I get what I consider a lot of political e-mail, a lot of it from democrats.com and Daily KOS. I also get an occasional e-mail from NRAILA. I find it amusing, as I'm none of a Democrat, Leftist (or a Rightist for that matter), nor a pussy. Yet I get messages from people like Daily KOS who are all up in arms about the lack of gun control. They also talk about anti-Choice issues, where I'm right there with them, but their attitude on gun control drives me up a wall.
Choice is about ... choice. What part of "choice" is unclear to you? If you want to have an abortion, feel free. If I want to have a gun, I'm going to have one. The politicians in Connecticut and New York are finding out that's a good general rule. You can pass legislation to require registration. Since you don't know if I have or do not have, you can't enforce your legislation. What you've done is create new "criminals" and reduced respect for law.
Now, I'm vehemently pro-Choice. That means, if I want to do something, and it doesn't affect you immediately, it's none of your business. None. Of. Your. Business. If it makes you uncomfortable, well, the world has no commitment to keeping you feeling comfortable. You choose to be uncomfortable. Choice! I choose to have an abortion, a medical miracle since I'm a guy. My choice. You choose not to have a gun. Your choice. I may choose otherwise. I honestly don't care if you're comfortable with that.
I didn't ask for your input on my choices. You didn't ask for mine on yours. That's fine. If I ask, you might have input, but I don't guarantee to attend to your position.
The first time I saw women wearing yarmulke, I was uncomfortable. But then, I decided they didn't ask my opinion, so I let it go. Otherwise, I'd have been a jerk. Homosexuals can marry, many places. Not my business, even if it makes me uncomfortable. If I speak up against it, I'm a jerk. I wasn't asked, and I don't think I should have been. It's none of my business.
I'm firmly of the opinion that NRA is run by pussies. They cave too easily, and the camel gets further and further into the tent. The best they do is make it slow down. I dropped my NRA membership several years ago, as a result. I don't want gun control to mean anything other than hitting what you aim at.
I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. As I say it, I'm neither a Democan nor a Republicrat. I don't see them as especially different. One wants to get rid of guns, the other of Choice. I see those as identical. Guns help enforce Choice. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights were written by men who had just overthrown their government. Keep that in mind. The Second Amendment was not about hunting. See their writings. The First Amendment wasn't intended to only allow silly things like "reality" shows. They're both about keeping us safe from the worst that government might throw at us.
The recent election makes no major difference. I was bummed that Coloradans kept the incumbent governor. I was bummed that Scott Walker was retained, too, same as the Connecticut governor. I'd have thrown them all out. They're all bums in my world.
Freedom can easily be lost by the voters. We vote it away. It's harder to accept responsibility for our choices, and accept that others are free to make us uncomfortable. That's part of the price we must accept for the right to make others uncomfortable. Voltaire said it well, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
Voting is the ultimate Choice. I make my choice as sovereign, just like every other citizen in the USA. Consider that before you tell me I should care if my position on abortion and guns makes you uncomfortable.