Why gun owners are running scared

By JOEL MCNALLY   Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008
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When deer hunting season opens this weekend, Wisconsin’s poor deer hunters are going to be at even more of a disadvantage than usual in their annual attempt to match wits with highly intelligent animals.

This year, deer hunters are going to be burdened by carrying heaping armloads of guns into the woods with them.

Deer hunters and other gun lovers have been absolutely terrified ever since Nov. 4 that President-elect Barack Obama is going to swoop down on their homes and confiscate all their guns.

In a panic, thousands of gun owners have raced to their nearest gun dealers to stock up on handguns, semi-automatic assault weapons and enough ammo to level the entire state of Wisconsin.

One gun dealer called Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden “the most anti-gun people ever to be in the White House.”

Golly, you’d think the late President Lincoln would have been pretty anti-gun. Certainly, his widow sitting next to him at the theater wasn’t a real big fan.

In the first two weeks of November, gun sales and background checks nearly doubled in Wisconsin compared with the same period a year earlier when scary Democrats weren’t being elected. What comes through from these stories is just the opposite of the image gun owners want to project—that they are tough guys ready to shoot it out with any wild thing—man or beast—who crosses their path.

Instead, it turns out gun owners are big scaredy cats.

A majority of us were dancing in the streets celebrating a historic new direction for our country after pointless war abroad and economic disaster at home. But, for gun owners, their first thought was heart-pounding terror that they might not have enough guns and ammo to fend off all the demons that keep them awake at night.

It sort of proves the point Obama once made in an off-hand remark when he said small-town people who feel powerless in our country “cling” to their guns. The National Rifle Association itself was the first to celebrate the clinging phenomenon in a famous bumper sticker about prying guns from “cold, dead fingers.”

If you live in constant fear that someone is going to take all your guns away, you aren’t going to be foolish enough to leave any of them at home when you go up north to hunt deer this year, are you? That’s just what Barack Obama and Joe Biden want you to do.

While your wives are out getting drunk and tucking dollar bills into the g-strings of Chippendales, the Democrats are going to sneak in and clean out your entire arsenals. Gun owners still wake up trembling with fear, remembering the 10 horrible years after 1994 when semiautomatic assault weapons were banned in this country. Not only were assault weapons banned, but so were pistol grips, flash suppressors and bayonet mounts that could be used to convert hunting rifles into military assault weapons.

For 10 long years, gun owners lived in constant fear that godless hordes would attack their homes and get in close enough for hand-to-hand combat at a time when law-biding citizens were forbidden to buy bayonet mounts. President George Bush allowed the ban to expire in 2004 so Vice President Dick Cheney and other hunters in America would once again have the freedom to use any weapons they wanted to shoot their friends.

Actually, President-elect Obama, like most other Democrats, has always proclaimed his support for the Second Amendment and the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to buy, own and use guns. But the gun lobby considers any politician an enemy unless he supports arming every American, drunk or sober, sane or insane. Let the chips—and the bodies—fall where they may.

That’s why really cautious deer hunters are going to be lugging every weapon they can carry into the woods with them. We hope no one drops one on his foot. We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt by a gun.

Joel McNally is a syndicated columnist. His e-mail address is jmcnally@wi.rr.com.

reader COMMENTS
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(94)
jt120885
Aug 25, 2009 at 2:14 a.m.
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you know if our forefathers were still alive i bet they all would be kicking someones butt for all the rights they have made for us and now every person wants to go in and change it because they are the first. I think Obama needs to pull his head out of his butt and not worry about Guns, this insurance crap and whatever else and focus on this dang economy. i don't think we have ever been this bad since the great depression granted that was worse than now but we are getting there. i just have so much to say about our new president but i can't say them all. now that Obama and our great fearless Governor of Wisconsin seem like they are on the same page prepare for everything to go to crap.

allcheck
Dec 2, 2008 at 12:09 p.m.
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Another idiot journalist to put on the list

III

whythink
Dec 1, 2008 at 1:16 p.m.
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hey fldpan

WAKE-UP
America spoke, WE want the libs to be in-charge.

