I just heard a part of G.W. Bush's speach at the APEC summit. As the guy who leaves the presidency after pushing his country into the deepest economic crises since decades, he kept clinging to fond memories and recalled the worldwide support after 9/11.
It was pityfull how he talked of freedom....
As if the people who lost their jobs and their homes, and start crowding the shelters and living off charity feel free.
It makes me think of how it was reported shortly after Obama won the elections, how gun sales went through the roof. It was supposedly for fear of coming gun control laws.
Now I've been living in countries with gun control. All the people I knew (or almost) were eligible to own guns. Which makes you wonder why Americans are so scared of gun control..... Would their background check not go through???? 
Gun control means more thorough background checks. That's all.
And one wonders anyway how owning a gun would improve the economic (and therefore real) freedom of anybody...
Blasting away the shelter they live in would only land them in jail....
Duh... 
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| Gun control and freedom.... |
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kywonder
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Nov 22 @ 10:40AM
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I don't believe George did this by himself. He had a little help from the Congress and Senate. But of course the presidency always gets the blame.
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Josuha
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Nov 22 @ 10:56AM
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And one wonders anyway how owning a gun would improve the economic (and therefore real) freedom of anybody...
Since your from Europe I don't expect you to understand it.
The 2nd Amendment is not about economics or huntng ducks.
It's about the People being the last line of defense against tyranny and in case a government attempted to take rights away.
In as far a background checks and 'registration', why would one want to register a weapon, that could be confiscated by a despot government at their pleasure?
"No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms." Thomas Jefferson
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ragtopcookie
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Nov 22 @ 10:57AM
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Im not big on guns.....never have been ...but whats about to come......im really thinking of getting a hand gun.....when i think about it....i would rather have a gun and not need it...than to need a gun and not have one......i look for things to get real bad soon...with people out of work and hurting.....and ill be damned if im gonna let somebody take away what ive worked hard for.....im talking protection.....pure and simple........cookie
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travelwoman
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Nov 22 @ 11:04AM
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It's about the People being the last line of defense against tyranny and in case a government attempted to take rights away.
Isn't it sad when you have to fear your own government.... in a "free" country...
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hereshannon
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Nov 22 @ 11:12AM
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"Gun control means more thorough background checks. That's all."
I'm sorry Travel, but this statement is not even close to the truth. Gun control advocates also seek to ban certain classifications of firearms, such as rifles and handguns with high capacity magazines... frequently referred to as "assault rifles" to frighten the uninformed. The majority of law abiding gun owners do not have a problem with background checks, we do not want criminals to have weapons any more than you do. However, when some imbecile in Washington who has probably never even fired a gun, decides to tell me what guns I can and can not own thats where I draw the line. Do these fools who make these gun control proposals really believe that the criminals will obey the laws and not obtain these weapons?? We have laws againsed drugs and do people still use illegal drugs?? The only ones who will be affected by these ignorant laws are law abiding citizens. 
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travelwoman
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Nov 22 @ 11:23AM
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hereshannon...
Do these fools who make these gun control proposals really believe that the criminals will obey the laws and not obtain these weapons??
You do have a point here....
Yet.... I don't think that any gun owner is any "free-er" than the one without a gun.... Not when our lives so much depend on having or not having a job.
Do YOU know many people who are actually hunting for food? In all my years in the USA, I've not met one person who has a gun for hunting for food. (Well, there are the hunters who pay xxx dollar$ for killing a deer, but their fridge is full of beef and pork....)
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maxximuss1967
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Nov 22 @ 11:28AM
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The list of reasons you cant own a gun in my state of illinois grows every year, now if you have been treated for depression (ever) they wont let you own a gun. Statisticly leagly owned guns DO NOT contribute to the gun crime in this country. it is the criminals who posses them illeagly. we have pleanty of gun laws and weak court systems who let theses criminals out, time after time! and do not enforce the existing laws!
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sloriver
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Nov 22 @ 11:33AM
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However, when some imbecile in Washington who has probably never even fired a gun, decides to tell me what guns I can and can not own thats where I draw the line.
