"“It’s definitely going to be an uphill battle,” said Taylor, elected in 2008 to the state’s House of Representatives.“People feel their right to bear arms is being threatened.”
Gun-control advocates are finding it difficult to capitalize on outrage over the Martin case. The dynamics are similar in other states where efforts are under way to weaken or repeal the National Rifle Association-backed measures known as Stand Your Ground. Lawmakers have introduced rollbacks in South Carolina and Louisiana and say they plan to in Wisconsin andTexas."
------------------------------------
Don't kid yourselves, folks. The four and a half million members of the NRA (me among them) and the extremely well organized lobbying effort of the group in Washington and the state capitals will stop the anti-gun crowd in their tracks. There will be no repeal of any of the "Stand Your Ground" laws in the states and BHO will not run on an anti-gun platform. In fact, his thinly disguised position on the Second Amendment will cost him a lot of votes no matter what the Democratic Party platform says. The prospect of his nominations to the federal bench on this as well as other issues insures a negative vote from many people.
The attempt to use the Martin/Zimmerman case as propaganda for federal or state gun control legislation is a total waste of time, and serves no purpose other than to irritate the hundred million plus gun owners in the United States.
That's democracy folks. Save your money and breath. pl
Couldn't agree more. I thought the Supreme Court settled this when it said the Second Amendment applied to all individuals rather than only to well regulated militias. I view this issue much as I view gay marriage. If you don't want to do it, don't. No one is telling you that you must carry a firearm or enter into a gay marriage. Stop telling others that they can't do it.
I also hope edged weapons are included in the right to bear arms. A Florida court ruled that a high school kid was justified under the "stand your ground" law in stabbing his schoolyard tormentor to death. Good on him. I hate bullies.
Posted by: The Twisted Genius | 23 April 2012 at 03:05 PM
"I'll give you my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!" .......
Posted by: Jake | 23 April 2012 at 03:27 PM
ªThe attempt to use the Martin/Zimmerman case as propaganda for federal... gun control legislation is a total waste of time, and serves no purpose other than to irritate the hundred million plus gun owners in the United States...(Obama´s) thinly disguised position on the Second Amendment will cost him a lot of votes no matter what the Democratic Party platform says.ª
I missed the part of the story that mentioned anybody at the federal level, much less anybody anybody working for the President, attempting to enact gun control legislation.
Posted by: Ben | 23 April 2012 at 03:54 PM
Ben
Absolutely correct, and they won't. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 04:20 PM
Not to Tread on Hallowed Ground but when is the NRA going to put forth a reasonable plan to reduce the amount of handguns available to punks, thugs, idiots etc in Urban areas. Huh.
Posted by: Bobo | 23 April 2012 at 04:42 PM
"Take your stinking paws off of me, you damn dirty ape!"
Posted by: Morocco Bama | 23 April 2012 at 04:45 PM
This is a non partisan issue . Even moderates like myself belong to the NRA. To paraphrase the tried and true gun owners saying 'probably more then I need but not as many as I want ." Moreover even though I do not go hunting hardly ever any more - I still buy ; every year the full boat hunting and fishing combination with all the stamps - that also supports gun ownership rights and just as important conservation .
Posted by: Alba Etie | 23 April 2012 at 05:10 PM
Morocco Bama
Are you quoting someone? If so, who are you quoting? pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 05:22 PM
Bobo
You don't like guns or gun rights? Well go out and get anti-gun legislation passed! I will laugh myself to death watching. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 05:23 PM
My guess is Charlton Heston in the first Planet of the Apes - is that right MB ?
Posted by: Alba Etie | 23 April 2012 at 05:25 PM
AE and MA
If that is true then the quotation was frivolous and inappropriate. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 05:28 PM
Yes Col Lang I would agree
Posted by: Alba Etie | 23 April 2012 at 05:31 PM
I have no problem with guns or gun rights. I do have a problem with an organization (a very successful one) that uses all it's efforts to prevent a government from enacting reasonable legislation to take un-registered handguns or un-licensed users off the streets in urban areas. There has to be a reasonable answer to this situation and the NRA has to take a lead on this.