Spanky
Nov 29, 2008 at 4:33 p.m.
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umm newsflash automatic weapons are against the law. I know all of you lefties believe that Bush allowed all this to happen in his eight years but, that's not true. Open your eyes a little bit and you may actually learn something.

ekim8404
Nov 29, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.
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Obama will have his hands full with the current economic disaster to worry too much about gun runner joe selling ak47's from the back of his pick-up truck. 8 years of Repubs made that possible.

I don't believe Obama will move to heavily in that direction regardless. The majority of violent crimes are committed with small caliber hand guns, not assault rifles, bayonets and grenade launchers. Coming from Chicago, I think he has a pretty good handle on what type of guns are used, and who is using them.

Firearms can be a great hobby. I enjoy target practice with handguns, some enjoy trap shooting, etc... That being said, I also understand the only uses for a handgun are target shooting and self protection. There is some hunting with handguns, but is relatively unpopular for obvious reasons.

Assualt weapons, or rifles/shotguns that have that urban assualt SWAT team look can still used for hunting, BUT everyone knows what their main use is. Mainly gun enthusiasts, military buffs/para-military types are drawn to these.

One also has to take into consideration the Columbine effect as well. The tragedy that began to unfold in our schools in the mid 90's is still relevant today, even though it's been a while. Video games do glamorize weapons and many boys (and some girls) are drawn to the dangerous/cool side of them. Walk down an isle of bb guns or paintball guns with a small boy in he'll go gaga. Why, I don't know.

I hope that what ever attention the firearms issue gets is focused on education. Hunter safety is a great way for kids to learn and understand the danger of guns. I think it should be mandatory for all kids, whether they ever hunt or not.

Parrothead_Jeff
Nov 29, 2008 at 10:35 a.m.
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It's not that we fear the confiscation of our currently owned firearms (yet). We're concerned that we will not have the opportunity in the future to purchase a brand new firearm of our choosing. Sure, we might be able to buy a shotgun or a bolt action rifle, but what about that AR-15 we want to use in CMP competition? What about that AK-47 that's so fun out in the desert?

Not all liberals want to disarm us for the purposes of grabbing power. Some really do think that the answer is less firearms. Where I see the lack of cognitive function and logic is in the idea that banning something will make it go away. Just look at what's banned in today's society and what has happened in the past. Cocaine is banned. Alcohol was banned. Drunken driving and murder are illegal. And yet they persist.

So called "Assault weapons" like the AK-47 leaning in the corner of my bedroom hurt nobody in the hands of law abiding citizens because by definition we follow the law. Criminals by definition don't and therefore don't care what's legal to own and what's not.

We gun owners are concerned about incremental infringements on our Second Amendment rights. Take away 30 round magazines one day and who knows if detachable magazines are next?

First Amendment rights aren't under nearly as much pressure, but I suspect the author of this piece would be irked if he were restricted to a 256k internet connection, but we wouldn't want anyone to be able to upload too much info at one time, would we?

One final thought here. Since when have any of the really "evil" and hated features been a concern in crime? When has there been a criminal bayonet attack? How about a rifle grenade attack? When have crooks or cops had to worry about how big their muzzle flash is or if it would blind the shooter? There hasn't been a case of any of these. And yet some in government want to ban them anyway. Think of the uproar if any other Constitutional right were under such attack. Heck, let's even go to non Constitutional issues. What would happen if brush guards on SUVs were banned because they might cause more damage in a crash? How about if windows with more than two square feet were outlawed? Or SUVs? Or mirrored sunglasses? Or cameras? After all, you can still go off-roading, see outside, drive the kids to school, and protect your eyes from bright light, and sketch what you see, right?

tjncj
Nov 28, 2008 at 9:45 p.m.
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Yeah, lets limit handguns to the criminals. Why would a law abiding citizen be able to own one?

klick
Nov 28, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.
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No guns over a 12 ga should be sold if you go deer hunting use slugs, and absolutely (NO HAND GUN SALES)

quam6535
Nov 28, 2008 at 7:23 p.m.
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Fear is the reason they need all those guns in the first place.

A person who thinks they "need" a gun, is a person I like to call, an idiot.

stimpy17
Nov 26, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
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Joel,

Might I suggest that you should get out more.

eekbot
Nov 25, 2008 at 8:58 p.m.
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The original author certainly knows how to come off in a condescending and arrogant manner...