I recently read a news story where a doctor took his eight year old son out to a range where a qualified instructor stood behind the boy while he fired an Uzi on full auto. The boy, of course, couldn't control the automatic pistol and the weapon rose upward in his hands with the recoil and shot the boy in the head, killing him. Why in the world was an eight year old boy firing an Uzi? What possible reason could anyone have for allowing this?
http://www.findagrave.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&topic=40150&gonew=1
The point of this story is obvious. Stupid people shouldn't be allowed guns. And allowing an idiot to own an assault rifle. who's only purpose is to kill humans is insane. We license drivers but allow ANYONE to buy and use these deadly tools that should be used only by people who are trained and tested to make sure they can use them safely and lawfully. This is common sense and is the first step to assuring our rights under the second ammendment. It is, after all, an AMMENDMENT to the constitution. The right to drink alcohol was outlawed for God's sake. You really think guns can't be? Unless the NRA gets real in it's aims and starts to help law inforcement agencies to get these dangerous gun users off the streets they'll never have time to deal with the unlawful ones. The next step is banning firearms. The total rigidity of the NRA and it's members is why I resigned from it and gave up my Range Instructor rating. This is a fine organization that has gone stale with rigor mortis. We have to change or we lose.
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chek1678
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Nov 22 @ 11:37AM
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If you, a woman, being physically abused, your child being hurt by force, are you just going to try and talk your way out of it? Don't think so!! Your going to fight like ..ell ! They wish to disarm so that we can not fight back, to protect one self or our family.
Sure a good thing they didn't take or control the amount of rocks or clubs from the caveman. The day true peace comes, I will lay down my arms but until then, no way.
Ask just how many of your own gender are carrying a weapon of some sort, example, tasers, firearms.
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goodcatch57
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Nov 22 @ 11:47AM
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The one teeny, tiny little fly in the ointment for "our government" is allowing it's citizens to be armed and dangerous if need be.
In the event it ever goes that way, a revolution is much easier to win if the "army" has already had their wepons removed.
When ever I hear talk of gun control it's always coming from people who:
A. don't own a gun and never have.
B. Somebody who has been a victim of an idiot with a gun.
C. Government officials that should probably fear for their lives anyway.
Take guns away, what do you have? Knives, baseball bats, cars, home made bombs, terrorist vests...
It's stupid to think that eliminating guns is going to make us any less violent or "lusting" to kill.
If you really want to make life more peaceful:
Legalize pot and ban video games and all the violence on TV. Tax the weed and the guns and pay off the national dept!
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imlost2
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Nov 22 @ 12:37PM
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I am a woman and have two girls and I have no defense against a stronger man and therefore do own a gun. I agree with the blogger who said, I'd rather have a gun and not need it, than need a gun and not have it. If someone broke into my house and tried to harm or rape one of us, you can bet your boots he'd suffer big time. Why should we have to put up with the intruder? We have a right to protect ourselves and that's just what we will do under the Constitution, that's what it's there for. No one has a right to harm us or enter our home uninvited, those who think guns aren't necessary means that only criminals will own guns. tc Lost
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yashaenka
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Nov 22 @ 12:42PM
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Did you know that in the city of Washing DC there is 1 police officer for every 8 people and it is against the law in DC to own a firearm? Why?
Every so slowly in this country people are slowly losing it's freedoms. How by laws within laws within laws and courts state ignorance of the law is no defense. But when you have millions upon millions of laws and even lawyers need a extensive law library just for state laws, even they are ignorant of most of the Federal laws. Add to that town, city and county laws on top of state laws that differ from state to state.
Why is it we have less than 300 Million people out of over 6 Billion on this planet yet in America there are more lawyers than the rest of the world combined.
The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution is not a law, it is a right and laws written to skirt this right such as cosmetics as to how a rifle can appear is just an appeasement to those against the 2nd amendment.
Go to England, Western Europe or Australia and ask citizens how there right to have firearms was taken away. A slow erosion by laws to wit when all else fails if they can not confiscate firearms they make it against the law to buy ammunition.
Boise Idaho is not representative of other states or other cities in this country and your experience from whence you came is not representative of American thought.
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travelwoman
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Nov 22 @ 1:30PM
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chek1678...
If you, a woman, being physically abused, your child being hurt by force, are you just going to try and talk your way out of it?
