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garybeck

(9,932 posts)
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:07 PM Jan 2013

Don't let the media divide and polarize the country!

It's happening again. Big business and the media love to divide and polarize the country on every issue, which prevents things from changing.

In regards to gun control, it is not a black and white issue. Sure there are extremists on both sides. But if we focus on our agreements and common ground rather than the extremists, we could actually take steps in a direction that the vast majority of Americans agree on.

For example, background checks. I've seen stats that 40% of gun sales take place at gun shows and there is no background check whatsoever. That's just completely nuts. It seems like a no-brainer. There should be background checks for all gun sales, period.

There are other issues regarding gun laws that make perfect sense to anyone regardless of their party affiliation. The media and the NRA don't want to focus on these issues because it doesn't sell newspapers and it doesn't sell guns.

We can't let them control the debate.

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Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
1. I really doubt that 40% of gun sales take place at gun shows.
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:14 PM
Jan 2013

Even if it was true, and I assure you, its not, even at gun shows, the majority of sales at a gun show are through FFL dealers, and there is a background check performed. I've only bought one gun at a gun show, and I had to fill out all paperwork, and they ran a background check.

garybeck

(9,932 posts)
6. regardless of the percentage...
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 04:21 PM
Jan 2013

even if it's 5%. there should be background checks on all gun sales. period. that's just my opinion and I think most people agree.

jmg257

(11,996 posts)
2. "I've seen stats that 40% of gun sales take place at gun shows
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:15 PM
Jan 2013

and there is no background check whatsoever"
"That's just completely nuts."

It is also not true. Most gun sellers at gun shows are dealers, and they rquire a FFL, if they have an FFL, then a back ground check must be preformed.
Private sales between individuals do not require a background check, as of now (they will in NY soon). Some states require all sales at gun shows to require an FFL in-between, but have left private sales outside of the venues alone. THAT is the so-called 'gun show loophole'.


All of which will only deter purposely intended criminal actions of illegal transfers if the firearms are registered 1st.

 

Whisp

(24,096 posts)
3. latest I am hearing from that media is that Obama is anti-woman hiring.
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:17 PM
Jan 2013

bunch of assholes making shit up before all the picks are even made.

fuck them all, the idiot storm chasing fucks.

global1

(25,166 posts)
4. I Posted This The Other Day About The Media Constantly Trying To Divide Us.....
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:34 PM
Jan 2013

Here's what I said:

I think a lot of how we've come to where we are on agreeing/disagreeing - winning/losing should be attributed to the 24/7 cable news and radio shows that continually pit there guests against each other and their emphasis of making it a point as to who won and won lost.

This 'fiscal cliff' debacle we've just come through is a perfect example. For months they were scaring the American People with it and talking about winning/losing - agreeing/disagreeing - and what either outcome means for us.

I think it was interesting that after the vote - they still talked about the winner and loser and both Parties and the People lined up on both sides of the issue. We had Dems saying we won and Dems saying we lost in the process. We had Repugs saying we won and Repugs saying we lost in the process. Bottom line - in my opinion - that was a good compromise - if we had people lining up on both sides of the results. That to me says - nobody got exactly what they wanted - but they got something.

Immediately after this vote - the talk turned to winning and losing on the debt ceiling issue. We've come through 2 years of winning and losing primaries and elections and what happened immediately after the election and we got the results - well talked turned to 2014 and 2016 immediately.

This constant, incessant and repetitive ramblings on these news programs - have conditioned us all to look for winners and losers - agree-r's and disagree-r's - that in my opinion as to how we've come to where we are on this ability to agree or disagree and how the media contributes to dividing and polarizing the country.

abelenkpe

(9,933 posts)
5. I've seen stats
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 03:48 PM
Jan 2013

gun enthusiast response: I don't believe those stats!

There's another post here saying the thing the NRA should fear the most is an executive order for the CDC to conduct research into gun ownership and proliferation. As if it won't just be dismissed as a government plot no matter what information they gather.

Just like republicans who refused to believe polls indicating an Obama win, who refuse to read publications deemed too lefty by their favorite pundits.

Too late. I appreciate your attempt to unite people but the country is already divided.

How's that for cynicism?


abelenkpe

(9,933 posts)
8. Yeah
Tue Jan 15, 2013, 04:41 PM
Jan 2013

There's a study from UC Davis that suggests the number is a bit higher but really points out how difficult it is to determine given that unlicensed dealers will be selling along side licensed dealers at gun shows.
We should have background checks and registration for all sales. That would be reasonable. Sorry my negativity is just running high today between the rhetoric from some of my republican friends rants on proposed gun regulations and the whole debt ceiling/sequestration drama.

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