Virginia Is For (gun)Lovers

[Kennedy 0]

http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/articles/2004/08/04/news/opinion/editorial02.txt

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Ever since July 1 - when yet another gun-lovers' law loosened up Virginia's already lax governance of weapons - it's been one big macho-fest for heat-packers who get their courage from strapping on pistols. Not every diner may relish the sight of six armed men at the next table, but unless the General Assembly comes to its senses next year, families out for a gathering will have to get used to pistols and ammo belts with their burgers and fries.

Residents have been spotted around Fairfax County, Va., several times in recent weeks exercising their new right to wear arms. Police commanders have had to issue reminders to officers that "open carry'' is legal. Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, an organization of thousands of gun owners, insists that there has been no coordinated effort to strut with guns, but he notes that this ``is a good opportunity to educate people.''

At least `"open carry'' can be spotted. Carrying concealed weapons also is allowed, but that requires a permit issued by a local court. The most difficult thing to regulate, to be sure, is tempers. Residents just have to hope that they don't rub a gun-toter the wrong way. And don't look for any rescue from local officials. The new state law now prohibits any locality from enacting regulations on gun ownership, carrying, storage or purchase, except for rules relating to the workplace.

Maryland and the District of Columbia don't allow all these "freedoms.'' So area travelers should be on notice: Virginia Is for Gun-Lovers.

I still can't get over this addiction to the idea that carrying a gun turns people into homicidal maniacs ready to have a shoot out over an "excuse me."

Perhaps it should also be noted that Virginia, with its open carry, available concealed carry permits, and other "lax gun laws," has far lower crime rates, and far superior opportunities for both tourism and careers.

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[kelpdiver 2]

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Perhaps it should also be noted that Virginia, with its open carry, available concealed carry permits, and other "lax gun laws," has far lower crime rates, and far superior opportunities for both tourism and careers.

So what's so different between Virginia and Maryland, anyway? Aren't they right next to each other? Is there a big mountain separating them?

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

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Perhaps it should also be noted that Virginia, with its open carry, available concealed carry permits, and other "lax gun laws," has far lower crime rates, and far superior opportunities for both tourism and careers.

So what's so different between Virginia and Maryland, anyway? Aren't they right next to each other? Is there a big mountain separating them?

Just a guess, but I think the difference is Democrats.

It's Democrats who refuse to see the data from 36+ states that CCW works. Its Democrats who write articles like this, bemoaning a policy that really hasn't caused harm. It's Democrats who loooove to allege that gun owners are all just a bunch of lunatic hotheads waiting for the slightest social faux-pas to pounce on and empty a magazine. It's Democrats who think so little of their neighbors that they don't trust them with guns, but trust them with 6,000 lb. SUVs. It's Democrats who oppose the exercise of a Constitutional right, because they'd rather suppress it than have to explain to their kids that, although a gun can be used to kill people, it's okay that that man in the other booth has a gun on, because he's a good honest person, not a criminal, and there is no reason to fear that he's going to just go berserk with that gun -- especially because he knows that that guy there, that woman there, and that guy there also have guns on and are very capable of stopping him before he did much harm to anyone.

It's Democrats who are unrealistic about all this. And maybe if they stopped their obstructionism about concealed guns, people wouldn't be trying to make a point with open carried guns.

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[Kennedy 0]

Well, both states suffer for bordering DC. The major difference, as far as I can see, it Baltimore versus Richmond.
(nothing separates the states except the Potomac River)

Outside those two cities (and DC Metro Area), both states are largely agricultural or have insignificant towns here and there, with urban sprawl and suburbanization all along I-95 and moving out from DC. Both states are developing faster than is healthy, with either row after row of townhouses and apartment buildings, or McMansions right on top of each other. (the areas look really bad; they have no trees)

Both cities are very urban, very nasty, and very hurting; trying to ...
hell I don't know what it's called. Urban renewal, de-ghetto-fication, whatever.

Richmond used to be Murder Capital of the US (per 100,00). Then they picked up on Project Exile. Suddenly, their murder rate dropped seriously, while Baltimore's has continued to climb.

Since Richmond's happy exit from the race, DC and Chicago vie for the title each year. It was DC for two, the last year it went to Chicago.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[mnealtx 0]

OH NOES!!!!!11!!11oneone


Blooooooooooooooooooood in teh STREETS!!!!!




yes, I know I'm going to hell for that....lol

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[TomAiello 26]

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Just a guess, but I think the difference is Democrats.

