Monday, May 09, 2016

Some Specific Thoughts on How Those of Us in the Gun Culture Need to See the Coming Election


You know where I stand — unconditionally against the presumptive Democratic nominee. I have said that I am willing to vote for the "Best of Show" from the Westminster Kennel Club as long as he or she has an (R) after her name. That's because I vote guns, and the choice seems pretty simple to me. Let me list the ways:
• The Democratic nominee has called for "Australian style" gun confiscation if elected. Let me repeat that; The The Democratic nominee is in favor of door-to-door confiscation of legally owned firearms. 
• The Democratic nominee has stated her specific opposition the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court rulings in Heller and McDonald that interpreted the Second Amendment as an individual right. There is no doubt that should she be elected and quickly fills the currently empty seat, the Bloomberg organization, with it's unlimited funds, with push a 2A case to challenge to the Supreme Court ASAP.
• Because of the recent death of Justice Scalia, the incoming President will be able to immediately either shift or retain the 5-4 majority that passed both Heller and McDonald. Given the ages of several other Justices, the incoming President will likely have the power to change the Court for at least a generation. 
• The Democratic nominee has stated she will spend "every day" of her Presidency thinking of ways to destroy the "gun culture," e.g., "us." 
• The Democratic nominee unconditionally favors banning "assault weapons" and other non-specifiedd "guns." Any new assault weapons ban would likely be modeled on the bill proposed after Sandy Hook, which is far more restrictive and far more specific than the Bill Clinton AWB. That is, it would ban guns by name, as opposed to by some vague set of specifications, e.g. wording such as "…this legislation bans the possession all guns derived from the AR-15/M-4/AR-10 platform, or using any version, caliber or modification of the AR-15 lower and/or upper receiver and any other firearm using a operating system derived from a current military platform such as the AK-47, the M1A/M-14, etc., including but not limited to, the Ruger SR556, the Ruger AR556, the Ruger SR762, the Ruger SR22, the Ruger Mini-14…and on and on. 
• The Democratic nominee opposes concealed, open and Constitution carry and will support Federal legislation to curtail or eliminate these Fundamental rights. 
• The Democratic nominee supports universal background checks that would completely eliminate the private sale of firearms, even to family members. Under the Bloomberg Model bill adopted in Colorado and Washington and the only bill that has been mentioned as a model, the definition of the word "transfer," long defined by BATFE as "transfer of ownership," the standard BATFE still uses, would be changed to "transfer of possession," e.g. the physical act of handing a gun to anyone is defined as a "transfer" and as such must go through an Federally licensed dealer. Loaning a gun to a competition shooter whose gun has gone down or loaning a rifle to your friend for hunting season would be banned by Federal law. As originally drafted by Bloomberg's antigun attorneys, the law was so broad-reaching that, technical, it would be illegal, a felony, to allow someone to "house-sit" in your home if you had weapons locked in a safe, even if the house-sitter had no knowledge of the combination nor any other way to access your personal firearms.
• The Democratic nominee has called for he elimination of the law protecting firearms manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits and has in fact called for people to be able to sue gun manufacturers for criminals' use of stolen guns. 
• The Democratic nominee has called for a huge expansion of gun bans for "domestic violence," to include the "sexual assault" allegations built into the "Yes Means Yes" legislation currently in place on most college campuses and written into law in liberal states. This is a massive expansion of gun bans and. based on the current laws circumvents 4th and 5th Amendments Fundamental Rights. 
• Previously, the the Democratic nominee has called for the registration of all handguns and federal licensing of all handgun owners. 
• The Democratic nominee has a NRA rating of "F." From the NRA: "Hillary Clinton's extreme views are completely out of touch with the American people." 
• The Democratic nominee has received awards from antigun organization. 
• The Democratic nominee has vowed to do everything in her power to destroy the NRA, America's largest civil rights organization.
OTOH, here is the platform of the Republican nominee as it relates to the Second Amendment and guns. Every point of this platform has been backed up in speaking engagements by the presumptive nominee. It is consistent with information I gleaned from my personal conversations with Donald Trump Jr. prior to the beginning of the campaign, and it is consistent with information I have heard from other 2A activists who have had direct contract with the Trumps.
PROTECTING OUR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN 
Donald J. Trump on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms 
The Second Amendment to our Constitution is clear. The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed upon. Period.

The Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right that belongs to all law-abiding Americans. The Constitution doesn’t create that right – it ensures that the government can’t take it away. Our Founding Fathers knew, and our Supreme Court has upheld, that the Second Amendment’s purpose is to guarantee our right to defend ourselves and our families. This is about self-defense, plain and simple.

