This will sound partisan, even though I don't really intend it to be, but the problem is that collectively Democrats are complete morons when it comes to guns. Like, there is no other issue I can think of where one side is so lacking in knowledge. That flows into the laws they propose and create and then the gun folks just sit back and laugh, then cry, then get mad about how dumb they are.
Yeah, it turns out that most people don't like prohibitions. The best thing Congress did for the gun industry was the previous AWB. Afterwards there was an explosion of tactical rifle purchases that hasn't tapered off much. Nearly ever male coworker I have owns an AR variant. Same with many of my friends.
The fact is that it's going to be very, very hard to put the genie back in the bottle concerning guns on the street. That's why I favor federal permitting and aggressive prosecution of violators. No different than what we do now with hunting licenses. If you get caught with a deer in the back of your truck and no hunting license, the state has a variety of ways to punish you including huge fines, confiscating the truck and everything in it, etc. Someone without a permit being caught in violation should face similar repercussions.
I live in a really affluent area and people don't kill each other. Even in the poor areas of Louisville that are mostly white that isn't happening in nearly the same numbers. It's a problem in poor black areas. That mean it isn't normal and it's a cultural problem leading to the genocide of several generations now. But yeah, keep handwaving it away.
"I know we completely ignore the genocide happening in our cities on a daily basis, but look how upset we are this time and there were brown people killed! See! We do care!"
I guess you feel like you were given a real PR win here, but let's not try to invent liberal credibility on this issue. Around 1% of all gun deaths are from mass shootings. You all have been nipping at the slimmest of margins at least since Newtown. Time to start playing serious ball or just shut up.
It's not trolling to point out how silent the Left is regarding black-on-black crime. Thousands dies every year in city streets but you all clutch your pearls when a mass shooter kills five people in a grocery store. It's shameful.
That's just dumb. Really. I believe El Paso has the largest Latino population in the US. The race of the victims is just statistics. Also, as soon as Dayton happened, it did seem to dominate the news feeds. I wonder why?
"The “mental issue” we are facing is white supremacy."
Chip, I know you have a real hard-on for this issue, but seriously, just stop. If you could determine the motivating factor for every mass shooting that might be 5%.
Just for comparison, there have been 293 people killed by guns in Chicago this year. Lots of other cities, mine included, have had more gun deaths than the shootings over the weekend combined. No Instagram posts from presidential candidates. No calls for new legislation. No complaints about assault weapons. Why? Because that is perceived as black criminals killing other black criminals with handguns. We only seem to get worked up as a country when innocent white people are killed randomly with assault weapons.
- Some new studies have come out showing that universal background checks don't do much to reduce gun crime. Can we stop talking about them?
- Assault weapons account for something like 1% of all gun deaths in the US...can we also stop talking about those?
- It's time to start talking about federal gun permits for anyone that wants to buy, own and possess a gun. You get caught doing any of those things without a permit on file, it's a felony. Period.
- Minimum 30 day waiting period on all gun purchases. Period.
- End of undocumented private sales. Period.
- Aggressive pursuit of gun trafficking with life sentences for anyone found guilty.
These are just starting points, but anything less than this level of seriousness is simply a joke IMO.
No one will have the guts to do it, but I would put her in charge of a presidential panel to explore reparations. I really, really like her take on the subject.
Fivethirtyeight was trying to game out scenarios where each candidate could suddenly pull ahead. All they could come up with for Williamson is that we somehow get drawn into a very unpopular war. She could become the voice of the peace wing. Otherwise, no, I don't think she will do very well but I have enjoyed learning more about her (and also watching Dems fall over themselves to nuke her)
This is a really good point i.e. social security. Plenty of people could simply rely on their 401K and pension and be just fine but they still take those SS checks. That same approach would absolutely de-stigmatize other social programs.
From what I understand, it gets squirrely out west where some states use high water marks and other subjective criteria due to the demand for fly fishing spots.
Yeah, I don't think of family supporting me financially in old age, but our whole family does a LOT for my mom. Cooking meals, cleaning her house, etc.