There are Democrats who support the right to keep and bear arms, as well as Republicans who oppose it.

For example, have you ever heard of Zell Miller?

edit to add: Or Rudy Giuliani?

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[AggieDave 6]

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There are Democrats who support the right to keep and bear arms, as well as Republicans who oppose it.

As a majority, though, wouldn't you agree that Dems and other liberal groups are more anti-gun rights and the Reps and other conservative groups are more pro-gun rights?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[turtlespeed 226]

Dave - you KNOW that stereotyping is a "No-Go" unless it fits the left wing. You know the rules - don't break them anymore.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[TomAiello 26]

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As a majority, though, wouldn't you agree that Dems and other liberal groups are more anti-gun rights and the Reps and other conservative groups are more pro-gun rights?

Sure. That's a generalization. And like most generalizations, it's useful because it approximates the underlying facts.

But to say that the problem is "democrats" is a bit overbroad. Politicians are people, and (thankfully), in the American system, they're still more to be taken as individuals than as parts of a larger political machine. That's why we cast our votes for a person, rather than a party (it's not that way everywhere).

I guess what I'm saying is that anyone who thinks all democrats/republicans think alike is not really looking at the details. Zell Miller (Democrat, governor of Georgia 1991-1999), for example, is probably more conservative than George Deukmejian (Republican, Governor of California 1983-1991). And on the particular issue of gun rights, Miller is definitely to the right of Deukmejian.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[PhillyKev 0]

Guess I'm just an enigma then, eh?

[Kennedy 0]

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Guess I'm just an enigma then, eh?

Nah, you're just a freak of nature.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[HeatherB 0]

I have nothing informative to add, except I read this thread title as "viagra is for gun lovers."

[peacefuljeffrey 0]

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I have nothing informative to add, except I read this thread title as "viagra is for gun lovers."

"This is my rifle, this is my gun!...

-

-Jeffrey
"With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!"

[Kennedy 0]

That's ok, you have a really cute avatar, so all is forgiven.

Oh, and everyone, I just figured out WHY this gun show suddenly was able to happen.

Fairfax County used to have a requirement that the County Police run a check on every transaction, and it took at least three days. Well, since that check was useless, and the required state check was faster and covered more, the county requirement was repealed.

Thus the three day "waiting period" was gone, and gun shows are back in business.

edit: ok, so I'm tired and confused this thread with a discussion I had today. Like I said, Fairfax doesn't require the redundant check anymore, so there was a monster of a gun show held a few days ago.
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=38236&paper=61&cat=109
just to put in the first link I could find

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[Kennedy 0]

And here I thought I was the only one who would make that connection.

What is their major malfunction, privates?

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[cjo1970 0]

Just remember, the criminals are going to have guns permit or no permits. I was born and raised in Northern Va (fairfax) and I feel they have an excellent government and a high quality of life. So if people dont like the laws vote against them. Your profile says you are from Alabama so I guess you cant vote.

[goalie35 0]

[replyWhat is their major malfunction, privates?

[PhillyKev 0]

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[replyWhat is their major malfunction, privates?

Wouldn't malfunctioning privates be their problem?

[Kennedy 0]

No, I can't vote in VA, anymore.

I lived on the MDS side for four years for school (UMCP) and was gainfully employed in NoVA for long enough to register.
("gainfully" hell, I was a damn good salesman, too bad I hated it)

I;ve since moved farther south, and am largely unconcerned with the goings-on in that part of the country.
(if people call my home state, NJ, the armpit of the country, then what does DC qualify as, being lower, dirtier, greasier, smellier, and putting out things no one wants?)

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[PhillyKev 0]

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(if people call my home state, NJ, the armpit of the country, then what does DC qualify as, being lower, dirtier, greasier, smellier, and putting out things no one wants?)

The taint.

[Kennedy 0]

It's called a double entendre, people.

is "privates" referring low ranked pencil dicks dreaming of Mary Jane Rottencrotch, or their private parts?

It's called humor above the "Pet Detective" level.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[Kennedy 0]

Not quite.

See attached.

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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[PhillyKev 0]

close enough

[Kennedy 0]

Nuh uhhh.

It ain't the front, and it ain't the back.

edit: wait a minute, wasn't I the one just talking about more sophisticated humor....?

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
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