Actually Ron, I do not see anything in the Bill that I think is practical at
all. The "Bill" WAS simply put out there for political reasons and NOT a
realistic Bill to address gun violence in Minnesota. As proof of such one only
has to look at the truly meaningless parts of it. And I have pointed those
out. BUT clearly if one has a bias it does not matter what is offered to
educate the politicians trying to make political hay from the tragedies that
happen rather than look at gin violence and school safety in a meaningful way.
The problem with what you say when you say, "They don't affect me." Ron I
believe that anything that undercuts ANY aspect of those Rights guaranteed we
the People by that "Bill of Rights" affects us each and every one. WE, as a
people are impacted by ANY attempt to erode ANY aspect of the Constitution and
in particular that "Bill of Rights".
I know that most people simply do not believe that our political system is
important for their lives. Those people have NOT traveled to greatly in places
where those Rights are protected. I can remember hearing from more than one
silly person when confronted with the harsh reality of NOT having those rights,
"This is just not right, they can't do this!" Unfortunately, those naive
fools simply took for granted what we have and NOT what the reality is in
almost ALL the rest of the world. The difference IS that document that has
governed our People and guaranteed our People our way of life. It really is
something that is important that was actually taught when I was a young child
in school. Didn't they teach "Government, Civics, and American History" in
Minnesota schools when you were young. I know they do not much care about
those things now, but I assumed they did in the fifties before they became
politically incorrect.
America really IS a special place because of that Constitution and that Bill of
Rights. ANY erosion of it is a blow to the heart of our society and begins
that down hill road to our not having others of those "Rights".
As for fear that our politicians can't be trusted, come on Ron. Let's talk
locally. Do remember RT Rybak killing our NRP? Happen to remember a little
thing called the Charter of Minneapolis. I believe there is a huge edifice and
labeled monument to the failure to be trusting of Politicians. I an see it
from my house every time I look out. AND I firmly believe that the very real
fear of politicians is a logical thing. That fear has been well founded many,
many times. I also believe that the only thing that has kept tyranny from
becoming absolute even here where we live is the fear that the 2nd Amendment
brings to politicians. They know that if they push to far someone might just
get out the squirrel rifle again. :-) What was it that Thomas said about the
"Tree of Liberty needing watering"?
Remember the census that Hitler did. Seemed harmless to have people register
their cultural heritage and that of their parents and grand parents, didn't it?
Until they came to get them. Same with registering guns. It allows THEM to
come and get them. So no Ron, I do not now, nor EVER will believe that you can
trust politicians with ANYTHING to do with the People's rights and MY Rights.
This Country was actually founded by "Revolutionary, Progressive Liberals";
real ones, not the pseudo frauds we have today! Ones who insisted that those
"Rights" be included in the Constitution of the United States; and EVERY damn
word of the "Bill of Rights" is important. And especially the First and the
Second Amendments, they are the two that give the means to ultimately protect
the other eight Rights. That may be more important today than it was even
back then, because some seem to have forgotten it, or never were taught it.
It is good to keep this conversation going. Apparently a large percentage of
the people do not have any cultural memory or education in actual American
History. Funny, every poor kid I knew when I was growing up seemed to be
better versed in it than most college educated people today. You know my little
old Cherokee Grandmother with a fourth grade education knew the Bill of Rights
by heart. AND could repeat the Gettysburg Address of Lincoln by heart. And
the words meant something to her... It really is sad that they mean so little
for so many Minnesotans today. If you go to either Shiloh and Gettysburg you
will see where thousands upon thousands of Minnesotans laid down their lives to
give meaning those words in that Bill of Rights. At each I have been totally
overwhelmed by the numbers of Minnesotans in comparison to those numbers same
casualty numbers from other States. Sad that Minnesota children are not now
taught that, and its significance.
Jim Graham, Minneapolis
On Monday, May 21, 2018, 12:31:17 PM CDT, <email obscured>
<<email obscured>> wrote:
Jim
You bring up some good points about things that you see in the bills
that should
not be, at least in your opinion. I doubt everyone will agree with you, but
that's not the point.
I can agree that some of the things you just pointed out should get better
review or even removal from the bills, but being the human I am, they don't
affect me, so I'm not as upset about it as you are.
I can contact my legislators regarding those things I agree wit you on nd let
them know my opinion on it. That is what each of us should do, be it pro or
anti anything in any of the bills before our legislators (they need to hear
from us even when you agree with them, not just when you don't).
I've not heard to much form any source other than you about the 'background
check' comments you made. There are things regarding 'background checks' that
need to be made, and filling loopholes with gun shows, on line and person to
person are some of them.
I'm pro registration of firearms, then anyone (ANYONE) possessing a gun best
have it registered or risk confiscation or worse regarding that fire
arm. That
IMHO will go quite a ways toward getting guns off the streets and out of the
hands of criminals. Its not the be all and end all of the issue, as
those that
want to will ALWAYS find a way around the law. But doing nothing is NOT the
answer!
allowing law enforcement to track guns would be a good thing, but
certain of our
lawmakers have made that illegal. Allowing the CDC to track things and
show the
statistics of gun ownership and their affects on our society would be a good
thing too, but that's also illegal because of some of our legislators.
NONE of you know how many guns I own, or what types, or if I even know
where the
bullets go or what end they come out of. I personally view that as a
problem..
and to top that all off NONE of you know when or if I will ever turn from good
guy with a gun to bad guy with a gun, but a psychiatrist might, or law
enforcement that is at my house for violent acts on a daily basis (they
are not
BTW), but there would hopefully be sings I'm about to loose it, and then law
enforcement could react to that, but how can they when partly they are not
allowed to, and partly because they have no clue about my level of armament?
Yes, I'm not at the forefront on this matter, because I don't need to be, YET
anyhow! As I shared, I have nothing to hide, nor am I fearful of having to
register my guns, and I don't view it as an infringement on my right to
won (OR
NOT) a firearm or multiple fire arms.
So, back to some comments you got your shorts up in a bunch about a few days
ago. Lets treat guns more like cars! Before you rant again about cars not
being protected by the 2nd amendment, think about how we treat cars, and see
how treating guns in a similar fashion might not be a good thing.
Make me register my guns. Make me prove I know how to use my guns
properly. Make me renew those registrations regularly. Make me insure
my guns from what
might happen with them. Make me responsible for what happens with them, even
if stolen until I report them stolen! No where did I say don't allow me to
have guns, or stop me from having guns. I want you to want me to know how to
use my guns, but at this time YOU HAVE NO IDEA if I do or don't, or
where those
guns came from (Walmart or a trunk in an alley somewhere, or a gun show or my
relative).
as long as the NRA and its minions keep screaming about their rights
and the 2nd
amendment, I will be on the other side saying FU! WE ALL need to come to the
table and find some SOLUTIONS to the problems, and MORE GUNS and ARMED
TEACHERS
are not the answer!
Ron Leurquin
Richfield
Rest of post
Quoting james graham <<email obscured>>: