I hate the NRA.

I hate gun nuts and the NRA. Yes, hate them.

If anyone thinks the NRA speaks for anyone other than gun manufacturers they are crazy. The NRA has more blood on their hands than Bin Laden. You read that right. How many gun death are there in the US every year? 30,000. Can we get any kind of sensible gun legislation passed? Not with the NRA pressuring the spineless politicians and stoking fear into the dim witted. I'll agree with the NRA (National Reactionaries Association) on one thing. Banning assault weapons will do little. Why? Because thanks to the NRA they're already out there. If it were up to me they would be removed from society. There would be a buy back program for two years. After that it's a felony to own one.

Now we have these assholes who think that they need them to protect themselves from tyranny. From our own government! That's crazy on so many levels I don't know where to start! First of all our government is US! It's our friends and neighbors we elect. They are not tyrants who inherited a throne. There was no coup d'etat. Of the people, by the people, for the people.

The military is us. More so than the government! It's volunteers. Our brothers and sisters. Do you really think little Johnny from next door is going to attack you? Hell, he probably dated your daughter! Besides, moron, do you really think any number of AR 15's are going to do you any real good when a tank with 50 caliber machine guns and canons parks in your front yard? Really? Even if you were somehow able to stop the tank the Sidewinder through the front window sort of brings it all to a quick close.

The NRA likes to quote the second amendment but only the second half "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". They never quote the whole thing "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed".

The Constitution did not provide for a standing army. They feared it because of their experiences in Europe. James Madison addressed the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on the dangers of a permanent army. “A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty." They envisioned a citizen army on call for national defense. A "well regulated militia". It's easy to see why they would not want one of the states who's rights are protected otherwise in the Tenth Amendment to deny the militia men of their guns.

However in time the need for a standing military became clear and we now have Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force. The dangers they feared never materialized and we now view our armed forces as brave servants of our nation. We no longer have a militia on call by the government. The Army Reserve and National Guard are about the closest thing but hardly a farmer with his flint lock by the door.

The Second Amendment is a conditional sentence. In a conditional sentence, there are two parts, (1) the antecedent = the protasis, and (2) the consequent = the apodosis. The potasis implies the apodosis. The first half, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state" implies "the right of the people to keep and bare arms shall not be infringed." With out 1, 2 is invalid. Therefore when we adopted a standing military and the militia became obsolete the restriction on passing laws regulating gun ownership was nullified. Even is this is rejected (you'd have to explain to me why the first half is here) no right is absolute!

The first amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Free speech? Libel someone and see if you get sued.

Freedom of the press? Print military secrets and go to jail.

Right of assembly? Try assembling on the White House lawn. Hell, George Bush wouldn't allow protesters near him. They had "Free Speech Zones!

The Eight Amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. All you have to do is think Marijuana laws.

So reasonable restrictions on guns is no different. In the 1930's machine guns were outlawed. No one is saying we need to repeal that law. There is a line drawn somewhere. It doesn't push us all down the feared slippery slope.

It's not a matter of what is needed. It's not a valid argument to say people don't need AR 15s or AK 47s. The question is balance. Is your desire to own your phallic symbol outweigh  the rest of societies need to have them off the streets and unavailable to homicidal maniacs.

It's cowardice that drives the people who think they need guns. Fear of everything and everyone. Yes, there is always a chance of something bad happening. I prefer to not live in that fear.

I have friend who has a 7 year old daughter. She cries now when it's time to go to school. She asks if she will be shot there. This is what the NRA has given us. A country living in fear of it's own government and everyone not like them. A country awash in guns where anyone who want to can get one. A country where we can't have background checks for all gun sales or even the most reasonable restrictions. But a country where children are afraid to go to school.

Thanks you cowardly assholes.