Fact is, Obama is going to restrict gun buying, its inevitable. Like leaves falling in the autumn, the sun rising in the morning, and neo-Marxist politicians raising taxes.

Perhaps if you dug a bit deeper there Joel, you would notice WHAT is being purchased by the truckload. Not hunting guns, the 2nd was never about hunting deer, What is being bought in record numbers is what you on the left like to call "Assault weapons". Yes, they fire the same bullet as Bubba's hunting gun, but ohhh they look SCARY.. so you think they should be banned.

Well I think you got your reply this time there Joel. The American public has spoken, will continue to buy these so called "Assault weapons" in record numbers. We will NOT allow another "Evil features" ban to take away our hobby OR security.

Had you looked into the gun culture some, you might realize that not everyone who owns an AK47 or AR15 is some hillbilly redneck. Some of us are doctors, lawyers, business owners..

We are collectors, target shooters, people who like to take a military rifle to the range and via modification squeeze out the last bit of accuracy out of it while shooting for competition.

Sorry.. its not all about some drunk rednecks worried about Obama taking away his huntin' shotgun, and to think that's it issue shows just how naive you are.

zygoat
Nov 25, 2008 at 8:46 p.m.
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Hey Joelene, just how is it that you know "WHO" is stuffing what into what at male stripper venues?

Could it be that you have revealed your only true field of expertise?

whythink
Nov 25, 2008 at 12:42 p.m.
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Ah, those bitter Americans clinging to their guns and religion...

Anyone fearing their guns being taken away is simply ignorant. President Obama (I love typing that) is not going to spend the time or engergy on gun issues until long after the economy is on the mend. President Bush dug this country such a deep hole that none of the "value issues" will be addressed in the near future.

Don't worry about your guns, President Obama isn't going to take them from you...worry about your job, house, retirement and savings President Bush has left them ALL in jeporady.

Edgewater
Nov 24, 2008 at 2:06 p.m.
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I stand corrected - thank you, sir

thediplomat
Nov 24, 2008 at 1:50 p.m.
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Edgewater,

Your comprehension skills need improvement. I never once refered to deer hunters as rednecks. I have deer hunted in the past and currently own 4 guns. I am commenting on the idiots (rednecks) that think that the Obama administration is going to pass laws prohibiting gun sales.

futureteacher
Nov 23, 2008 at 11:24 p.m.
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dkush21, you may have the funniest comment of the month!

dkush21
Nov 23, 2008 at 10:04 p.m.
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Why don't you people quit jumping the gun (no pun intended)until this issue comes up.

ProudFighter11
Nov 21, 2008 at 5:42 p.m.
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They'll make liberty disappear a little bit more. They'll reinforce the hypnotic suggestion that the average person is just too untrustworthy and incompetent to keep and bear arms, and that they, the ruling class and their enforcers, are the "only ones" qualified to possess them.
Gun shows are easily demonized. Few people have attended them, and the media has done an excellent job of making sure people think they are a bunch of Nazi white-power types looking for a few extra boxes of grenades ...
=
Is "Redneck" supposed to be a derogatory term? If so how nice of you!
I know a hundred "rednecks" that will give a wormy little whiner like you the shirt off their back.

ncpanfan
Nov 21, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
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I can't believe the insults hurled at deer hunters. Okay so if we do it your way Edge then let's say no killing any animals unless by hand and when the coyotes, bears, etc... start coming in to your areas you run out and do just that to keep them from killing your pets or perhaps your children? Also when the deer herds triple or quadruple and you are innocently driving your family somewhere and they come running out of nowhere and trample your car, possibly killing you and your family maybe you will think twice about your comments? No I don't hunt but I have a husband and a son who do and they are responsible people who don't waste the food or kill just to kill and no they didn't run out and buy an arsenol of weapons, they are using the same guns they have had for years. In this bad economy who can afford to go out and buy, buy, buy? The venison has fed us many a time when we were short on money for groceries!-
And by the way I have been in an accident where a deer came out and crashed into my truck, I have a car but luckily for me that day I had my husband's truck so it hit the truck but didn't fly into my windshield and do more damage!

