Gun Control v Terrorist Control
Given the horrible shootings in Orlando, Florida, my heart is wrenched as the above battle ensues politically. I am angry that there is a battle. Here’s my question.
What private citizen NEEDS an assault weapon that can shoot 50 people at a time?
Seriously, WHO?

Mountain Lion Habitat in CA
I live in 2nd amendment territory. Almost everyone owns a gun or rifle of some sort, and many know how to shoot them.

I’d better get my rifle. Oh wait, the game warden already got him. Too late!
Here in the wilds of Elderwood, CA you might need a rifle to shoot a mountain lion who comes into your yard and stares down at your puppy playing in the yard. Not that it’s ever happened at my house, but I saw a skull 20 years ago at the end of our street as I hiked with students up the foothill. My husband kills a rattlesnake once in a while with the same vigor and enthusiasm of Tim Allen from Home Improvement tried out chain saws.
Woooo Woooo Woooo
More often people shoot squirrels. My cat brings home squirrels. She doesn’t even need a gun to kill them.

Dangerous squirrel digs holes – people can twist their ankles.
I do not know anyone in Elderwood who espouses a need for an assault weapon to kill a snake or even a bear, should they be attacked and need a gun.
Here’s my view. The Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms. Let folks bear the same arms that they used when the Constitution was written. Get the rest of the guns off the streets, and start mass producing the rifles that American soldiers used in the Revolutionary War. That would go a long way to preventing mass shootings, and it would exactly correspond to our Constitutional Rights to bear arms.

This is what the writers of the Constitution had in mind.
Or maybe gun rights advocates would prefer something smaller that one can fit in a purse or back pocket?

Sure, the Constitution allowed individuals to own these. I approve. Get one.
Possibly 2nd amendment advocates would want something showier to wave in my face while they spout off their rights. Let’s see if we can find this one at the gun store.
James Madison could have. Who cares what he thought?
OH RIGHT! He WROTE the Constitution.

Let the gun manufacturers begin producing 2nd amendment rights weapons. Get rid of the rest of the guns.
What do you think? Are you as angry as I am at the political battle that rages over the loss of these Orlando victims? Even if you support the 2nd amendment, do you REALLY think we need assault weapons on the street?
“Get the rest of the guns off the streets, and start mass producing the rifles that American soldiers used in the Revolutionary War.” I could not agree more, Marsha.
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It was only a little tongue in cheek. I’ve had a lot of comments both directions both on and offline. 🙂 It’s a serious issue, that is not easily solved either by legislation or by not legislating. I think the original intent, as often happens, is misunderstood, but there’s nobody around from back then to ask about it. If they saw how things had developed, they might be shocked. But they might not be either. They were pretty smart dudes. 🙂 Thanks for the comment. 🙂
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Ha, I know, but I avidly agree with the sentiment, all the same. The truth is that mass shootings produce very little of the gun deaths in this country. I often feel quite helpless and at a loss on this issue. A little regulation does not sound like a bad idea, to me. All the best-
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Aye aye, smart dudes indeed 😉
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My friend Leanne Cole did an interesting article on the penitentiary in Tasmania where they once had a mass shooting. This was quite an extensive compound. Australia has instituted gun control laws since that time. Be sure to check out her post. http://leannecole.com.au/weekend-wanderings-port-arthur-tasmania/
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WE need to mourn the victims, and not let it happen again. (Even tho I know that’s impossible.)
Thank you for the follow!
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You are welcome. Thanks for all the reads. You are doing exactly what I’ve been doing recently. https://russelrayphotos2.com/, Russel Ray calls it camping on a blog. 🙂 It’s very complimentary. 🙂
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You’re so welcome! When I discover somebody new, I binge read!
I’m glad you like it!
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I love, “binge read!” I didn’t get any binge reading done today. I did a bit, and got inspired and wrote a post. 😀😜😜😜😜😜
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Woo hoo!! Posting is good too!
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Both are essential.
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Indubitably!
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WE definitely need to keep our guns. But no, I don’t think anyone needs assault rifles to hunt dinner.
It makes me angry that every time a terrorist attacks, all we hear is “We need gun control. Don’t blame Islam.”
Any way, I don’t intend to argue, because we agree!
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It’s ok to argue. My husband is a rifle association member. The post caused quite a bit of controversy on my facebook page – both ways. 🙂 Thanks for commenting. 🙂
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Both my exs have guns. I can imagine it did!!
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I’m nervous with them around kids. When I was a kid some six year old kid in my neighborhood accidentally shot his sister.
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That’s exactly why I don’t have one, my curious grand lovey.
How horrible!!
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I know. I just got a phone call from a friend asking if I had gotten any hate mail yet.
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Oh wow. So have you??
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Not yet! It is a touchy subject, somewhat. I talked to a fellow I was going to interview. He is licenced to carry a concealed weapon, and carries an assault weapon. Apparently someone who was going in a convenience store to shoot a rival gang member, shot at him in a parking lot as he was going in. This guy, though he was down and bleeding, took out his gun and shot him. He hit, but didn’t kill him, but the assailant was stopped from killing him, and is now spending 20 years in prison. I guess there are good arguments on both sides. 🙂
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Yes, I can see how that worked out that time!
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I’ve had several heated comments on Facebook. The issue of what an assault weapon is came up in the discussion. I’ll give you Wikipedia’s definition: Assault weapon is a term used in the United States to define some types of firearms. The definition varies among regulating jurisdictions, but usually includes semi-automatic firearms with a detachable magazine and a pistol grip, and sometimes other features such as a flash suppressor or barrel shroud.
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