It’s been said that the Second Amendment is America’s first freedom. That’s because the Right to Keep and Bear Arms protects all our other rights. We are the only country in the world that has a Second Amendment. Protecting that freedom is imperative. Here’s how we will do that:

Enforce The Laws On The Books

We need to get serious about prosecuting violent criminals. The Obama administration’s record on that is abysmal. Violent crime in cities like Baltimore, Chicago and many others is out of control. Drug dealers and gang members are given a slap on the wrist and turned loose on the street. This needs to stop.

Several years ago there was a tremendous program in Richmond, Virginia called Project Exile. It said that if a violent felon uses a gun to commit a crime, you will be prosecuted in federal court and go to prison for five years – no parole or early release. Obama’s former Attorney General, Eric Holder, called that a “cookie cutter” program. That’s ridiculous. I call that program a success. Murders committed with guns in Richmond decreased by over 60% when Project Exile was in place – in the first two years of the program alone, 350 armed felons were taken off the street.

Why does that matter to law-abiding gun owners? Because they’re the ones who anti-gun politicians and the media blame when criminals misuse guns. We need to bring back and expand programs like Project Exile and get gang members and drug dealers off the street. When we do, crime will go down and our cities and communities will be safer places to live.

Here’s another important way to fight crime – empower law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves. Law enforcement is great, they do a tremendous job, but they can’t be everywhere all of the time. Our personal protection is ultimately up to us. That’s why I’m a gun owner, that’s why I have a concealed carry permit, and that’s why tens of millions of Americans have concealed carry permits as well. It’s just common sense. To make America great again, we’re going to go after criminals and put the law back on the side of the law-abiding.

Fix Our Broken Mental Health System

Let’s be clear about this. Our mental health system is broken. It needs to be fixed. Too many politicians have ignored this problem for too long.

All of the tragic mass murders that occurred in the past several years have something in common – there were red flags that were ignored. We can’t allow that to continue. We need to expand treatment programs, because most people with mental health problems aren’t violent, they just need help. But for those who are violent, a danger to themselves or others, we need to get them off the street before they can terrorize our communities. This is just common sense.

And why does this matter to law-abiding gun owners? Once again, because they get blamed by anti-gun politicians, gun control groups and the media for the acts of deranged madmen. When one of these tragedies occurs, we can count on two things: one, that opponents of gun rights will immediately exploit it to push their political agenda; and two, that none of their so-called “solutions” would have prevented the tragedy in the first place. They’ve even admitted it.

We need real solutions to address real problems. Not grandstanding or political agendas.

Defend The Rights of Law-Abiding Gun Owners

GUN AND MAGAZINE BANS. Gun and magazine bans are a total failure. That’s been proven every time it’s been tried. Opponents of gun rights try to come up with scary sounding phrases like “assault weapons”, “military-style weapons” and “high capacity magazines” to confuse people. What they’re really talking about are popular semi-automatic rifles and standard magazines that are owned by tens of millions of Americans. Law-abiding people should be allowed to own the firearm of their choice. The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own.

BACKGROUND CHECKS. There has been a national background check system in place since 1998. Every time a person buys a gun from a federally licensed gun dealer – which is the overwhelming majority of all gun purchases – they go through a federal background check. Study after study has shown that very few criminals are stupid enough to try and pass a background check – they get their guns from friends/family members or by stealing them. So the overwhelming majority of people who go through background checks are law-abiding gun owners. When the system was created, gun owners were promised that it would be instant, accurate and fair. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case today. Too many states are failing to put criminal and mental health records into the system – and it should go without saying that a system’s only going to be as effective as the records that are put into it. What we need to do is fix the system we have and make it work as intended. What we don’t need to do is expand a broken system.

NATIONAL RIGHT TO CARRY. The right of self-defense doesn’t stop at the end of your driveway. That’s why I have a concealed carry permit and why tens of millions of Americans do too. That permit should be valid in all 50 states. A driver’s license works in every state, so it’s common sense that a concealed carry permit should work in every state. If we can do that for driving – which is a privilege, not a right – then surely we can do that for concealed carry, which is a right, not a privilege.

MILITARY BASES AND RECRUITING CENTERS. Banning our military from carrying firearms on bases and at recruiting centers is ridiculous. We train our military how to safely and responsibly use firearms, but our current policies leave them defenseless. To make America great again, we need a strong military. To have a strong military, we need to allow them to defend themselves.
There is not one single thing in that platform that I disagree with. In fact, I could have written that. It is a nearly perfect stand on guns and the Second Amendment. This is, my friends, as good as it gets.

FROM AN ACTIVIST'S STANDPOINT...

I think you will all accept my credentials as a Second Amendment activist and my work for the gun culture...I don;t need to reiterate, but if anyone asks I will be happy to provide my comprehensive resume and, if you desire, references.

The criticism of Trump from our culture seems to center around what Trump might do based on previous statements. Once again, my personal conversations with Donald Trump Jr. — and Trump lists his children as the single biggest influences on his opinions — Trump Sr. fully understands our issues and why his earlier positions were incorrect. I believe Trump. I also believe that Trump can and does carry a handgun for self-defense. That makes him a card-carrying member of our culture. Other than Rick Perry, he remains the only Republican candidate who actually exercised Second Amendment rights.

