Is Gun Control Racist?

[Vanzpp]

Yes. Here's another title for my reading list.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/10/09/adam-winkler-gun-fight-author-on-gun-control-s-racism.html

[Bawanna]

Very interesting article and lots of stuff I had never heard of.

This is a very sensitive subject and promises to bring out the best and worst in anybody.

Be reminded that Kahrtalk and specifically JohnH have zero tolerance for racist or derogatory comments. So lets tread very softly on this one and ponder before we post.

First sign of ugly we drain the bathtub.

Nothing negative to you Vanzpp, it's an interesting article worth reading. Thanks for posting it.

[melissa5]

And one of the few places you can easily find virulent racist literature is at a gun show (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/02/18634112.php?show_comments=1).

I don't think I've ever seen anything racist at a gun show and I'm in Georgia. Aren't we supposed to be the hotbed of racism? :blah::blah::blah:


Gun-rights hardliners are fond of dismissing nearly any gun-safety effort as a violation of the Second Amendment. Yet the men who wrote and ratified that provision had extensive gun laws—and many of them were racially discriminatory. Not only did they support laws prohibiting slaves from possessing guns, they also disarmed free blacks, who the Founders feared might join together with their brethren in chains to revolt.

That time in history can't be ignored, but in this day and age, I don't feel that gun control is about racism. It's about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals...not that it does much good.

I'm tired of the whole black/white/red/yellow/brown thing and would like for people to just see themselves as Americans.

[Thunder71]

Agreed Melissa.

[Bawanna]

Very well said Melissa. I'm all for America first and where ever you came from second and last. Not that anyone should be ashamed of or forget their heritage but America first.

Take me for example, I'm from Missouri but I'm American first, you don't see me wanting to make the Mule the national animal, although I think it would be a fine idea.

[Thunder71]

As long as we're on the topic (treading lightly), we need to remember racism is racism. We need to eliminate ALL racism. No more special treatment based on race, period. White, black, brown, fake bake, red, purple, whatever. I think too many people view racism as white against black.

[Bawanna]

Fake Bake? I'm gonna have to look that one up. Something to do with tanning booths?

[Thunder71]

Yep... tanning booth reference. :)

[wyntrout]

In his closing, the author throws out the statement "There’s no doubt we need better and more effective gun safety laws." You can see where his loyalties lie... we can never have enough gun control...er, I mean safety rules and laws. Only law abiding citizens are fettered by laws... leaving them unprotected "sheeple" and victims of the criminals, who by definition, are law-breakers.

Wynn:)

[TheTman]

The only place I've ever seen the KKK in force was at a bike rally down near Pawhuska Oklahoma. They had a tent set up with a big KKK banner and everything.
Never have seen anything like that at gun shows. I thought that was kind of strange since I think the rally was held on American Indian land.
I think the Saturday night special bans, were somewhat racist, as they kept poor people from obtaining protection, and a lot of poor people just happen to be black.
Good honest black Americans should have the same right to defend themselves and their homes just the same as any other honest person, even if they can't afford a high priced weapon.

[melissa5]

As long as we're on the topic (treading lightly), we need to remember racism is racism. We need to eliminate ALL racism. No more special treatment based on race, period. White, black, brown, fake bake, red, purple, whatever. I think too many people view racism as white against black.

:third:

[yqtszhj]

Well said manski.

Side note. One thing that I noticed right after 9/11 around here was there was no USA race issue. It was us (USA) and them (the attackers.) Everyone was in agreement that the attacking group fooled with the wrong country and we (all us in the USA) were gonna make sure they paid. Differences were put a side for a time.

[crazymailman]

I think it just goes to show that, no matter how you try to explain it, the roots of gun control are the attempt to suppress people.

[Vanzpp]

In his closing, the author throws out the statement "There’s no doubt we need better and more effective gun safety laws."
Wynn:)

I noticed that, too. I'm interested in the histoy of the Second Amendment and how it has been applied throughout US history. That should make the book a worthwhile read.

[O'Dell]

You got it Melissa, I'm tired of it too. I especially dislike hyphenated Americanism because it so polarizing. I've never referred to myself as an Irish-American or a German-American. I am an AMERICAN, period!

[wyntrout]

I've seen several funny incidents over that African-American "nationality"... notably the one where John Kerry's wife told a black woman she was African-American and the black woman was indignant, not knowing that the Heinz heiress was born in South Africa... a real African-American... not one many generations removed from Africa... or one who had never set foot in Africa.

Wynn:D

[muggsy]

Gun Control isn't about keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. Gun control isn't about racism. Gun control is about tyranny and disarming the general populous. Freedom is a terrible thing to waste.

[Longitude Zero]

Gun Contol is two hands on the weapon and all X's.

Seriously the progenitor of the majority of the Gun Contol Act was not based upon racism but xenophobia since the majority of the wording came from the Third Reich in Germany and there actions toward disarming the populace. Or so the history books once said before the revisionists took hold.

[tv_racin_fan]

Which gun control act? Wouldn't it have been rather tought to be trying to follow the Third Reich in gun control when writing the National Firearms Act?? in 1934...

Gun control is indeed all about tyranny but in many cases it was tyranny over race in america. They had to start somewhere.