing 24-7, but I do know that break-ins occur and especially if you have a family, you need to be armed. I also know of a situation I was in once where if I had had a gun.....it would have turned out far worse...so be careful what you wish for is all I can say.

All I heard in Little Rock on election night were car horns. I don't doubt there was gunfire, my newish Mexican neighbors are fond of celebrating the 4th of July and New Years by firing their guns into the air. I have to admit, I've done it a time or 2 many years ago. Not real smart...but also I doubt it was a message other than YIPPPY!

To be honest, standing outside of Rumba and watching hordes of honking and hollering black people driving by in their cars scared my lumpy old white ass. I nervously got into the swing of things and jumped up and down and hollered and cheered with them....but it was scary.....I'm not used to that stuff.

But then I thought...when was the last time black people had a reason to be so happy? I wasn't alive in 1954 to know if Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka stirred up any happiness anywhere outside of Topeka. I doubt many of Fort Baptist blacks knew about the Civil Rights acts LBJ signed into law. Back in 64 & 65 I didn't live near the black part of town, so I don't know if they hollered and clapped and fired their guns.

I accidentally attended the first Martin Luther King Day parade in the Fort. It amounted to 8 flashy cars, some homemade cardboard signs, and some horn honking as they sped past at 40 mph led by a cop car with flashing lights. I wondered if they were driving so fast because they weren't used to the blue lights being ahead of them????

Anyway.....fraidy cat that I am....I'm damn glad to have witnessed the happiness I saw in LR on the 4th. It was a beautiful, wonderful thing my children, my wife and I will never forget. I hope it was a watershed moment for this country and I hope our racial attitudes finally started changing for the better that night. Like it or not, we're going to have to share...finally have to share our country with every citizen no matter their skin color or religion or lack of religion or sexual preference. The melting pot is finally melting!

Max, don't tell me how many guns I "need," and I won't tell fat bastards like you how many hamburgers you "need."

ARK. BLOG: Not telling. Just asking. Trying to get a read on the fear and insecurity that seem to drive so many of you angry folks.

DBI, I am glad Obama won also. I hope that the Obama administration is everything good it is hoped to be. I understand the joy and the disappointment. I cried unexpectedly when Hillary "lost" - women are still under the left thumb, and not in a good way.

Great. So now all the stupid people (I'm talking those who buy into the fearmongering b.s., not your average gun owners) are armed to the teeth. Just fabulous. Low IQ's and itchy trigger fingers do not good bedfellows make, as I've unfortunately learned from firsthand experience.

While I generally loathe overdevelopment and planned communities, I'm thinking about getting into the business myself. Now seems to be a great time to start some isolated compounds. I'll market to survivalists and freepers and paranoids and KBR and Blackwater employees. My ads about what a great place my compounds are to nurture and raise their own sweet little militias will give them the warm fuzzies. And all our white picket fences will have empty beer cans perched atop every post.

"Max, don't tell me how many guns I "need," and I won't tell fat bastards like you how many hamburgers you "need."

ARK. BLOG: Not telling. Just asking. Trying to get a read on the fear and insecurity that seem to drive so many of you angry folks.
PossumKing"

Now this I agree with. I like what the Supreme court ruled about the second amendment; Basically No one has the right to restrict a law abiding citizen as to what kind of firearms he or she can buy as long as they meet the legal criterion. Oh by the by; Any body seen the latest weapons gang bangers have?

Maybe Max is trying to rub shoulders with these guys;

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6632255652046262625

"There is no difference between bypassing a law and breaking it. We have yet to fully realize the ramifications of the Bush administration's disregard of law and individual rights.
Kesandra"

Sounds to me like somebody is getting smarter.

Here's a little humourous email fro West Texas that illustrates the theatre of the Republisurd

"THE USGA WOULD LIKE TO INFORM ALL GOLFERS:

There is a possibility of MAJOR rule changes to the game of golf after January 1, 2009 with a

Democratic administration in Washington. This is only a preview as the complete rule book is being written now.

Here are a couple of basic changes.