Whether Trump like big game hunting or not, he stood by his sons unconditionally in the feces-storm they went through and he refused to back down on the conservation issues involved in big game hunting.

From an activist standpoint, if I'm going to have to fight, I would MUCH RATHER fight a turncoat elected on a Second Amendment platform than a dedicated Alinsky-ite who ran on a gun confiscation platform and has the 100% support of her party. Even if Trump pulled a 180-degree turn — which I do not believe he would do — we could stop that cold, especially if his coattails allow us to keep the House and Senate, or even one of the Chambers. We stopped the antigun initiative after Sandy Hook, after all.

But with the election of the presumptive Democratic nominee, we will be fighting an unprecedented multi-front, heavily funded, totally immoral and unethical battle. We will be facing not only the Executive and Legislative branches, but a "weaponized" Supreme Court and a full frontal assault of "weaponized" agencies, including the IRS, the SEC, the EPA, Homeland Security, another crooked Attorney General with expanded powers, BATFE and the FBI let off the leash — you name it and the successful Democratic nominee will weaponize it and aim it directly at our heads.

And quite frankly, I believe that if the Democratic Party goes "all in," something they've dreamed of for decades — if they finally decide to go door-to-door — there is a potential approaching certainty that this does indeed come to guns, to a Second Civil War that has the potential to make the first one look like a Sunday church social. The Democrats either don't know or don't care that they're juggling lit matches and sticks of dynamite. But we do! And it is incumbent on us to stop dancing around the abyss, take a step back and make this country great again.

I've repeatedly said, sarcastically, "What difference does it make?"

THIS IS MY ANSWER. THERE ARE NO NON-COMBATANTS, NO CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS, NO "STANDING ON MY PRINCIPLES" COWARDS, NO "I DIDN'T GET WHAT I WANTED SO I'M TAKING MY FOOTBALL AND GOING HOME."  YOU ARE WITH US, OR YOU ARE AGAINST US. VOTE GUNS, OR REAP THE WHIRLWIND.

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well put. I will direct people here should anyone I know ask, 'what difference does it make?'

Anonymous said...

Michael,
In spite of how busy you are, we thank you for taking the time to put this very detailed analysis up on your Blog.

Now, everybody here needs to send links out to this site, so that everyone can read it. It is the only summary of its type that has been put up from anyone.

Respectfully and with Gratitude to you,

Life Member

Anonymous said...

Are Trump Casinos/Hotels/Properties gun free zones?

Promises...promises...

Michael Bane said...

Anon...go back and read the post again...whatever you may THINK Trump might be, Hillary is a GUARANTEE, written in the blood of American heroes.

mb

NJ Larry said...

We can not afford to put this election effort on the back burner from now until November 8. Pls MB make it regular thing in your posts, podcasts and TV (hope OC will allow some level of political talk). You made a wonderful case in this case and look forward to folks linking to it all over webby.

David said...

You are correct. There is no third way. It's like having a choice between mac & cheese or a shit sandwich, and stamping your feet and screaming, "I want filet mignon, dammit!" You might end up with the mac & cheese, and you might end up with a shit sandwich...but guess what you ain't getting?

http://blackmanwithagun.com/childish-ways

There. Is. No. Third. Way.

Rastus said...

I am afraid the nation is becoming ripe for a revolt in the next several years. As Hussein Obama crashes the economy in concert with Democrats and RINO's it's hitting a largely silent group of hard working people who'd prefer to stay out of activist politics. Couple that with door-to-door confiscation if the Hildebeast is elected and methinks you will see a group of people motivated to respond & riot as you have never seen before.

We've seen masses mindlessly riot in this nation before. Big deal...just stay out of the inner cities and campuses. Remember also that campus protests nationwide evaporate when it becomes real...remember the demise of the anti-war movement after being introduced to a Kent State moment. So, in either case, easy to avoid.

If the educated workforce riots I seriously doubt it will be in mindless massive groups running amuck crazed to burn down "their own house." I suspect they would concentrate their anger on the people who brought ruin upon them. There is precedent for holding leaders accountable in Europe. It appears the wealthy are in agreement with that noting the many recent articles explaining how the wealthy are establishing remote compounds to ride out civil and social unrest. There is a reason why the Communist kill business leaders, educators and college grads when they sweep in.

This would I think be, if it occurs, a very different Civil War than we saw in the 1800's and unlike anything we saw in Europe in the 90's. I believe people will hold their "Lords and Masters" and their families responsible. Especially considering the internet has made it absurdly easy to find where anyone resides along with a picture of them....there really just won't be anywhere to hide.

I think the likelihood of this is small. I believe Trump will carry the day...with a caveat. That caveat being the RINO's pull the rug out from underneath him. That would advance the "Civil War Clock" towards midnight.

