Some of the pro-gun people on here make the place look like Free Republic. Not good.

[Maraya1969]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by HappyMe (a host of the General Discussion forum).

I made the mistake of responding to a couple of posts yesterday and everyone of my posts was responded back to with more pro-gun blather. It really looks like Free Republic people talking points. I don't want to discuss guns here. I am talking about the people. They are always jumping for a fight - just like Free Republic. They are 2nd Amendment lunatics - just like Free Republic. They are angry - just like Free Republic.

They use their knowledge in firearms to look like they are knowledgeable about social issues, which is no measure. They use the forum to post about their knowledge about firearms and/or the fact that they carry a concealed weapon as if they are trying to impress someone, (I am not impressed).

They post like they have an agenda which does not conform to the general DU posting requirements in our rules section. But they get away with it.

I wish someone would come up with a way to rid the forum of these people.

I hope these posts is not deleted. If it is I will re-write it and post it again differently.

[HappyMe]

1. I'm tired of ALL of the gun blather.

Plenty of insults, very little discussion.

[Sherman A1]

2. Everyone is entitled to their opinions

and we need to remember that pretty much everything posted here is simply that: an opinion. You may agree, disagree or not care a wit as to what they say, but it's still just an opinion.

I would suggest that ignore & trash threads are your friends. I know they have been a help to me.

[cali]

3. vague accusatory stuff. I so dislike ops like this- and I'm not

referring to the subject matter. This belongs in Meta anyway.

[Logical]

4. I will believe it when you link to one of these posts!

[pipoman]

5. The sooner people realize that

gun control is less a party issue and more a cultural issue, the sooner we can get about making changes which may impact criminal access to guns. So many in these parts refuse to accept that between 1/3 and 1/2 of the population owns guns and only someone not thinking straight could believe that gun ownership follows party lines. People on this board calling others, who have been here and are liberals, progressives and Democrats, freepers is counter productive.

I would bet that the number of members here who agree with 100% of the Democratic party's platform are few and far between...this isn't how people believe. They don't accept policy based on the opinions of others, they are free thinking and quite able to weigh policy based on their own life's experience. Those who wish to sanitize the party based on their own beliefs will soon be in such limited company that they will get nobody elected.

What you and others are asking is for gun owners who differ with you to go to the repug party. If this happens, Democrats will never win another national election. The balance of voters hinges on many sub groups...look at the popular vote numbers to see how close the balance is..

Barack H. Obama Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Democratic 65,899,625 51.02%

Willard Mitt Romney Paul Ryan Republican 60,928,981 47.18%

If you don't believe 5 million gun owners voted for the President you are sadly mistaken.

Keep polarizing people based on a single issue and see where it gets you.

[Puzzledtraveller]

6. You make a good point with the vote disparity example.

[CTyankee]

9. Here's the problem I have: when I see the same arguments against gun safety laws made

here that I have just seen/heard come out of the mouth of Wayne LaPierre. Can you see how that would disturb liberal/progressive Dems here?

[pipoman]

11. Not everything LaPierre

says is false or a lie...to believe it is, is profoundly naive.

I see people on DU daily railing for the impossible (on this issue) based on established case law or simple ignorance of the subject. Laws will not be enacted if they have already been determined unconstitutional no matter how strongly they are advocated. Confusing inconvenient facts with lies will insure those people advocating the impossible will be disappointed and may ultimately blame the administration for not acting..when it has nothing to do with the will of the administration.

Liberals and progressives will never get anything done if 5 million of the likely 30% (19,769,887) of Obama voters who are also gun owners leave the party. This ridiculous meme that if one believes in a strong 2nd Amendment they can't be a Democrat/progressive/liberal is, well, ridiculous..

[CTyankee]

13. bu there is a difference between LaPierre and those NRA supporters who also

believe in sensible gun safety regulations...so why not just say you support THEIR view not HIS?

[pipoman]

15. I pay no attention what so ever

to what LaPierre says. I don't usually even open threads about the NRA because I don't give a rats ass what they say. I have studied this issue for many years and believe I have a very firm grasp on what has already been established limitations to the 2nd Amendment and to gun control. My opinions are based in hours of reading and none of the reading is that of the NRA. I find this issue so interesting, not because I maintain an "arsenal", but because it is the only enumerated right/civil liberty which is not supported, in it's most liberal sense, by the Democratic party...I find that fascinating as a devout and proven civil libertarian..

edit..A problem arises, and will polarize the process if it continues, when someone who, like me, has no interest in the NRA, unknowingly says something which is similar to something the NRA or LaPierre said/says because it is true, and is automatically labeled an NRA shill..

[Zax2me]

7. No, they make it look diversified. Which freeperland certainly is not.

I choose diversity.

[KharmaTrain]

8. A Mirror Of Our Society...

What you're seeing is how polarizing guns have become in this country. Just as abortion, people have set and harden attitudes when it comes to gun control and there is little tolerance and dialogue. You see people talking past and shouting at one another with little tolerance and sadly this means the carnage will go on. While I'm somewhat heartened at this administration taking on the issue, it's far but certain anything will come of us. We live in very selfish times...only emboldened by those with special interests or agendas where there's little room for discussion yet compromise.

I don't want to get rid of "these people"...this is still a discussion forum and if I find a post obnoxious or offensive I generally ignore them. Or, if I do try to engage someone it's to be on the issue...once the name calling, strawmen or false equivalency games begin, I'm off to bigger and better things. The perils of a democracy is the ability to communicate with those with a different opinion...something this country definitely needs to work on!

[The Straight Story]

10. I see it more as 'pro-rights'. We don't call people 'pro-abortion', 'pro-speech', etc

People differ on how rights are implemented and it is a source of discussion.

If I started a thread saying that abortions past 7 months should be banned except for health reasons I am sure some people here would disagree - because some people take their rights to certain things serious.

It is not about 'guns' it is about the power we let the government have over us and how some people try to drive that with fear.

[Robb]

14. Guns have rights, just like women!

[pipoman]

17. Women have rights because of

enumerated civil liberties. Gun owners have rights because of enumerated civil liberties...this is really so simple..just not as ridiculously simple as you are trying to make it..

[Robb]

18. Please proceed.

Tell me more about this equivalency.

[pipoman]

20. There's nothing more to say..

it really is that simple..

[LuckyTheDog]

12. In before the lock (nt)

[Javaman]

16. Ignore is your friend.

also you can trash the forum. (if you haven't done so already)

[slackmaster]

19. I suggest using the Ignore feature to tailor your view of the forum to suit your taste

[HappyMe]

21. Locking

This discussion would be a better fit for Meta.