Edgewater
Nov 21, 2008 at 3:13 p.m.
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thediplomat refers to [deer hunters] as 'redneck idiots' while Joel McNally alludes to them as less intelligent. Seems accurate to me. If man is at the top of the food chain, why are guns needed to kill deer? C'mon he-men, make the playing field level - try and kill them with your own hands.

thediplomat
Nov 21, 2008 at 2:54 p.m.
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darius,

It is not a matter of being perfect, it is a matter of not being stupid. I think it is funny that local gun dealers around the country can use scare tactics to get the redneck idiots to rush out and buy a bunch of guns. Nothing will change with the new administration except possibly closing some of the loopholes on background checks at gun shows. Notice I didn't say a limit on which types of guns and ammo you can purchase.

toasty2k
Nov 21, 2008 at 11:54 a.m.
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cardtrader,
Who are you and anybody else to say how many guns us law abiding citzens/hunters should have? What do you care? We are not hurting you or endangering people. We obey the law and therefore should not be denied our constitutional right. And yes, I like having an arsenal. Why? because I like to use different guns everynow and then. Some are different calibers. If I hunt down here, I have to use a shotgun, unless I have permission to hunt in a CWD eradication zone. Up north, I can use a rifle. Sometimes, I like to use a gun that my father and grandfather used. If you have a problem with that, tough (explicit)! And note to shopierehuh, this shopierian raised citizen will NOT allow my guns to be taken away from the government. When that happens, we are no longer free people and this loyal American is loyal to democracy. As long free people own guns, the visions of Paul Revere and the millitia will make sure that our freedom does not parrish from this earth.

cardtrader
Nov 21, 2008 at 11:23 a.m.
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Are all you hunters really that scared and think that your government is going to take away your toys? I think what they want to do is get a better grip of how many you all own and and put a cap on that. Why does anyone need a arsonal of weapons to shoot a deer? Wont 1 gun do the job?

Shopierehuh
Nov 21, 2008 at 10:41 a.m.
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Statements about "only over my dead body" will they disarm me and other similar chest puffing are just that. You will not do anything, you will allow your rights to be taken as you have for the the last 50 years. Turn the tv up and watch whatever game it is that fascinates and wait for your nation to finish being destroyed. The obese lady is about to sing for you.

crafty
Nov 21, 2008 at 7:57 a.m.
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It will cross his desk if the Libs get what they want, the retirement of a couple Conservative Supreme Court Justices. If that happens you better bet it will be the first thing the new guys do.

supernova72
Nov 21, 2008 at 2:26 a.m.
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Wow. I'm about as liberal as they come until it comes to the issue of gun control, which, I think is silly. Most pro-gun-control types that I have met argue that they want guns out of the hands of criminals... if they're criminals, do they care that it's illegal to carry a semi-automatic weapon? Probably not, they're just going to use it anyways. I also find this pretty insulting to hunters. I mean, there are some hunters who may fall into this drunken hillbilly sort of mold that McNally has poured, but I think that's probably not a large percentage. This op-ed piece is almost embarrassing to Liberals. Honestly, I can't see gun control being the first thing that Obama sees crossing his desk. I bet Lincoln, a famous Republican, wouldn't have had any gun control bills crossing his desk back when America was still mainly wilderness. McNally may make his point, but its at the expense of sounding credible. I don't forsee gun control being the hot-button issue of the moment when the economy is in shambles, families have never been so broke, and Generation X is dealing with its first real financial crisis. Oh yeah, and that whole messy war thing. You know, over in that one country?

Shopierehuh
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:40 p.m.
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Mcnally is a dullard, to be sure. He has been vomiting his dim-witted rhetoric onto readers for several decades now. What amazes me is that he appears to be getting more simple as months go by. Perhaps he is fading and this is close to his end. Oh well, certain stuff happens, right?