I do not see how a gun would protect us...
Draw a gun on somebody who has ALREADY drawn his??? Certainly not.
Being "ready" just in case? With the gun locked away someplace, and the amo locked away some other place? (With a small boy in my house, I wouldn't have it any other way....) I don't know what good a gun would do to me, then... 
So I have my "other" weapons ready.... handy in a second and quite effective, too...
You see, there is no argument for having a gun in my home.... "just in case"
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travelwoman
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Nov 22 @ 1:38PM
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BTW..... owning a gun doesn't make me more free....
.... does it make YOU more free?????
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andxr
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Nov 22 @ 4:08PM
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In Indiana where I live they did away with the "Obligated to flee law". it was a law that stated you had to attemp to leave your home before defending yourself. Now the the law states just blow the idiot away. Crime is on the rise ( bad economy). people are seeing it and this is part reason for the increase in guns sales. happens every time with a bad economy.
Were also a hunting state here. we did away with having to register any gun, handgun or long gun. the reason?...................People who register guns dont do crimes. also people get in a hurry around hunting season and dont have time to go thru the red tape of registration.
I dont frown on anybody who does not like guns, however just buy one copy of the American riffle magizine. (A magazine ever president has subscribe to accept Clinton and Carter.) In the back of it you will be shown thru blogs of how many people have protected themselves or others with the use of a firearm.. Children, rape, crimes prevented agaisnt elderly, every month..............the list goes on and on.
When all crimes stop, I will give you my handgun
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Tiramisu4u
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Nov 22 @ 6:31PM
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BTW..... owning a gun doesn't make me more free....
.... does it make YOU more free?????
YOU BETCHA!!! I feel alot more free to know someone would have a harder time of hurting me again with a bullet in his head...
Sorry....but I feel strongly about this and have my own reasons...
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travelwoman
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Nov 23 @ 12:59AM
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tiramisu...
I do not think that swinging a gun.... or more likely owning a locked-away, unloaded gun.... would prevent any crime against your person.
The things I've been through.... a gun wouldn't have prevented them, unless I would have worn it loaded and full time.
I don't suppose that you walk around with a concealed weapon, but I might be wrong on that one...
So..... your "freedom" has actually nothing to do with the gun.... It is only a "feeling of freedom" ... which - when brought to a test - might be wrong.
Consider this.... it seems that there happen an awful lot of crimes against all these people who have guns in their homes..... How come they didn't defend themselves???
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callmemax
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Nov 23 @ 10:27PM
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as always two sides to one story, ok, ok, make that three sides when i add my opinion to the story.
the NRA defends ownership of any and all guns, regardless of magazine capacity or if they are fully automatic. they want people to be able to own uzi's, if that is their member's desire. they yell, "you'll only get my gun, by prying my dead fingers off it." or, "guns don't kill people, people do."
gun opponents want bans on all guns, since there are so many "unneeded" guns. guns that have no use for the sportsmen, the casual trapshooters, the target shooters, or the collectors. the opponents want everything banned.
the problem, as many problems in life, is the unwillingness of either side to compromise. both sides will only support their side, their ideas.
(((i hunted as a youngster, a young man, and a middle-aged man. i no longer hunt. i have owned, or presently own, shotguns, rifles, and handguns. to me a responsible gunowner is a person with a hobby. if their hobby does not endanger my existence, let them enjoy it. the key to me, is responsible, not a fanatic demanding his / her right to own fully automatic guns.)))
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bardnsage
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Nov 24 @ 3:39PM
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I'm not sure how I missed this blog before....
TW - even a casual search into the statistics shows that automobiles kill more people than guns every year,,,,, so statistically, we would be better off to outlaw vehicles than guns. I know that sounds stupid to you, because you probably can not fathom living in the United States without a car.
I for one, can not fathom living without a firearm. It is a tool, just like hammer. It has a purpose, and is wildly effective for that purpose. I can put down injured animals with it, eliminate harmful animals from my enivroment, protect my family, etc. etc. etc.
Now, I know that I could accomplish the same activities, with a different tool, but it is just not as effective. When the neighbor's cow is down, I'm sure I could hit her in the head with a hammer and evintually put her out of her misury. If a rabid animal is around my home, I could dispatch it with my bow. If someone breaks into the house, I could use an electric carving knife and after a considerable amount of time,,,,,, they would want to leave.
