You, as a lot of folks do, are misunderstanding what a semi-automatic weapon is. If you ban semi-automatic weapons, a lot of your hunting rifles, such as the Remington 742, are semi-automatic. That means every time you pull the trigger, the weapon fires. That is a legitimate hunting rifle. Other semi-automatic weapons include most self-defense handguns and a lot of shotguns that are used for hunting.

The misconception that some people operate under is that of a semi-automatic assault rifle ban. The gun control advocates would like us to believe these are fully automatic weapons, but they are not. A fully automatic weapon keeps firing as long as the trigger is held down. You can not own a full automatic weapon in this country without going through a lot of paperwork and regulations. When they group these other weapons together and claim they have no legitimate use, they simply are wrong and do not know what they are talking about.

Besides that, there is not one shred of proof that banning my guns, semi-automatic or otherwise, will have a single effect on the criminals who are already breaking the law to get the guns they want. How is taking my rights away going to help that situation? The answer is no, but gun control advocates do not believe we should have that right, so they use every trick in the book to achieve their goals.

Now, I want to ask you a question. Are you saying that to vote against Barack Obama is uneducated or under-educated? If so, I take a lot of exception to that statement. I have done a lot of research on the man and there is simply no way I can vote for him, under no circumstances. He stands against everything I believe in and I do not trust him. I have said it before, the kind of change he keeps talking about may be more change than our country is bargaining for, if he is elected as President.

I agree that we have should have the right to own guns. Do I think we need semi-automatics and the like, no way, not even a hunter can argue that these are useful weapons. Our forefathers, wrote this into the constitution in a much different time in our history, regarding a much different type of weapon. So right to bear arms, yes, but with some regulation.

As far as Baracks support for Africa or other Nations around the Globe… I hate to be the one to tell you, but we are not living in isolation. It is a connected world. We should be concerned with what goes on in other nations, it can and will impact us. It is foolish and selfish to think we only need to worry about the u.s . Whenever we do anything for the greater good of another, we are also helping ourselves. Your rantings are very small minded. I am wondering what your educational background is?

The abortion issue is a biggie, I am pro-life. BUT, I do not see the GOP as being pro-life. How can a party with so much blood on their hands from this war call themselves a pro-life party? We have had republicans in office for 8 years and roe v wade still stands. I think education and a party that shows repspect for all human life and dignity as well a genuine concern for those other than ourselves is going to be the turning point to which their may be no more abortion.

Do I think we need to be a socailized country, not really. But some govt. regulation is necessary. See headlines in todays paper. With out regulation, you will have what just occured on Wall street, happen over and over and over again. Corrupt politicians and executives will be running amuck…

My biggest fear in this election is that there are too many un or under-educated people voting in this election. The very people that will vote for a the republican party, a party who does absolutley nothing to help their cause, will show up in droves to cast their ballots while yes, clinging to their guns and religion.

You asked me what I thought Obama would do to our country if elected. Here is what I am afraid of, not necessarily in this order.
First, he has a proven record of trying to shut up anyone who disagrees with him. It seems the first thing he wants to do when someone questions him is to send his lawyers to shut them up. Case in point is the way he attacked WGN 720 in Chicago when one of their talk shows had a conservative guest that questioned Obama’s ties to one William Ayers, a known local terrorist. When Obama was offered equal air time, he refused and went on a campaign to get the show shut down. If he tries to do that when running for President, what will he do if elected President? He would have more than a few lawyers at his disposal then.

Second, Barack Obama is very much for gun control. He has been talking out of both sides of his mouth on the issue, but he can’t deny his record of voting for gun control, no matter what he says during the campaign. See this link for some facts concerning this issue. He may say we are just being bitter and clinging to our guns, but the 2nd Amendment is a fundamental right and no one should try to take that away.

Third, Barack Obama has other priorities than America, namely Africa. You can read my article, Just how bad is Barack Obama?, to get an idea of what I am talking about. Also, you can read about his support for the United Nations Millennium Declaration and see how he wants to forfeit our nation’s sovereignty. You can also see in these two articles how he has a tendency to trend towards Socialism. That is a dangerous path to go on.

