I have supported the President and I still do even though he has really made some mistakes; nobody is perfect. I am willing to give him some slack on campaign finance reform, education reform (courtesy of Fat Teddy The Drunk), even the massive expansion of Medicare and to some extent (but this is also critical in my judgment) on the Mexican workers/Illegal aliens problem.
The Gun Issue is central to my thinking about politics and has been for a long time. Why? Because I figure the way a political figure thinks about that is the way he generally thinks about the Constitution as a whole. After all, our elected officials are NOT masters of the people, they are SERVANTS of the people, and part of their serving has to do with upholding the Constitution. Sure, its very idealistic; and sure, most of them fall quite short.
We have already seen a steady erosion of some of our basic Constitutional rights over the last 50 years; although the advance of "Shall Issue" CCW states has been very impressive, at its heart is the fact that the RIGHT to keep and bear arms has been changed at every level to the PERMISSION to keep and bear arms. If we (rabid firearms enthusiasts) cannot at least get a symbolic rollback of unconstitutional and virtually worthless gun laws (in terms of crime) when OUR boys are in control, then we will slowly come to a point where we have NO rights at all.
On the other hand, a lot of people like to "talk tough" about removing a tyrannical government under force of arms; the only people who actually take them seriously are politicians like Feinswine. Other than paying off her campaign donors, I see the real reason she (and others) push this kind of legislation: to finally remove the threat posed by a well-armed citizenry to a kind of "soft tyranny", a "kinder, gentler" communism if you will.
The RATs far-reaching agenda calls for a tax rate of 90% or greater; the total abolition of private property, and the complete control of the entire nation's GDP ("for the good of the people"). While there may never be a full-scale uprising, even after the institution of such a plan, there will ALWAYS be the unpredictable. A population of 3 or 4 hundred million people, maybe half of whom are armed somewhat, and a hard-core cadre of 1 - 5 million heavily armed and really pissed off formerly free men could do a lot of damage to the plan for total control. I see the gun issue in a very long range way - the next 50 to 100 hundred years. And so does that tyrant-in-waiting DiFi Swine-stein. An armed citizenry is a major barrier to totalitarianism. Paranoid? History does not think so.
I don't think the gungrabbers are the slightest bit afraid of an armed population rather this issue is just a way of scaring the weakminded into flocking to the RATS for protection. Nor do I believe the amendment was pointed at the government since militia's would not stand a chance against a modern army (nor did they in the 1787.) The times they fought well were exceptions not the rule as Washington repeatedly complained about.
Those bloviating about Bush seem to be under the illusion that there is an actual VIABLE candidate who would be closer to their positions. Bush was the most conservative candidate with any chance of being elected BY FAR. He was BY FAR the most gun-friendly candidate running (not counting the 1%s who appeal to the perpetually disgruntled such as freeee.)
For those who care about the survival of the nation there is no other choice.
Nor is there anything in the second amendment which prevent some laws wrt firearms being legitimate, initially it did not even apply to the states only the fedgov. Unless you believe that the Crips and Bloods have the RtKaBA and continue in their lawbreaking ways. The question is what laws ARE justifiable and necessary. With the spread of CC laws it appears those laws are being reduced.
Most of us on the FR recognize that the AW ban is unnecessary and would do no good but its extension should not be used to deprive us of a leader who understands what our principle enemies are and what they want to do. And it should be clear that the possibility of an extension would not exist unless the majority of the people supported the idea. When enough are against it it will go away. That is what needs to be addressed and worked on not quixote campaigns against real friends and fellow patriots.
Plus it should be obvious to all that the spate of gun control laws stopped when the GOP achieved more control of the Congress and the Presidency. I see no reason to believe it will be resumed UNLESS knuckleheads join forces with the RATS to defeat Bush.