For lack of better name, a Civil War clock not unlike the nuclear clock which attempted to describe how close we were to all out nuclear war may be a good thing to post. Maybe call it the "Unrest Clock"????

rastus said...

Duh. Civil Devolution clock modeled after the Doomsday clock.

bob r said...

The Democrats either don't know or don't care that they're juggling lit matches and sticks of dynamite.

I think it is important to note: they're doing this while standing in a puddle of gasoline. In a fuel dump. Next to a supertanker port actively offloading more gasoline.

Sunday social indeed.

David H. said...

I don't doubt for a minute Mr. Bane's sincerity, but I disagree with his conclusion. I cannot believe a word that comes out of Trump's mouth. I've heard it compared to playing Russian roulette vs. giving someone a loaded gun - how on topic, eh?

It's not between mac and cheese and a shit sandwich, it's between a shit sandwich pretending to be mac and cheese that you give the benefit of the doubt to in hopes it won't taste like shit and a shit sandwich being a shit sandwich that you know up front and can fight against.

We won every battle, but thanks to the Trump supporters, we have lost the war for the sheer, momentary excitement of giving The Man the middle finger. Don't lay this on the #NeverTrump lap. #TrumpTrain put the orange haired lying hypocrite up, now we all live with the results, which is most likely a Hillabeast White House.

No matter which side "wins," the conservatives and People of the Gun lose. As such, I'll not meet my maker having my name associated with either side.

Larry Corriea isn't exactly a masterful political commentator, but he sums things up well on his page.

Rastus said...

Giving the man the middle finger. Hmmm, more like tired of that finger being where it should not be in someone else's anatomy.
1. Trump is not a proven RINO. We gave R the congress and they laid down with the lion and passed whatever the D wanted whilst filling their own pockets at the expense of the American people.

2. Trump is not an angel but he has some good conservative values. I think he has a morale hole. The news media are socialist/communists with an agenda so who cares what they say...oh, I guess a lot of people did not care. Gee, it looks like their hated Cruz and Trump made it to the end.

3. Trump is not proven to be a Boehnner, McConnell, Cantor (oops, he be gone), RYAN, King, Graham, Cochran, i.e., name your RINO. Wait a minute....that's what I said in 1. above. Gee, I guess I have to reiterate it noting that we sent a bunch of Republicans to Congress & Senate to be conservatives and they turned out to be worse than the Democrats because they sold out. There is a reason enemy soldiers are given quarter and traitors are universally executed....the people get that and that's why Cruz and Trump wound up leading at the end. The news media in part still really does not get the anger across the nation and in part stifle the news because they have a communist/socialist agenda.

4. He is not another freaking lawyer.

5. Can he dictate and fix it all? Of course not if we are still a constitutional republic...but then look at what Hussein has done....AND THE RINOS ROLLED OVER AND STUCK THEIR BEHINDS IN THE AIR. Oh wait, I did mean to shout but there is definitely no apology offered. The news media does not get this but they are rat bastards so who cares?

6. The Republican establishment is hand wringing and talking about starting a 3rd party now. Great. Don't let the door hit you in the ASS goodbye. I know this, BY THE WAY, because of my CEO and his relationships with the Establishment Republican party, US Senators and Congressmen and his many trips to lobby congressman. Our response to the 3rd party statement, "Good. The f**#r$ are only in it for themselves and they don't give a $()t about the people. Leave as soon as possible we'll help." He was simultaneously amazed and threatened and still can't get it. Fine, see ya'. Oh, by the way, DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS, GOODBYE.

6. Maybe he'll direct an investigation of Hillary and her husband. I remember satellite technology going to the ChiComs at the end of Bill's presidency. You don't really think those $100k plus speaking engagements are not to sell influence...do you? And Hillary's server...gee, I think it was there purposely so that foreign nations could access it for intelligence...payback for all of that speaking engagement money and foundation endowment?

7. To all you RINO establishment leaders out there who told us to "HOLD YOUR NOSE AND VOTE RESPONSIBLY" or you'll get a fearsome baby eating monster as president (hmm, I said this above, but it bears repeating) instead of McCain or Romney, I say to you, "Your turn bitches! Hold your nose and vote to keep the baby eating monster out of the White House". I really need to work on my beside manner....

Sheepdog1968 said...

My plan is for the primary in CA in a few weeks I will vote for Ted Cruz. It is almost certain that Trump will be the nominee for the Republicans. In the general election I will vote for Trump (of course Hillary will win CA which is demotivating but I still vote). I don't worry about his 2nd amendment stance. I am sure at the very,least he won't make it worse for gun owners. I hope he would make it better and you can dust off what we had hoped Bush would have done when Rs had all three offices.