Posted by: Bobo | 23 April 2012 at 05:54 PM
When Eric Holder, the DoJ, and the ATF stop gunwalking ala Operation Fast and Furious to try and manipulate gun control policy.
Posted by: Tyler | 23 April 2012 at 06:03 PM
PL, Alba is correct. It was a satirical addendum to Jake's quote. Every time I see that quote, I hear Chuck Heston saying it....and then I hear him saying what I quoted. He had such a distinctive voice and delivery.
Posted by: Morocco Bama | 23 April 2012 at 06:06 PM
Stand your ground laws and laws denying the right of gun ownership are two distinct issues.
Posted by: steve | 23 April 2012 at 06:27 PM
steve
That is correct. there will be no more discussion of the Zimmerman Case until it is resolved. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 06:56 PM
Bobo
"un-registered handguns or un-licensed users off the streets in urban areas"
We do not register guns in Virginia and we do not license users, and we will not. It is our right to legally oppose federal laws that would force us to do that. That is the purpose of the NRA. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 06:58 PM
"Reasonable" means many things to many people.
It was considered "unreasonable" to Congress for a while for a person to be able to buy an AK47 or AR-15 because "those rifles are scary!" Look for one congresswoman trying and failing to describe what a barrel shroud was and why it was so dangerous it needed to be banned or restricted.
An armed citizenry is a good thing. Too many times those seeking to restrict guns in the name of safety are only seeking to do so because of their own fears or want to see guns only in the hands of those they decide should have them. Both are unacceptable.
Posted by: Tyler | 23 April 2012 at 08:42 PM
Tyler
Try asking most such people to explain the difference between semi and fully automatic or what a revolver is. pl
Posted by: turcopolier | 23 April 2012 at 08:45 PM
Obama said in his campaign he thought it was a good idea to etch identifying numbers on the ammunition to be able to trace a bullet back to the buyer. This idea is brought up from time to time. Of course it would make ammunition prohibitely expense for the average person and would be easy for the criminal to circumvent. Much of what the government says it does for public safety is done to control the sheeple.
Guns are useful for personal protection but useless if it comes to a showdown with the G-men. One shot, a "yahoo!" and I'd be cut to peices.
Posted by: optimax | 23 April 2012 at 09:40 PM
When the family values crowd (and by implication the 'non' family values crowd) stop raising their kids to be punks, thugs and/or idiots?
Posted by: Fred | 23 April 2012 at 10:25 PM
I personally am more concerned with the erosion of the 1st, 4th, and 5th amendments and posse comitatus.
The idea of government (local, state, or federal) flying drones domestically to maintain order is of some concern to me. The militarization of police departments since 9/11 does not make me feel safer. Although I consider myself to be a law abiding person, I do not feel like the police are necessarily there to help me.
There is no stand Your Ground legislation in California (where I live). I think that if you kill someone in this state in self defense you will have significant legal problems.
I do not have a concealed carry permit and don't particularly feel the need for one. I have not felt that the waiting period and background check required to purchase a firearm are onerous; but the criteria for purchasing has become more stringent over the years especially the firearms safety demonstration when purchasing a handgun. Like someone said (maybe Ben Franklin) "No one is safe in their purse or person when the legislature is in session."
The weapons lying around in my gun safe are .22, 9mm, 5.56mm, 7.62mm. There's a pattern there I think.
Posted by: John | 23 April 2012 at 10:39 PM
Sir,
Unless they've been around firearms, they really don't have a clue. They just know they've been told they're big and scary and that's enough for them!
Posted by: Tyler | 24 April 2012 at 12:02 AM
IIRC Obama also wanted to outlaw all semi auto weapons.
In a one on one showdown, yes, though Jack Ruby might argue with you there even though it cost him his wife and child.
I think AfPak proves that one man, one rifle, and one cause will defeat any number of drones and billions of dollars of military expenditures if you have the zeal. Seriously, what does the armament of the jihadis consist of in Afghanistan? RPGs, AK47s, mortars, and recoiless rifles.
I think your average radio shack nerd could figure out how to make an IED that would give DARPA fits.
Posted by: Tyler | 24 April 2012 at 12:05 AM