We already had a national debate about guns — and the left lost
So what has been the result of decades of sustained public debate?
“Americans’ support for stricter gun control laws has gradually declined over the last two decades, from 78% when this question was first asked in 1990 to 49% in 2008, and 44% in 2009 and again this year,” Gallup reported in 2010 survey results…
There isn’t anything wrong with gun control advocates lamenting what, by their lights, is a public that’s reaching wrongheaded conclusions on the subject and is trending in the wrong direction.
But too many pieces I’ve read make a mockery of robust debate in a pluralistic society by ignoring the fact that current policy is largely (though not entirely) a reflection of the U.S. public disagreeing with gun reformers. The average American is far more likely than the average journalist or academic to identify with gun culture, to insist that the 2nd Amendment confers an individual right to bear arms, to exercise that right, and to support various state conceal-and-carry laws. Perhaps persuasion can move the citizenry to favor a different status quo. That’s always a hurdle to clear in a democracy. Yet the ability to engage and persuade fellow citizens is undermined when public discourse obscures rather than confronts the relevant disagreements.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
They want to have it again, and again, until it comes out in their favor.
Abortion, case closed
Global warming, the science is in
Second amendment, we must revisit that
cozmo on December 17, 2012 at 12:16 PM
People have figured out that they should have the right of self-defense.
The debate should be on what the left has done to our culture – but they want to avoid that at all costs.
Instead they would rather focus on an issue that will gain them even more power over the people.
Chip on December 17, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Screw a national debate about guns. Been there, done that. The left lost.
It’s the Second Amendment, stupid. Get used to it.
petefrt on December 17, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Thank goodness the Obama administration would never think of violating the Constitution.
The Rogue Tomato on December 17, 2012 at 12:22 PM
If they lost that means it’s not over.
forest on December 17, 2012 at 12:22 PM
No! (Stomps foot)
Did not! Did Not Did Not! (covers ears)
I can’t hear you! Lalalalala
/Libtard
LincolntheHun on December 17, 2012 at 12:23 PM
When ever a gun related incident/tragedy occurs we get lectured by East Coast Lefties who know nothing or refuse to acknowledge anything about firearms. Everything is an assault weapon, all the weapons are military/law enforcement use only. They talk of gun control laws without mentioning that in these mass shooting guns laws were ignored or actually none were broken but crime was committed by the shooter i.e. stealing legal weapons. Gun control is code for gun bans. Hardly ever is the shooter identified as the real problem. The real issue is the mentally deranged having access to weapons but we can’t call a crazy nut job a crazy nut job or we might stigmatize them, well guess what, we may need to.
major dad on December 17, 2012 at 12:26 PM
Rust never sleeps.
Mr. D on December 17, 2012 at 12:26 PM
There was an attempted spree shooting at a movie theater in my city last night. Some guy was mad at his girlfriend and when he couldn’t couldn’t find her, he tried to take it out on the general public nearby. A female armed security guard shot the guy, and only one innocent man was wounded.
It takes people with guns to stop these maniacs.
If theaters, schools etc won’t allow citizens to carry guns on their premises, then they simply must provide armed security in adequate numbers.
The elementary school down the street from me is at this very minute on lockdown because of a phoned-in threat, no doubt a hoax. Get ready to see more of this in the next few weeks. My son is in college. I don’t think he’s any safer in his classroom than these little kids are in theirs.
juliesa on December 17, 2012 at 12:26 PM
The Greatest Gun Salesman in America
Unless the 0bama regime is talking about confiscation (which I wouldn’t put past them), the horse has left the barn.
More: no anti-2nd amendment legislation will pass the House, period. President puppy-muncher will have to try to force whatever nonsense through with executive orders, which will trigger a constitutional crisis.
Rebar on December 17, 2012 at 12:27 PM
The real question is how long before we have a government funded Sandy Hook Victim Compensation Fund?
We all know it’s going to happen.
ButterflyDragon on December 17, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Leftist ghouls wish to take our right to self defense away but they’ll fight tooth and nail to protect a woman’s “right” to murder an unborn baby. Simply amazing the mindset these ghouls live in. Leftist totalitarian ghouls frighten me more than nutters like the Newtown murderer.
jawkneemusic on December 17, 2012 at 12:28 PM
The left always employs this tactic.
Discuss, discuss until those who disagree with them give in, or they can capitalize on a tragedy to push their views, and anyone who disagrees with them is either not listening, an idiot or crazy, or has bad motives.
Compromise always means accepting the left’s position.
blue13326 on December 17, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Sadly enough, all that is required are 1-2 intellectually dishonest Leftist (but I repeat myself) Supreme Court justices who decide that the words of the 2nd Amendment don’t mean what they say.
