I received my first "candidate survey" in the mail. This one, from the Gun Owners of America. Even as a supporter of the rights of local turkey and deer hunters, I knew I was in trouble.
Question 1:
Do you oppose "one-gun-a-month" laws that limit purchases by law abiding citizens?
While I can't see any reason for needing to buy more than one gun a year, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. But it got worse.
Do you oppose legislation banning the manufacture, sale or possession of semi-automatic firearms? Do you oppose legislation banning the manufacture, sale or possession of large-capacity magazines? Do you oppose laws that would ban the sale of a privately owned firearm at a gun show unless the buyer submits to a background check? Do you oppose computerized "instant" background check systems? Do you oppose government mandated use of trigger locks or other locked storage requirements?
Of course, what's missing from this list I posted was the "push" comments added by the surveyors. This one gained considerable meaning when I misread it slightly,
Recently, there has been proposed legislation to ban firearms possession for mere misdemeanors that may be no more serious than spanking your child or shooting at your spouse. This legislation specifically targets gun owners, as it does not restrict other rights."Would you oppose legislation that bans firearms ownership due to simple misdemeanors?"
Now, the truth of the matter is I misread "shouting at" for "shooting at", but let's be realistic. If anyone has been arrested, charged and convicted of "shouting at" their spouse, there obviously was something a little more serious going on.
The survey goes back to the GOA via post on Monday. Fifteen questions, and I failed them all miserably, at least I imagine the Gun Owners of America will determine such. Oh well.
Will tomorrow's mail bring a survey from the Right To Lifers, asking whether I support the use of contraceptives which may conceivably (pun intended) prevent a fertilized human egg from implanting? Or from the Christian Civic League, inquiring on my support for the "preservation" of marriage? (Preserve marriage? Allow everyone to marry, and ban divorce.)
The lesser known joys of running for public office. It's scary to think that individuals who answered "Yes" to all fifteen GOA survey questions may be elected this November. Or perhaps already were, in elections past.
Posted by MB Williams at March 25, 2004 08:01 PM | TrackBackAs a confirmed, dyed-in-the-wool, gun owner, if you are not a dealer, why would a limitation of one gun a month be a hardship.
In the past forty years I have bought five handguns, three rifles, and a shotgun. Four of the handguns were for work in law enforcement, i.e. practice weapons to maintain proficiency because the department didn't approve of firing service weapons on civilian ranges, and they kept changing the service weapon.
As for gun ownership, any violence related charge should be grounds for keeping guns away from someone. If you can't control your temper, you can't control a gun.
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