Guys, guys, guys. C'mon now, let's look at this rationally.
So someone not even connected with the current administration (Bolton) and, in fact, someone who has political leanings in the other direction (a Republican) says the current administration is gonna go all gun-grabbin' on us? And we're supposed to jump up and start waving our hands in the air and start squawking like hysterical chickens?
Knock knock. It's reality at the door. Let's take a deep breath.
1. First, let's go back to our civics lessons for a second. The Obama administration CANNOT pass anti-gun legislation--or any other legislation for that matter.
The President belongs to the Executive branch of government. He can ask Congress for anything, but he can only sign into law the legislation that CONGRESS (the Legislative branch) passes. Any anti-gun laws above and beyond what's in place now would have to come from congress.
Now excuse me, but last I checked the House is controlled by a Republican majority and the Senate has such a thin Democrat majority that just deciding on what will be served for the Friday special in the cafeteria requires 4 committee meetings and 2 weeks of negotiation.
2. If you actually look at the voting records, position statements, and NRA rankings in an objective way, you'll see that Democrat does NOT equal Gun Grabber. The fact is that many Democrats are strong supporters of gun rights and hunting rights. This fact makes passage of any anti-gun legislation even more unlikely.
3. Politicians on both sides of the aisle very rightly fear the political power of gun owners. We watch these things, we contribute money, and we vote. With the elections being closely contested in so many states these days, no matter how much of a crazed anti-gun nut job you might be, as a Congressional candidate you are NOT going to pick a fight with gun owners.
Gun rights are current a third rail political topic. You touch it, you get zapped. In a political atmosphere where no Congressional seat is safe, sticking your head up and shouting, "Ban all the guns!", is about the dumbest thing ANY politician could do. And they know it.
4. Remember that third branch of our government? The Judicial Branch. Well, the Supreme Court just last year finally gave us the ruling that we as gun owners wanted: Gun rights are an INDIVIDUAL right.
This ruling has put the anti-gun forces in total disarray. The implications of this ruling are so broad and deep that I can't even begin to speak to it here, but safe to say that the primary weapon that gun-grabbing locals politicians have used for years--the local gun ban ordnance--has now been declared to be illegal. The bottom line is that even if anti-gun legislation would get through congress and Obama were to sign it, it would be instantly headed for a hearing in the Supreme Court where it would almost certainly be smacked down.
As gun owners, we're going ourselves a disservice by running around squealing and waving our hands in the air like hysterical ninnies every time someone shouts "Gun Ban!" in the service of advancing their own political interests. We need be calm and rational and do everything we can to counter the MondoMedia's stereotype of the gun owner as an unbalanced Rambo Rednecks who are ready to shoot first and ask questions later.
Support gun rights groups, support politicians who believe in the Second Amendment, do EVERYTHING you can to promote the positive image of shooting sports and hunting, and get the next generation involved in them. Focus political discussion on the real problems that are impacting our country: Government debt, unemployment, a sluggish economy, illegal immigration, and other real problems. Simple as that.
Hysterical, paranoid, and reactionary behavior plays into the hands of the enemy. That's exactly how they WANT gun owners to look. Let's calm down and play the game from a position of strength rather than rampant paranoia.
Grouse
