Without wanting to get into a political debate, way to prove your own point. Gun owners do need to demonstrate solidarity, but it becomes hard to stand together when Republican gun owners, who are the vast majority, are constantly taking pot shots at Democrats.

"We have the potential for the most anti-gun, anti-liberty, socialistic President in the history of our country." Why is that comment necessary?

Yes, yes, I know that is what you believe. And I know you assume that every gun owner is a diehard Republican. But I know plenty of liberal people who are also gun owners. And the reason they are not more active is that they have no desire to get involved in a movement that is consistently contemptuous of them.

Thanks, U.J., for proving my point. Please, continue to vilify every liberal gun owner. That will, of course, end well.

I know of plenty of gun owners who are far from the conservative mindset.

The real issue is not where the rest of your politics lie, it's where you draw the line.

To many like myself, gun rights is a "deal breaker" , meaning no anti-gun politician will ever get my vote.

So, the question is, will your otherwise liberal politics have you vote for a team of gun grabbers, or the team with the NRA life member on it?

GUNS AND THE WORLD

Interesting article, and rest assured not only applicable to the USA. All over, the world is facing such challenges, and it leaves one begging, to think where that leaves us as gun owners.

In Africa we seem to however be escaping the heavy anti-gun lobbyists for the moment. Food crisis; and politics seem to get the better news coverage, especially your news.

We pesonally have a gun collection of more than 150 guns in our collection, so we always try and stay up to date on such news.

Feel free to visit our blog for more news and interesting stories "out of africa".

http://huntingsafaris.wordpress.com

HOW ABOUT COMING TO AFRICA?

Consider yourself invited, if you havent hunted Africa yet, man you are loosing out. Visit our blog for much more news.

Regards and may God Bless you.

"Africa Jack"
(Pseudonym)

"Thanks, U.J., for proving my point. Please, continue to vilify every liberal gun owner. That will, of course, end well."

What villification? Liberal gun owners are ... liberal gun owners. They are not libertarian gun owers. They are liberals. That means something.

They are anti-liberty, preferring that liberty be replaced with liberal ideals of behaviour, the most common summation of which is socialism. That is what they do, and they are generally proud that they do it.

They need to realize that one of the anti-liberty, liberal ideals that their fellow travellors share is the anti-gun liberal ideal.

This is not villification.

@ Johnny
Thank you for posting a very honest opinion. I agree with you that any candidate would say anything to get elected. Most conservatives like myself would agree because we know that McCain was a liberal conservative up until he started this campaign. Now if you have to choose between economic policy and your guns, i say guns. The capitalistic system will eventually fix itself, but once our guns have been taken, they will never be given back (just like our f/a's became 'class 3' weapons in 1986 and have never gone back). I of course would disagree with you on the principles of Obama's economic policy as i believe you should give money to people who know how to use it (rich people and corporations) who will create jobs and more money instead of giving it to the people who refuse to work and want to live for free. And the current situation exists because of the Clinton administration pushing the already money hungry banks into making housing loans to people whoul could not pay them back. But thats just my opinion which i interjected unfairly ;-). What i'm trying to say is you can save your life and your family's lives with a gun, and hungry or not, being alive is better than being dead with a great economy.

I own a small business and can tell you if Obama gets elected I will have no choice but to lay off and may go out of business.
We are tax to death now and can not take much more between taxes and law suites.
My customers now are asking us to excell our schedule in case he gets elected.
As for guns he will elect Judges to strip away our rights.

Let us not forget Democratic VP nominee Senator Biden has voted to ban the ammunition (and parts thereof) we need to use our firearms. Remember, Senator Obama was hand picked by Senator Ted Kennedy and has Senator John ("The Goose Hunter") Kerry as an advisor. This group has an agenda and the dismantling of the Constitution (especially the 2nd Amendment) is high up on that list.

Will a McCain/Palin Administration be able to get proper Justices on the US Supreme Court, and otherwise foil that agenda while fighting an overwhelmingly Democrat controlled Congress? I don't know. I do know there is NO hope if the White House AND the Congress are under Democratic control.

LiberalGunRunner, yes there are plenty of Liberal gun owners and I am dumbstruck when you and others place your vote for a person, who has made it clear, he is going to regulate your Second Amendment right the way he feels it work. At the same time he will be fully protected by the same weapons that he says you can't have. Please explain that to me.

Redistribution of Wealth is socialism, hence my description of Obama.