Here's a question for you Michael. Do you think you are preaching to the choir though on your blog? Can't imagine there are that many who value their gun rights would vote for Hillary. All I can think of is that you are trying to get those who may want to sit it out to actually go to the polls.

DMD said...

Staying home and not voting is a vote for Hillary against our gun rights! DMD

Anonymous said...

While I agree 100% with what you said about Hillary I do not agree that Trump is a better alternative. How can we trust anything he says? Just because some slick wordsmith wrote some nice words on his website for him DOENT mean he believes any of it. He is every bit as corrupt as the worst politician. I dont remember who said this quote but I love it "Trump is Hillary with a penis"

Anonymous said...

Sheepdog 1968!

Here we go again......

"Can't imagine there are that many who value their gun rights would vote for Hillary."? No, but there are people that won't vote at all, or vote for a non-candidate, ergo; "My plan is for the primary in CA in a few weeks I will vote for Ted Cruz. It is almost certain that Trump will be the nominee for the Republicans." All this does is give the pollsters something to write about counter to our cause. They use it as a divisive wedge against us.


And to "Anon' @5:55 AM: "Trump is Hillary with a penis"? Seriously?
Spare us all from this crap.


I'm behind Trump and I'm actively out "there" working to support OUR cause.
Life Member

DamDoc said...

If you anonymous #nevertrump posters are really members of the gun culture, then you are showing total asininity. If you think "Trump is Hillary with a penis", then you are wearing your ass for a hat. As has been said, but apparently the words cant penetrate your freaken hat, "Staying home and not voting IS voting for Hillary against our gun rights". Wake up and smell the damn coffee, and pull your head out of your hat. I have to believe that the anonymous posters are simply Hillary trolls, nothing more. If you are a true gun rights warrior, you can NOT possibly think logically and come up with a #nevertrump stance.

Anonymous said...

Sorry if Im not going to blindly trust the word of some one who self admittedly...
- Brags about cheating on his wife
- Bankrupts several of his businesses screwing other people out of millions while he lives like a king
- Uses eminent domain to STEAL others property so he can live like a king.
- Called for a ban on all semi autos "assault weapons" in the past
- Gave generously to DEMOCRATS including HILLIARY!!

You Trumpites can dismiss everyone who disagrees with you as trolls but the fact of the matter is you have put your full faith and trust in some one WHO DOES NOT DESERVE IT.

You are so blinded by how bad Hilliary is that you dont see Trump is just as bad!
The Russians so hated the Czars they embraced Stalin
The Germans so hated the Weimar Republic they embraced Hitler
Lets not make the same mistake

NJ Larry said...

We have tried to reason with the anti-Trump folks. It seems not to have worked. Facts don't matter to them. Soooo...I think ridicule comes next. Sooo...to Mr. Anon, go back to your basement playroom and tell Mommy you're not going to have dinner. Get back into HALO 84 and see if you can conquer the world and get to the next level. Oh and don't forget to study for your math test on Friday. Let the adults chat among themselves.

Anonymous said...

Try excusing or explaining away FACTS below before stooping to insults

- Brags about cheating on his wife
- Bankrupts several of his businesses screwing other people out of millions while he lives like a king
- Uses eminent domain to STEAL others property so he can live like a king.
- Called for a ban on all semi autos "assault weapons" in the past
- Gave generously to DEMOCRATS including HILLIARY!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous @9:09 AM,

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....

We can explain it to you, but we can't understand it for you.

Life Member

NJ Larry said...

Anon:
Good talking points from Lucifer. This from a Reptilan whose father helped kill JFK. ... remember to wash your face with Cheetos like Beckster. LMAO

nate_o said...

WOW NJ Larry ...go drink some more kool-aid

2A RESPECT said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
2A RESPECT said...

Thank you, well said and covered every immature point that clown stated !!

2A RESPECT said...

Touche'

2A RESPECT said...

Touche'

2A RESPECT said...

Thank you, well said and covered every immature point that clown stated !!

harlequingr said...

hi micheal,

i love your shows on the outdoor channel and have been following them for many,many years.even my 15 year old daughter has gotten involved with guns because of your show, shooting gallery.

first let me say that i have been pro 2A and pro gun my whole life.I am a patron member of the nra and support their efforts whenever i can.i just do not agree that trump is the right candidate for the presidency.although 2A and pro gun matters a extremely important to me there are other issues in this country that need to be addressed.education,the environment,homelessness, health care, equal rights for all under the bill of rights,minimum wage,etc. trump is a scam artist.he supported hillary clinton in 2008 and gave her hundreds of thousands of dollars for her campaign.he has been very vocal about his stance as an anti gun businessman and person.in 2008 he supported hillary's anti gun agenda.he has been quoted as saying that,"why do people need guns"? or "what is the purpose of having guns"?he has even said that he is "scared of guns".this man is dangerous to the survival of our country.he has caused race riots and alienated people of all nationalities.he is not who i want to see as our leader.to be myopic and only focus on one issue is a threat to our country.single issue voters never care about other issues.they just vote straight party lines and that is wrong.

