Picking a Fight

 

I’m going to pick a fight.  Right here.  Right now.

He doesn’t know we’re fighting.  He probably won’t, because he doesn’t frequent any websites that aren’t hard left these days.

But… a friend of mine moved to a rural area that happens to be 75% Democrat (just how he likes it) and is surprised that they aren’t California-lite.  In fact, some of the locals even (gasp!) open carry.  He details a story about shopping in Walmart with a man just open carrying.  He proceeds to go on a short little tirade about how that must be a sign of the man’s fear of impotence or size issues that he feels that he must be threatening at all times, etc, etc.

I point out that in a rural area (population <1,200 people), it’s not exactly unheard of for the people to carry openly.  It might not be an inadequacy Gun Holster Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images ...issue.  Also, that he was being a bit of a jerk for presuming things when he has lived there for the full amount of one week.

His like-minded and vehemently liberal friends continue the attack with gems such as, “If he really needed a gun, he could concealed carry instead of showing it off!” and “no one needs a gun out there!”, etc, etc.

All of these points are dumb (and these are smart people; they know their points are dumb, but they also know they outnumber me by about 1,000 to 1) and support the “Don’t California My (Insert State Here)” argument.  More importantly, the dumbest points are:

  1. It’s a sign of male insecurity.
  2. No one needs a gun in an extremely rural area.
  3. They’re in a Walmart!  No one needs a gun in a Walmart (not even Walmart, because they shouldn’t sell them, either…)!
  4. If he really needed a gun, he didn’t have to show it off by carrying openly.
  5. No one needs a handgun anyway; they’re not for hunting!

And then, absolute favorite: “No one needs a gun except law enforcement.”

Ah yes.  Law enforcement.  You mean the ones you’re busy protesting about?  About how they shoot (black) people indiscriminately and murder everyone with those guns that they (apparently) need?  But no one else does?

Yeah.  So I’m picking a fight.  Even more importantly, if anyone would like to DM me, the small town also has an opening for two entry-level police officers.  I would be more than happy to direct you to the website.

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  1. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Any chance there are a lot of growers in this area?

    • #1
  2. Quietpi Member
    Quietpi
    @Quietpi

    TheRightNurse: No one needs a gun in an extremely rural area.

    You mean in places where, “when seconds count, the police are only hours away?”  

    • #2
  3. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    A few years back my wife was working at a retail jewelry store in the mall.  A man walked by open carrying.  The (mostly liberals) in the store (employees and clients) started making the comments you listed above.  Somebody asked what they would do if there was an active shooter situation.  Most answered they would duck, hide, run.  One man made an attempt at masculinity and said he would get all the women in the back room and barricade the door.  (ever notice how fast feminism and modern role models disappear in such instances?)  When they got to my wife she told them that she was going to find the guy that was open carrying and do what he told her.  That from her point of view he was the safest place to be around and the only one around that understood such situation and what to do and she had no intention of dying with a bunch of sheep.  

    • #3
  4. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    TheRightNurse:

    1. It’s a sign of male insecurity.
    2. No one needs a gun in an extremely rural area.
    3. They’re in a Walmart!  No one needs a gun in a Walmart (not even Walmart, because they shouldn’t sell them, either…)!
    4. If he really needed a gun, he didn’t have to show it off by carrying openly.
    5. No one needs a handgun anyway; they’re not for hunting!
    1. My eyes just rolled so far back I glimpsed my brain.
    2. My grandmother’s house was about twenty miles from town. Even with the sheriff’s deputies out on patrol, if she had needed the police to deal with an intruder and seconds counted, the cops were on the average about 10 minutes away. Grandma had a 10-gauge.
    3. You know what I don’t need? A justification of my rights for inquisitive idiots.
    4. See #3.
    5. See #3 again.

     

    And then, absolute favorite: “No one needs a gun except law enforcement.”

    Something tells me your friend is an exceptionally slow learner.

     

    • #4
  5. kylez Member
    kylez
    @kylez

    The Walmart thing is weird, considering the killing of 23 people in an El Paso Walmart just less than 2 years ago.

    • #5
  6. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Percival (View Comment):

    TheRightNurse:

    1. It’s a sign of male insecurity.
    2. No one needs a gun in an extremely rural area.
    3. They’re in a Walmart! No one needs a gun in a Walmart (not even Walmart, because they shouldn’t sell them, either…)!
    4. If he really needed a gun, he didn’t have to show it off by carrying openly.
    5. No one needs a handgun anyway; they’re not for hunting!
    1. My eyes just rolled so far back I glimpsed my brain.
    2. My grandmother’s house was about twenty miles from town. Even with the sheriff’s deputies out on patrol, if she had needed the police to deal with an intruder and seconds counted, the cops were on the average about 10 minutes away. Grandma had a 10-gauge.
    3. You know what I don’t need? A justification of my rights for inquisitive idiots.
    4. See #3.
    5. See #3 again.

