News of the Day

[the_narrow_way]

Originally Posted by Flycoon

Their state house has already passed a motion to not allow Obama on the ballot in 2012 if he is unable to produce additional documentation that he is a U S citizen.

First off, we've all seen his birth certificate. What a waste of time. There is no way that come the next presidential election that people are going to stand for not having all of the candidates on the ballot to choose from. No way.

[jdhebner]

These resolutions remind me of those proposing to ban dihydrogen monoxide.

[pete]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...rd-use/1088979

Marco Rubio under investigation by the FBI.

[bassassin]

Originally Posted by Flycoon

One other new AZ law, anyone over the age of 21 (other than a felon) can carry a concealed weapon. No permit, gun safety class, or any other restriction.

Whats up with the obsession of owning guns in the states?

[Maverick9911]

Hunting, protecting your home from the King of England and because Obarmar is a tourist.

[pete]

Whats up with the obsession of owning guns in the states?

People feel disenfranchised and powerless, so they cling to the things they feel put them on an even playing field with the forces that they feel are controlling their lives: guns and religion. Mortality and spirituality.

The auto mechanic or line worker that just saw their hours cut and hates their boss and just saw the banks or the insurance company find a way to steal a little bit more from them in fees or hiking up rates doesn't have the same ability to influence the system the way their boss or the bankers do. They feel like they're at the whims of their boss, and the bankers, and the CEOs, and the politicians that those people's money buys access to. They don't have access to the system, except to vote every couple of years, and there's no visceral payback to that. You can't point at your boss and say, "Bleep you, Mr. Cheatum, I voted for the guy who may or may not pass legislation three years from now who will keep you from cutting my hours arbitrarily. Suck on that!"

But what evens us all up is that we're mortal, and we're all going to die (eventually). Mr. Cheatum isn't bulletproof, nor can Mr. Cheatum claim with any authority he's got priority at the Pearly Gates. Thus the allure of guns and religion. It can be cloaked in a bunch of rhetoric about libertarianism, and fighting tyranny, and the end of days, but when you strip it down to the framing, that's all it is. There's nothing all that high minded about it. It's people who are fearful, and unhappy, and just want to feel like they have a little bit of control. They want to feel like the one with the power in the room, even if 99% of them will never use it (it's the 1% who will we should all be terrified of, though).

The "gaffe" Obama made during the election about people clinging to their guns and religion wasn't incorrect. It's the truth. You just aren't supposed to say it in America.

[Flycoon]

Originally Posted by bassassin

Whats up with the obsession of owning guns in the states?

Good question. No good answers.

You could ask the same question about religion. You would be amazed by the sheer number of churches here. There are probably 25 within 10 miles of my home, none of them small houses of worship.

The real kiss of death for any politician here would be admitting that he/she is an atheist.

[the_narrow_way]

Originally Posted by bassassin

Whats up with the obsession of owning guns in the states?

I understand that some people enjoy hunting and I understand that people have the right to protect themselves and their family and property. However, that can all be done with hunting rifles and handguns. Who actually needs anything bigger and/or more powerful than that other than perhaps law inforcement and the military.

Originally Posted by pete

People feel disenfranchised and powerless, so they cling to the things they feel put them on an even playing field with the forces that they feel are controlling their lives: guns and religion. Mortality and spirituality.

Good post.

Believe it or not the most common reason is protect. Many feel that law enforcement can not protect 24/7, which they can't. By the time you pick up a phone and call for assistance the officer, on average, is 15 minutes away. Those that live in a rural setting could wait twice that long. That is why I did not sell my guns when I retired........protection. And because I am allowed to carry in all 50 states I do not even think about traveling our roads without one.

I have mine for protection from the common everyday criminal, but many own a firearm as believe that the government will collapse one day and their will be a civil war.

[Avery86]

Originally Posted by bassassin

Whats up with the obsession of owning guns in the states?

Similar to the obsession of owning knives in England.