Originally posted by Andrew E. Wiggin
3.)explain to me, in what way, a 50-cal long range sniper rifle is explicit to protect your freedoms?
4.) Tell me. What is the purpose of an M4A1 in civilian life, other than killing another human being
First, to answer these... Andrew, I'm afraid I must disagree with you on these two points.
1 - It is not necessary to justify the right of individuals in the US to own firearms. The right to own and carry the necessary weaponry to defend
one's self is a human right, even without the 2nd Amendment.
2 - Regarding the .50-cal sniper rifle... there are a couple (at least) of shooting sports that make use of single shot, high power, long range
accurate rifles. There is long range target shooting, and silhouette shooting. So there are 'valid', if you will, recreational 'reasons' to own
such rifles.
3 - Regarding the M4A1, there is also a sport called practical rifle, or maybe something else by now, that involves scenarios in which such a rifle
might be used.
So, there are in fact popular sports that use each of these weapons. But that is really beside the point. The reason behind the 2nd Amendment is to
provide US citizens with the ability to defend themselves and the country against attempted tyranny, from within or from without. That is why the 2nd
Amendment exists.
On to why I am going to vote for Obama: It really boils down to, as I've said before, he is different than what we've had for the last 8 years at
least. The Bush 'Administration' is, in my opinion, the worst disaster to befall the US in my lifetime. Worse than Nixon. Worse than Johnson. Way
worse than Carter. And McCain has made it painfully clear that he will be more of the same. I'm willing to give McCain the benefit of the doubt that
he is not quite as totally corrupt as Bush, but he may be.
Obama is going to do something different. And that's enough for me. I fully recognize he may not be a great president, but I believe he has the
potential to be.
Plus, I like Michelle better than I like Cindy...
I see that the NRA (of which I am a life member) is going to start an ad campaign soon trying to work up fear that Obama is going to take guns
away.
It's a non-issue. For one thing, there is no support for that in the country, either in Congress or the real US. For another, if by chance some such
legislation were to be passed, it would be massively defied.
I recall a story from when Clinton first signed the semi-automatic 'assault' rifle ban... a So. Cal. group of enthusiasts of those rifles published
an ad saying that they would be gathered at a particular range on a particular date, and if any law enforcement folks wanted to come confiscate
rifles, they (LE) would be most welcome to try.
Nobody showed up.
Any attempted ban on firearm ownership will meet similar defiance. It won't work, it's a non-issue, is not even necessary and I believe and hope
that Obama, whatever his personal feelings on the matter, is smart enough to realize that.