"sensible gun control"
Just be careful here. This is clever spin.
I say this not to debate the issue, but to make you aware that it's the only thing protecting the people from a tyrannical government.
It's not about going hunting with a bazooka. It's about making sure the government doesn't over-step. Take away the standing army, take away guns from cops, and I'll listen to "sensible gun control", although I'd lend more of an ear to sensible gun ownership.
Politicians are in the busines to obtain votes. How do you obtain votes if you say, "I'm just going to govern and stay out of people's business"?
You must present a "cause", then you will obtain "voters". Sensible gun control, abortion, outlaw smoking, outlaw alchohol, outlaw anything that will get you "votes". There are many that will vote if you take up their "cause". Most people just don't want to be bothered and prefer that you "mind your business".
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"Mind your business" is always good advice. In fact, this was the motto on the very first coins of the United States of America. These copper cents were authorized on April 21, 1787.
Starting in colonial days and continuing through revolutionary times, coins were struck by private individuals. The governments of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and a few other states also issued coins. It wasn't until 1787 that Congress got around to creating truly national, truly American cents.
This was two years before the present Constitution was adopted. We were still operating under the Articles of Confederation in those days. Therefore, it is not surprising that these first American coins were humble tokens of a hesitant central government. The idea of honoring the president of Congress -- or anyone else -- on the coppers would have been an abhorrent reminder of the British monarchy. The eagle was not yet the national emblem.
The first coins of the United States showed a sundial with the legend "Fugio", meaning "I fly." The sundial refers to time, so the message was that "Time flies." Under the sundial is the motto, "Mind your business." On the reverse of these cents is a chain with 13 links. The legend on the reverse says, "We are one." All of these mottos are attributed to Benjamin Franklin and collectors call these "Fugio cents" or "Franklin cents."
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When we look at ruby ridge or more at WACO, this was an attempt to paint a religious group as paramilitary dissidents. Wich was not true. They used this event as a way to endorse not only the BATF but, "sensible gun control". Yet it was the BATF and FBI that committed the crimes.
During the late 90's, there was another group, "The free-men of Montana". This was another standoff due in part to what they saw at waco, but also because they challenged the federal reserve.
In any case, you should watch the emmy award winning documentary "WACO: Rules of Engagement" for some sensible gun ownership background...I don't like guns either, but without them, nothing stops DHS from kicking down your door and sending you to gitmo. Knowing there is a gun behind the door, makes them think twice.(although at WACO they didn't care and the branch davidians had some heavy firepower.)
Do you think DHS will stop at your door if they know you have .22, while they turn your home into swiss cheese? This is what happened at ruby ridge/waco.
Once you give an inch, they want a yard, you give them a yard, and they want a mile. Somewhere you must draw the line between freedom and tyranny...if that means guns, then so be it. It's a deterrent, just like Nukes, it's called MAD, mutually assured destruction.(politicians love invading third world countries without nukes, because they have nothing to worry about). Look at Iraq.
"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and
independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785. ME 5:85, Papers 8:407
"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it. " Thomas Jefferson
"The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation
where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." -James Madison
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ATF: a mixed heritage
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT LIED, AND LIED AGAIN
The waco holocaust
Waco: The Rules of Engagement
http://www.waco93.com/