Ronald Reagan - "Welcome to the Republican Party"

  Now for the truth ( from Google) -  Ronald Reagan had a nuanced, mixed record on gun control, generally aligning as a Second Amendment supporter but occasionally backing specific restrictions. His key actions included:The Mulford Act (1967): As Governor of California, Reagan signed this bill into law, which repealed the open carrying of loaded firearms in public. This was largely in response to the Black Panther Party openly carrying weapons in the state Capitol.Firearm Owners Protection Act (1986): As President, Reagan signed this pro-gun federal legislation that rolled back some of the restrictions from the 1968 Gun Control Act, although it included an amendment banning the manufacture of new machine guns for civilian sale.The Brady Bill (1993): After leaving the presidency, Reagan publicly endorsed and advocated for the Brady Bill, which mandated federal background checks for handgun purchases.Assault Weapons Ban (1994): In his post-presidency, Reagan also wrote a letter to Congress supporting the proposed ban on military-style assault weapons--- As for being a "big gun control advocate goes, his record does not affirm your claim.

Do you even know what a bigot IS? It's a person who hates/dislikes people for what they ARE (race, gender, class, etc.). I hate Trumpers for what they DO and how they THINK and ACT.

Is that distinction beyond your understanding?

Yeah, he was a noble American military hero. Then he shat on everything he had served and fought for when he joined the Trump cult. He's working for a living--for a man who's making millions of lives miserable.

Yeah, how fucking noble.

The first governor to enact an "assault weapon" ban? Ronald Reagan 

As governor of California he also instituted the state's first mandatory waiting period. 

Ronald Reagan signed federal law banning certain ammo piercing rounds. Also banning or restricting many ceramic and plastic firearms.

Ronald Reagan also banned civilians from owning fully automatic firearms built after '86

After being president:

Ronald Reagan supported  the Brady act. 

Ronald Reagan supported Clinton's "assault weapon" ban 

Ronald Reagan stated most semi-auto rifles should be banned. 

Yes. He did some pro gun things to. Mostly ended the tracking of ammo sales, allowed long arm purchases across state lines, and made it easier to transport firearms across State lines. 

Overall he trended towards favoring strict gun control. 

  Overall, I don't agree.

What can be wrong with lowering the risks of mass shootings, gun-related deaths, guns falling into the hands of dangerous people?  

Yet, with all the laws and background checks etc., have they proven effective?  Don't they depend on people doing their part, compliance, etc?   And enforcement...is it effective or is it futile? 

I don't follow it that closely, but it seems there are arguments on both sides that won't ever be agreed upon.

Criminals apparently very easily obtain guns by means outside of legitimate methods and for purposes other than legitimate hunting and protection of home and property.  

Both sides are very passionate about it.  A conundrum.  

Candy

Not a conundrum in any way. Countries that are permissive about guns suffer much higher violent death rates than those that have restrictions. And adopting such restrictions has saved lives; for instance, Australia's homicide rate after enacting gun bans dropped to one twelfth of what it had been before.

So since the data are clear, it comes down to a choice. Guns and death, or no guns and less death? You'd think this would be a no-brainer, right? But gun love and gun culture are deeply embedded in the American psyche. Guns (substitute penises) are associated with manhood. One party (guess which) has made gun love a core element of its platform. And of course, there is the prevailing gross misinterpretation of the Second Amendment.

19th century Western towns knew this. If everyone's carrying a gun, fights break out more easily, and those fights are more often lethal. Gun bans were widespread and considered the point at which a town had become civilized. At some point, though, we tossed that concept aside.

Probably, we won't do anything meaningful as long as gun ownership and use are equated with manhood.

You really do have a hard time making responses that don't insult entire groups of people don't you? 

Not at all. And describing MAGA/Republican gun love isn't insulting them; it's simply stating a fact. I'm assuming that's the "entire group of people" you're accusing me of insulting, since I didn't mention any other group.

The associated group of gun advocates (the distinction being, only most, not all of them are conservative/Republican/MAGA) is highly deserving of criticism. being insulted, whatever you want to call it. Their macho man personality disorders and their selfishness has caused the deaths of tens of thousands. So yea, verily, I criticize and insult America's stupid-ass gun culture.

Kind of puzzled by your reaction. Are you a gun advocate?

The implication in your post is that any firearm owner, or anyone who disagrees with you about firearm ownership, or the right to carry must be a brainwashed MAGA idiot that can't think for themselves. Or have some sort of "personality disorder" as you put it. 

You imply that nobody could possibly have logical, rational, well-intentioned, and good faith reasons for owning or carrying firearms or even just disagreeing with you about this issue. 

The group you insulted was the roughly third of the country that either owns or carries firearms or supports the right to do so. The majority of which do so with moral, peaceful, and prudent intentions. 

Well said.  There are plenty of Liberal, Democrat citizens that own and carry firearms. He did say that most, not all of the gun advocates are MAGA.  

Matter of fact, my best friend is very liberal and hates Trump and MAGA as much, if not more than Kevin, but even he owns and carries a firearm.  It's a handgun, and not a semiautomatic rifle.  And he does have a CCW license.  

It is within Kevin's right to criticize the gun culture we have in the US, just like it's within your right to call him out on it.  

I appreciate how you make your comments with out disparaging others with personal attacks.