Your thoughts about Steve's essay

[Waving The Flagg]

Second, how can a .22 caliber rifle possibly be compared to an assault rifle? True enough, dead is dead, but if Adam Lanza had used a .22, there might be only one family grieving for the loss of their baby, not 20.

I figured someone would make this statement. I stand by it...at close range (a classroom is definitely close range) a .22 is lethal. See the sad posting above about the unfortunate suicide. I have not shopped for a gun in years but as I said in my initial post, my first .22 held 15 maybe 18 shells. So you're wrong, Lanza and a .22 would have still caused havoc. Realize please that I'm on the same side as you. I'm simply frustrated by the fact that semi-automatic is used synonymously with automatic and there is a significant difference. Even the venerable Bob Schieffer of CBS News made the same faux pas the week after Sandy Hook when he had Wayne LaPierre on Face The Nation. He said "pull the trigger and empty the clip". I was torn...LaPierre tried to correct Schieffer but was cut off so on one hand, mis-information...on the other, LaPierre came off as the ruthless wacko that he is so it was a draw.

After reading Guns and many of the really wacky posts on SKFB and some pretty nearly wacky ones here, the thing I find most unbelievable are the number of people who vehemently refuse to spend a measly 99 cents to read Guns due to the charity involved. Even more disturbing than that are the people who won't read it but still comment about it, many saying they already know what it says because SK is a liberal. America is a great country but not as great as it once was.

[Lily Sawyer]

The King’s donate plenty of money to things I don’t like. But they donate it, not me.

So what's the difference?? You can't tell your dollar from someone else's, and if you don't like the charities or organizations to which the Kings donate, then on principle, you wouldn't be buying a King-authored book.

And I find it interesting as well as ironic, that so many of those trumpeting universal background checks on all gun purchases are usually vehemently against showing proper identification in order to vote.

I beg your pardon; to whom are you referring? A political party? A professional association?
I am 100% for lengthy and invasive background checks for ALL sales of handguns, at gun shows, between citizens, and at stores where guns are sold. If it fires, it must be registered, and the owner must provide proof that they know how to operate it at the time of registration. It's true for the ownership and operation of vehicles, so guns must be subject to the same regulations.
I also believe firmly that proper identification is needed to vote, and that includes all forms of picture IDs. It doesn't have to be a driver's license, and it doesn't have to be state-issued, either. I am NOT against showing proper identification in order to vote.

[Moderator]

I absolutely loved the essay. In typical SK fashion there was an in-your-face vibe with a bit of humor, and it was dead on.
However, he cited a historical fact about Hitler's Germany and stats about Australia's violent crime rates without listing any sources. To be able to use these, I feel that some valid citations are needed. If the Mod or anyone else has some evidence to back these up, I would love to hear them
Thanks

I asked when he called in this morning. He was heading out for an appointment and didn't have the exact link handy but he told me it was from Wiki in a piece about German gun laws. I don't know with certainty that this is the same one but it includes statistics about the modern history of gun laws in Germany since World War 1 and the particulars of the 1938 German Weapons Act which I believe is what he was referring to.

Gun politics in Germany

[Shasta]

Once again so many judgements. Mr. King has an opinion, a platform and a right to express himself. I can't believe some people are saying they will no longer read his work because he expressed himself!! You don't have to agree with him but surely you can separate his thoughts from his work. He provokes thought and hopefully conversation about a very important issue. Part of our problem as a nation is that we are so intolerant of each other. I respect anyone who has the courage to put themselves out there like that.

I actually agree with their right to do so. I won't eat Chik-Fil-A because of their hatred, but I wouldn't before the whole gay thing came out anyway. They've always been filled with hate. If they don't want to read King anymore that is 100% their right not to support him. I'm sure it's not going to hurt his book sales all that much anyway.

[Moderator]

Sorry, forgot the second part of your question. He thinks the statistics he'd read about Australia's crime rates were from a piece in the Washington Post but as I'd mentioned, he wasn't able to go back to his notes to verify that was the source.

[Shasta]

The King’s donate plenty of money to things I don’t like. But they donate it, not me. If King wanted to take the revenues personally from the sale of Guns and donate it to whoever they wish, I would be okay with that. But I won’t do it directly. .

A) No, you do donate it. You buy a book. He gets your money. He donates it. That's your donating it. Sorry.
B) Didn't you originally have an issue that it was being sold for profit?

[Shasta]

(Have you noticed that a recent 100,000 pro-life march was ignored by most of the media, but a 1,000 gun control event was highly covered?)

No, because I heard ALL about the pro-life march over and over again and I don't even know what gun control event you are talking about.

[PatInTheHat]

Proven his point? Really? Don't think so...

the point is we have no idea what actually happened at sandy hook. None. The media dropped the ball, big time, and we are left with so many questions that its maddening! I find it hard to believe someone like Stephen doesn't question the narrative of this event. So many inconsistencies and high weirdness. The latest? Anderson coopers disappearing nose.

Start hurling your insults--- predictably anyone questioning this event, and the tons of gaps and outright lies, is labeled a conspiracy theorist! I mean, this is beyond absurd! Do you have any idea of the scope of this?

So, yeah, I am skeptical of the timing of kings article. He should've waited. Or said nothing. Complying with the mainstream media account of this event is suspicious to say the least..I thought he was on the other side.

You all have no questions regarding sandy hook? Really?

Do you,have any original thoughts/ideas on the subject? Or do you believe everything you hear and see on corporate news " shows"? Hmmm?

And, how is it that you are fed up with so called " assault weapons" yet don't care how many innocent women and children we murder via drone attacks? Hmmm?

finally, spellcheck? Ok. But I'm not so sure your an expert on grammar. Complete sentences start with capital letters. Oh sorry, I'm not sure you know what a complete sentence is--- or a period.

Just maybe lay off the high fructose children of the corn syrup for a while.

[exzel]

A) No, you do donate it. You buy a book. He gets your money. He donates it. That's your donating it. Sorry.

Wrong.
[/quote]B) Didn't you originally have an issue that it was being sold for profit?[/QUOTE]
No.

No, because I heard ALL about the pro-life march over and over again and I don't even know what gun control event you are talking about.

Then I believe you are in the minority.

Listen, I would rather not post in this thread again, unless I’m willing to read King’s piece. If you want to keep ragging on me regarding my views on the subject, let’s take it over to the Hot Topics thread.

[Moderator]

I've gone back and forth on steering the discussion back to the Hot Topics forum since one of the things Steve mentioned in his essay was that he was hoping it would spark discussion but the Hot Topics area may be a better place for comments that aren't directly related to the essay itself.