Do you find the Gun Control issue odd?

[ElectionsGuy]

I do. Usually its the right that supports authoritarian movements by government. Such as controlling video games, pornography, etc. You'd think the right would be the same way about guns, but no. I have a hard time understanding leftists who support abortion on demand and also support banning all "assault weapons". Contrary, I have a hard time understanding right-wingers who completely oppose abortion but also support no restrictions on guns whatsoever.

I believe this has something to do with reactionary attitudes of the right. Guns are old equipment, and video games and pornography are very new (when talking about the grand scheme of things). I don't mean reactionary as "extreme", I just mean wanting to go back in time. The traditional right supports values and things of the past, while not so supportive of the things of the recent times (Bill O'Reilly). The left is the opposite, embracing new attitudes and values and being less supportive of traditional/old things (Rachel Maddow).

Just something to consider. And before we start debating about guns or whatnot, I want to say there are reasons for supporting and opposing individual issues alone, instead of completing opposing or supporting libertarian or authoritarian movements. But the left and the right seem to be really united on this issue, so I thought I would bring this up.

(TNF is excused from this discussion)

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

[Beet]

Well, since I see guns as self-evidently authoritarian (being a tool most easily used to coerce others), laws prohibiting guns are not authoritarian. A law prohibiting an authoritarian tool is not really authoritarian in itself.

However, in regards to your question, I believe that race plays a role. The right wing supported gun control when it was identified with blacks in the 1960s; however, Dirty Harry, Death Wish, Taxi Driver, Straw Dogs, etc. (and the real world Bernie Goetz) successfully attached the gun to the white, suburban vigilante. He became a new form of vicarious masculinity in a world that suppresses some forms of masculinity (such as street fighting) and pushes men into lifeless cubicles. You feeling' lucky, punk?

Edit: Ugh, video game regulation. So right wing Democrats support it, no surprise. It's not 'the progressive' position.

[RedSLC]

I've found this aspect of the gun control debate odd, too. I remember reading that it could be related to the urban-rural divide (i.e. people in urban areas are more likely to support it than people in rural areas because gun crime is a far bigger issue there.)

[ElectionsGuy]

I've found this aspect of the gun control debate odd, too. I remember reading that it could be related to the urban-rural divide (i.e. people in urban areas are more likely to support it than people in rural areas because gun crime is a far bigger issue there.)

Quite possibly. With that said I think it has to do more with political parties pleasing their supporters and demographics. Funny how parties develop, there always seem to be a few odd ball issues that don't fit the pattern of other issues that same political party supports.

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

OK, but I always thought it was the traditional right that supports that stuff (key word: traditional). Maybe the positions have shifted a bit, but this was always the notion.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

They were DLCers, not liberals.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

I do. Usually its the right that supports authoritarian movements by government. Such as controlling video games, pornography, etc. You'd think the right would be the same way about guns, but no.

Actually, Obama has been more pro-gun than Bush was.

When Bush tried to take guns away from Hurricane Katrina victims, guess what senator tried to stop him?

And it was Obama who legalized guns in national parks.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

They were DLCers, not liberals.

Only Lieberman was.

[PJ]

I've found this aspect of the gun control debate odd, too. I remember reading that it could be related to the urban-rural divide (i.e. people in urban areas are more likely to support it than people in rural areas because gun crime is a far bigger issue there.)

Quite possibly. With that said I think it has to do more with political parties pleasing their supporters and demographics. Funny how parties develop, there always seem to be a few odd ball issues that don't fit the pattern of other issues that same political party supports.

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

OK, but I always thought it was the traditional right that supports that stuff (key word: traditional). Maybe the positions have shifted a bit, but this was always the notion.

Just because some democrats support video game regulation doesn't mean that its a left wing position. Chris Christie also supports this.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I do. Usually its the right that supports authoritarian movements by government. Such as controlling video games, pornography, etc. You'd think the right would be the same way about guns, but no.

Actually, Obama has been more pro-gun than Bush was.

When Bush tried to take guns away from Hurricane Katrina victims, guess what senator tried to stop him?

And it was Obama who legalized guns in national parks.

Actually, it was the City who ordered the taking of guns, not Bush.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

And who was the Senator who tried to stop it?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

And who was the Senator who tried to stop it?

