There was a "gun rights" rally at my state house yesterday

[Capt. Obvious]

A swell of 700 gun people showed up to scream about tyranny and the founding fathers and don't tread on me and so forth about a proposed law to limit magazine capacity.

http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/01/20/gun-rights-advocates-rally-against-proposed-legislation-governor/RAdC20pc3I62Rqe3x4aghK/story.html

I can't wait for the day when these people are as scorned as the "smokers rights" people. I say that as a smoker. I remember the hue and cry when smoking bans started creeping along until a state wide ban took effect. Everyone adjusted and now it's the normal.

I also remember when seat belts were first mandated. No one was going to tell us what to do. Now I wear a seat belt out of habit and can barely remember the days of not wearing one (or the car from childhood that didn't have seat belts).

These people don't need machine guns and if our politicians have the courage they'll get used to not having them just like people are now used to lighting up outside and wearing seat belts.

[backwoodsbob]

1. speaking as a gun owner...

I 100% agree

[OnionPatch]

20. another gun owner who agrees

We own some guns. We don't worship them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Because 'Indifference to Dead Kids Day' didn't have quite the same ring to it.

[patrice]

9. Make that "Shit Happens Day" 'cause that's their all purpose cop-out for everything that happens.

TTE: Oh? We got lied into an un-necessary war for oil and got a whole boat load of people, American and innocent Iraqis, killed? Well, shit happens and war is inevitable anyway.

Oh? I voted for the wrong guy and now thousands of people in my state are pushed over the brink, locked into the bottom most levels of the rat race forever, well, shit happens.

We didn't have the right person in the classroom at the right moment to evoke one small next step to functional self-governance, sad, but shit happens.

Some kid in New Mexico blew 2 adults & 3 children away this morning, well, shit certainly does happen, doesn't it . . .

........................

I'm sure you can think of more.

There's all of this, TTE, "We can't do any better than this, we might miss game day!!!"

[Hoyt]

3. I agree, those protestors should be ashamed to be part of today's gun culture.

Pretty much a bunch of callous, right wing bigots.

You are exactly right, we need to change our view of these people and their dang gun love.

[IDemo]

4. Same here - estimated 800 attendees:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022220932

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. I bet they'll be complaining

that the story isn't on the front page of Sunday's edition.

I don't think the Boston Herald carried it front-page, either, which is a surprise.

[Deep13]

6. Any gun shot injuries?

Just wondering if that was one of the places where someone got shot.

[aikoaiko]

7. FYI: civilians have not been able to buy new machine guns since 1986

As a result the prices for previously owned machine guns have skyrocketed. For example. A colt rifle that is a fully auto would have cost less than $1500 in 1986 now costs anywhere between %15,000 and $25,000.

Also machine guns have had extra regulation since 1934 (NFA) where machine gun owners have to go through an extra layer of security background checks, pay a $200 tax, and, in many cases, have their local law enforcement sign off on the form. Lawfully owned machine guns are not used in street crime or mass shootings.

Are current conversation is about semi-auto rifles that accept detachable magazines. I don't blame you for referring to the current issue as involving machine guns because many news people and politicians have been conflating the two.

[loli phabay]

10. there does seem to be a lot of confusion over what is a semi auto and full auto

Im in the process at the moment of buying a full auto carbine and its no where as simple as purchasing a semi auto. I have to do the paperwork get a visit from the atf mayby to check the storage and some other stuff alsonhave to have it signed off by the sheriff. Its not just a matter of turning up and buying it.

[Starboard Tack]

11. And why on earth would you want such a weapon?

[Whovian]

14. Because there might be a whole lot of deer you need to kill at the same time?

sarcasm.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. Because you're a lousy shot.

n/t

[Capt. Obvious]

18. LOL

[IDemo]

17. Because the deer could be a bad-ass who's packin' heat

[Capt. Obvious]

19. And the need to protect one's home and family

from these violent deer.

[ananda]

8. We had 600 uglyminded gunnutters here in Austin.

ick

[Starboard Tack]

12. I would have expected more than 600 in Texas.

[Myrina]

13. Here in Indy also, meanwhile ...

5 miles away at the Fairgrounds, some knucklehead shot himself in the hand at s gun show.

I just love how they keep proving our points for us.

[ThoughtCriminal]

15. Gun Dorks

I was thinking about making this an OP, but this is as good a place as any.

Consider this chart:


Pondering previous posts about the JC Peeny/AR-15 guy and discussions with other gun-obsessed, losers, this would definitely put this phenomena in the "Dork" category.