They just don't get it......

I've been taking a break from talk radio over the last few days. Because I want to take a brickbat to BOTH sides.

Seriously.

In the wake of what happened at VT, both sides of the gun debate have been vocal to the point of obnoxiousness. The gun lobby has been frothing at the mouth, blaming a "loss of values in our society" and other right-wing talking points. Gun control nuts have been piously wringing their hands and spouting the left-wing talking points.

Gah.

I am a gun owner. I make no bones about such. However, the NRA does NOT speak for me. Indeed, I feel the NRA's attitude have poisoned gun debate in the US.

I am a moderate. I am fiscally "conservative", socially "liberal", (friend of mine jokes I'm a throwback to a "Goldwater Republican".) I left the Libertarian party years ago, (or it left me), but many of my attitudes are still reflective of elements of the school of thought called "limited state libertarian".

And I am one of a great many people, moderate, "conservative", "liberal", whathaveyou, that have taken on the responsibility of gun ownership. (Actually know more self-described "liberals" that own guns for that matter. Go figure)

Yes, I said the "r" word - responsibility.

The NRA constantly preaches about gun "rights", and uses the "they're going to take your guns away" as a bogeyman. The gun control lobby uses simular scare tactics to get people to agree to more and more restrictions on guns and other weapons.

And neither side discusses the flip side of that right - responsibility.

When I exercised my right to own a weapon, I also accepted the responsibility of that weapon. (The same goes for knives and swords). That I have taken on a responsibility to care for this weapon, to make sure I know how to use it correctly. To keep it out of the hands of the untrained or unsuitable.

That I have taken on a responsibility to a tool that is designed to harm another person - or even take their life. The responsibility to use this weapon when appropriate - and accept the results of those actions and my decision to take that action if / when required.

The NRA likes to talk about rights, but not responsibilities. Because responsibility scares most people. Gun control advocates don't like to discuss responsibility either - it doesn't serve their arguement.

The arguement is that if students at VT had guns of their own, the death toll would have been far less. I don't agrue that - but I also would have asked how many of those students would have the responsibility to use that gun properly. Used right, the toll would have been much less. Used wrong, and the toll would have been MUCH higher from indiscriminate return fire.

I would have a lot more respect for the NRA if they worked more towards working with ALL gun owners of all political stripes, and realized their "our way or else" attitude is turning away people. And I would have more respect for the gun control advocates if they worked *with* gun owners towards sensible solutions that advocate responsibility over denial of rights.

As it is, both sides did nothing but piss me off.

They just don't get it......

I've been taking a break from talk radio over the last few days. Because I want to take a brickbat to BOTH sides.

Seriously.

In the wake of what happened at VT, both sides of the gun debate have been vocal to the point of obnoxiousness. The gun lobby has been frothing at the mouth, blaming a "loss of values in our society" and other right-wing talking points. Gun control nuts have been piously wringing their hands and spouting the left-wing talking points.

Gah.

I am a gun owner. I make no bones about such. However, the NRA does NOT speak for me. Indeed, I feel the NRA's attitude have poisoned gun debate in the US.

I am a moderate. I am fiscally "conservative", socially "liberal", (friend of mine jokes I'm a throwback to a "Goldwater Republican".) I left the Libertarian party years ago, (or it left me), but many of my attitudes are still reflective of elements of the school of thought called "limited state libertarian".

And I am one of a great many people, moderate, "conservative", "liberal", whathaveyou, that have taken on the responsibility of gun ownership. (Actually know more self-described "liberals" that own guns for that matter. Go figure)

Yes, I said the "r" word - responsibility.

The NRA constantly preaches about gun "rights", and uses the "they're going to take your guns away" as a bogeyman. The gun control lobby uses simular scare tactics to get people to agree to more and more restrictions on guns and other weapons.

And neither side discusses the flip side of that right - responsibility.

When I exercised my right to own a weapon, I also accepted the responsibility of that weapon. (The same goes for knives and swords). That I have taken on a responsibility to care for this weapon, to make sure I know how to use it correctly. To keep it out of the hands of the untrained or unsuitable.

That I have taken on a responsibility to a tool that is designed to harm another person - or even take their life. The responsibility to use this weapon when appropriate - and accept the results of those actions and my decision to take that action if / when required.

The NRA likes to talk about rights, but not responsibilities. Because responsibility scares most people. Gun control advocates don't like to discuss responsibility either - it doesn't serve their arguement.

The arguement is that if students at VT had guns of their own, the death toll would have been far less. I don't agrue that - but I also would have asked how many of those students would have the responsibility to use that gun properly. Used right, the toll would have been much less. Used wrong, and the toll would have been MUCH higher from indiscriminate return fire.

I would have a lot more respect for the NRA if they worked more towards working with ALL gun owners of all political stripes, and realized their "our way or else" attitude is turning away people. And I would have more respect for the gun control advocates if they worked *with* gun owners towards sensible solutions that advocate responsibility over denial of rights.

As it is, both sides did nothing but piss me off.