Agree, and Yes, I are one(middle-left leaning liberal)..not because of the white nationalist 'threat'(altho in some places, that is real), but because lots of crazies out there with lots of ill intent and a lot are armed..with family, grand daughters, I feel better being armed.An interesting article on how political events have pushed a rise in gun ownership on the left
To keep this forum-safe, I will avoid talking about any political position. But I will say that I know quite a few liberals who have taken to owning guns in times in which they have felt persecuted because of their circumstances. It is less common now, but in the 1980s gay-bashing by gangs of young men was a real thing, and I had some gay friends arm themselves specifically in response to the perceived threat. And, although it is 40 years ago now, in my opinion, the Black Panthers arming themselves were the closest in recent times to embodying the purpose of the 2nd Amendment.
It is interesting how this goes - folks on the right arming themselves against some perceived Muslim invasion threat, and folks on the left arming themselves because of a perceived Nazi/White Nationalist threat. (This board and THR are pretty good, but some gun boards are full of folks talking about Muslim invaders).
I actually find it refreshing that the left sees the need to take the initiative to protect themselves, because part of some left-leaning philosophy has historically been a pacifism (that I, as a liberal, find contemptible).
One of the NRA's big failings is not to be reaching out across the aisle. They frame themselves as pretty right wing - articles about Socialism, etc., that really have no place in advocating gun ownership. But maybe their interest is in the continued political conflict rather than actually convincing folks from different philosophies.
But, folks, let's keep it clean!
We make an error, especially in politics, by believing that we can know sometimes stance on one issue by his or her stance on another.
For instance someone may believe in single payer healthcare, free expression of sexuality an gender, a balanced budget, and the individual right to firearm ownership.
I expect there are far more people who are not in lock-step with the platforms of either major party than there are that are. A "progressive democrat" is not necessarily against the individual right to own firearms. a "conservative republican" will not necessarily defend it. These labels are FAR too encompassing.
No doubt I'll get a time out for this but trump just said at one of his 'rallies' that if you "love your children and care about their future, vote republican"..so it goes both ways.As far as daily life goes, I'm mostly conservative but I still have a liberal view of several things. Most of the people I know personally are the same. That said, I've become a one-issue voter and I vet candidates based on their views and policy history with regard to gun rights.
There are a lot of liberal gun owners out there and I still believe that if we didn't have the support of congressional members who are democratic gun owners, we would not have the rights we do now. The vocal liberal media and liberal screamers are, in my never-to-be-humble opinion, the exception rather than the rule.
Of course, a lot of people are voting straight ticket which is an uneducated and irresponsible way to vote. Nevertheless, lately, I've been hearing Democrat radio ads telling voters that they SHOULD vote straight ticket, top to bottom, "for the children." As if the Democrats are the only people out there who think education is important. The irony, of course, is in this uneducated approach to voting. As a result, the temptation to vote straight ticket Republican is hard to resist.
/Soapbox before I go too far with this.
--Wag--
Well, crap. I didn't hear that one. Goes to show, however, that the left has no exclusive claim to craziness.No doubt I'll get a time out for this but trump just said at one of his 'rallies' that if you "love your children and care about their future, vote republican"..so it goes both ways.