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There is reasonable debate to be had on marginal tax rates, the correct rate of international aid to provide to whichever nation needs it today, the size of our

There is reasonable debate to be had on marginal tax rates, the correct rate of international aid to provide to whichever nation needs it today, the size of our military, and things like that. There is very little room for debate on issues like book-banning, withholding rights from the LGBTQ community (civil marriage, healthcare), or most of the other issues the GOP uses as wedge issues. Then there are issues where compromise should be possible, and the left largely wants compromise, but the GOP refuses. Abortion and guns come to mind. The GOP is currently hellbent on banning the former outright and ensuring easy access to the latter. Most of the political left would be happy with some reasonable compromise on both (and in fact, we had what most of the nation felt was a reasonable compromise on abortion until very recently).

throwawa14223 3y ago
If you want the other side, the perception on the right is that we have been compromising on guns since the 80's but every compromise is the next loophole to be closed. See the "Gunshow loophole" which the right perceives as one of those compromises.
- alistairSH 3y ago
  But that loophole still exists - the right refuses to close it - so I'm confused by what you mean? And every attempt at gun control has been fought and challenged by the right (bump stock bans being a recent example). Despite some state-level regulation, we're near the top of the list in death-by-gun. And the political right seems largely ok with this, which is baffling. Parts of Latin America are worse, but they have massive drug crime issues and often failing economics and governments. Greenland has lots of gun suicides. The US has all of the above.
  - Turing_Machine 3y ago
    There is no "gun show loophole". It's not a thing. Really. The same regulations apply to gun sales at gun shows as anywhere else. Yes, private citizens can sell guns at gun shows without performing a background check. They can also sell guns without performing a background check in Grand Canyon National Park, on a boat in the middle of Lake Michigan, or in the parking lot of the local McDonalds. "Gun shows" have nothing to do with it. Gun dealers at gun shows likewise have to perform the same check that they perform at their normal place of business. Again, the fact that it is a gun show changes nothing. You should try to remember who told you that the "gun show loophole" is actually a thing, and resolve to trust no further information from that source. To put it bluntly: they lied to you.
    - alistairSH 3y ago
      I’m aware. It’s a dumb name, but it doesn’t change that in most states, a private individual can sell/buy a gun without much/any paperwork. We can call it “private individual sale loophole” if you prefer, same damn thing - that’s the loophole - getting out of background checks and other paperwork because it’s a private sale (and not passing through an FFL). And in any gun control conversation, most people know exactly what’s meant by the term - I didn’t pick the name (and have no idea who did).
      - Turing_Machine 3y ago
        It's not a "dumb name". It is an intentionally deceptive name.
        alistairSH 3y ago
        Source? (I haven’t been able to find the first use of the term) My understanding is the term came into use because it was common for unlicensed sellers to set up tables at gun shows. The law isnt about gun shows specifically, but gun shows were a common way for unlicensed sellers and buyers seeking to avoid background checks to do business.
        Turing_Machine 3y ago
        "Source" for what? If someone who purports to be against eating fish (a legal activity anywhere) starts going off about the "Catholic Church fish fry loophole", there's no need for a source to conclude that the person is almost certainly trying to hurt the Catholic Church, rather than protecting fish per se. Your understanding is wrong, by the way. If you sell more than a few guns per year (where "a few" is up to the ATF agent's discretion), the ATF is going to conclude that you are an unlicensed dealer and you will go to jail for a very long time (edit: five years in prison, $250,000 fine, or both).
        alistairSH 3y ago
- PrimeMcFly 3y ago
  So then it's just a case of the right being mistaken and thinking they compromised when they didn't.

throwawa14223 3y ago

If you want the other side, the perception on the right is that we have been compromising on guns since the 80's but every compromise is the next loophole to be closed. See the "Gunshow loophole" which the right perceives as one of those compromises.

alistairSH 3y ago
But that loophole still exists - the right refuses to close it - so I'm confused by what you mean? And every attempt at gun control has been fought and challenged by the right (bump stock bans being a recent example). Despite some state-level regulation, we're near the top of the list in death-by-gun. And the political right seems largely ok with this, which is baffling. Parts of Latin America are worse, but they have massive drug crime issues and often failing economics and governments. Greenland has lots of gun suicides. The US has all of the above.
- Turing_Machine 3y ago
  There is no "gun show loophole". It's not a thing. Really. The same regulations apply to gun sales at gun shows as anywhere else. Yes, private citizens can sell guns at gun shows without performing a background check. They can also sell guns without performing a background check in Grand Canyon National Park, on a boat in the middle of Lake Michigan, or in the parking lot of the local McDonalds. "Gun shows" have nothing to do with it. Gun dealers at gun shows likewise have to perform the same check that they perform at their normal place of business. Again, the fact that it is a gun show changes nothing. You should try to remember who told you that the "gun show loophole" is actually a thing, and resolve to trust no further information from that source. To put it bluntly: they lied to you.
  - alistairSH 3y ago
    I’m aware. It’s a dumb name, but it doesn’t change that in most states, a private individual can sell/buy a gun without much/any paperwork. We can call it “private individual sale loophole” if you prefer, same damn thing - that’s the loophole - getting out of background checks and other paperwork because it’s a private sale (and not passing through an FFL). And in any gun control conversation, most people know exactly what’s meant by the term - I didn’t pick the name (and have no idea who did).
    - Turing_Machine 3y ago
      It's not a "dumb name". It is an intentionally deceptive name.
      - alistairSH 3y ago
        Source? (I haven’t been able to find the first use of the term) My understanding is the term came into use because it was common for unlicensed sellers to set up tables at gun shows. The law isnt about gun shows specifically, but gun shows were a common way for unlicensed sellers and buyers seeking to avoid background checks to do business.
        Turing_Machine 3y ago
        "Source" for what? If someone who purports to be against eating fish (a legal activity anywhere) starts going off about the "Catholic Church fish fry loophole", there's no need for a source to conclude that the person is almost certainly trying to hurt the Catholic Church, rather than protecting fish per se. Your understanding is wrong, by the way. If you sell more than a few guns per year (where "a few" is up to the ATF agent's discretion), the ATF is going to conclude that you are an unlicensed dealer and you will go to jail for a very long time (edit: five years in prison, $250,000 fine, or both).
        alistairSH 3y ago
PrimeMcFly 3y ago
So then it's just a case of the right being mistaken and thinking they compromised when they didn't.