To answer the original poster's question, that was the episode where Lisa's school band had entered into some "battle of the bands" contest and had lost to the Ogdenville band, who used (illegal) visual aids in the form of glow-sticks. "Illegal" not meaning a violation of state, local or federal law, but meaning of the rules of the contest.
Klinton's line (not verbatim) had been to the effect of thanking Lisa for advancing the American way, which was "if you want something bad enough, just complain about it until you get your way". Sorry, I don't know the exact words for your .sig but it's the general idea.
My take on the Simpsons is that it is subtly pro-gun, but not outrageously so. Matt Groening probably has to get all the pro-gun messages past the nice PC censors at Fox.
Examples from the episode where Homer gets a gun for home protection.
True, the NRA people are portrayed as semi-wacko (Lenny is shown with the latest super-duper gun with all sorts of doodads hanging off it saying it's needed to hunt deer) but they end up saving the Simpsons from an armed intruder at the end of the episode. To me, this demonstrates that firearms can be used (and are often used) in self-defense and defense of others, contrary to HCI's blatherings.
Furthermore, the NRA members are not just Cletus (the slack-jawed yokel) but include Dr. Hibbert, a professional. This demonstrates that gun owners come from all walks of life, including the highly educated. We ain't all rednecks.
Homer, while at the gunstore, is very dismayed at the three day waiting period ("THREE DAYS? BUT I'M MAD NOW!!!"). I didn't think this was particularly pro-gun, but then again I'm ticked off by a waiting period too.
I don't recall if it's in this episode or not, but Lisa goes off on how the 2A is outdated and should be repealed, etc. Grandpa admonishes her by stating that without firearms, the King of England could waltz into their home and they couldn't kick him out. This is a veiled reference to the Third Amendment (right against having soldiers quartered in your home) and how the Second Amendment enforces the Third (and all the rest of the Bill of Rights). It also shows the real purpose of the Second Amendment -- it's not hunting, it's not sport, it's not self defense, it's to prevent government tyrrany.
Marge had forbidden Homer to get the gun in the first place, and even moved herself and the kids out to a motel when Homer refused to get rid of it. In the end, even after the NRA people save her skin (with guns) from the armed intruder, she insists that Homer get rid of the gun. Homer relents and throws the gun away in the trash can. The very last scene in the episode is Marge picking the gun out of the trash, twirling it around and putting it in a holster. To me, this is Diane Feinstein (the gun banner who has a CCL) and Rosie O'Donnell (the gun hater who has a gun-toting bodyguard) rolled into one -- it demonstrates the hypocrisy of many anti's, who have the "do as I say, not as I do" mentality.
I'm sure there are more pro-gun leanings in the episode where Mr. Burns is shot by an unknown assailant ("How can you have a house without a gun??").
Boy that was long. But whaddya say?
Justin
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Justin T. Huang, Esq.
late of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
[This message has been edited by jthuang (edited August 09, 2000).]
