The past few weeks are making me rethink my stand on guns and the Second Amendment.

[RandySF]

My wife is a person of color and my son is a mixed-race American. And right here in safe, blue San Francisco, a Latino woman was verbally and physically assaulted by a Trump-lover at Crissy Field. Someone attacked a woman in San Jose and ripped her hijab off in a deserted parking lot. These incidents happened in the deepest-blue parts of a blue state and I don't need to go into what's happened elsewhere. If we are not going to have a president or Justice Department that will not have our backs, it may be time to get our own backs and do something I swore I would never do. And that is to arm myself.

[realmirage]

1. Good post

This is why I've always supported the 2nd amendment. You never know when the next revolution will be necessary

[pintobean]

2. It's always been about self defense

I don't care who they voted for, or what their motive is for attacking me, I have a right to protect myself and my loves ones.

[marlakay]

3. I am not getting a gun but

I live in the bluest of blues, Humboldt County and while most of my neighbors voted for Bernie and Hillary in general we had a neighbor after election riding his bike and chanting happily for Trump saying mean things to people as he drove by.

They feel like its ok now to be that way because Trump is and its sad and scary.

[HassleCat]

4. You echo a surprising reason

Many citizens of color look askance at gun control proposals.

[JSup]

5. I've never been...

...a huge supporter of anything but common sense gun control; aspects of civilization can fall apart or reverse direction with pretty much no warning. While you shouldn't live in constant fear of it, you also shouldn't pretend that it can "never happen here" or "in these times".

[Garrett78]

10. I don't see Dems calling for anything but sensible gun control.

Just because the NRA has convinced Republicans that Dems are out to ban all guns doesn't make it so. I've known people who are convinced "the government" will be coming to their door to confiscate their guns.

Enforcement of background checks, waiting periods, closing gun show loopholes, etc. Nothing wrong with any of that. And that's all gun control is about.

[JSup]

16. Which is all fine...

...but there have been people on our fringes calling for a complete ban; "Repeal the 2nd".

[Garrett78]

24. There's not much that can be done about that.

[Dem2]

27. So?

Since when was uniformity of thought a requirement on the left?

[exboyfil]

6. I think perspective Democratic Presidential candidates

should join a gun club and learn to hunt immediately. Make sure once they are comfortable with guns and hunting and then take lots of pictures. Talk about how the right to bear arms and engage in outdoor sports is important.

You would be surprised at how many of those Trump voters you will keep on the sidelines in the next election.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

7. K&R nt

[sheshe2]

8. Deep Blue State here.

A homeless Hispanic man was beaten and urinated on by two brothers that said they were inspired by tRump. A women on the T was attacked by 3 fifteen year old girls, they beat her face with a cell phone because she was "foreign". They have been charged, assault with a deadly weapon. The day after the election, two college boys tore around Hillary's Alma Mater in a pick up truck and a tRump flag, shouting racially offensive and gender demeaning slurs.

It is only going to escalate.

[RandySF]

12. Two LGBT students were spat upon on the campus of UC, Berkeley on election night.

And then there was this:

[aikoaiko]

9. If you follow CA laws, use reasonably safe storage, and practice.

You and your loved ones will be well served should bad things happen.

Hitting the range once a month and shooting 50 rounds is all it really takes.

[Exilednight]

11. Statistically speaking, you'll put yourself in more danger by owning a gun.

[SunSeeker]

14. Exactly.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

20. These are really all common sense things...

If someone in your home has mental illness...DON'T have a gun.
If there are young kids in your home keep guns double or triple locked at all times.
If there is domestic violence or a volatile relationship...DON'T have a gun.
If you have not taken gun safety course/education...DON'T get a gun.

[Ligyron]

15. That's true.

More people end up committing suicide with one or killing a loved one or having their kids shoot or get shot than ever stop the bad guys with one.

Nonetheless, I have several from my hunting days still around but have never had cause to to defend anyone from anything with them.

yet...

[pintobean]

17. The same could be said for ladders.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

18. Not if you know how to use it safely

And you store and keep it responsibly.

[Exilednight]

19. Statistics prove otherwise. Even safely kept guns still put you at greater risk of gun violence.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

25. I grew up with guns all around me and started hunting at 12

No one in our home ever misused guns. We were raised to RESPECT them. That is how rural lifestyle is very different from urban lifestyle. This is exactly why rural people are so pissed at Democrats. People in cities want and need gun control measures. People in rural areas do NOT want or need gun control measures in most cases. Rural people use guns to hunt, for sport and to collect. Urban people are more likely to use guns for crime or self defense without ever gaining a true respect and knowledge on the proper and safe handling and ownership of firearms.

