Date: Mon, 21 May 2001 19:34:04 -0700 From: wizard@VAN-KOPP.COM (Dave Kopp) Subject: Re: Hanson's SB1297 Response To: AZRKBA@asu.edu
Hey Jay,
> You make a good point, and I agree with you. I wasn't referring to civil
> disobedience. I'd like to see all gun laws repealed, but until that
> happens we are stuck living with asinine laws and the (sometimes very
> severe) consequences if we violate those laws.
Problem is, it's unlikely that any of these laws will go away without masive civil disobediance. There's just no reason for the people who run things to get rid of them otherwise.
> I wonder why people find it so difficult to refuse to support ANY
> additional weapon restrictions. A person must choose whether he is for
> reducing, maintaining, or increasing the recognition of our rights.
> Refusing to accept more restrictions simply maintains the status quo, and
> isn't the least bit extreme. Rep. Hanson and the NRA won't even adopt this
> moderate position. They insist on selling us out.
Because people want to be reasonable. Not many folks want to be thought of as "difficult". They want people to like them and be comfortable with them. The majority of folks will go to great lengths just to "fit in". Remember high school? If that wasn't an exercise in "blending" for most folks, I don't know what was.
Given that tendency of the majority, which is reinforced at every turn in public schools, the media, urban life in general, etc., it's only natural that the minority, who see thngs for what they really are, would exploit it.
Our main problem is that the other side has done a better job of exploiting it than we have. And that, again, is only natural. People like us tend to believe in individual free will, so we don't particularly want to exercise control over others. Our opposition, OTOH, likes nothing better, so such tactics come naturally to them. Until we learn to take a page from their book, we'll be doomed to playing the game by their rules, and that means always giving up ground and never gaining any.
Someone pointed out earlier that we should be looking at this as a war, and planning things with a military mindset. I couldn't agree more. Until we start believing that total victory is the only acceptable outcome, we'll be fighting a losing battle. As always, MTC, YMMV.
-- L8R.
Dave
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