janesvillecomments
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:25 p.m.
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So... if " a gifted writer with a propensity to deliver a poignant message with unrelenting wit" may make what he considers a humorous reference to President Lincoln being anti-gun, perhaps I can get my own syndicated column by expanding on that and asking "What do Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, and Barack Obama all have in common?"
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States that have passed concealed carry permit laws have all experienced a drop in violent crime rates. Wisconsin still hasn't been overrun with refugees from Minnesota since they passed their law. Perhaps they are flooding into Illinois, the only other U.S. state with absolutely no provision for law-abiding, civilian concealed carry permits.
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I hope the "President of Change" occupies himself with more important issues than gun control, but given his dodgy "Present" voting record, and the numbers of Clinton retreads he is bringing onboard to his team, I doubt Obama will be doing much more than pushing the Washington political pendulum back toward the traditional Democratic party side of mud pit and continuing to sink it lower into the muck of distractive "hot-button" issues, special interest group distractions, and wholesale deficit spending that the Republicans have been doing the last eight years.

kiowamohican
Nov 20, 2008 at 9:06 p.m.
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In defense of the Gazette, this piece is put into their OPINION section. If it was a hard news story, it would obviously be outrageous. The gazette is fairly balanced on their opinion pieces with columnists from both the left and right.
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Even being opinion, it still makes one wonder why so many papers are publishing pieces so over the top? Newspaper circulation across the country is dropping like water over the Niagra falls. The parent companies of most all major papers have seen their stock prices fall 80% or better the past few years, and many are near bankruptcy. The ONE major newspaper that is holding their own (not doing great, but compared to everyone else, unbelievably good) is the Wall Street Journal.
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The Wall Street Journal a conservative newspaper...GO FIGURE!

Hockeyjockey
Nov 20, 2008 at 8:28 p.m.
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If Jeff Foxworthy read this section, he would say, "These are my people."

shdow5
Nov 20, 2008 at 8:03 p.m.
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Take our right to bear arms away? Over my dead body! The only ones with guns will be the criminals and that just is not going to happen.The Government needs to keep their noses out of our homes and into their account books because thats where ours will be!

justsome1here
Nov 20, 2008 at 7:02 p.m.
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The other piece of legislation is the crime bill. As of today, it no longer exists. I'm throwing it out. I'm throwing it out writing a law that makes sense. You cannot address crime prevention without getting rid of assault weapons and handguns. I consider them a threat to national security, and I will go door to door if I have to, but I'm gonna convince Americans that I'm right, and I'm gonna get the guns. - The American President (1995).
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Just couldn't resist.

angry_again
Nov 20, 2008 at 6:01 p.m.
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This was one of the worst articles I have ever read. But at least there are a few sensible intelligent patriots left in America!
We won our independence from England because of citizens with firearms.

REMEMBER the minutemen?

Law-abiding people who had to defend their families and land from a corrupt government founded our country. Don’t forget that.

Unidentified
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:53 p.m.
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PanamaRed: "with a propensity to deliver a poignant message with unrelenting wit." This article is certainly no representation of wit. A high school student could have written this dim witted column. I don't even own a gun so I'm really not affected by this. However, it takes far more intellect to come up with a good argument than it does to use stereo types and condescension to create buzz. I guess some are willing to earn a living at any cost. Moreover, some people have enough common sense to wait and see what Barrack Obama does before we start dancing in the street. Considering he’s done nearly nothing up to this point in public office, it’s safe to assume not everyone is so blindly loyal. Granted, it’s historic that a black president has been elected. However, beyond that he’s just another politician who has made numerous campaign promises he’ll have to make good on.

Zippy_TPH
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:44 p.m.
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Spanky - If they raise the taxes on guns and ammo, just start rolling your own like smokers are doing. The smoke shops are always busy, and I noticed Kwik Trip has added a cigarette rolling section to their store. Interestingly within reach of children...

Spanky
Nov 20, 2008 at 4:34 p.m.
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I went and bought another handgun. No doubt Obama will raise the taxes on Ammo and anything else related to guns.

crafty
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:28 p.m.
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"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. Nor, are they likely to end up with either." — Benjamin Franklin

crafty
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:25 p.m.
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I love that those who speak of protecting the 2nd Amendment are subjected to ridicule while those who speak to protect our other rights are respected- when Bush was elected and Pro-Choice advocates began "fear-mongering" no one criticized them for ratcheting up fear.