Michael Bane said...

George, I thank you unconditionally for your support, but I don't agree with you. The exercise of the First Amendment is not a casual factor for riots. Scumbags are the reason for riots.

You may say Trump is dangerous for the survival of our country, but Hillary is the END OF OUR COUNTRY. You have a daughter. would you have her grow up in a world of burkhas, of the acceptance of Sharia over the Constitution, of living in a country where saying the slightest wrong, politically incorrect thing can ruin your career and your life, where the Gestapo drops by your house to pick up your guns…or else, where terrorism and its handmaiden, repression, is an everyday event?

You are correct…I am a single issue voter. But I contend that how a politician feels toward the 2A tells me everything I need to know about that person. There is no such thing as gun control, only the concentration of firearms — and power — in the hands of a few. There is only one reason why a person or any group of people want to consolidate that power and those arms…they intend to coerce the larger body of citizens to do as they're told.

Not just occasionally, but EVERY SINGLE TIME IN HISTORY that concentration of arms and power has led to tyranny.

I don't vote a "party line;" I vote over and over again for the Founders' vision that is so purely encapsulated in the Second Amendment. I believe, unconditionally, that rights — even Fundamental Rights, those rights granted to us as human beings — are subject to the final and ultimate definition of Catch 22, as explained by the elderly Italian lady in the movie of that name, "Catch 22…Catch 22…they can do anything to you that you can't stop them from doing."

That is the Iron Law, and our Founders hit upon a brilliant solution, make sure the people could indeed stop "them" from doing as they would to the citizens of the United States.

When you make the decision to relinquish your God-given rights to the state, you give your approval to the Iron Law and all that implies. You might ask the Jews, the Armenians, the Bosnian Muslims, the Tutsi tribe in Rwanda, Christians in the Middle East today how that worked out for them.

Oddly enough, those issues that you say also matter to your are the direct result of the Democratic Party's failed socialist policies. Should you make the decision to vote Democratic all those things you claim matter will get incomparably worse. Why? Because socialism, even soft European socialism, doesn't work. If you doubt that, I strongly suggest a family vacation to Venezuela, once the richest country in South America, where they are currently eating their family pets to stay alive.

Would you allow your daughter to walk through almost any area of urban Europe alone? I've been to Europe recently, and I sure as hell wouldn't! The Europeans took the deal you're suggesting the United States agree to, relinquish our Fundamental Rights to the state in return for "security."

There is no security. There never has been any security. I urge you to read Kipling's Gods of the Copybook Headings, and heed the warning therein…

Thank you for watching.

mb

Mike W said...

It's a nice sentiment, but in the end it won't matter. It's all about the numbers and Trump doesn't have them. He's alienated too many people. Let's look at the stats: There's more Millennials than the Silent generation, Baby boomers have always been split, and Gen X leans left.

The GOP has never been able to get the African American majority on their side, and now Trumps speeches have given the Democrats the Latino vote and the Muslim/Middle Eastern vote.

Rastus says it's good to lose the RINOs. They aren't needed. That's more numbers against Trump.

Even Gun Rights enthusiasts are against Trump!

Where are the numbers Trump needs to win?

As for an armed conflict? That's even less so. If Hilary wins, she will probably get the house and senate as well. If that does happen, then the Democrats control the money to get this through. They won't need to firs a shot. They can play the game of attrition.

Set up the confiscation. Those states that fight it lose their funding.

The States will lose the education funds, the highway funds, and any military bases. (How many conservatives left the forces under Obama?) Any natural disasters happen in these states? Watch the response be as fast as it was in Jersey when Sandy hit.

Same trickle down effect for the counties.

Not enough? There's always the social security and welfare checks. (Remember what happened when food stamps were just one day late?)

And don't forget about big business. You think they are going to risk their profits over rights they don't care about? What sort of pressure do you think they are going to put on the Governors of these states?

There will be so much infighting in these States, the blue states won't have to worry. (They'll be under almost marshal law anyway. By their own demand.)

Meanwhile anyone planning an assault will get the Oregon Militia response.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOzRl6pdYBs

Do you have a plan if Hilary wins that doesn't involve a fire fight?

Doc RIOJA said...


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/could-these-3-laws-reduce-gun-deaths-by-90-percent/

“Data is what I do,” Kalesan said. “Most of the other gun violence researchers are just social scientists who don’t employ really good research methodology.”
AND:
some chick killed herself by sticking a carrot up her hoo-ha, tearing the wall, air entered her blood stream, caused an embolism, she was dead in minutes. Not saying that would be a good murder-suicide weapon, BUT HUMANS ARE EASY TO KILL !

