Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: New policy discussion regarding individual and group insults [View all]holdencaufield
(2,927 posts)... this is a contentious issue amongst liberals.
Unlike a woman's right to choose, which is nearly unanimously supported by Democrats, the right to keep and bear arms, and how to bear those arms in public has yet to find it's place in the Democratic pantheon of ideas and no one position can be truly labeled liberal or conservative.
Rights and personal freedoms hold a sacred place in liberal thought as does the idea that the weak must be protected from the strong. In this case, there is legitimate argument that the ideals are sometimes in conflict. Some see the infringement of rights as the primary issue, others the imposition of physical force (the threat of having a gun used on them) as the only issue at hand. Either position is likely to be aggressively opposed by other people, all of whom can legitimately be called liberal Democrats.
Having one opinion doesn't make you a "gun-worshiping tea party member" just as having the other doesn't make you a "Hoplophobic gun-grabber with no regard to the US Constitution".
There is no obvious solution to this dilemma as it is a zero-sum game -- victory for one side means a loss for the other -- so emotions and rhetoric run high.
In practical terms, I propose letting this work it out for itself. Let people express their opinions / arguments without let or hindrance -- it's not like any of this is going to be solved by us in here. If someone is offended by the words expressed, they have the right to appeal to the Jury, or they can offend right back (within the boundaries of decency), or they can choose not to participate.