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I've never really understood liberal opposition to the possession of firearms in the United States, given the country's founding principles. That said, I'd be m

I've never really understood liberal opposition to the possession of firearms in the United States, given the country's founding principles. That said, I'd be more concerned about the right to vote, the right of the free press, the 10th amendment (which why aren't people more angry about?), the right to privacy as currently understood by the courts, and the fact that class-action lawsuits on behalf of people harmed unlawfully by such a system would cripple any corporate version of it. I don't really understand the political spectrum in the United States, tbh. Obviously you need to be willing to take up arms against an oppressive federal government, should such a thing happen (and who would be deluded enough to think that a military coup would be categorically impossible in any country - if not now, what about a century from now?)

vermilingua 9y ago
If you can’t fault the US for it’s gun laws based on its founding (which was violent revolution), then you surely can’t fault China’s human right abuses, because they are similarly a product of its founding.
- sakuronto 9y ago
  Pardon the ignorance, but how exactly are human rights abuses part of China's foundation?
tdb7893 9y ago
You need to be willing to take up arms against a government if the need arises but there's a line in how much harm you are willing to inflict now to make that happen. For an absurd example chemical weapons would help to fight an oppressive government but even if they weren't against international law it would be a little silly if they were legal for normal citizens to own.
bsder 9y ago
> I've never really understood liberal opposition to the possession of firearms in the United States, given the country's founding principles. You are making an unjustified leap in assuming that "liberals" are in opposition to owning firearms. Most liberals have no real problem with people owning guns. You don't hear the vast majority of people clamoring to ban hunting rifles or shotguns. What most people (liberal and conservative) want are sensible regulations to prevent the genuinely mentally ill or disturbed from getting guns and ammo. The problem is that the NRA plays outrage politics in order generate funding for itself and this short circuits any useful discussion. Although, it is looking like the NRA has just been functioning as a Russian stooge for quite a while now. As for opposing a coup? That's gonna be tough. The US is BIG. No amount of firearms in Arizona is going to help opposition in Washington DC to fight off a coup.

vermilingua 9y ago

If you can’t fault the US for it’s gun laws based on its founding (which was violent revolution), then you surely can’t fault China’s human right abuses, because they are similarly a product of its founding.

sakuronto 9y ago
Pardon the ignorance, but how exactly are human rights abuses part of China's foundation?

tdb7893 9y ago

You need to be willing to take up arms against a government if the need arises but there's a line in how much harm you are willing to inflict now to make that happen. For an absurd example chemical weapons would help to fight an oppressive government but even if they weren't against international law it would be a little silly if they were legal for normal citizens to own.

bsder 9y ago

> I've never really understood liberal opposition to the possession of firearms in the United States, given the country's founding principles. You are making an unjustified leap in assuming that "liberals" are in opposition to owning firearms. Most liberals have no real problem with people owning guns. You don't hear the vast majority of people clamoring to ban hunting rifles or shotguns. What most people (liberal and conservative) want are sensible regulations to prevent the genuinely mentally ill or disturbed from getting guns and ammo. The problem is that the NRA plays outrage politics in order generate funding for itself and this short circuits any useful discussion. Although, it is looking like the NRA has just been functioning as a Russian stooge for quite a while now. As for opposing a coup? That's gonna be tough. The US is BIG. No amount of firearms in Arizona is going to help opposition in Washington DC to fight off a coup.