Do you want effective firearms regulations and controls? Really?

[MineralMan]

I do. I also understand that no such thing will be enacted, as long as Republicans are in majority control of Congress and the White House. It's simply not going to happen. Period.

So, what to do? It's simple. Elect Democratic majorities in the House and Senate and replace the President with a Democrat. Nothing else is going to get the job done. As long as Republicans are in charge, gun control will not happen. Preserving a woman's right to make her own reproductive choices will not happen. Protection of US Citizens who are not white, male, and Christian will not be enacted while Republicans are in power. Universal Health Care will not happen.

We're not going to achieve our goals until we can establish solid Democratic control of state and federal legislatures and executive officers. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

So, our top priority going forward needs to be a total effort to get people who will vote for Democrats from the top to the bottom of every ballot out to vote. If you're not working on that, you're not working toward what must happen to get the things we all want. If you're fighting with other Democrats, we lose. If you are wasting your time trying to get Republicans to vote in ways they absolutely will not, we lose.

We will only win when we recognize what will bring the changes we need. It's simple. When 40% of registered Democrats do not vote in elections, as happened in the special House seat election in Georgia, we lose. Math. It's simple math.

There is only one goal, and we should all be putting our time, money and emphasis into achieving that one goal. GOTV in 2018 and 2020! If we do that effectively, we'll get the changes we need. If we do not, the Republicans will win.

That's it!

[Hoyt]

1. I agree. But even then, Democratic gun fanatics are going to have to give up some

of their access to guns for the good of society.

I'm not sure I see that from the Gungeoneers here.

[MineralMan]

2. They are a tiny minority of Democrats, even if you

assume that they are Democrats at all. Screw 'em!

And I say that as a firearms owner. Screw 'em!

[Hoyt]

4. You wouldn't know it around here. I'm not arguing with you. GOPers aren't going to give

up guns, they are too racist and afraid. So we are getting close to 50% of voters who'll keep their guns, no matter how many people get butchered.

So, if only 15% -- or even 3% -- of Democrats would actually vote GOPer if Democrats seriously pushed gun control legislation, meaningful gun legislation is in trouble.

I too doubt the credentials of many gunners.

[MineralMan]

6. Not really. It's a tiny percentage of DUers, too.

They're vocal. They post in every thread having to do with firearms, but they're still a tiny minority here, just as they are in the Democratic Party. All we have to do is get all Democratic voters to the polls, and the gun lovers will lose.

I refuse to even involve myself with firearms advocates. It's a waste of my time. I know firearms. I understand firearms. I won't even talk to 2nd Amendment kooks. What's the point? I won't change their minds. They don't matter to me. The votes of Democrats matter to me, not firearms regulation opponents. As I said, screw 'em!

[Hoyt]

8. I'm willing to try, but I think these people are addicted to guns and the rush they give them.

And I think there are a lot of Democrats who just don't understand the problem.

They think about old Uncle Fred who had a 410 shotgun and what a wonderful person he was. They've never been to a gun show or gun store and seen the white wingers in there drooling over lethal weapons.

[MineralMan]

9. Who cares, Hoyt? Why bother?

It's a waste of time arguing with people who will never change their minds. It wastes your valuable time that could be used in more beneficial ways.

That's why DU has an RKBA Group. Except at times like these, it keeps them from raising their voices in GD. I don't even go there. I have almost never posted there. Discussing firearms with gun control opponents is just a waste of time and energy.

[Hoyt]

10. Good point.

[sarisataka]

12. Depending on the survey

20-30% of Democrats are also gun owners. I don't consider that a tiny minority. I am a better Democrat than gun owner so I have no plans to ever vote Republican.

Ironically it was in the gun control forum and GD that we saw a host lobbying for Sen. Tammy Duckworth's Republican opponent during the GE:

Don't vote party, vote gun violence. That's why Gabby Gifford's has endorsed two Republicans for senate. The two have consistently voted against the NRA and for her that's the most important issue for the short term.

Even if it is for only one or two election cycles, if the NRA's mythological omnipotence can be defeated and shown for being a mile deep and an inch wide it is worth it.

Correct me if I am wrong but Sen. Duckworth is pro-gun control. I never saw any DU "gunner" exhorting people to vote for a Republican.

[MineralMan]

13. I'm a firearms owner, myself.

However, I'm about as far from being a gun nut as you'll find. I favor serious controls, such as mandatory licensing, training requirements, a national database of owners with serial numbers of their firearms and an end to concealed carry without a genuine need. I'd end open carry of firearms, except as needed for hunting season and to transport them to a gunsmith or after purchase. I'd put a 14-day waiting period in place for all firearms purchases, as well, and eliminate any transfers that did not involve a background check and recording by a licensed firearms dealer. I would include family member transfers in that requirement, as well.

I'd also track ammunition sales in a national database, and require serious firearms storage safety rules to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of children and thieves. Violation of firearms regulations would result in loss of ownership and possession privileges for terms that reflect the seriousness of the violation.

How's that? I'm a Democrat who owns firearms.

If such a program were in place, I'd register my firearms, take the training, get the required license and would have no problem with ammunition purchases being recorded.

[sarisataka]

14. More than I would support

But gun control is far down my list of priorities. I will vote for this strictest pro-gun control Democrat if they are good on the rest of the platform.

Franken and Klobuchar are fine Senators IMO and I would not change my support to a Republican even if he offered me free ammo for life.

[SHRED]

3. 3% own 50% of the guns in this country

[Hoyt]

5. I worry about 65 - 75% who are white wing racist gunners. That 65% includes 20% who like Paddock.

[Willie Pep]

7. Yes it needs to be said.

Even a Blue Dog like Joe Manchin pushed for stronger background checks which is better than nothing which is what you would get with a Republican from West Virginia.

[Abouttime]

11. We need to get out in front of this

And run candidates who are serious about gun control. We also need to get all our current legislators on the same page.
We need serious gun control.
License and register all firearms.
Confiscate and ban all military firearms for civilian use, yes even your beloved 1911, we are serious here.
No more open carry, no more conceal carry.
Severe and mandintory prison sentences for gun violations, zero tolerance. This will totally kill the argument that 'criminals will still have guns'.
Tax and regulate ammunition to the point it costs $100 a round and render it impossible to stockpile.
Make gun owners fill out a report documenting every discharge of a firearm, the gun owner would file his report monthly or quarterly reporting his gun inventory, ammunition purchases and inventory and use. The government could effectively know who is stockpiling ammunition and monitor their intentions, this could prevent a mass casualty event.
The majority of Americans are behind this, we are sick of this!
Our founders had no idea we would be talking things like fully auto, bump stop, assault rifle etc..

[friendly_iconoclast]

15. Did you use a casting reel or a spinning reel to post that?

Because advocating trying to criminalize 25-30% of the population sure looks like:



to those not wedded to the idea of "gun control uber alles"...

[Abouttime]

16. You're joking?

What I'm suggesting is regulating gun ownership and the gun industry.
The Federal Government regulates all kinds of industries, trucking and tobacco for instance.
Do you realize every carton of cigarettes is now tracked by the federal government from production to retail?
If we can do it with something like cigarettes we could do it with guns and ammo.

[friendly_iconoclast]

17. "If we can do it with something like cigarettes" Google 'cigarette smuggling' and get back to us