If that photo-gone-viral of a J.C. Penney shopper casually strapped with an AR-15 demonstrates anything, it’s that there really are two Americas when it comes to citizens’ comfort level with firearms. In the ongoing “national conversation” on guns, it always seems to come down to the “gun nuts” versus the, um, “non-gun tribe” (not our term; it’s really time to settle on a name). On the eve of the first-ever Gun Appreciation Day, Breitbart contributor and most #caring man on Twitter Kurt Schlichter and Talking Points Memo publisher Josh Marshall (and some willing bystanders) had the debate on guns we didn’t make the time to have before Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Obama weighed in our evolving right to bear arms.
Bonus: Piers Morgan didn’t butt in.
Speaking of gun appreciation, it all kicked off with Marshall’s piece on TPM, called “Speaking for My Tribe,” in which he introduces himself as a “non-gun person.” Pop some popcorn and follow along.
Dude, embracing your betahood is just plain sad. #caring RT @joshtpm: my thots on being part of the non-gun tribe http://t.co/5TbSdnpD
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
Seriously, @joshtpm, how do you feel actively renouncing your duty as an American to defend your family, community & Constitution? #IDo4You
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
@KurtSchlichter yr defending yr community w/yr firearm? Yr defending the constitution w/yr gun? how?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 18, 2013
I don't expect the likes of @joshtpm to bear arms to defend anyone. I do expect the common courtesy of respect for those who will. #caring
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
Single, non-lib ladies, @joshtpm won't touch guns & disses those who do. Assuming he looks OK, would such a guy ever have a shot with you?
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
@KurtSchlichter Setting aside yr barb, how did I diss gun owners exactly?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 18, 2013
.@joshtpm I was curious, and the consensus seems to be that women appreciate a man willing to bear arms to defend her. Was I wrong?
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
.@joshtpm: The question is why you consider yourself exempt from your duty to bear arms to defend yourself, your family & the Constitution?
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
@KurtSchlichter My duty to bear arms to defend self, family, constitution is in US military. Not by owning a handgun & shooting at range
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 18, 2013
@KurtSchlichter have u found a duty to own a gun in the constitution? point it out to me.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 18, 2013
.@joshtpm: I do so by having weapons (and the skills) ready to defend myself, the Constitution, etc. And I've activity done so while armed.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
@KurtSchlichter can u give me a read on last time u defended constitution w/yr personal weapons collection?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 18, 2013
Doing so now. RT @joshtpm: can u give me a read on last time u defended constitution w/yr personal weapons collection?
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
@KurtSchlichter Please excuse @joshtpm. In his world, active duty military members are mythical beings.
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) January 18, 2013
Is there any common ground to be found here, between Schlichter and the man who wrote a lengthy, introspective piece about “gun versus non-gun tribalism or mentality”? Or, put another way, between the man who won’t own a gun and says he pays taxes to support a trained Army, and the man who carried a gun as a lieutenant colonel in that very Army? We’re guessing no. Let’s cut to the closing arguments.
.@joshtpm I explained several times. You, however, refuse to address how you'd defend your community. You wouldn't. And that's pathetic.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 18, 2013
.@technopundit I lived thru the LA Riots deployed on the streets. I think it's cute how you imagine somebody will come save you.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 19, 2013
.@joshtpm You kind of are living in a fantasy, one where someone else will always be there to do what you, as a citizen & dad, ought to.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 19, 2013
.@joshtpm Save the misdirection for the rubes. Why do you refuse to ensure you can effectively protect your family & community?
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) January 19, 2013
@KurtSchlichter I'm not living in a movie fantasy. I pay taxes for trained police & an army. And I don't plan on treason agst us govt.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 19, 2013
Disturbing how many people have societal breakdown fantasies in which they're the lone gunman on scene to ward off the mud people
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 19, 2013
Also fascinating how non gun owners r "beta males". No wonder any restriction on guns is scary if yr manhood depends entirely on yr gun.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 19, 2013
Foregoing convo illustrates how much of extreme gun crowd ideas r based on fantasies of societal collapse & movie fantasies
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 19, 2013
Alas we can't all be Charles Bronson. Most of us have accepted that. Also that's a movie.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 19, 2013
Guns good for self defense some cases. Fun sport. But gets weird when people actually think ther part of militia or defending constitution
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 19, 2013
So, if it comes down to dueling fantasies, where one side carries guns to fight off the collapse of society and the other side thinks that collapse is the stuff of movies only, who’s right?
@joshtpm In actual societal breakdowns, a lone guy with a gun inevitably falls victim to…ten guys with guns. They never realize that.
— Zack Stentz (@MuseZack) January 19, 2013
@joshtpm Fear and anger are what I see in all of them. Afraid of the world the way it is. This is the case without fail.
— Chris Swartout (@chrisswartout) January 19, 2013
@joshtpm They all fear societal breakdown. It's consistent. And if you disagree, YOU JUST DON'T GET IT!
— Chris Swartout (@chrisswartout) January 19, 2013
https://twitter.com/ArmedAndPolite/status/292421732193669120
@joshtpm So your argument is that societal collapse doesn't happen anymore? It's a silly fantasy?
— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 19, 2013
https://twitter.com/FilmLadd/status/292429682115219457
@FilmLadd I was thinking Greece, Venezuela but that works. @joshtpm
— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 19, 2013
@verumserum @joshtpm And heavily armed paranoids are the glue that holds society together? Sounds legit.
— Wilson Heath (@WilsonHeath) January 19, 2013
@WilsonHeath No the glue is urban hipsters who think guns are only for doomsday preppers. @joshtpm
— John Sexton (@verumserum) January 19, 2013
@KurtSchlichter @joshtpm We have an obligation and a right to defend ourselves. No one said "everyone has an obligation to own a gun."
— Kathy Leicester (@2ndLeicester) January 19, 2013
No, but they still have the right … so far.
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