As a retired Navy SEAL, we were trained to kill without firearms. You can learn how to do that on line if you know how to read.
ALSO
you can go to Home Depot and they sell all kinds of goodies to KILL almost ANYTHING !
SO
make my day, take away my guns !

Doc RIO

Unknown said...

Any doubters out there as to Hillary. Google the Clinton scandals. I have been following there escapades since the late 80's!
Michael a word on your podcast! I enjoy listening to them each week, there spot on and also enjoy the rants. But please let your sweetie pick the music, she does a much better job with it!

Anonymous said...

George Monaco,

I believe that you are actually a "seminar blogger" and not really from this community. Otherwise, why would you support the candidate (Bernie Sanders; per your prior posting) that you support. His doctrine is even worse than disarmament of the populace. He is advocating communism, the ultimate slave-holder of all of the people. You will not have any freedoms if he gets into office. Even though he may not affect all of the changes he is advocating in his administration, his successors will.

On the other hand, if you're not a seminar blogger, you are certainly misdirected and possibly driven only by the pursuit of personal gain from this election, e.g.: medical care, financial subsidies, etc.

In any case, we do wish you "good fortune", but you'll have to work for it yourself.

Life Member

Michael Bane said...


I wish I had a plan for everything, but I am, as a commenter noted a couple of weeks ago, "just some asshole who lives off-grid."

LOL!

Mike W, you proved my point…that is exactly what we will face. We as an industry and as a culture will have plans, and we will fight on every front.

As far as it being "all about numbers," in one of my other lives I was a Dean's List student in physics and math, with minors in mass communications and statistical analysis. I know a lot about numbers…and their limitations. As the coauthor of a landmark book on new product development in world class environments, which examined at length the fallacies of polling, focus groups, surveys and other forms of traditional ways of slicing and dicing data, I have a pretty good baseline understanding of data manipulation ("Data is data, but information is power"). That's why we run our own data analysis on our shows in parallel with OC research. Ever wonder why my shows have a very high "batting average?"

Data is only data.

The battle is upon us; future generations will judge us on our response.

mb

Rob Drummond said...

Michael,
I can't agree more with you. Trump isn't who I want to vote for but I will never vote for Hillary and I won't stay home. Although I vote on other issues as well as the 2A I would like to think primarily I vote for the welfare of our country. In the last say 16 years we have heard on many occasions that "this is the most important election". Well this one is because the sea change is upon us and the future will look back on this time as pivotal, one way or the other. I am a conservative and a traditionalist and I held my nose and voted for McCain. I didn't have to hold my nose to vote for Romney but all along I knew the Supreme Lord and Dictator would win. He came into office with the idea of fundamentally changing the country and he has been the most effective president to do exactly that. The Republicans won the House and the Senate and still he was able to get, for the most part, what he wanted passed with very little opposition . Now Hillary is running as a third term of the Supreme Lord and Dictator and she will do whatever it takes to win. Think running as a third term of the Supreme Lord and Dictatort a bad platform to run on? Think again.

The next President will in all likelihood be in a position to appoint several judges to the Supreme Court. We already have seen how a 4-4 vote works. The Supreme Court is the pathway to the loss of our individual rights including the 2A. Ever wonder why the 2A follows the 1A?

On Nov 8th I will vote my Country.
Rob

Unknown said...

Politically the last week has been the most depressing week in the last 25 years. I was. Cruz supporter the whole time but now I feel lost. I'm not a single issue voter. I vote for my values. I have been voting for the lesser of two evils in the general elections for years and I'm done doing that.
Hillary does not support one single issue, so she is out for me.
Currently, I can only support Trump on one issue, 2A. He supports Universal HC, he's not a born again Christian, wants to build a wall but wants amnesty, likes big government and plays the system to benefit himself.
In my opinion, If Hillary is elected and the rinos keep congress they might fight her because she is a progressive democrat. If Trump is elected and the rinos keep congress they will give him the keys to the country. That's bad because he is a progressive republican.
Michael, I understand why your a single issue voter, every aspect of your life revolves around 2A things. I love 2A but I would still have a job,family and a life without them. Now it would suck to be a slave in my own country and not be able to protect my family.
In my opinion, both have a strong chance of running the country into the ground but I'm tired of compromising my principles when I vote. I have never voted for a democrat and I do not plan starting this time voting for Trump. I have two choices; neither represent my principles and neither want my vote.

Boy this is depressing....

Rastus said...

Yes Mike, It is good to lose the RINO's. They have perverted conservatism and have been liars...I do not like liars. Liars belong in the Totalitarian/Socialist/Communist party. The people finally seem to have gotten it and hopefully these guys will yield. When you say you are going to do a thing you should do that thing. If they thought they no longer needed the gun culture...they will vote against us for their own self-interest regardless of campaign promises....that is what liars do.

Trump is populist and not my first or second or even third choice. But he is my certain choice for November.