Fourth, Barack Obama is very much pro-choice when it comes to abortion. That, in itself, may not be so bad, even though I disagree whole heartedly with abortion. However, Obama not only is pro-choice, but he fights any kind of restriction on abortion, even to the point of voting against bills that he was afraid would be used to restrict abortion or go against Roe v. Wade. He does this even when it means allowing the practice of letting babies who survive abortion lay and die with no effort to give medical care. Anyone who has so little care for babies who can not defend themselves has no business being President.

Is that enough or should I go on?

I don’t have a me first attitude, I have a family first attitude, my family. And, if you think I sound angry and unhappy, you don’t have a clue as to what you are talking about. I don’t have to do community service to feel good about myself. I can look at my wife of 17 years and our 3 boys and I feel pretty darn good about what we have done with our lives.

As far as social activism goes, what we have now is nothing but a continuation of the movement that started in the 60′s, you know the one, the one that started with all the drug use, the do it if it feels good movement.

We have found lasting friendships through our service commitments and our childrens behavior, personalities and positive outlook on life reflect our liflestyle.

Larry,
I would like to know what you think Obama “would do to our country,” if elected?

I think you are taking Michelle Obama’s words way out of context. I understand her words to mean – shunning the mentality of corporate greed – (like we see on Wall St. today). Unfortunately, the “private sector” is often associated with stomping on the masses for the greater gain of only a few. If you think that is good, I would like to challenge you to make a phone call to a “newly former” employee of Lehman or maybe one of the many americans who lost their retirement portfolio or their home in the past few weeks. Should we shun this mentality? I think so… Can we still have private companies? Of course, but maybe the Obama’s are challenging us to think out side of ourselves.

How does our economy and Wall street relate to the topic at hand? As I stated earlier, if our children are raised in a culture that encourages service, care of others and social justice, we can still have private companies, but the leaders of the those companies would be less likely to take their millions and head for the hills when the company fails, while kicking sand in the faces of their former employees on their way to those hills.
One last comment. What is wrong with social activism? Our country was founded by a group of citizens that stood up the ruling party. We have had many, many reforms and changes for the greater good of all americans because of citizens challenging the government. I have the right to vote because of social activism. Black Americans have equal rights because of activism. In my opinion, young people today are far to complacent. For you to be against social activism, gives me the impression that you are either a racist, a neanderthal or just someone who is completely un-educated, hiding behind a fancy looking blog.

I have nothing against community service but what Barack Obama and Public Allies is wanting to do goes way past community service. They are training young people to participate in social protests to create social movements.

Did you read the quote I included in my article? The one of Michelle Obama exhorting young people to shun the private sector? What does that sound like to you?

As for the problems we are seeing in the financial world these past few days and the CEOs of the companies running them in the ground and leaving with lots of money for themselves, I agree that it is certainly wrong. However that has nothing to do with the topic at hand.

By the way, I do practice gratitude. Doing so doesn’t mean I have to completely ignore what Barack Obama will do to our country if he is elected President.

Second, if a person has a real job, working 10 or 12 hours a day, when they get done at work, they want to go home to their families, not go perform “community service”.

I disagree that the sole purpose of our existence is to serve others. My purpose is to take care of MY family, not yours or any others.

I require my middle school students to do monthly community service. It is a small way to teach them that there is more to life than self serving and ungratefulness. I have had many a parent come to me and tell me what a diffrence they see in their child.

Those who serve in a community are more likely to see to it that each member of their community is taken care of long term. Unlike the scenarios that are playing out before us in the financial world. Ie; CEO thinks of him/herself and only him/herself. CEO makes big bucks. CEO continues to make big bucks at the expense of the “little people”. CEO is runs company into the ground with unethical practices. CEO abandons employees, leaves them with nothing and take a billion $ severence for him/herself. Maybe if that CEO participated in a bit more community service through out his/her life they would not have been so self rightous at others expense.

So you see Larry, while you spread this anger, maybe take time to do some service in the community or at the very least some random acts of kindess and then tell us how you see Obama’s plan. Practice Gratitude – It works!
Colleen

This is spewing of hate and lies. There’s no evidence.

This is about community organizing, making communities stronger through organization.

Stop the hate spewing. Get back to facts.