Since we have lived under definitions of the Constitution that force us to believe that intra-state commerce is inter-state commerce, forcing sale of property to private individuals, and forcing purchase of commercial products are all Constitutional just how far away do you think we are from a decision that the 2nd Amendment only applies to the National Guard? I’d venture it is two Obama appointments away myself.
iconoclast on December 17, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Which is why they use a massacre – when emotions are running high – to re-litigate things. They don’t like the facts so they must use emotion.
gwelf on December 17, 2012 at 12:34 PM
So what? Do you really think that Boehner, et al would do anything about it? Do you really think the ‘Rat-infested Senate would do anything about it? Is all your hope on John Roberts and Anthony Kennedy that they will do something about it?
iconoclast on December 17, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Conor – with – one – n is a douchebag worthy of ridicule with attendant pointing and laughing.
He starts with one of the left’s favorite falsehoods – the nonexistent gun show loophole. The laws are the same in a gun show as they are anywhere else.
Guns aren’t the problem. The debauched culture the left has created is the problem. That’s what we should be discussing, not bargaining for our rights.
single stack on December 17, 2012 at 12:37 PM
Said it for me.
Remember before the election when the press called anybody who warned that Obama and the Democrats would push an agenda for gun control a left-wing paranoid loonie? Well, here we are just one short month after the election, and the press has conveniently forgotten all that and is colluding with Democrats to bring about exactly what they said could never happen.
They think we’re stupid. And I’m afraid they might be right.
Socratease on December 17, 2012 at 12:39 PM
Galt2009 on December 17, 2012 at 12:47 PM
54+ million babies have been murdered since Roe v Wade, why isn’t the left demanding we renew the debate over abortion? 5 million Americans have died in that same amount of time from gun related violence. This is how evil the left really is.
SWalker on December 17, 2012 at 12:50 PM
The left never loses because they are pitbulls. They keep fighting until the public is beatdown and sick of being called murders, racists, homophobes etc. or they find a black robed tyrant to hand them a win.
melle1228 on December 17, 2012 at 12:51 PM
The problem is, there is really no reason to have this discussion. Mass killings are not on the increase, in fact it is the opposite. There were 32 in the 1980′s, there were 42 in the 1990′s and there were 26 in the 2000′s. Mass shootings peaked in 1929 and have been generally declining since. What has changed is that we now get weeks of media coverage after one.
http://news.yahoo.com/no-rise-mass-killings-impact-huge-185700637.html
crosspatch on December 17, 2012 at 12:53 PM
We can get you across the border to Turkey.
Shy Guy on December 17, 2012 at 12:57 PM
This is the United States of America. I don’t have to need it in order to have it.
CurtZHP on December 17, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Abortion is the not the most important issue for me (I am a fiscal guy), but it’s worth noting that gun control, an issue which has been declared “closed” repeatedly, has been reopened again and again to no penalty on the left, as they are continuing to support anti-gun activism and plots like Fast and Furious.
In contrast, abortion has been declared “closed” repeatedly, with vicious slapdowns by our own (supposed) side on anti-abortion advocates and activists.
Anti-abortion activists need to take what’s happening with gun control right now as a lesson.
Doomberg on December 17, 2012 at 1:06 PM
The left NEVER loses a debate because they never agree that it’s settled until it’s settled in their favor.
yongoro on December 17, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Not true, if the left had truly lost this debate an elementary school would be the last place a crazed killer would go to find defenseless victims.
Knott Buyinit on December 17, 2012 at 1:15 PM
They want to change that perception – the left wants to destroy liberty.
The liberty to defend yourself, the liberty to eat or drink what you want, the liberty to drive whatever you want.
Democrats – the Anti-liberty party.
Galt2009 on December 17, 2012 at 1:16 PM
No, there are still onerous laws reflecting failed policies that need to be repealed and public perceptions that need to be changed. We need to have this debate. Eliminating gun-free zones at schools, at least with respect to those who are charged with ensuring the protection of our children for 8 hours a day, 181 days a year, is a must.
Not all of the old ways of doing things have been thrown on the trash heap of history. Meaningful action is imperative and this is the right time to get rid of this failed policy.
Dusty on December 17, 2012 at 1:16 PM
Abortion is a “closed” issue? Are you kidding? 32 states have adopted new abortion restrictions in the past 2 years alone.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57500585/since-2010-32-states-have-restricted-abortions/
If the next president is a Republican and he/she has the opportunity to replace one or more liberal justices on the Supreme Court, do you doubt that a challenge to existing abortion law will be a top priority?
cam2 on December 17, 2012 at 1:33 PM
We also had a national debate about health care in 1993. With the left, nothing is ever “settled” law.
Odysseus on December 17, 2012 at 2:05 PM
The NRA has never ceased to state their case, Ed just never pulled his fingers out of his ears.
As for pistols being assault weapons, California’s assault weapon ban includes many pistols. It used to include some pistols commonly used by target shooters until it almost caused the LA Olympics pistol shooting events to be cancelled. It currently includes bolt-action rifles. “Assault Weapon” is a political term of art and has no accurate meaning outside of politics. Inside of politics, it’s only meaning is: “guns politicians can get away with banning”.
Socratease on December 17, 2012 at 2:31 PM
“Conor Friedersdorf, Voice Of Moderation.” Very amusing.
ConservativeLA on December 17, 2012 at 3:00 PM