Friday 02/08/2013. Fourteenth day of the Georgia Legislative Session. The
high event of the day did not happen inside the Capitol, it happened outside. Given
the relevance gun control has taken, there was a pro-gun rally outside the
Capitol. I do not own a weapon, and I have not used one in my life yet. I do
have family members that are gun enthusiasts, and I have been considered going
to a shooting range to try to understand that strong attachment some people have
towards weapons. Maybe I end up liking guns as well. So since I
have to cover this rally before the next meeting, I was curious
about its development, and the argument pro-gun people use to address the gun
control discussion.
Let me start up clearing some basic
concepts. No member of the government in the USA has proposed to ban all weapons. The government does not want to take anybody’s guns. If anything, the federal government is asking to close the loopholes that allowed 40% of the gun transactions being purchased without any control or regulation, and to check the mental health of gun buyers, a non-brainer after
the shootings of Sandy Hook, Aurora, Columbine, etc. Law abiding and mentally healthy
citizens should not be affected for these new proposals.
If anything, the rally was very colorful to say the least, with people
sporting from hand guns to riffles, to XVIII-century outfits. Like I said, maybe I
got there in not the best moment. But frankly, having a gentleman on full reenactment
outfit saying something like “owing guns is not about hunting, or sport, or self-defense,
is about standing up to the government”, and the whole crowd exploding on
cheers, well, what I can say.
If that is the true belief of these people, maybe somebody should start
considering planning some fundraisers to buy some tanks and drones, for starters. Otherwise I would like to hear what
is the master plan to stand against the most powerful military of the world.
I left the rally with strong mixed feelings. To my gun-enthusiast friends,
a word from a fellow gun-control sympathizer. Review your talking points, and
your rhetoric. Messaging like the used in this rally not only reinforces every
negative stereotype there is against you and your cause, but actually made you
sound like a conspirator, which shriek of irony given that many of you call
yourselves patriots.
I am planning to assist to the next pro-gun rally I hear
about. I hope my impressions of it are different then.
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