     

    And then, absolute favorite: “No one needs a gun except law enforcement.”

    Something tells me your friend is an exceptionally slow learner.

     

    Some of those lessons, when it’s time to learn them, it’s already too late.

    • #6
  7. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    Just who do they think they are, to decide what anyone else needs?

    • #7
  8. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    South Carolina just passed open carry, effective August 15.

    A lady sent a letter to our local newspaper saying (and I’m paraphrasing), “I’m worried what will happen if I’m in the grocery store and accidently bump carts with some vigilante with a gun.”

    Yeah, right.  I’d love to tell the lady the guy is 1,000,000 times more likely to say, “Excuse me” than shoot her.

    And also 1,000,000 times more likely to come to her defense on the off chance a nutcase with a gun enters and starts shooting . . .

    • #8
  9. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Any chance there are a lot of growers in this area?

    No.  It’s remarkable but I think he figured that Democrat=liberal, instead of “Democrats in the South often vote that way because of heritage”.

    • #9
  10. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    kylez (View Comment):

    The Walmart thing is weird, considering the killing of 23 people in an El Paso Walmart just less than 2 years ago.

    But that’s because there’s too many guns.  If only there weren’t, such things would never happen!

    • #10
  11. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    Just who do they think they are, to decide what anyone else needs?

    A liberal.

    • #11
  12. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    TheRightNurse (View Comment):

    RushBabe49 (View Comment):

    Just who do they think they are, to decide what anyone else needs?

    A liberal.

     

    • #12
  13. Bluenoser Inactive
    Bluenoser
    @Bluenoser

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale. 

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements. Focus on those areas of life where you agree, at least enough, to be friends. 

    Besides, you know as well I should, you can’t shame, insult or cudgel someone into agreement; you best bet is model the type of person that you want to be seen as. If only it was as easy to live that way as it is type it :( 

    • #13
  14. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    If you were going to fight (and @bluenoser is probably right), I would ask your friend why he needs the 4th Amendment. Only people who are guilty need to protect their persons, houses, papers, and effects from government inspection, right? People do indeed try to make this very argument, and it is garbage reasoning.

    • #14
  15. Django Member
    Django
    @Django

    The only question to ask a liberal who is anti-gun is “What do you have in mind for me that my having a gun makes you nervous?”

     

    • #15
  16. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements.

    Unfortunately, after the Orange Man and Covid, he has revealed that many of my opinions, thoughts, etc are abhorrent to him and he thinks that only bad people advocate them.  It’s pretty plain to say that we are no longer terribly close; despite becoming a parent himself, he judges other parents very harshly.  Like any convert, he works hard to demonstrate his new orthodoxy at every opportunity.  He can’t just let people do what they do: they must be judged and he must be surrounded by people who agree with him. 

    This is very difficult.  When one goes from a friend to… this… it’s jarring.  There’s no real way to talk anymore because everything *means something* and any difference of opinion is a moral failing.

    • #16
  17. Bluenoser Inactive
    Bluenoser
    @Bluenoser

    TheRightNurse (View Comment):

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements.

    Unfortunately, after the Orange Man and Covid,

    This is very difficult. When one goes from a friend to… this… it’s jarring. There’s no real way to talk anymore because everything *means something* and any difference of opinion is a moral failing.

    Well, this is just sad. It’s sad that this has been happening so much to so many people lately. I’m believing myself to have become basically a mirror of your (former?) friend. I believe a lot of people in my life would say that I have. I’m starting on a journey to still believe what I believe, but stop being a dick about it. Hopefully, your friend can start that too. It sounds like his new neighborhood (75%Dem. but still somewhat conservative?) might be a good environment for that eventual catharsis. Or not; because what do I know?

    just be careful.

    • #17
  18. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Percival (View Comment):

    If you were going to fight (and @ bluenoser is probably right), I would ask your friend why he needs the 4th Amendment. Only people who are guilty need to protect their persons, houses, papers, and effects from government inspection, right? People do indeed try to make this very argument, and it is garbage reasoning.

