"There are none so blind as those who will not see." --- John Heywood 1546
I find it difficult to understand people who deny facts that lie plainly before them. Apparently, if the facts do not agree with their conception of reality they have the capacity to delude themselves to believe that the facts do not exist.
I say this in the context of the ongoing exchanges of opinion related to so-called "gun control," in which there are those who repeatedly disparage the belief of many that newly introduced laws regarding firearms are actually incremental advances in the agenda of seizure of guns from our civilian population.
The usual mantra is "No one wants to take your guns," often accompanied by calling it a "hoax" to assert that anyone would want to ban private ownership of guns. Gun owners are mocked for believing that "liberals want to take your guns."
This post is to suggest that it is an error to speak in such absolutist terms. Yes, there are people who want to take the guns of gun owners. Some are outspoken in their desire to see all guns banned. Others advocate additional controls, which can be seen as steps toward confiscation. Examples follow.
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Senator Dianne Feinstein, D.Cal. is a long time leader in the move to ban all so-called "assault rifles" from private hands. She is the author of many legislative attempts at such bans. So far she has been unable to muster enough votes to pass her bills in the Senate. On her office web site she claims that 886 Mayors endorse her efforts to ban these rifles.
Mayor Ed Koch, New York City, in a recorded interview stated, "I don't believe that in our society that we should have guns."
The Daily Kos, a liberal political blog, has run a front page article entitled "How to Ban Guns," a step-by-step guide.
The New Republic, an on-line magazine, ran a front page article titled "Ban All The Guns," which contains a lengthy anti-hunting rant.
Ban Handguns Now is a website dedicated to the banning of all handguns. The site claims that 37% of Americans favor a total handgun ban except for arming police officers. The group sells an anti-handgun book that specifically dismisses the efficacy of so called "smart guns."
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I could go on and on, but I think the point is made that it is patently untrue that "no one wants to take your guns."
Let's try to leave that claim out of future firearms discussions.
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