I Have to be the Bad Guy: On Shootings and Gun Control

[Arnox]

Right when a shooting happens, it's natural that posts will be made asking not for arguments or to push agendas but to simply pay respects to the victims. I agree with this. But there's a problem, because when these shootings happen, a government decides to push the gun control agenda. Immediately.

People ask pro-gun rights activists like me why we can't just "shut up" when these horrible acts with firearms are committed. The answer is that we can't really. Because often, if not all the time, when a shooting happens, politicians won't shut up. And it gets worse. They act before a discussion can even be made. Bills are put to a vote before the victims are even done grieving. But when activists like us try to say something about it to head it off at the pass, we're demonized.

And that's why every time a shooting happens, I groan deeply inside not just because a horrible act has been committed but because I KNOW that politicians and the major news networks will latch onto it like flies on meat as justification to take away our right to protect ourselves, not just from criminals but from the government when it becomes too corrupt. Try to bring that up in any popular social media site and you'll get torn to shreds. Labelled as insensitive. Maybe even... *gasp* a Trump supporter.

Let me tell you all something. I dislike Trump. I dislike the NRA. But I also dislike Obama. I dislike Nancy Pelosi. I dislike most if not all politicians from both the Democrat and the Republican party. I'm just a 27-year-old living in Portland, OR. Not some hillbilly in Florida. Perhaps it may be diffficult for you, but I can support gun rights without being a Republican or a Trump supporter.

So next time there's a shooting (and there will be a next time), maybe go easy on the people who are trying to protect their rights. At least try to have a civil conversation with them before you downvote them into Oblivion and the Shivering Isles.

 

[Monoochrom]

I find both sides annoying in the wake of such tragedies.

Personally, I'm not Pro-Gun.

 

[bluegate]

As long as a corrupt leader has the support of the military and police force, you won't get anywhere with your peashooters.

Want to overthrow a government? Get the military on your side.

 

[Arnox]

As long as a corrupt leader has the support of the military and police force, you won't get anywhere with your peashooters.

Want to overthrow a government? Get the military on your side.

Vietnam would like a word. Also all of the terrorist cells in the middle east. US Revolutionary War.

 

[bluegate]

Vietnam would like a word. Also all of the terrorist cells in the middle east. US Revolutionary War.

You wouldn't have the resolve to do what those people do, neither would the majority of people that tout their love of guns in modern western countries.

 

[Arnox]

You wouldn't have the resolve to do what those people do, neither would the majority of people that tout their love of guns in modern western countries.

You think too little of yourself.

 

[Signa]

Considering how fast NZ passed shit in reaction to what happened, being the bad guy is certainly necessary. Some compassion and consideration should be made while making your arguments, but you can put your thoughts out there without being too insulting.

I think the KF email to the NZ police force is a great example of how to go too far. It was a great read, because it was comical as hell, but it should have stopped after a point, and then the second half should have been saved for when their police force pressured further. Other people read that and saw KF acting very immaturely and the good points they made about NZ's authoritarianism was lost. A balance could have been struck and instead they just turned up the heat to 11.

 

[Arnox]

Considering how fast NZ passed shit in reaction to what happened, being the bad guy is certainly necessary. Some compassion and consideration should be made while making your arguments, but you can put your thoughts out there without being too insulting.

I think the KF email to the NZ police force is a great example of how to go too far. It was a great read, because it was comical as hell, but it should have stopped after a point, and then the second half should have been saved for when their police force pressured further. Other people read that and saw KF acting very immaturely and the good points they made about NZ's authoritarianism was lost. A balance could have been struck and instead they just turned up the heat to 11.

If there's one thing KF knows how to do, it's going too far.

 

[bluegate]

You think too little of yourself.

Fuck no, I'm not going to hide out in some mountain caves or underground tunnels, pestering military forces and then running away.

And neither will 99% of the gun touting people. Even if some people group up and try and attack a military position, the moment casualties fall will be the moment most of them will scatter and never return.

 

[Arnox]

Fuck no, I'm not going to hide out in some mountain caves or underground tunnels, pestering military forces and then running away.

And neither will 99% of the gun touting people. Even if some people group up and try and attack a military position, the moment casualties fall will be the moment most of them will scatter and never return.

"All the evidence of these successful past revolutions and people's revolts mean nothing. Any rebellion will now always fail."

Let me tell you something. Even if only 5% of the US people are actually active in rebellion, that's still a fuckload of resistance that can literally come from anywhere. The internet makes things easier than ever to monitor, yes, but assuming the rebellion isn't staffed by a bunch of idiots, any trackable activity will be tricky to find, to say the least.

And finally, even IF such a rebellion could never be successful, sometimes some things need to be stood up for, even if it means that you will lose. Maybe stop being so defeatist. Yeah, I would agree that current circumstances aren't calling for active violent rebellion right now, but on the other hand, don't let governments stomp on your face. Speak up about your rights, because contrary to what they want you to believe, you actually have rights.

 

[andersonnnunes]

Looks like I am the only one around here that agrees with Arnox.
Thanks, bad human, for defending this position.

Any of you who disagree would feel rather at home down here, hit me up if you ever want to exchange seats.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

I can see both the good and the bad about allowing guns to be owned by citizens.
The bad is really bad, but I still think the good could outweigh it.

I, too, am in agreement with Arnox.

 

[bluegate]

I can see both the good and the bad about allowing guns to be owned by citizens.
The bad is really bad, but I still think the good could outweigh it.

I, too, am in agreement with Arnox.

Too bad that the bad is usually way more prevalent than the hypothetical good, eh?

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

Too bad that the bad is usually way more prevalent than the hypothetical good, eh?

I would say that's down to a reporting bias from the media in general.
Bad news is worth more than good news. No/neutral news isn't even on the map.

Bad news: "Gunman shoots down two in the street!".
Good news: "Firearm owner acts in self-defense (or that of others) from perpetrators".
No news: "Conceal/open carry may have influenced the slight downturn in crime-rates".