The Smallest Minority

Frankly I've noticed this general attitude prevalent in the proponents of most kinds of bans (not just guns).

It seems to stem from an almost pathological desire to supress or deny the enjoyments of others as long as it doesn't interfere with activities that they enjoy themselves.

(Insert popular "ban of the month below"):

"Personally, I'm what the defenders of _______ call a "_______ bigot," someone who's not crazy about _______, knows nothing about _______, "may never have even used _______, certainly doesn't have any, [and] would gladly deprive innocent people to the means to enjoy _______."

Guns may be like gays to some, but to me they're more like potato chips: you can't have just one.

I understand that's a problem some gays have, too. (*ducks*)

eeky's right: How many variations have you heard on "You don't need to, because I don't want to?"

What's really ugly is the underlying assumption that you might owe somebody an explanation for exercising your rights. "Need"? Fuck off! If I'm not hurting anybody, how about "damn well feel like"?


Sarah, I've known some (gay) people who were that way about gays too.

Dammit! No more preview.

eeky: Frankly I've noticed this general attitude prevalent in the proponents of most kinds of bans (not just guns).

Remember the definition of a puritan? One who can't stand the idea that someone, somewhere is enjoying theirself.
Hence "I don't like guns, so you ain't gonna have any...

Peet

Peet,

You are confusing puritans with fundamentalists. Liberals, being your typical gun-ban types, are fundamentalists. But they are about the furthest thing from puritans as you can get, especially as they don't usually have a problem with someone, somewhere enjoying himself when it comes to sex and drugs.

Gun-control is about curbing individual power, not enjoyment. The definition of a liberal is someone who can't stand the idea that someone, somewhere is fending for himself.

Actually, Sarah, someone who "can't stand the idea that someone, somewhere is fending for himself" is a Statist - of which there are examples on the Left and the Right.

"Liberal" used to mean someone who was for expanding individual rights and equal opportunity. Unfortunately, the Leftists have managed to hijack the word, and corrupted the meaning. "Conservative" used to mean someone who wanted to maintain the status quo ante, but now it means someone who wants to expand individual rights and equal opportunity.

Kevin, I agree that such a person is a statist, but I say "liberal" because far more liberals are statists than not (and vice versa for conservatives). I use the words "liberal" and "conservative" as they are currently understood, otherwise it causes too much confusion.