[Exilednight]

26. That's like saying your safe to smoke because no one in your family died of lung cancer

after spending many years smoking.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

32. I spent most of my life in rural Maine and Vermont

Vermont has virtually no gun regulations, including the ability to carry concealed without a permit. The crime rate and gun violence is extremely low. My personal experience tells me something different than your statistics. Since statistics can be easily manipulated to point to whatever outcome the data gatherer desires I tend to rely more on experiential knowledge.

[Exilednight]

33. lol, okay.

[Red Mountain]

35. Anecdotal often isn't the best evidence......

https://www.thetrace.org/2015/09/vermont-domestic-violence-suicide-gun-deaths/

[Exilednight]

36. This is the exact reason I had to lol on him. I've seen the statistics, and I just have to laugh to

keep from crying.

[Dem2]

34. Ha! Yes indeed.

[Victor_c3]

13. Up until I had my pistol license taken away from after a suicide attempt

I always and still do believe we have the right to defend ourselves. Supporting sensible gun laws while supporting our right to arm ourselves doesn't make you a hardcore conservative.

Given the circumstances you cite, owning a pistol for protection is sensible.

[jmg257]

21. It can give one a certain peace of mind...'just in case'. You can be more self-sufficent if need be.

And shooting is pretty fun too.

[JI7]

22. if a muslim has a gun they would be viewed as terrorist and end up getting

Shot themselves.

Same with black men and minorities.

[OldRedneck]

23. Pepper spray or mace

Pepper spray or mace are alternatives to a gun. You can get either pepper spray or mace in a variety of sizes.

Here's a pocket- or purse-sized one-shot container:

https://www.sabrered.com/pepper-spray/3-1-pepper-spray-new-user-kit

Or, you can get a bigger spray can of pepper spray; I carry this hooked onto my belt when I walk or hooked onto the handlebars when I ride my bike -- use it on dogs.

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23274916

Then, there's this:

http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23296076

[hadEnuf]

28. We need more of a balance of power instead of being victims in waiting.

We are dealing with thugs that are often armed, and are being emboldened and encouraged by a fascist-style president elect.

Sure, maybe Trump was just kidding when he was screeching his racism and hatred throughout the election campaign. Maybe. But he'll be the POTUS soon, so we'll all see.

However, many of his supporters, like the KKK, RW militias and Neo-Nazis, etc., definitely were not kidding.


Unfortunately, the rules have now changed and it's not unreasonable for Dems and progressives to be prepared to defend themselves.

[Paladin]

30. Well said. (nt)

[radius777]

29. NY Gov Cuomo has the correct response

The Fight Begins: Cuomo Orders Creation Of Special Unit for Hate Crimes - PoliticusUSA
“I come to you this morning with a heavy heart. The ugly political discourse of the election did not end on Election Day, in many ways it has gotten worse, into a social crisis that now challenges our identity as a state and as a nation and our people,” Gov. Cuomo began.

“Now I am not alone. There are many who are soul sick for their America. There are young and old who feel alienated, disrespected and confused by what they hear,” the Democrat told the congregation.

“I wish I could say our beautiful state of New York was immune from this poison but it’s not. Fliers promoting the KKK were found on parked cars in Patchogue, Long Island. A swastika was discovered on the B Train in Manhattan. In Wellsville, outside of Buffalo, someone painted a swastika surrounded by the words ‘Make America White Again.'”

Cuomo quoted Martin Luther King before he announced his plan, “’This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off.'”

“We will enforce the law to the fullest extent. I am ordering the State Police to put together a special unit to address the explosion of hate crimes in our state. With trained professionals we will investigate every incident and prosecute the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The laws of New York will protect every citizen and every child. I will propose this January to expand the Human Rights Law, to specifically protect every child in every school, both public and private.”

“We will make sure every young person knows the law of our land, and I will be sending a letter to every college student explaining their rights and responsibilities as citizens of New York.”

“New York will also ensure that every person has legal protections, whether they can afford it or not. We will be putting together a public-private legal defense fund to provide immigrants who can’t afford their own defense, the legal assistance they need because in New York, we believe in justice for all.”

[Hoyt]

31. I get it, but the results will be even more viloence and intimidation. I don't believe an

armed society is a polite society as the white win gunners tell us.