Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon
Where exactly where the protests and howls of indignation when the PATRIOT act was signed? Why is it only now when it comes to guns that people are so up in arms (pardon the pun) when an act was signed twelve years ago which gave the government a carte blanche to poke into its citizens lives on the suspicion of terrorist activity.
THAT was when the ball which so many people are worrying about today started rolling, that was the first step on this path that you...no...we find ourselves walking. When CCTVs appeared on every street corner, when our emails are monitored, when anyone trying to enter America can be detained indefinitely for suspicion that they might be going to commit a terrorist act, that is when it began.
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Sad truth of the matter is most American's do not care about anything which does not effect them directly. I cannot claim exemption here. No matter what it is, be it war, legislation, or what have you, most simply do not care unless it has effected them somehow.
The difference with guns from the patriot act:
- the patriot act feels like something so far flung from daily life it's hard to grasp it. Just one more piece of legislation congress does to justify it's paycheck. Political BS as usual, and in the last decade, we've come used to seeing a lot of BS coming out of our capital. War on terror, etc etc.
- gun control hits you directly, like a punch in the gut. Gun ownership is/feels directly tied to your constitutional rights, and there sits the government dictating to you what your rights mean in their eyes. Which is why regardless if one owns a gun or not, they should be concerned. Particurally when looking at the larger picture.
I cannot lie, I did not start looking at the larger issues until gun control came up. It got me looking at things I didn't care to be bothered with before. I sincerely hope the government has "awaken a sleeping giant". It strikes me hypocritical that we as a nation are supposedly this great proponent for standing up for human rights and liberty, when we haven't even stood up for our own. At least, not until now.