    I was able to have a variant of that discussion with a friend a few years ago that I think got her to at least pause her strong anti-gun advocacy. She was all in favor of banning all private firearms, including the confiscation of existing firearms. I pointed out that confiscation would require the police to conduct a thorough search of all property, including her house and possessions. She said, “OK,” until I pointed out that the police might have objections to the subject matter of some of the many books they would find in her house, or letters she had written or received. 

    • #18
  19. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements. Focus on those areas of life where you agree, at least enough, to be friends.

    Besides, you know as well I should, you can’t shame, insult or cudgel someone into agreement; you best bet is model the type of person that you want to be seen as. If only it was as easy to live that way as it is type it :(

    Hey @bluenoser, we’re just having a little fun here.

    • #19
  20. Lois Lane Coolidge
    Lois Lane
    @LoisLane

    cdor (View Comment):

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements. Focus on those areas of life where you agree, at least enough, to be friends.

    Besides, you know as well I should, you can’t shame, insult or cudgel someone into agreement; you best bet is model the type of person that you want to be seen as. If only it was as easy to live that way as it is type it :(

    Hey @ bluenoser, we’re just having a little fun here.

    Of course!  The fact that this venting is here on a conservative website rather than aired at the neighborhood bbq where all are in attendance shows that the author is wise already and simply processing feelings of frustration….

    I think we’ve all had these sorts of friends who are completely myopic and intolerant of others….  

    If I know anything about little towns though, people who live in them don’t love H L Mencken types who swoop in and call them rubes….  

    • #20
  21. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    It is clear the presence of guns causes people to go nuts. Look at how every gunshow ends in an orgy of shooting.

    • #21
  22. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    If you were going to fight (and @ bluenoser is probably right), I would ask your friend why he needs the 4th Amendment. Only people who are guilty need to protect their persons, houses, papers, and effects from government inspection, right? People do indeed try to make this very argument, and it is garbage reasoning.

    I was able to have a variant of that discussion with a friend a few years ago that I think got her to at least pause her strong anti-gun advocacy. She was all in favor of banning all private firearms, including the confiscation of existing firearms. I pointed out that confiscation would require the police to conduct a thorough search of all property, including her house and possessions. She said, “OK,” until I pointed out that the police might have objections to the subject matter of some of the many books they would find in her house, or letters she had written or received.

    Dennis Prager among others sometimes asks people who come up with stuff like that, “Why do you have curtains on your windows?  What are you trying to hide?  Why do your bathrooms and bedrooms have doors, hmmmm????”

    • #22
  23. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    TheRightNurse (View Comment):

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements.

    Unfortunately, after the Orange Man and Covid, he has revealed that many of my opinions, thoughts, etc are abhorrent to him and he thinks that only bad people advocate them. It’s pretty plain to say that we are no longer terribly close; despite becoming a parent himself, he judges other parents very harshly. Like any convert, he works hard to demonstrate his new orthodoxy at every opportunity. He can’t just let people do what they do: they must be judged and he must be surrounded by people who agree with him.

    This is very difficult. When one goes from a friend to… this… it’s jarring. There’s no real way to talk anymore because everything *means something* and any difference of opinion is a moral failing.

    https://ricochet.com/964109/a-leftist-proud-of-being-a-jerk/

    It’s not just you and your experience Right Nurse. It is best to think of Wokism as the rise of a harsh and brutal religion. 

    • #23
  24. AdamSmithFan Inactive
    AdamSmithFan
    @AdamSmithFan

    He should move to my country where nobody owns firearms and you know what they else they don’t have…any respect for their natural rights. God bless America where people still cling- yea even bitterly Barack Obama- to their God given rights. I look up at my framed Declaration of Independence everyday in awe. But it’s just paper in a frame without the power to defend it from those that would take it away.

    • #24
  25. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    TheRightNurse (View Comment):

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements.

    Unfortunately, after the Orange Man and Covid,

    This is very difficult. When one goes from a friend to… this… it’s jarring. There’s no real way to talk anymore because everything *means something* and any difference of opinion is a moral failing.

    Well, this is just sad. It’s sad that this has been happening so much to so many people lately. I’m believing myself to have become basically a mirror of your (former?) friend. I believe a lot of people in my life would say that I have. I’m starting on a journey to still believe what I believe, but stop being a dick about it. Hopefully, your friend can start that too. It sounds like his new neighborhood (75%Dem. but still somewhat conservative?) might be a good environment for that eventual catharsis. Or not; because what do I know?

    just be careful.

