Not all liberals hate guns!

[gdcleanfun]

Y'know, I'm a liberal. And, I'm all for 2nd Amendment rights. I'm all for a lot of other rights, too. The right not to be lumped together with other people with whom I disagree and with whom I will never associate!

Most liberals dislike anything firearm. That does not mean it's a liberal thing. It's an individual thing, imho.

To say that ALL liberals dislike firearms is wrong.

Unless you absolutely abhor everyone liberal, which means you hate me (I hope not, but it's okay if you do) can we, henceforth, call anyone who dislikes firearms, "Anti's" rather than "Liberals?"

It would show tolerance and compassion, education and understanding.

[toreskha]

Originally Posted by gdcleanfun

Y'know, I'm a liberal. And, I'm all for 2nd Amendment rights. I'm all for a lot of other rights, too. The right not to be lumped together with other people with whom I disagree and with whom I will never associate!

Most liberals dislike anything firearm. That does not mean it's a liberal thing. It's an individual thing, imho.

To say that ALL liberals dislike firearms is wrong.

Unless you absolutely abhor everyone liberal, which means you hate me (I hope not, but it's okay if you do) can we, henceforth, call anyone who dislikes firearms, "Anti's" rather than "Liberals?"

It would show tolerance and compassion, education and understanding.

How do you define "liberal"?

[gdcleanfun]

How do you define Liberal?

If you mean that I enjoy diversity and equality, then I'm a liberal.

If you mean that I vote Democrat (mostly), then I'm a liberal. (I didn't vote Democrat this time!)

If you mean that I am for a woman's right to choose, then I'm liberal.

But, I don't want to get into an argument about rights and politics. I'm just tired of being lumped into a group that people love to hate because I'm a liberal. yet, I'm not anti guns, nor am I anti-2A. I think most people on here hate anti-2A people but instead they say that hate or dislike or disagree with liberals. I'm just trying to distinguish the difference and provide some education. No offense intended, and I'm not looking for any disagreements or arguments.

[HK4U]

Originally Posted by gdcleanfun

Y'know, I'm a liberal. And, I'm all for 2nd Amendment rights. I'm all for a lot of other rights, too. The right not to be lumped together with other people with whom I disagree and with whom I will never associate!

Most liberals dislike anything firearm. That does not mean it's a liberal thing. It's an individual thing, imho.

To say that ALL liberals dislike firearms is wrong.

Unless you absolutely abhor everyone liberal, which means you hate me (I hope not, but it's okay if you do) can we, henceforth, call anyone who dislikes firearms, "Anti's" rather than "Liberals?"

It would show tolerance and compassion, education and understanding.

Actually as a Christian I should not abhor anyone. Scripture teaches us to hate sin but not an individual. Unfortunately being the imperfect humans we are we sometimes have a hard time separating the two. It is o.k. to hate actions or even beliefs but we should show love one to another. I will have to admit that I stll have a long way to go in my Christian walk before I am there. I am just glad that God loved me enough to pour out his grace on me rather than giving me what I deserve.

[toreskha]

Originally Posted by gdcleanfun

How do you define Liberal?

If you mean that I enjoy diversity and equality, then I'm a liberal.

"Diversity and equality" is something that few people are realistically going to publicly oppose. Most people will at least pay it lip service, even if they privately roll their eyes at it. Personally, I believe that most characteristics that evoke diversity are social constructions that have no basis in reality, so it's a somewhat moot point.

But, I don't want to get into an argument about rights and politics. I'm just tired of being lumped into a group that people love to hate because I'm a liberal. yet, I'm not anti guns, nor am I anti-2A. I think most people on here hate anti-2A people but instead they say that hate or dislike or disagree with liberals. I'm just trying to distinguish the difference and provide some education. No offense intended, and I'm not looking for any disagreements or arguments.

There doesn't seem to be a "bright-line rule" for who's a liberal/conservative/libertarian/etc. On many issues, people have mistakenly drawn political polarities where none should really exist. Food, clothing and vehicles, for example, really have nothing to do with politics, and yet people somehow attach their own ideas to these items. I'm not a vegetarian, but people at work noticed that I eat a lot of tofu and similar types of things, and automatically assumed I was a fellow Democrat (I eat that way selfishly, for my own well-being - not to help out any livestock animals). They were a bit shocked when I took off a week to attend the Republican Convention as a delegate. Apparently they never took a good look at the back of my car. Anyway, the real philosophical differences between conservatives and liberals are far more important than our external lifestyles, and it's the political and ontological ideas that we should pay more attention to.