I also find it amusing that the rest of the world thinks we should disarm like them and continually tells the United States that we need to be more like them. I seem to recall that most people in the United States came here, or had their forefathers come here, due to the lack of freedoms in other nations. If we wanted to do what everyone else did then we wouldn't need to be the United States- we would have remained a part of Her Majesty's Commonwealth.

Having said that, ignore which party is in power and look at the individuals- gun rights will be fairly well protected given that most of Congress is pro-gun (even with the new majority party). We still need to watch carefully though.

ProudFighter11
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:16 p.m.
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A gun is a tool just like a hammer, a knife, or a rolling pin. Inept and downright stupid people make it possible for gun "ACCIDENTS" to occur. Just like car accidents occur the majority of the time because of inattentive drivers, that is also how gun accidents occur. I have never seen a hammer strike a nail with-out something moving the hammer. I have never seen a gun go off by itself.

I ask you this, God forbid you were to find yourself somewhere you should not be, a dark street off the beaten path, would you feel safer in an area where the criminal knows you can not defend yourself, or in an area where he knows you CAN defend yourself?

Curlrock
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:08 p.m.
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I heard that Mrs. Ponschratch eventually moved to Seattle and became a millionare. Apparently she was one of the founders of a company that figured out a way to get people to spend $5 on a cup of coffee.

ProudFighter11
Nov 20, 2008 at 3:07 p.m.
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The overwhelming majority of gun crimes take place in locations with the strictest gun control measures in place.

So whatever happened to the crime rate in Minnesota after the institution of right to carry a couple of years ago? Didn't we hear that there would be gun fights in the street, deaths would be astronomical and we would descend into anarchy?

If you care to do the research, look at any state with a right to carry legislation. Look at the trends in the violent crime rate in those states. Time and time again, crime rises where guns are taken away. The second amendment is the amendment that protects all the others.

tjncj
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
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Wow Curlrock that would have sucked. Did you happen to go to school with Joel McNally? He must have had some Mrs. Ponschratch's in his day that helped to shape his liberal viewpoint.
***
I went to a country school and our Phys ed/Home ec teaher Mr. Nutterbutter made us use hunting broadheads and shoot live squirrels taped to the wall. We didn't waste the meat though, he always timed archery with the wild game section in Home Economics.

matthew516
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.
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dub190, you're exactly right regarding the bill of rights. The govt. keeps taking and taking and we just keep on giving and giving. We the people are the govt! That's the part that I can't believe people can't get through their heads.

Curlrock
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:37 p.m.
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justsaynotomath- You've got some gun issues but it's nice to see you're not an anti-hunter. My phy-ed teacher in high school Mrs. Ponschratch; big anti-hunter. She made us switch to those nerf bow and arrow contraptions during the archery unit. Everybody scored a zero on the final. Really sucked watching your little nerf arrow fall to the ground halfway to the target. But nobody got hurt. Which is nice.

PanamaRed
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.
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Joel McNally is a columnist and journalist but not a reporter, whoanellie. He often uses satire to present a liberal viewpoint, based on his opinion, on a wide range of issues. Mr. McNally is a gifted writer with a propensity to deliver a poignant message with unrelenting wit. Unfortunately, many conservatives do not have any sense of humor, as you can judge by the posts. What isn't funny, though, is when those morons in the state legislature waste their time and taxpayer money to introduce a bill legalizing conceal and carry sidearms when they should be attending to business that benefits more than just a fringe element of Wisconsin residents. I'm in favor of hunting, in fact, I believe the state is not doing enough to encourage more people to hunt and fish. Each year fewer individuals purchase hunting and fishing licenses. The NRA should use their influence to pass laws that work to keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn't have them. Instead, they stick their head up their *** and whine about the "liberals" trashing the 2nd amendment. Hey I know, lets give 10 year old kids the right to carry loaded weapons around without any formal gun training. Brilliant!!

patriciadorn
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:05 p.m.
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seriously...whether you are a gun owner, gun hater, liberal, conservative...
this is still one of the most flappingly ignorant newspaper articles I have ever read.
However.... i believe people have the right to all the biased ignorance that they want to put in writing...but where is the Janesville Gazette disclaimer on this web page that these views are not necessarily those of the Gazette?

