That rifle on the wall of the labourer’s cottage or working class flat is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there.-George Orwell
This is part of the reason I have mixed feelings about gun control.
From a public health standpoint, it is incontrovertable: more guns equals more gum deaths. Restricting access to guns unquestionably reduces gun deaths.
But the modern gun control movement has its roots in racism and would but unequally enforced more against PoC and other marginalized groups.
And I don’t know how to reconcile these truths.
This is so so accurate . I am an avowed socialist, anti-racist, and fan of ANTIFA. I remember going shooting with a neighbor who is at least MAGA adjacent and his expression when he saw my arsenal of various tactical firearms, and that I really like H&K. And believe in go .308 or go home. And I’m quite capable of exploiting the longer range of the 7.62x51 over the 5.56. Anyway, he found out that we have guns and know how to use them too. I changed some minds that day.
Remember when conservatives finally took gun violence seriously when black people started arming themselves? Pepprtridge farms remembers.
“Shall not be infringed” mfs when minorities own guns
They also love to talk about the Declaration of Independence and conveniently forget that about a third of signatories owned slaves. They have never been known for their principles.