But the point is the constitution allows me to have and use firearms. Background checks,,,, well,,,, the constitution says nothing about background checks and I don't support them. They add red tape and cost to the government, without preventing people with questionable backgrounds from doing harm to others.
There is the arguement about fearing your government, but remember, this country was founded when we broke away from a government that taxed us to death, gave us no ability to fight the taxes, and then put armed military in our homes to "put down" the rebellion. Our forefathers had no trust in government, unless the people who paid the bills had control. Have you met anyone in the US today, who thinks the government is in control, or will be in control in the near future?
Gun control laws only prevent the law abiding person from having guns. They do not prevent the cut throats who would kill you outright, from having guns or killing you outright with some other weapon, like a ball bat, propane bomb, knife, etc.
Some of the tightest gun control laws in effect right now are in..... (hold your nose for this),,,, LIBERIA. The UN prohibits anyone from having small arms, and the penalties are very strict. So the merc's who are working there, are doing it WITHOUT weapons. Is this working,,,, well,,,, let's just say that no ship, even in distress, will land in a Liberian port unless the sun is up, and they can go straight in, and leave before dark. Piracy is out of control. Packs of gangs roam the docks with machettes at night, taking anything and anyone the like.
Now, I know this is a far fetched example, so let's look closer to home. In Washington DC, hand guns have been virtually outlawed for many years, (until the law was struck down this past summer),,,, and would you feel safe to walk through the projects, alone or with your kids. No, you wouldn't. Smart itelligent people understand, not to go there, unless you belong there. Why would that be,,,,, since there has been a ban on handguns there for years? It should be one of the safest places in our country, and you should be able to walk down the street with hundred dollar bills hanging out of G-string, and not be afraid.
I'm afraid, that the only gun control that keeps the Amercian public safe, is the ability to control your weapon and hit where and what you intend.
For me, and my suggestion to anyone else, the number one choice of home protection, 12-gauge pump. The sound,,,,,, is bilingual,,,,,unmistakeable,,,,and does not betray the gender of the person holding it in a dark room at the back of the house.
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ttomtarr
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Nov 24 @ 5:20PM
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Your cibvil rights will not dissappear all in one swoop, like a light turning off. They will be eroded one at a time. If you will resist loss of your rights, resist now, resist on the issue at hand.
Gun control that works is a fantasy. We have stringent laws against marijuana and cocaine, and special cops, dogs, laboratories and a lot more all paid to stop drugs. You can buy drugs anywhere in this country with minimal effort. The criminals have plenty of drugs to sell. What on earth makes you think anti-gun laws would be any more enforcable? Prohibition of alcohol and drugs have given us the Mafia and drug cartels and corrupted cops, judges, and even some whole countries.. Why would illegal guns be different? Do we really need an illegal gun Mafia?
do not think that swinging a gun.... or more likely owning a locked-away, unloaded gun.... would prevent any crime against your person. You do not swing a gun. You aim it and fire it. Are you confusing a gun with some other object? Any firearm course will tell you not to threaten with a firearm. When needed, use it. I have seen attackers shot, and it stops them, right now.
The California association of district atorneys did a study of convicted house burglers and robbers. They are terrified of homeowners with shotguns.
Australia instituted massive gun removal from its populace. Crime rose.
When children no longer see 10,000 murders on TV by the age of 12, when the existing gun crime laws are rapidly and effectively enforced, when people are taught in public schools to be responsible for their actions instead of being taught to whine as victims, then talk about abridging civil rights, though it will still make no sense.
If Obama disarms the populace, he will be following the steps of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and most other tyrants.
If you are afraid of fireaarms, educate yourself. As with most other things, knowledge dispels irrational fears.
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travelwoman
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Nov 25 @ 12:18AM
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Ha.... isn't it interesting how many comments are about the freedom of owning a gun...
....as opposed to what I meant to talk about with this blog:
how owning a gun could possibly make anyone feel more free, since our freedom (or rather non-freedom) seems to depend much more of the current economy than of the fact of owning a gun....
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