The friends I have now with more than 3 kids all seem to be doing it based on some idea that they are creating more good humans to better the world.
I thought about AG but it almost seems like an insult to her to go from AG to senator to AG (even if a much bigger job). Plus, AG is so politicized and after seeing what Trump did to Sessions I would not want that job for a million bucks.
The amount of hours spent debating stream navigation within the hunting community is staggering. It's a popular topic in the duck blind. We used to float through farms, maneuver under tree limbs and try to shoot squirrels so that they would land in the canoe.
"There are also things which were useful like large extended families which provided financial security, which just don’t apply nowadays."
My brother and sister have never paid for daycare due to leveraging willing extended family members. That's tens of thousands of dollars over a couple of decades. I also think extended family can be a safety net to take risks, like starting a new business.
There's also a lot of intangibles that probably make like less stressful which leads to more personal success in all areas of life.
If you can't tell, I'm pretty keen on my extended family.
You're right and I was being a bit sarcastic. I'd probably pick Booker. They're bro memes would put Obama/Biden to shame.
Harris seems like the smartest pick on paper but I really wonder if her ego would allow for #2.
I'm also starting to think about cabinet picks if the nominee chooses from the field. Inslee at Energy would be a great pick. I think Harris would be a great Secretary of State. Gabbard as UN ambassador (technically not a cabinet position).
On “The Answer, My Friend, is Blowin’ in the Wind? Perhaps.”
This will sound partisan, even though I don't really intend it to be, but the problem is that collectively Democrats are complete morons when it comes to guns. Like, there is no other issue I can think of where one side is so lacking in knowledge. That flows into the laws they propose and create and then the gun folks just sit back and laugh, then cry, then get mad about how dumb they are.
"
Yeah, it turns out that most people don't like prohibitions. The best thing Congress did for the gun industry was the previous AWB. Afterwards there was an explosion of tactical rifle purchases that hasn't tapered off much. Nearly ever male coworker I have owns an AR variant. Same with many of my friends.
The fact is that it's going to be very, very hard to put the genie back in the bottle concerning guns on the street. That's why I favor federal permitting and aggressive prosecution of violators. No different than what we do now with hunting licenses. If you get caught with a deer in the back of your truck and no hunting license, the state has a variety of ways to punish you including huge fines, confiscating the truck and everything in it, etc. Someone without a permit being caught in violation should face similar repercussions.
"
Sounds like a plan.
"
I live in a really affluent area and people don't kill each other. Even in the poor areas of Louisville that are mostly white that isn't happening in nearly the same numbers. It's a problem in poor black areas. That mean it isn't normal and it's a cultural problem leading to the genocide of several generations now. But yeah, keep handwaving it away.
"
Same with Connecticut. Thousands of CT reaidents are now felons for failing to turn in their tactical rifles for buyback.
"
"I know we completely ignore the genocide happening in our cities on a daily basis, but look how upset we are this time and there were brown people killed! See! We do care!"
I guess you feel like you were given a real PR win here, but let's not try to invent liberal credibility on this issue. Around 1% of all gun deaths are from mass shootings. You all have been nipping at the slimmest of margins at least since Newtown. Time to start playing serious ball or just shut up.
"
So are nearly every 'assault weapon' owned in the US. I suspect most people don't know that.
Also, so is my squirrel rifle. And my buddy's duck gun.
"
Saul, please tell me if a Marlin Model 60 is on your ban list.
"
It's not trolling to point out how silent the Left is regarding black-on-black crime. Thousands dies every year in city streets but you all clutch your pearls when a mass shooter kills five people in a grocery store. It's shameful.
"
That's just dumb. Really. I believe El Paso has the largest Latino population in the US. The race of the victims is just statistics. Also, as soon as Dayton happened, it did seem to dominate the news feeds. I wonder why?
"
"The “mental issue” we are facing is white supremacy."
Chip, I know you have a real hard-on for this issue, but seriously, just stop. If you could determine the motivating factor for every mass shooting that might be 5%.