I am under no illusion that the Republican Establishment is honest. They have led the people on for decades now. The have learned to merely frame issues as a debate to mislead. The leading question/answer to Trump was forcing him to an answer of unswerving party support in an effort to discredit him....now those same pols have been discredited by their own rhetoric. Nice.

To get someone elected we do not need more candidates that look like, act like and vote like the other guy's candidate...because that would be "the other guy". We need leaders. That concept to get votes R's have not historically received has led to a point where the political process is quite possibly unable to respond to the will of the people because it is subverted by politicians, political appointees and bureaucrats. Unfettered illegal immigration supported by Republicans does not help their political success.

For the Republican Establishment what is good for the goose (those goosed) is not good for the gander. Be under no illusion, they prefer anyone over Trump who may contribute to fixing a broken system. They prefer whoever can help them continue their party (pronounced par-tay). They will politically align with anyone to support their political ambitions...perhaps like Charlie Crist?

I certainly hope the political process works for the people and that the people, not those who have been flooded to pervert the voting process and enrich our "Lords & Masters", can rectify this in the voting booth. I lean towards a permanently broken process and I hope I am wrong. The R's allowed this back to Reagan who foolishly granted amnesty. The people, whose family's left blood and life on foreign battlefields or who immigrated rightly....not 3rd world masses who would foolishly recreate the hell they left.

Unknown said...

I forgot about the SCJ. Hilary's would all be bad. Trump's first comment on one was his sister who is an abortion activist. He said the was not being serious when he was asked because he caught a lot of flack about it.

Continues to be depressing...

harlequingr said...

hi michael,

trump is a wolf in sheeps clothing.he was a professed deomcrat when he supported hillary in 2008.he backed her platforms as an anti gun democrat.then one day he decides that he is a republican.he is part of the 1% of this country that controls the other 99% of us and the wealth.i think he is not who he says he is and once in office he will put his nazi agenda in place.

with regard to my daughter,it doesn't matter where in the world we are,i do not trust her walking alone without protection.there are many parts of the united states that are worse,that i would not let her walk alone.i am also very aware about the jews and the 12 million killed by hitler,the first thing they did is take their guns.my ex wife is jewish and so my children are 1/2 jewish.trump is going to start a civil war the likes this country has never seen.by the way he has talked about asking hillary to be his veep.he is not one of us so to be honest there is no one running that is 100% pro 2A.they are all bs.it is time to secure our weapons and get them out of sight.

best,

george m.

Jaybet said...

Michael,
Your treatise on the situation is really great and thanks for putting it together. I think you and I are experiencing similar feelings when I read posts here and elsewhere about people's "Principles" and their repugnance at this situation. The feelings I experience are some anger but mostly frustration and exasperation. THIS is not the time to get all pissy about the choice.

The fact is, if Hillary gets in the Supreme Court will destroy us. If Trump gets in, his position has been one of support for 2A, and like you, Michael, I feel that a politician's feelings on the 2A tell me all I need to know. Trump is not a lot of things, but he has not vowed to destroy us.

I ask these principled gripers...in which presidential election any of us can remember did you actually get to vote for someone you believed in - someone who carried your standard? Basically none. Even in the best of times it's a value judgment. X is for this and that, but Y is for all that plus my favorite things and free cookies so I'm voting for him. I mean really...We DON'T know what Trump will do but we DO know what Hildebeast will do, and that is the ONLY decision that is valid! Any other crap thrown in the mix is just someone's sour grapes and crybaby BS. Our lives are full of our being force to take actions that we might not like or feel good about, but they have to be done. This is one of those times.
Hold your nose and vote for Trump. If you don't, you are a traitor to the 2A community, and hence, to the balance of your natural rights as well.

iv said...

Thank you Michael, I agree with what you have said. I think we all have to look at this in the light of what is at stake here, and for us in the gun culture , it is everything we believe in. Not just guns , but the freedom to be who we are. I know Mr. Trump does not met the standards of every person here , but if you look at the opposition , there can be no other choice in November . Same thing for folks who are not all about guns , but love the freedom that we have here, in this country. Can we wake them up?

Anonymous said...

To all who believe that we are "single issue" voters here:

Yes, we hold the Second Amendment to the Constitution as our most important issue, because without it there are no other freedoms. We also hold the First Amendment and all of the other Amendments that confirm our freedoms as important too. In fact, we hold the Constitution itself as "the most important" voting issue.

Further, we know that only free-market capitalism gives everyone the opportunity to rise up and better themselves, regardless of what the socialist detractors (a. k. a. : cry-babies) say. We also know that it will take courage to "make our country great again".

Last, we could have supported Ted Cruz, or any of the other Republican candidates, but the voters have selected Trump. So, we support him. We can never support any of the Democrats. There's no need to explain that further.

Sitting-out the election is not acceptable either. It will be an act of self destruction, or insanity to do that. That's how we got (the) Clinton(s) back in the 90's.

Life Member