It seems that a lot of people like to pick sides on this whole "right left" "liberal conservative" "donkey elephant" thing. Can't i just be a free thinking person?

Anybody else a member of both the NRA and NORML?

Just curious how other stoners feel about firearm rights?

I'd like to open up a rational discussion about firearms rights, and i'd like to hear from both sides!

Ill start: I believe that law abiding citizens not only have the right to bear arms, but that they have a responsibility to. If somebody goes postal near me, and threatens my life, or my family, or friends, or other citizens, it is my responsibility to prevent that. If somebody wants to come to my home or place of work to rob me, I can let them know they came to the wrong place. I could go on.
I think a lot of gun control supporters say that more people carrying a handgun everywhere leads to a more dangerous situation.
One of my favorite comedians, Bill Hicks, said "There is no connection between having a gun and shooting someone with it, and not having a gun, and not shooting someone with it, and you'd be a fool and a communist to make one"
Sounds logical enough. But, in the real world situation of modern day America, there are too many people who disagree with the law for them to ever realistically get rid of all guns. (might i refer you to the cannabis situation. Been illegal since 1937, is it gone from America?) I think laws that prevent law abiding citizens just makes us defenseless to people who wont follow the law anyway. Criminals will have guns, nut jobs will have guns, cops will have guns. So should i.

So how do other people feel? lets get a rational discussion representing both sides of the gun control issue from the perspective the cannabis community.

__________________
Everything i say here is theory.

While some may consider you are supporting two different camps, NRA and NORML, you are actually taking a consistent and logical approach. The underlying principle of personal liberty, is the same whether it's the right to own firearms or own your body, it is the same.

It is when a person supports one, NORML or NRA, while restricting others rights to belong to the one THEY don't like that they are failing to see what real liberty is. Liberty for me, requires I respect your liberty too.

No person can restrict another's right to belong to any organization they wish to belong to. Simply disliking or disagreeing with an organization's objective doesn't mean anyone is keeping YOU from joining if you so desire.

__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.

I agree. The underlying idea behind both is "hey government, fuck off and let me live my life"

"There is no freedom without tolerance"
i always say. I leave my neighbors alone, and i expect the same.

__________________
Everything i say here is theory.

Try to take my guns and I will shot you in the face Dick Cheney style...and then I will still go hug a tree

__________________
I like to lie..Everything I say here is a lie to make me look cool

I'm a stoner, and a grower... I'm a peaceful hippie

but if you try to fuck with me - I always got my 9... always

i voted for Obama... but he's an idiot about guns ... (unless he's trying to stimulate the economy by threatening to take them away... gun sales are ridiculous, close to double average). IMO his view of guns is not bad enough to lose my vote... i think his gun stance just reflects how badly he wants peace... just misdirected.

i dont know who said it but "if you outlaw all the guns, only the outlaws have guns"...

ummm when did Obama say he was going to take your gun ?????

__________________
I like to lie..Everything I say here is a lie to make me look cool

I like to smoke lots of dope, than go clean my guns. Hope that answers this question.

__________________
They may take our lights, but they will never take our freesun!

Okay. So do I have a "right" NOT to
join / participate if I do not support an organization or support it's goals?

Should there be harmful consequences to me if I decide not to join an organization?

Of course you have a right NOT to participate, there are no laws stating that you MUST join NORML or the NRA, or even stating that you have to support their goals.

What are the harmful consequences of not joining an organization? I don't belong to NORML or the NRA, and nobody has shown up at my house threatening to beat me until I DO.

__________________
A government big enough to give you everything you want, makes Santa Claus pretty much obsolete.