w8nc
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:52 p.m.
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Diplomat & Curlrock --- you are making my day. Keep 'em comming :0)

ozzman99
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:35 p.m.
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Hey McNutty How many people have been killed with a bayonet, pistol grip, flash supressor or a telescoping stock? The answer you liberal pansy is zero! Cosmetic attachments do not change the lethality of a firearm. They only scare liberal whiners like yourself because a gun with those features "looks" like a "military weapon" and add that to an uninformed public and you can claim to ban "assault weapons" aka liberal propaganda from the 1980's used to make the public believe that the weapons being banned were machine guns because suburban Joe who has never shot a gun in his life can't tell the difference or assumes that all firearms must be used solely for hunting. Finally McNutty here is something else you probably didn't care to mention: Virtually all firearms that are in civillian hands started out as military issued "weapons of war" Do some research before you run your left wing mouth about a subject you know nothing about!

Curlrock
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:25 p.m.
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justsaynotomath- was that comment immature enough or are you still taking me seriously?

Curlrock
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
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I'm just waiting for some 8 year old to hit his teacher with a fishing pole so I can justify getting a new walleye rod before Schumer and Feinstein threaten to take those away. Then I'll go picket in front of Starbuck's about the price of there new mocha-carmel-chai-latte.

Zippy_TPH
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:05 p.m.
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Wow - I didn't realize guns were going away. I'd better hurry up and get one, or two. Walmart still sells them, right?

darius
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:49 p.m.
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thediplomat, thanks for the great intellect you display. I didn't realize that there was another perfect person here on earth capable of passing judgement on others. You really should get your name out there more.

thediplomat
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:44 p.m.
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darius,

Thank you for declaring in a public forum that you are a redneck fool. No one will be taking your weapons. Now go to the dentist and get your tooth looked at.

thediplomat
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:43 p.m.
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Man those rednecks are real idiots. Your guns will not go away people! You will still be able to buy your deer rifles and handguns. Obama won't be taking away any of it. He won't even take away the 50 cals from the enthusiasts.

tjncj
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:38 p.m.
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Of course any potential closing of a Starbucks may result in the same reaction......

tjncj
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.
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Any potential gun grab by the government would end up in a civil war. I believe they know that and are not so naive to try it.

darius
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:34 p.m.
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Here's a message to Obama/Biden and anyone else who has a problem with me having a gun: You'll take my property over my dead body!

tjncj
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:55 a.m.
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Yes Curlrock, you LEAVE STARBUCKS ALONE!!!! JSNTM is the voice of understanding, kindness, and reason here at the Janesville Gazette discussions. She also never lets facts or the truth get in the way of her opinions.

MOC0428
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:53 a.m.
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justsaynotomath: I'm sorry but what was an 8 year old allowed to hold a gun let alone fire one for? That to me seems to be a parental problem not that of guns or gun control. The gun was what ultimately killed him but there was much more stupidity involved before that.

w8nc
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:33 a.m.
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I love your take Curlrock! So true :0)

rep_of_1
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.
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The gazette oblivious loves to dump on Wisconsin's generations of sportsmen and sportswomen.
Way to use a biased article to chop off the hand that supports you.

lovetoscrap
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:14 a.m.
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I don't think I have ever read a more ignorant article by a journalist before. Why does the Gazette print this stuff and then pay the man to be able to do it?

Mikki
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:10 a.m.
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I read this and was continually looking for the punchline that never came.
Drunk wives? Give me a break. Wow. How insulting. I can't believe he actually gets paid for this garbage.

Curlrock
Nov 20, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.
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This guy is so out of touch with anything that happens 10 miles outside Madison, Milwaukee, or any other metropolis. Put him in the woods some night and you find him weeping in the morning running for the nearest Starbucks.

