Howdy, I'm a gun owning, hunting and fishing, social liberal and Texan for 47 years of my 60 years. I believe in the Second Amendment as a function of personal protection and to guard against the violent takeover of our republican democracy as defined by the U.S. Constitution. No lawful, adult U.S. citizen should be prevented from ownership of a firearm (in common and general use) for personal protection. Social reality necessitates restrictions on what types of weapons can be owned by private individuals. I don't believe most people would advocate for private ownership of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles or M-1 Abrams tanks. Admittedly, those two weapon systems would be useful against a military coup or dictator bent on takeover of the U.S. I just don't want some mentally unstable dude full of petty resentments to have access to them. Time to give my soapbox a break and concentrate on all the things Americans have in common rather than our often overblown differences.
