Posted by Jim on April 22, 2000 at 19:51:51:
In Reply to: Shameless plug posted by Hogryder on April 21, 2000 at 20:24:10:
OK folks, just had to chime in again.
I'm one of those "sillytary" guys that WD refferred to [I'm very upset, Doc! How could you say that.... ;^) ].
Anyway, here is the whole thing in a nutshell: Our Constitution gives us the right to have guys so that we can defend ourselves against government excesses. I work for the government, folks. I have a whole armory full of assault rifles and missile launchers. If me and a bunch of my buddies decide to trample your rights, and you don't have guns, you are SCREWED. For clarification, see "U.S. History, 1776." (now I'm not like that, the only Americans I'd ever shoot up would be those trying to mess with my beloved Constituion....). All the other things that guns are used for (both good and bad) are secondary and do not, and CANNOT be allowed to, sway our views on guns. Bottom line is that without the right to keep and bear arms, the rest of the Bill of Rights is a paper promise. Promises get broken. Ask American Indians, Vietnam Vets, retired military, etc..., (the list goes on and on). When gun rights go away, the rest of our rights soon follow. One of Hitler's first steps was to mandate registry of all firearms (a quick cross check against Party members, and he then collected them up-- by force). We should not expect anyone from outside of our country to understand our love of guns (or freedom for that matter); it is part of our unique culture. One of the great things about our country is we can choose what we want to do, and as long as it doesn't harm other people, no one can tell us not to make that choice (theoretically- let's not delve into helmet laws again). If you don't like guns, fine don't get them. But don't tell me I can't have mine; the Constitution says I can, and THAT document is what DEFINES America. Simply put Anti-Gun is Anti-Constitution. Anti-Constitution is Anti-American. Do the math.
-KTRSD (and your finger off the trigger until you want to shoot)
-Jim