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Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rambi who wrote (1865)	10/9/2000 7:33:35 PM
From: Jacques Chitte	Respond to of 10042

The problem is always with the abusers of the rights. Imo the solution is to punish violence, but not to ban guns. The currently popular equation Guns = Violence is imo a very irresponsible bit of media work. It is aimed at the long-term goal of demonizing the firearm in order to "sell" a total firearm ban and confiscation on the voters. Why? Oldest reason in the world. Consolidation of power. Police chiefs are happier knowing that they have the guns. And Congressional candidates are happier knowing that they have the police chiefs, local judges, et al. on their sides. But ultimately the reason is "socialist" or more accurately post-socialist: an armed populace is tougher to control than an unarmed one. And the guys in power (not just politicians) would really rather not share. Imo a Constitutional republic is an inherently unstable organism - it utterly depends on an educated and engaged votership to keep the guys at the top honest. And the guys at the top these days are news editors. We dont elect those. It's a tough nut. On the one hand, sharply limiting guns will certainly impinge on murders and dangerous assault crimes. On the other hand, I believe that the framers wrote in Article Two because the only certain defense against tyranny is an armed populace. The right to keep and bear arms is the final guarantee against tyranny. Any government that wishes to rescind my RKBA I immediately suspect of authoritarian ambition. I'm a quiet, law-abiding, peacable sort of grooming aid, but I require that my Gov't grant me the trust to say "you're an adult; you get to own these deadly weapons". If I do something mean or dumb with a gun, however, I can't begrudge my Gov't the right to slap my mean or dumb ass into jail. We need to undo the tautology beyween Guns and Violence that has been granted a big beachhead in our social awareness. For every Columbine murder weapon there are ten million trusty old lever-actions and S&W revolvers used to perforate cans, pot a coyote or convince a black bear the "this fish is MINE, Asshole!". The media have not seen fit to cover guns as "normal", however. Not one secongd of shooting sports in the Olympics, didja notice? I did. But then again I'm cranky that way.