Obama tried to stop it.

[ElectionsGuy]

I've found this aspect of the gun control debate odd, too. I remember reading that it could be related to the urban-rural divide (i.e. people in urban areas are more likely to support it than people in rural areas because gun crime is a far bigger issue there.)

Quite possibly. With that said I think it has to do more with political parties pleasing their supporters and demographics. Funny how parties develop, there always seem to be a few odd ball issues that don't fit the pattern of other issues that same political party supports.

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

OK, but I always thought it was the traditional right that supports that stuff (key word: traditional). Maybe the positions have shifted a bit, but this was always the notion.

Just because some democrats support video game regulation doesn't mean that its a left wing position. Chris Christie also supports this.

I did not say it was a left wing position, in fact I said it was a right wing position, multiple times. Are you talking to me or Inks?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

And who was the Senator who tried to stop it?

Obama tried to stop it.

Source?

[courts]

I do. Usually its the right that supports authoritarian movements by government. Such as controlling video games, pornography, etc.

feminists and social democrats have no problem supporting those things. historically gun control has been framed to varying degrees about keeping whitey safe from the savage brown hordes anyway. just look at where the first gun control laws were passed if you want more proof of that. or what reagan did about the black panthers in his state and about the brady bill... or what someone like say, bill o'reilly had to say when tavis smiley suggested every black man should have a gun.

[bedstuy]

That's an extremely simplistic analysis.  Neither party is attempting to be universally authoritarian or laissez-faire.  Each party has a range of principles, ideals and political motives for supporting any particular policy. 

Here's how I would explain the politics.  Democratic elites are largely city-folk that don't enjoy hunting or shooting sports, and lack some of the primal fear of black helicopters and black people that motivates Republicans gun-nuts.  At the same time, Democratic base voters actually suffer from gun violence.  They see innocent kids on their streets shot to death for no good reason and they know guns are nothing but trouble.  Abstract ideas about freedom to own guns seem pretty damn stupid when you've actually experienced losing a loved one to gun violence.  Republicans elites, on the other, don't care about black kids because nobody in America really does.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

I don't have any expectation that the contemporary left is any less authoritarian than the contemporary right.  I find the gun control issue odd because the only way you enforce gun control is through guns - really big scary guns.

[PJ]

I've found this aspect of the gun control debate odd, too. I remember reading that it could be related to the urban-rural divide (i.e. people in urban areas are more likely to support it than people in rural areas because gun crime is a far bigger issue there.)

Quite possibly. With that said I think it has to do more with political parties pleasing their supporters and demographics. Funny how parties develop, there always seem to be a few odd ball issues that don't fit the pattern of other issues that same political party supports.

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

OK, but I always thought it was the traditional right that supports that stuff (key word: traditional). Maybe the positions have shifted a bit, but this was always the notion.

Just because some democrats support video game regulation doesn't mean that its a left wing position. Chris Christie also supports this.

I did not say it was a left wing position, in fact I said it was a right wing position, multiple times. Are you talking to me or Inks?

Sorry, I meant to quote Inks.

[TNF]

I find it odd that liberals seem to care more about this than income inequality, or raising the minimum wage, i.e. issues that actually matter.

[ElectionsGuy]

Sorry, I meant to quote Inks.

It's OK.

[bedstuy]

I find it odd that liberals seem to care more about this than income inequality, or raising the minimum wage, i.e. issues that actually matter.

You can't earn a living wage when you're dead.  Guns actually kill people.  I would agree economic issues are more important in some sense, but it's ridiculous to assume that pursuing one issue depends on ignoring the other.

[dead0man]

Not very many people make minimum wage, but a whole hell of a lot more make minimum wage than die from gun violence.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I find it odd when people don't see it as necessary.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

Rockfeller: conservative Democrat
Feinstein: quite conservative for California
Lieberman: Conservative Connecticut for Libermanian who endorsed McCain

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Well, typically it's been Democrats who support video game regulation: Rockefeller, Feinstein, Lieberman.

Rockfeller: conservative Democrat
Feinstein: quite conservative for California
Lieberman: Conservative Connecticut for Libermanian who endorsed McCain

Quite conservative for California ≠ quiet conservative for the rest of the nation.