I thought true conservatives were all about the right to privacy.  Oh right that’s only in relation to people who are religious.

If gun rights are civil rights, why would anyone feel the need to hide the fact that they own one?

For the same farking reason that you don’t advertise your jewelry collection or valuable pieces of art, you simpering numbskull. Because it is inherently valuable (in that there will always be SOMEONE who is willing to pay cash for a gun, no questions asked).

Andrew Sullivan is equally as conservative as your average Democratic candidate for President.

Less so, since Democratic candidates have to at least attempt to appeal to both sides (remember this? Or this?), while Sully of the Bleeding Heart has no such limit - since he can just disparage “those homophobic Godbags” and not have to worry about getting (re-)elected.

The answer to your stupid question is practicality and security, stupid.  Practicality to prevent hysterical, reactionary nitwits like you from freaking the hell out every time you see one and security in not making yourself a target of anti-gun whackos and criminals looking for an illegal way to get a gun.  How intelligent does one have to be to understand that?

About sums it up, all I have to add is DUH!

Same reason a CCW is Concealed! Hey I’m all for strapping on a leg iron for the world to see, problem is the bad guys probably won’t do that. Technically if it’s not concealed it’s legal, right? Of coarse try to walk down the street like that and the Andy’s of the world will quickly crap their pants, call the police and cry some form of victim hood.

If gun rights are civil rights, why would anyone feel the need to hide the fact that they own one?

no one else, never mind the government has any bussines knowing what i do or do not own.

If speech rights are civil rights, why would anyone feel the need to hide their identity?

You heard ‘im, people. To say what you want on the internet, you now have to include your real name and contact information with every post.

This, coming from a gay man, who presumably respects the rights of gays to stay closeted if they so desire?

If so (and I’m not going to sift through is archives to find his opinion) then he’s a worthless hypocrite.  If not, I apologize in advance for calling him a worthless hypocrite.

I know where I’d lay my money down, though.

First rule when you find yourself in a hole you;ve dug - stop digging.  Second rule - open your eyes and assess the situation.

I thought the second rule was, if the hole is in a beehive don’t stick your dick into it.

I thought the second rule was, if the hole is in a beehive don’t stick your dick into it.

No, that’s the first rule of fucking nature.  Which has as a second rule “If the hole is in a bear, don’t stick your dick into it unless you outweigh the bear by at least a hundred pounds.”

It’s also clear he knows absolutely nothing about guns or gun owners.

Or neighborhood barbecues, for that matter.

Maybe its just cause I’m getten old, and forgetten things, but…

Isn’t a true Conservative one who wants as little govermental regulation and oversight over our personal lives as possible? One who wants the government to do only what it actually has to, not all the fairy tale things that liberals want it to?

But I’m not that impressed by wusses who don’t want to be ostracized by liberal elites at their neighborhood barbecues. Isn’t that part of the point of owning a gun - pissing off liberals?

Maybe gun ownership is about personal protection.  Wouldn’t that be violated by listing my name and address in the paper where any criminal can now put me on his shopping list?

Not only does he want my Second Amendment rights, but my Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights to be flouted as well. Again, this is a conservative?

Ronald Reagen should rise like the Crow and hunt this asshole. Now that would be sweet.

Or conversely, Christian, a criminal could use the list as a ‘do not rob’ list. ‘Hm, this guy’s got nice stuff-- wait, he’s listed as a gun owner. Probably should try the one across the street.’

Part of the deterrence factor of owning firearms and concealed carry is that a criminal does NOT know who might be packing heat. Much like Minesweeper without the numbers, flipping over the wrong tile could result in what Kim du Toit refers to as a ‘Righteous Shooting’.

If I’m right about this discussion’s origin (the publication of firearms owners by—Boston Globe? Not sure, feel free to correct me), I have to wonder how Andrew feels about ‘outing’ a divorced wife who fled an abusive husband.

Not that I’d expect him to care.

--TR

The likelihood of any conservative being invited to a liberal’s barbecue is miniscule, anyway. In my experience liberals are far more likely to cherry-pick their friends due to their politics than conservatives. Liberals seem to have a far greater need to surround themselves with like minds that offer no possibility of contention or disagreement.

Also, haven’t you heard, Christian? Reagan’s been back for awhile.

Sully’s update question involves a bit of question begging.  I mean, just because the records are public, does that mean they should be?

Billy Beck has a good brief response to all this, with a word replacement for “gun”.

Or conversely, Christian, a criminal could use the list as a ‘do not rob’ list. ‘Hm, this guy’s got nice stuff-- wait, he’s listed as a gun owner. Probably should try the one across the street.’

The deterrent effect is one that you would hope would happen. I would hope that it would give them pause before they decided to enter a home that this might just not be the pushover they were looken for. I agree that concealed carry does changes the world view of the criminal who knows that this might happen, but how many really feel that they are in danger? That there is a good percentage this victim will be packing? Most of their egos will not even allow them to consider this. I think it would take a few of those righteous might put the fear of God in them.

In my experience liberals are far more likely to cherry-pick their friends due to their politics than conservatives. Liberals seem to have a far greater need to surround themselves with like minds that offer no possibility of contention or disagreement.

Bingo. You see this all the time on the internet, especially Myspace. They all say they want to meet “opened minded people”, but in the next breath say that “Neo-cons” are evil and eat babys, and they would never want to talk to them.

Besides most Liberal bbq’s probably involve Tofu Dogs.

but how many really feel that they are in danger? That there is a good percentage this victim will be packing?

This is borne out by the drop in interpersonal crimes (mugging, rape, etc.) whenever CCW laws get passed in any given jurisdiction.

Criminals prefer victims, not citizens capable of defending against depredations. Which is why the worst shootings in American history have occurred at places designated “gun-free zones” - from restaurants to schools, and from post offices to corporate offices.