Quote Originally Posted by ramAnag View Post
My position takes three forms. Firstly I find it frustrating that you and GP (Ram59 is at least consistent) can seldom actually make your minds up, albeit for different reasons, and take a stance. You did the same thing over Brexit, both voting against it, both sometimes arguing against it but eventually coming out in some sort of vague support for it and, in GP’s case, regularly heaping scorn on those who continue to think it represents imminent disaster...or in your case suggesting that those who oppose gun control are nothing more than ‘idealists’. Take a stance that you believe in.

Decisions can be influenced by time and changing circumstances. No one in their right mind would have legalised the widespread selling of cigarettes and alcohol had they known what they know now. Conversely, 15 years ago it would have been difficult to believe that smoking in public places would have ever been banned and going even further back...in the late sixties/early seventies(?) the notion of any objection to drinking and driving and the use of breathalysers would have been opposed on the basis of some infringement of civil liberty. Unpopular legislation can be passed if the argument is strong.

I completely accept the greater need for landowners/farmers to own certain guns in the US. Beyond that and despite their ‘Wild West’ history, there is, imo, no justification for ordinary people to own a gun which they keep in the home and on their person and there is absolutely no need and no justification for individuals to have the right to own rapid fire automatic or semi automatic weapons. Things need to change, people need to - for want of a much, much better expression - stick to their (metaphorical) guns, and the US needs to have a rational, logical national debate about the issue.

For the sake of argument, and completely hypothetically, if we in the UK were now to try and change laws relating to gun control, ownership and availability to being like those in the USA would you support such change? Y/N...no pontificating...take a stance!
I think what I've had is actually a 'nuanced view', on many issues. For Brexit, I voted Remain, I would vote Remain again, but as usual I chose to 'sit in the other fellah's chair' and try to understand what the motivations were for people that existed outside my small and well insulated bubble. Most of what I contributed in the Brexit thread was coloured by what I observed.and because what I observed stayed pretty stable, so did my contribution I thought. Respecting the decision of those who prevailed didn't stop me calling out, being exasperated with or occasionally being amused by some of the dafter things that came out of the Leave side, but it was the arrogance of the
Remain side, with their 'we're better than you, and we will prevail' attitude that created the biggest impression on me and you may have seen a hardening of my opinion that 'the will of the people' must be accepted - but thats a hardening of position not a failure to take a stance.