Is also their greatest weakness. You see, the anti’s rely on people’s ignorance regarding firearms to further their agenda. One of the best examples of this is Josh Sugarmann’s desire to lie through his teeth regarding firearms that look scary as a way to sow the seeds of confusion in order to get gun bans passed
"Assault weapons... are a new topic. The weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully-automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons — anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun — can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons." -Josh Sugarmann, "Assault Weapons: Analysis, New Research and Legislation", March 1989
"Assault weapons... are a new topic. The weapons' menacing looks, coupled with the public's confusion over fully-automatic machine guns versus semi-automatic assault weapons — anything that looks like a machine gun is assumed to be a machine gun — can only increase the chance of public support for restrictions on these weapons."
-Josh Sugarmann, "Assault Weapons: Analysis, New Research and Legislation", March 1989
See, those who wish to restrict rights have to ensure that they lie to the public to keep them misinformed. As the general populace cannot possibly be experts in every field they may run into when it comes time to vote, ignorance is their best (and only) tool in their toolbox. So they lie, twist facts, and generally make stuff up out of whole cloth in order to further their agenda. The truth, as it is, would do them in.
Another example of this is Paul Helmke’s latest declaration that the Tucson shooter was able to fire 32 shots in 16 seconds so that is all the justification we need to ban high capacity magazines. This plays off of people’s ignorance about guns. Joe Huffman illustrates via a video how he can fire 40 shots in just over 16 seconds using only 10 round magazines as well as clearing a malfunction. Logically, a 33 round magazine makes a pistol unwieldy and less reliable in many instances. Its increased size makes it difficult to conceal so the best uses for them tend to be legitimate rather than criminal (i.e. you can have a lot more ammo at hand at home or on the range).
However, logic is exactly what the anti-gunners cannot abide by, so they lie and lie and lie.
Now, the problem with relying on ignorance is that those who support you trend ignorant. This article I found via Gun Pundit highlights that pathological ignorance with a 10 million candle watt spotlight. There are gems such as
When George W. Bush quietly allowed the federal assault weapons ban expire in 2004,… When [name redacted. I won’t give that shitstain free publicity – ed] killed six people in 15 seconds with a Glock 9 equipped with a thirty-round magazine last month…
When George W. Bush quietly allowed the federal assault weapons ban expire in 2004,…
When [name redacted. I won’t give that shitstain free publicity – ed] killed six people in 15 seconds with a Glock 9 equipped with a thirty-round magazine last month…
This guy can’t even get his facts straight. His ignorance on both the firearms in question and the fact that Bush had nothing to do with the sunset of the AWB is embarrassing for someone who’s trying to show how stupid us gun-clinging, sister humping NRA rednecks are. Then you have japete and the newest joke to the blogosphere, Baldr, simply making a monkey’s ass out of themselves with their complete lack of knowledge of the subject they are so passionate about.
The anti-rights bigots have pushed the ignorance meme to its logical conclusion – the ignorant are gladly exposing themselves as their supporters.
It would be funny if the end game wasn’t so deadly serious.