"
Few items:
Just for comparison, there have been 293 people killed by guns in Chicago this year. Lots of other cities, mine included, have had more gun deaths than the shootings over the weekend combined. No Instagram posts from presidential candidates. No calls for new legislation. No complaints about assault weapons. Why? Because that is perceived as black criminals killing other black criminals with handguns. We only seem to get worked up as a country when innocent white people are killed randomly with assault weapons.
- Some new studies have come out showing that universal background checks don't do much to reduce gun crime. Can we stop talking about them?
- Assault weapons account for something like 1% of all gun deaths in the US...can we also stop talking about those?
- It's time to start talking about federal gun permits for anyone that wants to buy, own and possess a gun. You get caught doing any of those things without a permit on file, it's a felony. Period.
- Minimum 30 day waiting period on all gun purchases. Period.
- End of undocumented private sales. Period.
- Aggressive pursuit of gun trafficking with life sentences for anyone found guilty.
These are just starting points, but anything less than this level of seriousness is simply a joke IMO.
On “Love Will Win”
No one will have the guts to do it, but I would put her in charge of a presidential panel to explore reparations. I really, really like her take on the subject.
Fivethirtyeight was trying to game out scenarios where each candidate could suddenly pull ahead. All they could come up with for Williamson is that we somehow get drawn into a very unpopular war. She could become the voice of the peace wing. Otherwise, no, I don't think she will do very well but I have enjoyed learning more about her (and also watching Dems fall over themselves to nuke her)
On “Who Are We Kidding? Vote for Biden”
This is a really good point i.e. social security. Plenty of people could simply rely on their 401K and pension and be just fine but they still take those SS checks. That same approach would absolutely de-stigmatize other social programs.
On “Kevin Williamson’s Smallest World”
Don't know I agree with ir as destruction. I see it as evolution, but it just needs to be controlled and measured or change for the sake of change.
"
From what I understand, it gets squirrely out west where some states use high water marks and other subjective criteria due to the demand for fly fishing spots.
"
Yeah, I don't think of family supporting me financially in old age, but our whole family does a LOT for my mom. Cooking meals, cleaning her house, etc.
The friends I have now with more than 3 kids all seem to be doing it based on some idea that they are creating more good humans to better the world.
On “Mayor Pete”
Gotcha...makes sense.
"
I thought about AG but it almost seems like an insult to her to go from AG to senator to AG (even if a much bigger job). Plus, AG is so politicized and after seeing what Trump did to Sessions I would not want that job for a million bucks.
"
Ah, crap. My bad. I was thinking NY for some reason. Seems like a safe seat but I get that her voice is important.
On “Kevin Williamson’s Smallest World”
The amount of hours spent debating stream navigation within the hunting community is staggering. It's a popular topic in the duck blind. We used to float through farms, maneuver under tree limbs and try to shoot squirrels so that they would land in the canoe.
"
"There are also things which were useful like large extended families which provided financial security, which just don’t apply nowadays."
My brother and sister have never paid for daycare due to leveraging willing extended family members. That's tens of thousands of dollars over a couple of decades. I also think extended family can be a safety net to take risks, like starting a new business.
There's also a lot of intangibles that probably make like less stressful which leads to more personal success in all areas of life.
If you can't tell, I'm pretty keen on my extended family.
On “Mayor Pete”
If NY picked someone with her clout to take her spot, would they get her committee spots? Hillary? Bill? Lady Gaga?
"
You're right and I was being a bit sarcastic. I'd probably pick Booker. They're bro memes would put Obama/Biden to shame.
Harris seems like the smartest pick on paper but I really wonder if her ego would allow for #2.
I'm also starting to think about cabinet picks if the nominee chooses from the field. Inslee at Energy would be a great pick. I think Harris would be a great Secretary of State. Gabbard as UN ambassador (technically not a cabinet position).
"
Gabbard. Plenty of intersectional boxes to check and can you imagine Trump trying to lecture the two of them on foreign policy?
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.