Golfers with handicaps:
- below 10 will have their green fees increase by 35%
- between 11 and 18 will see no increase in green fees
- above 18 will play for free and even get a check from the club/course played

The $ amount put in for bets will be as follows:
- for handicaps below 10 an additional $10

- between 11 and 18 no additional amount

- above 18 you will receive the total amount in the pot and you do not even have to play.

The term "gimme putt" will be changed to "entitlement" and will be used as follows:
- handicaps below 10, no entitlements
- handicaps above 11 to 17, entitlements for putter length putts
- handicaps above 18, if on green, no need to ever putt, just pick it up

These entitlements are intended to bring about fairness in scoring so that the final scores of all players will be about the same.

In addition, a Player will be limited to a max of one birdie and/or six pars, any excess must be given to those fellow players who have
not yet scored a birdie or par. Only after all players have received a birdie or par from the player making the birdie or par, can that
Player begin to count his score again.

The current USGA handicap system will be used for the above purposes but the term "net score" will be available only for scoring those
players with handicaps 18 and above.

This is intended to "redistribute" the success of winning by making sure that in every competition the above 18 handicap players will
post only "net score" against every other player's gross score.

These new Rules are intended to CHANGE the game of golf. Golf must be about Fairness Only, it should have nothing to do with Ability."

Thanks to my cousin for forwarding the absurdity from West Texas Women Golfers

Many people are buying guns and lots of people are stealing guns.. It is cheaper if you don't get caught.

Once again another LIBERAL PRESIDENT does for GUN SHOPS what no OTHER PRESIDENT
can do.

When Clinton-sponsored GUN BILL came up in the 90s guns flew off the shelves. There's nothing like a good dose of FEAR to funnel tons of money into gun sales.

Gun dealers love that fear.

Maybe Max is trying to rub shoulders with these guys;

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6632255652046262625<<

Wes

Passing out FOX News exposes as revealing is not going to win you anything around here.

No one has done more to destroy media credibility than FOX....heavy on the foxy low on the news.
.

By paying more attention to actions than deeds you may conclude that some people that claim patriotism buy weapons because they are afraid of the country they say they love.

"It's just a ride and we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings and money, a choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your door, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one." Bill Hicks

The last time I checked I know of one American who had no problem with people owning guns. His name was Thomas Jefferson.

I was surprised to discover how little information is given to someone purchasing a gun at a dealer. I would like to see a one sheet FAQ on federal and state gun law given to each buyer, one for pistols, one for long guns if both won't fit on one two-sided page. No legalese, just plain info. The NRA could provide these sheets with info on how to join the NRA and the safety and educational programs they offer. The chances of the information being conveyed to the buyer are better than relying on the buyer to try to find such information online.

////////////So how many weapons did Jesus have?\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Passing out FOX News exposes as revealing is not going to win you anything around here.

eLwood

Oh, Like liberals know the truth.
Now that is a joke.
I have yet to meet a liberal who did not have their head stuck so far up the media's back side till they only knew what the media wanted them too.

So how many weapons did Jesus have?

eark

Two swords. And twelve legions of angels.

The last time I checked I know of one American who had no problem with people owning guns. His name was Thomas Jefferson.

strangelove

Then apparently to me you did not check very far did you.

Bill Hicks
Zatharus

An unknown comedian who loved Krusty the clown. Now that is a joke only a liberal would go for.

Hey I have finally found some one Liberals would love and agree with.

''The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subjected people to carry arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subjected peoples to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing. Indeed, I would go so far as to say that the underdog is a sine qua non ["something essential" lit. "without which not"] for the overthrow of any sovereignty. So let's not have any native militia or police.''

Kinda sounds like this don't it?

''When we got organized as a country and we wrote a fairly radical Constitution with a radical Bill of Rights, giving a radical amount of individual freedom to Americans ...... And so a lot of people say there's too much personal freedom. When personal freedom's being abused, you have to move to limit it. That's what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on the public housing projects, about how we're going to have weapon sweeps and more things like that to try to make people safer in their communities.''
- Bill Clinton, 3-22-94