Why I Am In This

My political awakening happened just about when the AWB took effect. While Congress was debating it, actually. I was already a gun owner at the time, but the reasons I selected the Glock 17 and Mini-14 for my "arsenal" had a lot more to do with playing myself as a GURPS character and affordability than anything else.

The Mini-14 was all tricked out with a folding stock, flash-hider with a bayonet lug and as many 30-round magazines as we could afford. These things were COOL! Just about the only positive, functional, change I made was adding an Aimpoint 1000 to it; everything else was cosmetic.

This brings us to the Assault Weapons Ban and the Brady Act.

Brady didn't affect Iowans. The pistol purchase permit was an acceptable substitute for the background and waiting period. The AWB affected me. I had features on my rifle that were going to be banned.

This led me to the largest epiphany I have ever had: What had I done to deserve being treated this way? I had not shot anyone. I had not threatened anyone directly. I had not robbed anyone. I had done nothing.

The lawmakers passing that bill talked a great deal about criminal misuse of such guns. They mentioned people like Patrick Purdy. I had never taken my rifle to a school yard and killed 23 children and 6 teachers.

Then there was the galling part that my Mini-14 would be exempt from the ban if I only removed the folding stock. Considering that I chose my stock for appearance rather than function, it would have made my rifle more effective because it would have been lighter and handier.

This started me looking at other laws and proposed laws.

It makes me question the validity of them. I doubt their utility even where I am convinced of their constitutionality.

It's led to some unconventional stances on my part.

It's also made me touchy to things where I am being materially harmed for the benefit of people I do not know and/or care about.

For guns, I was not allowed to purchase cosmetic features for the illusory comfort of someone upset by their appearance.

For welfare, the wages I earned working were taxed so that people who were not working could selfishly breed. I would feel somewhat better if this person joined the workforce once the child was old enough for daycare; but that seems the exception rather than the rule. I cannot help but notice that if we'd just let them starve during the Johnson administration that we'd be all out of poor people. OK; that's not true. But we would have skipped the cost of supporting 3-5 generations of people who have never had and will never have a job, let alone pay taxes.

For healthcare, a similar feeling to welfare. Why the heck is it my job to pay for your medical care? I have to pay for my own, why don't you? Healthcare is broken because of government micromanagement. The government already tightly regulates service providers and the insurance companies. A substantial portion of the costs is from compliance with the diktats of the laws. I've heard, "Nobody should have to go broke just because they get sick." I propose we fix things so that it becomes affordable not leaving the prices where they are and stealing from people who aren't sick.

There are far too many areas that are messed up from the government "fixing" them that I just don't see them as a solution to anything any more.

We don't even have to touch on how socialism, communism and their cousin fascism ruined nations and murdered millions to see the harm. Capitalism is not fair, it is fairest.

By the way, notice that the people who are telling you that you need to make sacrifices across the board all have private jets? Notice that many of them are having that jet paid for by taxes? Think about that.