Johnny,
Please don't take this as an attack, but man, what about fairness?
The Wealthy: How much makes them wealthy? When do you get some of theirs? Maybe they are a target for every fundraiser out there, maybe they fear being "broke", you can't know why they have frugal habits. Maybe being frugal helped them get rich.. Maybe they have given something to you and I already - a job and a chance to profit from what they have. Maybe they earned it, maybe they were born to it, but it is theirs. I think Jay Leno should have 1000 cars if he wants them and can afford them, and he is not responsible to give them to anyone who doesn't own one or can't afford one. And he never dirtied his hands on lead and Oakum, or turned a pipe wrench to earn a penny. The same with Bill Gates money, or your ATV or bass boat or rifle. If someone has it in the heart to contribute to the good of the society they live in to a larger extent than an equal share, they will be rewarded in the intangibles that generousity brings. If you want take from them for your benefit (even in the form of better roads or schools), at least use a knife in an alley and be honest about you're doing! No one should be punished for success and made to pay more than the next person. What in the world has happened to the sense of fairness in our country. And no, I am not wealthy, but I'm sure trying to get there.

I hope you are wealthy one day from your work and character, in both money and intangibles. Maybe you already are. But don't expect to reach into the pockets of the wealthy for more than the same you will give - it's called fairness.

I'm always amazed by the thinking of some gun owners and the way they justify voting for someone or a group of someones that if unchecked would make firearm ownership illegal in a heartbeat. If no one opposed them why wouldn't they? Past history and statements made should be enough to make the voting decision easy. Unless the guns you actually own don't mean anything and having them outlawed and taken away isn't going to bother you. History has proven eternal vigilance is the cost of freedoms. But I guess by just saying "it won't happen" makes them feel more at ease with their decisions.

Everyone has good points and arguements, and I think this is the first discussion about guns and politics that has been respectful, kinda nice for a change. As derek does, I also believe in hard work, personal responsibility, and the freedom to make good and bad decisions, As I am sure you all have done too, I work hard every day and take all my responsibilities very serious. Short of winning the lotery, I never will be rich, and I don't necessariy care to be, all I ask for is the ability to make a decent living, have a good family, and have ample opportunities for any children i may have. I would like them t0, just as my parents wanted for me, and their parents wanted for them, to have the same chance to work hard and have the opportunity for a good life. But as part of my responsibilities, as a productive member of society, it is my duty, and the duty of all the other productive memebers of society to help those less fortunate, and maybe people that have experienced some tough times and need to get back on their feet. Whether habitat for humatiy, church's, or governement assistance, it is our duty. I, however don't think people should be allowed to suck on the government teat forever, but only to help them get back even again. I think it is bad when people think they are entitled to assistance, but that doesn't mean we should punish the ones that are properly utilizing the system. Some people are just lazy POS and there is no getting around that. I also believe people have the right to be rich, and for leno to have 1000 cars, thats his peragotive, but I also think with that level of wealth comes responsibility, I am not talking about a socailist society where everyone makes the same money no matter what, I am talking about is them footing there share of the bill. Its oil companies forking over some of there high profits to help build new school, or getting our country out of debt. I mean, if I made 2 million dollars a year, if i have to pay 25% taxes (easy number to work with) is 1.5 million really that much less? is it going to cramp my lifestyle? But if i make 50k a year and i have the same tax rate of 25% that 12,500 in taxes is alot tougher to deal with. thats not what i consider fair. As far as the business side goes, I am no businessman, but if I own construction company, and 5% of the population is making money, but the rest is pinching pennies, how much business is that going to generate for me? how many employees do i need? Now have 90% of the population making more money, having more to spend, now how is my business doing? How many employees do i need? even if i pay higher taxes, work is more plentifull, so i need more people, creating jobs, giving more people income, creating more income for me, leading me to make more money. that is how it seems to work in my brain, lets keep the good discussion going!

Jonny,
Be careful, you're describing "Supply-side Economics"! And it works.

Still, I have a problem with "mandating" that anyone be "charitable" by taxing them at a higher rate for making more. Why should they pay any more for I-95 repairs than you do? It's the "moral" thing to do. If they want to see to those needs at a higher level, then they can. Perhaps they should feel the need to do so. IT's a good thing, this morality. But I oppose this "legislation of morality" via taxation more than limiting rap lyrics or blue movies or wardrobe malfunctions.

And there is no problem with a helping hand - a hand up so to speak from our government. Many things we do are aimed at temporary assistance, from unemployment compensation to programs for children to help for those with a medical crisis. They aren't perfect, but we try. And that's good.

But the present mentality of progressive taxes being patriotic is absurd. Mercy and compassion for those who are unable to care for themselves is a far cry from the culture that draws the lifeblood from our economy in "transfer payments" these days. I watch people I know waste assistance from these programs, then cry for more. It's a dependance as much as cocaine or heroin for them. We need to get our thinking right. We need to be reasonable with ourselves as well as others. That's Change we Need, not what the candidates are selling.