Leftists and Guns
Guns. I'm a leftist raised in a very conservative environment and have been around guns all my life. And because of recent events, I feel compelled to tell y'all the truth about some things. Some of which you may not like to hear. But I feel obligated to tell you guys what guns are, why conservatives love them so much, and why gun reform will never happen in this country. Believe me, I didn't plan to be doing this. Grab some coco, popcorn and your favorite bottom (or top, I don't judge) and lets break it down.
To start off with, what is a gun?
At it's very basic, it is a tube that holds a charge that when triggered, causes a small explosion to send it's payload forward. Here's a picture to explain it:
Guns are incredibly easy to make. Humankind has been making them for centuries. All you need is a bullet, a pipe, even just plastic, and a pin. Now, let's talk about the different types, and this is where things get political.
There are many different "classes" of guns, and honestly most people don't know what they are talking about, especially leftists, and it drives me mad when someone says "full semi-auto AR assault rifle". Because it's stupid, and it just makes you look like an idiot to any responsible gun owner, who won't take your opinion seriously anymore, even if those opinions involve saving lives.
Here are the different types, simplified of course. I have no wish to summon John Ferguson by mentioning a Battle Rifle.
Assault Rifle: This is a gun used commonly by soldiers all over the world, and is what most people who don't know guns think of when they hear AR. To put it simply, these guns fire a medium strong bullet, multiple times with 1 pull of the trigger. Yes, burst fire counts.
Pull trigger once: 3 bullets go = Assault Rifle
Hold Trigger down: Bullets don't stop going = Assault Rifle
Above is a US soldier using an M16 "assault rifle" in Vietnam.
Machine Guns: A large full auto weapon designed to keep multiple enemies in cover at a time. These are iconic, and also never found outside of rich gun collectors, youtubers, and probably a handful of dudes hiding their grandads' toys from the government. Because of the ban, these are expensive (like tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars) and require multiple government certificates to own, much less shoot. And believe me, the government will not hesitate to take your stuff away, as FPSRussia found out.
You will never see these used in school shootings, and the reason is because they are expensive, barely legal, and practically impossible for the average normal person to have. These are, for all intents, only available to the upper class.
But wait, I hear you thinking. If normal people can't have those, how do those shooters do much damage? Well, any gun besides a bolt action (where you manually reload every bullet) can do the same damage, it's just easier to use an AR-15, because of it's practicality and availability. Almost every gun is semi-auto, and frankly there is no way to change that.
The AR-15 looks scary. But did you know there is another gun that is almost like it, just less customizable?
This is the Mini-14. It fires 5.56 ammo, same as the AR-15. Similar mag size etc. This gun is available in places the AR-15 is banned, because it doesn't look scary enough. But practically, they function the same in the hands of a psychopath. And there are hundreds of semi-auto guns like this, ranging from every caliber to size you can think of.
So, are you starting to get the frustration? Fully automatic weapons aren't really an issue, because only the upper class and some gangs use them. An AR-15's, while the most available, are NOT automatic, and are NOT inherently better than 90% of hunter guns in the US, despite being the poster child or gun laws.
I know, kids dying is fucking horrible believe me. But there are many other reasons the left should stop targeting guns. And one of them is the myth that America is the only country with lots of guns.
First one, ever heard of Serbia? Well, after Yugoslavia collapsed after the death of Dictator Tito, there was a lot of horrific violence, including mass graves, religious targeting, and kids getting shot on the street. Thankfully, that was stopped. But after it, many homes had automatic AK's, RPG's, and sometimes grenades and machineguns. Actual military grade gear. And when 1 shooting happened, people were just turning them in. People just HAD these lying around in their homes.
Now, you might say "But seekeroftime, that just proves gun control works". I don't think so. Because Switzerland also has an incredibly high gun ownership rate, due to them being a country version of a porcupine, and mass shootings don't happen there either. It's the culture.
And this is the truth nuke: You can't ban guns. I mean you legally can, but practically nothing will change. People are 3d printing functioning replicas of WW2 submachineguns, and even making full auto AR-15's, with their own designs. The feds are slow, but they will crack down on these guys. But it won't matter, because all you need is some home depot stuff, a 3d printer and some files, and you can supply a miltia. Myanmar rebels are actively using 3d guns against the Junta, and I expect they will become a favorite of many broke militias around the world. With 1,300 bucks and some steel, anyone could make a full auto AR.
To remove every gun from American society, you would need trillions of dollars, new departments, and being hated by half of the country for centuries.
And the truth is, no one will do that to save 2-300 kids each year. It's horrific, but it's the truth. Guns are a part of America and can't be removed. Even if you think guns are a tumor on America, you wouldn't just take a knife and go to work with no one around on cancer inside you.
And I could talk about how corporatism and greed has destroyed Americas communities and our spirit as a people, and how our messed up culture produces these horrific acts, but I can't. I'm already sad.
Why do conservatives love guns tho? First off, I need you to stop the image you have in your head of a MAGA "tough guy" taking a pic with 30 unshot and unlubed AR's on a million dollar house lawn. (Yes, you can finger lube fuck your AR, it's good practice)
Most conservatives like guns, not to fight the government, but because guns are frankly cool, they can save your life, and in many rural areas, they are the only thing keeping you alive. Even the most ardent anti-gun person would feel a lot better with a pistol if they were in the woods with nobody around for miles, wolves howling across the valley, and a very hungry mountain lion tracking you. It's kill or die in some rural areas, and being alone and hunted can change your stance very quickly.
For many people, guns are a lifeline, and a shield for when no one can save them, and it's dumb to conflate these people with the "I'm a manly man" dudebro. One is an idiot, the other just has a very different life and perspective than you.
I understand some peoples anger. I won't insult you by pretending to understand your pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. But the truth is, it's a losing battle. And it's one that nobody would take even if the gov could win. We, as a people, should fight for clean cities, healthy food, good mental care, and making sure our kids grow up in a community that cares about them. That's the only way things change without a police state to make Stalin jealous.
Lastly, I want more leftists to own guns. Why? Because in hs I knew a trans theater girl who got jumped by a different hs group of jocks, and things could have gone bad if me and another friend weren't there. She could have died, and that was years ago. Now, with online rhetoric, there is a non-zero chance LGBT people will be targeted again. People can be monsters, and I am very aware of how easy it is to happen.
You don't believe you will be at the mercy of humans who think your an insect, until you are and reality hits. Millions of men and women and children, from Germany to Rwanda and Ireland, believed in peace and living their own lives. But instead, they lost their own in concrete death showers and bloody machetes, sometimes monsters do come out at night. And the only way to save your life is to protect yourself.
Armed minorities are harder to oppress, and much harder to attack at night. I encourage you all to be responsible, learn what gun (if you want) you will need, and go to the range and take classes.
It's honestly fun, and a great way to meet new people. And, you can get a decent shotgun or pistol for 200 dollars (PSA is the peoples armory). Do not treat like a toy, store it properly, finger fuck it every few weeks or months, and don't point the barrel at anything you aren't ready for the gun to go off on. Finger slips and mechanical faults are rare but do happen. Also, I planned on going over shotguns, pistols, and the weirder guns and why laws can get so damn screwy, but I've been talking for too long.
Welp, standard issue yt boy checking out. Stay safe out there folks, and have some good food tonight. You deserve it.