He is so out of touch that he doesn't realize that outdoorsmen/women will use any excuse to buy a new gun, fishing pole, or muskie bait. They are just using Obama this time to justify their new gun purchase to their spouse. Part of being a good outdoorsmen/woman is perfecting the craft of justifying your purchases to your significant other. It's a skill that's been handed down through the years just like calling a turkey or learing a new fishing knot from your grandpa.

tjncj
Nov 20, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.
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What impresses me about Joel McNally is that he can continue to come up this garbage on such a consistent basis! Just when you think he can not write a story as ridiculous as the last one he shows you the depth of his ignorance has not been tapped out yet. He is a hack.

w8nc
Nov 20, 2008 at 10:26 a.m.
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This guy is an idiot. Does he think his sarcasm is funny??? I'm all for funny and witty sarcasm but his remark about President Lincoln was just plain tasteless and disturbing. It's this kind of crap (yes I am referring to his writing as crap) that makes him look like an idiot. I sometimes think Mr. McNally sits up at night thinking to himself, "I wonder how I can make the most stupid judgement possible". Idiot.

whoanellie
Nov 20, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
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Joel you are an ignoramous! You write the most appalling articles! I thought as a "journalist" you were not supposed to biased???? I guess that would only be the ones who are real journalist, of which you are not! The right to bear arms is part of our constitution. Of course maybe you aren't smart enough to read it. I say hold on tight to your guns and even tighter to your bibles, bad liberal times are a comin'. We will probably lose alot of freedoms, even worse than now. It's the only way those wacked out liberals can get total control. Most people do not agree with the ultraliberals. Pray hard and continually for our nation!!!

kiowamohican
Nov 20, 2008 at 2:13 a.m.
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I can't speak with certainty on this issue, but I don't believe most gun owners are rushing to buy guns and ammo in fear that Obama and company will ban them. It's more in fear of the Democrats hiking taxes on anything gun related at astonishing/outlandish rates. You have all ready seen the Democrats in WI laughably try to balance the state budget with a massive cigarette tax that has lead to the biggest organized crime spree the state has ever seen, and effected the poor more then any demographic.
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With the state budget all ready $5 billion in the hole, and growing by the day. The federal budget deficit set to be over a $1 trillion in in deficit, all we need to do is put a 50,000% tax increase on all those evil guns and cigarettes to balance these budgets!

A35
Nov 20, 2008 at 1:04 a.m.
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the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 did not reduce crime and the weapons it banned are used in a very small fraction of crimes. Less than one percent.

Most studies show, however, that allowing law abiding citizens to carry concealed handguns does reduce crime.

http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp#...

"* Assault weapons were involved in less than 1% of homicides before the assault weapons ban took effect in 1994. The same is true as of 1998. (3)

* As of 1998, about 13% of homicides involve knives, 5% involve bludgeons, and 6% are committed with hands and feet. (3)

* Americans use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year. This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times. (16b)"

Cars kill more people than guns every year, maybe we should ban them?

sttldwnjvl
Nov 19, 2008 at 11:57 p.m.
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I understand that the right to bear arms is part of the constitution and I will always agree that that is important and respect that...but what I don't understand is how these NRA members think that this is the most important thing that Obama has to deal with. Don't worry there is so much more to change than taking your guns.

kiowamohican
Nov 19, 2008 at 11:25 p.m.
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It will indeed be rather funny to see what these far left editoralists will write about now that their pals have total control of everything, and the economy is heading straight into a depression. It will be rather amusing to hear them put all the blame on Bush when they sit in total control over everything as it all melts down.

janesvillecomments
Nov 19, 2008 at 11:06 p.m.
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Awww... what will poor Jabberwocky Joel write about when the Democrats take control of the legislature in Washington and in Madison? No more controlling Republican meanies to blame the lack of a socialist utopia on. Ranting non-stop about gun control will soon alienate both his fans.
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As far as Obama's position on gun control, Barack has tried to not be tied down on that issue as hard as he's tried to not be tied down to most of the other issues. From http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/...

Obama says the answers misrepresent his position. "I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns," he said at the Philadelphia debate.
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So, perhaps he just means he would favor a ban on high-capacity pistols, or large caliber handguns, or civilian ownership of handguns, or police ownership of handguns (something McNally could probably get behind, given how often he rants about the Milwaukee Police Department)? Maybe Obama will just favor a ban on handguns with bayonet lugs or bipods?
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We'll see if Obama acts and speaks reasonably once he in office, or just another hypocrite, such as Ted Kennedy, Roseanne Barr and Diane Feinstein, with their pro-gun control babblung and their armed bodyguards. I hope someone has explained to him that he has to sign or veto bills, he can't vote Present as President.

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