    Ah.  No.  He’s very, very strongly pro-changing the rural area to fit his ideas of what it could be.  There’s less than 24% Republicans, but he’s already blamed them for literally every negative interaction he has had (“100% of the people berating me for my mask are Republicans!”).  I had to ask him: #1, how did you know how they voted?  Do they keep a copy of their membership cards and flash them like gang-signs at people they don’t agree with so that they can properly identify them later? and #2, why are you automatically assuming that? as well as #3, Well, why were you masking in a town when you’re already vaccinated and the state has lifted ALL MASKING RESTRICTIONS?

    You might imagine that he didn’t answer these with anything reasonable instead going with, “OH you know those people” sort of nonsense.  

    He did not explain why he was masking in an area with a non-masking policy when he was already vaccinated.  He just moved there.  Instead, he decided to literally judge anyone who made a comment about his masking.

    It’s just…not on.  And I love him (in my way) and I’ll tell him so (in my way) so that he can stop being dumb in a new, rural, Southern town.  Because I’d like for him to be happy there.  Also, to calm the heck down.

    • #25
  26. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    cdor (View Comment):

    Bluenoser (View Comment):

    From reading your work on this site over time, I’ve always considered you to a wiser woman than I am am man; and that accounts for the difference in scale.

    If I could offer you any counsel at this time, don’t pick a fight with a friend over something as silly as political or even ideological disagreements. Focus on those areas of life where you agree, at least enough, to be friends.

    Besides, you know as well I should, you can’t shame, insult or cudgel someone into agreement; you best bet is model the type of person that you want to be seen as. If only it was as easy to live that way as it is type it :(

    Hey @ bluenoser, we’re just having a little fun here.

    HOW DARE YOU?!?

     

    Fun is restricted to the PIT.  There is no fun here.  Only very serious political discussions about people who irritate me on the Internet…and whatever @roblong and @blueyeti decides to talk about on their podcasts.

     

    (truly, I flatter myself….I’m only maybe 1/1000 of the discussions here)

    • #26
  27. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    It is clear the presence of guns causes people to go nuts. Look at how every gunshow ends in an orgy of shooting.

    In California, it ends in an orgy of delicious home-made jerky, hot sauces and sausages.

    That’s right.

    And fudge.  Because what’s a gunshow without fudge?!?

    • #27
  28. TheRightNurse Member
    TheRightNurse
    @TheRightNurse

    AdamSmithFan (View Comment):
    But it’s just paper in a frame without the power to defend it from those that would take it away.

    It’s also a replica.

    We all know that the real one was stolen in National Treasures.

    <serious hat on>

    It isn’t the paper, it’s the principle.  As long as we defend the principle, we’ll be okay.

    I don’t know how long we will be okay.

    • #28
  29. Lois Lane Coolidge
    Lois Lane
    @LoisLane

    TheRightNurse (View Comment):

    AdamSmithFan (View Comment):
    But it’s just paper in a frame without the power to defend it from those that would take it away.

    It’s also a replica.

    We all know that the real one was stolen in National Treasures.

    <serious hat on>

    It isn’t the paper, it’s the principle. As long as we defend the principle, we’ll be okay.

    I don’t know how long we will be okay.

    Guns aside, I’m afraid a lot of Americans don’t understand the general principles at all.  Thats what Covid’s taught *me* anyway.  

    • #29
  30. Fake John/Jane Galt Coolidge
    Fake John/Jane Galt
    @FakeJohnJaneGalt

    Lois Lane (View Comment):

    TheRightNurse (View Comment):

    AdamSmithFan (View Comment):
    But it’s just paper in a frame without the power to defend it from those that would take it away.

    It’s also a replica.

    We all know that the real one was stolen in National Treasures.

    <serious hat on>

    It isn’t the paper, it’s the principle. As long as we defend the principle, we’ll be okay.

    I don’t know how long we will be okay.

    Guns aside, I’m afraid a lot of Americans don’t understand the general principles at all. Thats what Covid’s taught *me* anyway.

    I have noticed this where I work.  I am consider a weirdo because I believe in first principles and the constitution.  Those things mean nothing to them, nor do they think they should.  All they seem to care about is themselves and what effects them.  It first occurred to me while I was discussing how the death tax was destroying small farmers.  I kept running across “why should I care it does not apply to me”.  The same with tax the rich.  “Well somebody has to pay taxes so as long as it is not me I don’t care.”  Again with HRC was running and we would discuss Clinton corruption.  “Yes, she is corrupt but it is not my money and I will get more from her as President that a Republican”   They have almost no understanding of American History and what they do know is so wrong it brings you to tears.  

    • #30
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