By David Codrea
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Two memes have emerged from the Oregon bloodbath that can both cause lasting political damage if they are accepted at face value:
The first is that the demonic coward was a “conservative Republican.” (And no, I will not name it, as being known was what was craved—and I also will cease referring to such self-dehumanized monsters as anything but “its.”) The second assumption making the rounds in some pro-gun circles is that Bill O’Reilly gave a rousing defense of the Second Amendment Thursday night on his show.
But wait, you might challenge—the killer self-identified as a “conservative Republican” in its online profile. All the “Authorized Journalists” are spreading that “news” far and wide. Doesn’t that end all doubts and debate?
Hardly. It registered to vote as an “independent,” and it “idolized the Nazis and the IRA.” While Opposite Day “progressives” have been trying for years to distance themselves and convince people that Hitler wasn’t really a “national socialist,” author George Watson definitively documented “It is now clear beyond all reasonable doubt that Hitler and his associates believed they were socialists, and that others, including democratic socialists, thought so too.” Conversely, the Irish Republican Army, whether we’re talking “Officials” or “Provisionals,” are hardly synonymous with “conservative [US] Republicans.” If the Umpqua monster dementedly thought otherwise, a line from “The Princess Bride” comes to mind.
OK, but what about O’Reilly? His “Talking Points Memo” last night sounded like the type of stirring defense for the right to keep and bear arms we’d expect from the head of a gun rights organization. He brought up the Second Amendment, the right to self defense, and how Obama ignores problems in areas with strict “gun control” like Chicago. He correctly asserted no legislation could prevent massacres like at Umpqua and chastised the president for “politicizing” the issue. So what’s not to like?
It’s what he said in a clip that’s not getting much attention that illustrates the danger in presuming O’Reilly to be 2A-informed and correct. Go to the 5:11 mark, and hear for yourself what he believes and advocates:
Now reasonable gun control, the laws about registration, and you can’t have an AK and all that, reasonable people say “Yes.”
This is hardly a small point. It is, in fact, a showstopper for those who know the score. Perhaps those who live insulated lives within O’Reilly’s elite circle, and who don’t even realize how provincial their “enlightened” perspective is, might agree with him. But everyone I consider reasonable would say “Hell no” to either proposal, followed by “Your move.”
I won’t even get into why federalizing all “gun crimes” delegates powers never envisioned by the Founders, the dangers such schemes pose to those who will not comply with clear infringements, and why those who say “Enforce existing gun laws” may as well proclaim “Enforce existing Intolerable Acts.” The registration and AK comment was enough of an indicator for how far O’Reilly still has to go before gun rights advocates can consider him someone who merits being lauded for his grasp and treatment of the issue, instead of a confiscation-in-emergencies-supporting pinhead.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and also posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
JohnC, You begin by hurling insults. Congrats, you lose. If you can’t make a serious argument without first poisoning the well with invective, you WILL NOT be taken seriously. Secondly, there is another name for “moderates.” APPEASEMENT. After you feed the “fringe” gun owner to the statists for your own political and social convenience, rest assured, they WILL turn around and come back wanting more. They always do. WITHOUT FAIL. Once we are gone, the only “more” that they will have to come for is YOU. “First, they came for the gypsies, and I did not speak. Then, they came… Read more »
A-Moderate-Well-Armed-Owner – Those who would compromise their rights deserve no rights. And those who would accept “moderate” restrictions will soon lose what rights they do have.
“You my fellow gun owners are helping to lose our rights by your total inflexibility. Most people see you as gun nuts and do not listen at all to what you say. Some will listen to advocates like Mr. O’Reilly.” Nice “attrition” logic. We are inflexible about losing our 2nd Amendment Right. That’s how you keep a right and not let it go. You are willing to give up pieces of our Rights to “keep” some ever smaller portion of it. That is directly helping to lose a Right. You are giving portions of it up. At the end of… Read more »
Who watches BOR anymore switch to OAN if you wants news instead of opinions. MOLON LABE
YOU ARE NOT INFRINGED. TELL NY TO GO POUND SAND. THERE LAWS ARE ILLEGAL PEOIOD.USE THE POWER OF JURY NULLIFICATION. IF I AM EVER ON A JURY FOR A PERSON HAVING TOO MANY ROUNDS OF AMMO THEY ARE INNOCENT AND I WILL REFUSE TO CONVICT. WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE AROUND TO EVERYONE IN NY. REFUSE TO FIND THEM QUILTY ON ANY ILLEGAL GUN LAW. THE 2ND AMENDMENT IS THE RULE OF THE LAND. IT ONLY TAKES ONE JUROR TO STOP A CONVICTION. SO LET US SPREAD THE WORD. IF ENOUGH PEOPLE USE JURY NULLIFICATION THE LAW WILL BECOME… Read more »
Oregon Shooter Linked to Man Praising Islamic Terrorism: ‘Kill the Jews’ – Mercer’s MySpace features only two connections, one of which is a man named Mahmoud Ali Ehsani. Ehsani published a photo album titled, “Classic – The Mujahideen Collection LOL,” featuring Islamic terrorists from several countries, including Palestine, Iran, and Pakistan, among others. One caption reads: “my brave soldiers keep on fighting for the liberation of Palestine against Israel. fuck israel. Kill the jews. jews are the only infidels.” Mercer wrote on a dating profile he disliked “organized religion,” and considered himself “spiritual” instead of religious. He also described himself… Read more »