The people who originally introduced me to the gun community was a couple that were actually card-carrying members of the ACLU. I grew up in a rural area and there were lots of guns for hunting, I just couldn't get that excited about hunting. The guy was a lawyer, and could afford to get all sorts of interesting weapons. I went with them to a machine gun shoot in central Florida, and it was great fun. A while after that, I got my CWP and started acquiring and learning more about the tactical aspects of firearms. So, I have liberals to thank for that.

[Husky Girl]

Thank you. I'm also a liberal who supports likes guns and it annoys me when I'm lumped in with people who are scared of inanimate objects.

I like defining myself as a liberal, because I don't vote either party line, I tend to go back and forth.I often vote democrat becuase I agree with the party on a number of social issues. I also vote republican because I'm pretty fiscally conservative. I also tend to vote on measures that will increase civil rights and decrease government control (thereby "liberating" people). I guess a more accurate description of my political stance would be "conservative liberal" but thats just an oxymoron.

Anyway, thanks for standing up for us quiet few here in the minority.

[gdcleanfun]

Originally Posted by toreskha

"Diversity and equality" is something that few people are realistically going to publicly oppose. Most people will at least pay it lip service, even if they privately roll their eyes at it. Personally, I believe that most characteristics that evoke diversity are social constructions that have no basis in reality, so it's a somewhat moot point.

So, does that mean that you think I was rolling my eyes and paying it lip service?

[toreskha]

Originally Posted by gdcleanfun

So, does that mean that you think I was rolling my eyes and paying it lip service?

No - just that there's not many people who will disagree with you on something that's fairly non-controversial. A lack of contrast means that diversity and equality tend to lose their meaning in most contexts these days. No one under the age of 70 who wants to retain any shred of credibility in society is going to publicly say that we need to reinstate Jim Crow laws or bring back segregation.

As an example, let's say that you live in a particular city in northeast Florida with a river running through it. Another city down in the middle of Florida with Disney World nearby wants to take some water from your river. People in your city are understandably angry about it. Election time comes around, and everyone who is running gets asked the same question: "What is your opinion on Orlando taking water out of the St. Johns River?" Every candidate says that it's the worst thing in the world, and that they'll oppose it as if their life depends on it. Obviously, no candidate is going to give an inch to Orlando, those Evil Water Stealers from Down South.

Anyway, since 80% (or more) of people in your city are adamantly opposed to tapping the river, and 100% of politicians and candidates are against it...well, voicing one's opinion that taking water from the river isn't exactly "taking a stand" or anything. It's really an extremely safe thing to do. Actually, without a contrasting point of view, it almost becomes meaningless.

[bryarush]

I’ll add my bonnet to the list of armed liberals. My core group of friends range anywhere left of center, and all of them put me farthest to the left. Yet I have strong beliefs about the individual right to own guns (many in fact, as I own 7 and my boys have 6 between them). One of the first things I noticed about this site is the overwhelming sense of fear displayed by most of the posters. It does present a picture of people “clinging” to guns, not confident in their right and ability to own/carry/use them properly.

Every individual contact I have made on this site has been pleasant. However, almost every thread I have read or posted in would make me feel very unwelcome were I to take what’s said personally. By world standards Obama (who is to my right) is no communist and wouldn’t even make a good socialist. Yet I have read post here from people calling him such and appear to think Armageddon is upon us and we have to prepare to live out of bomb shelters (my father, the Rev, thinks he is the antichrist ) None of that is likely to happen unless we the people some how force it to happen.

For my children’s sake, I believe it will be centuries before this country has to face an armed revolution. Our system works very well I think. Put yourself in a liberals shoes for a moment. I lived through 8 years of governing by one of the worst presidents to ever hold office. 6 of those he had cooperative control of both houses of congress. Somehow most of us survived and just witnessed a great American revolution. Just as our founding fathers desired, the people of this country changed our government (and no one had to die in the process).

What happened last week should give heart to conservatives. Just like the revolution of 1994, the revolution of 2008 proves that We the People control our government. Like many times over our national history, starting with Jefferson, our government peacefully made an about face and transitioned into another direction. We have done it many times over peacefully. The one time arms were involved should have left us indelibly marked against repeating it.

[DrDavidM]

Originally Posted by HK4U

Actually as a Christian I should not abhor anyone. Scripture teaches us to hate sin but not an individual. Unfortunately being the imperfect humans we are we sometimes have a hard time separating the two. It is o.k. to hate actions or even beliefs but we should show love one to another. I will have to admit that I stll have a long way to go in my Christian walk before I am there. I am just glad that God loved me enough to pour out his grace on me rather than giving me what I deserve.

Well said HK. I could not have said it better myself. Actually I am sure I could not have said it that well.