This is not a vent board or any other kind of therapy. Before you hit the POST button, ask yourself if your contribution will add to the level of discussion going on.

Important notes on articles:

• Please do not copy entire articles into your post; rather, provide links to them.. We are now links-only for ALL Internet publications. If only a small portion of the article pertains to your post, Fair Use allows you to copy those one or two paragraphs, provided you cite the author's name and the publication for which he writes. Otherwise, put a link in the HTTP Link box.
• Even if you're copying a reference to an article, provide a link to the page from which the article came. We're trying to cut down on duplicate topics, and the posting process will check the link to your article to see if it's already being discussed on this board. At the very least, you'll save yourself some grief on the boards.
• If your first reaction after reading the article you're going to share is the author is uninformed / stupid / a jerk / all of the above, it's not worth sharing with anyone. Not every article needs to be discussed. The more the hair-pulling articles are discussed (e.g. ESPN Page 2), the more the authors will write hair-pulling articles.

Post being replied to

'gun culture' by wcnitz

Sound bite. What is it? Don't lump in open carry jackasses who put scopes on shotguns with typical gun owners. Typical gun owners don't act like that, don't talk like that, don't think like that.

I'm surrounded by people who own guns. More than half the homes in my neighborhood have them. Maybe more - I don't know if more do, they don't talk about it. More than 2/3 of the boats on my dock in my marina have guns on them when the owners are on board. They all have CPLs. It isn't a big deal. Nobody thinks it's even remotely an issue.

We don't have stickers on our truuuucks, we don't brag about our guns, it isn't ever a primary focus of conversation.

What you're referring to, as nebulous as it is, has nothing to do with this demented idiot who killed a lot of people today. His (apparent) behavior prior to this screamed out for attention, and he got little. Everyone around him failed. His guns, and actions with them, were a symptom.

edit: and to be clear, as I've said many times on the PB - I don't think we need high capacity magazines, bump stocks, etc. and have no problem with extended waiting periods. Zero issues whatsoever. I don't support the NRA because, other than their education programs for safety, they muddle and derail the conversation as much as the 'other side', and frequently moreso.