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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Who's freaking out?
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Maybe freaking out was the wrong phrase. I was referring to the first few pages of the thread, where a few rounds of firearms misunderstanding were passed around a group, similar to pre-teen boys talking about girls in a middle school locker room.
Although you did seem to be freaking out a little over the gun buying spree after Obama was elected. As a survivor of the 2009 run on guns, I can tell you that there wasn't a rush to stockpile to start a 2nd (or 3rd, depending on your approach to history) US Civil War. The White House website plainly stated that Obama & Holder were going to push for another Assault Weapons Ban, which outlawed certain guns based on cosmetic features. Many new companies sprung up manufacturing AR lowers so that sportsman wouldn't be left with the lame restrictions if such a law passed, and all of them were backordered. It was a rush to get guns and ammo that would be "grandfathered" if the 94 AWB were reinstated. People were getting carry permits for the same reason, for fear that they wouldn't be able to later if they didn't immediately. Much of the fear was fueled by internet rumor, and every gun store clerk loved telling people to "Get it before the ban passes." Empty shelves drove the buying panic even further.
Gun stores were crowded beyond belief, and the people buying were of all different political affiliations, including people who voted for Obama for one reason or another. I talked to people and overheard still more. Most of the guns being sold were small defensive weapons; no one could keep .380 or .32 in stock, even the places that were selling the pocket pistols in troves. Rifle ammo was much easier to find than the little calibers, but ammo was so hard to find overall that I would buy whatever I saw in the store so I could trade it with my buddies for some other caliber that I used.
It wasn't a bunch of middle aged Conservative white dudes buying bullets, crosses and kerosene for their next rally, it was people from all walks of life who were scared that they wouldn't be able to defend themselves and their loved ones during a national financial crisis when the politicians in power were talking about banning guns. I rubbed elbows with black female single parents, elderly retired couples, newlyweds, and all kinds of other people. If you had been there you would have seen it too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
As for banning the burning of the Quran, it's a difficult issue. Such an action causes measurable distress in a potentially global manner. The burning of the Quran isn't a reasoned criticism of what's written in it. It's a destructive act and a political message with the potential to incite people to violence. Knowing that fact makes this more than dissent. It's an invitation to violence and an intent to cause distress, and it's intentional.
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I disagree. I love my country, but I'm not going to kick the shit out of someone for burning the flag. Even if I did, I'm still responsible for my own actions. Religious freedom doesn't mean that every religion is free from being offended by other people's beliefs or behavior. Plus, I'm not close to many Muslims, but in my experience they've all been rational human beings, not emotionally impulsive cartoon characters.