Pick Your Battles: Dealing With the Anti-Gun Crowd

Columns Concealed Carry/EDC
Pick Your Battles: Dealing With the Anti-Gun Crowd

Editor’s Note: The following is a syndicated article by author Beth Alcazar that first appeared in USCCA’s Concealed Carry Magazine Volume 14, Issue 6, August/September 2017 under the title, “Pick Your Battles: Dealing with the Anti-Gun Crowd.” 

I have several friends and family members who are not fans of firearms. I also know many people who are somewhat OK with the idea of owning guns but who are not very supportive of concealed carry permit holders. And then there are folks who are completely against everything having to do with guns or the 2nd Amendment.

It’s possible some of these people are misguided. Maybe a few have had a bad experience or encounter in the past. Perhaps this crowd is blinded by the misinformation and lies spread through movies, TV and social media. Or maybe they just don’t know (or even care about) the truth.

Whatever the case might be, we all know someone from the anti-gun crowd. He or she could be from work or church, in our circle of friends or even within the walls of our own homes. And I have people ask me all the time how to reach those kinds of people or what to do if and when they encounter anti-gun folks in person or online.

Undoubtedly, it’s different for every unique person in every unique situation, and I don’t have all the answers. But there are definitely some points to keep in mind when interacting with someone who is unsure about — or even completely against — your right to keep and bear arms.

Get the Facts Straight

My first recommendation for anyone is to do some research. People who are against guns and gun ownership often quote “facts” and “statistics” that stretch the truth, hide the truth or ignore the truth altogether. It’s imperative that gun owners seek out reliable resources and do some of their own preparation and investigation.

Besides utilizing articles, videos and posts from the USCCA, I highly recommend looking through the website of the Crime Prevention Research Center, an organization that is dedicated to providing quality research on guns, gun ownership, crime and public safety. You can also double-check crime statistics and records about injuries, homicides, suicides and firearm-related deaths online through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and even via the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Arm yourself with solid information and research so you can have your facts and statistics straight, so you can recognize when things aren’t quite right and so you can share valid and trustworthy data with others.

Don’t Get Too Emotional

People who are against firearms might let the emotions flow. They might cry. They might get angry and yell. They might even try to blame you and all gun owners for the deaths of innocent children. Unfortunately, there are many tragic stories about terrible people who have done terrible things with guns. It can be easy to get caught up in emotions, but don’t let that get the best of you.

You cannot effectively defend yourself or share your decisions without first having a healthy emotional state, along with a logical, critical state of mind. It’s certainly fine to experience and express your feelings. Emotions can even serve as very powerful and persuasive motivators, but don’t let feelings take over. Equally importantly, don’t use emotions for manipulation; use them for motivation. Gut reactions, revenge and blanket accusations are not going to win a debate or an argument. The only true solutions are exposure, education and logic. So be sure to do your best to communicate carefully, cautiously, rationally and reasonably.

Don’t Patronize or Belittle

Most of us have probably heard the old adage: “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” In other words, we all know that it’s easier to engage — and even persuade — someone with polite requests and a positive attitude than with rude demands and negativity. This is definitely true for the topic of firearms.

Others might be more inclined to listen to you and accept — or even adopt — your values if you are considerate and respectful. You can be firm and unwavering, but you don’t have to hammer everyone to get your point across. Be assertive instead of aggressive. And even if the conversation gets you frustrated, take the higher road. Yelling and arguing won’t get you anywhere, and telling a person he or she is stupid, whiny or scared will likely not win anyone over to our side.

Don’t Bring up Politics

You’ll never win the political battle. Ever. The parts of the brain that actively engage when dealing with the subject of politics are directly linked to the areas of the brain that help define who we are. That’s how serious people are about their political leanings.

“Political beliefs are like religious beliefs in the respect that both are part of who you are and important for the social circle to which you belong,” said Jonas Kaplan, assistant research professor of psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Consequently, with regards to politics, most people are highly unlikely to change their political beliefs, no matter what you do or what you say. And if you challenge them, they are more likely to shut down or become even more convinced that they are right … and you are wrong. Aside from that, the 2nd Amendment should not even be a political battle in the first place. It’s not a Republican thing. It’s not a Democrat thing. It belongs to all Americans and all parties. It’s a natural right protected by the Constitution, and the Constitution should not be up for debate.

Expose Them to the Positive Side

We’re living in a world full of fake news, internet trolls and out-of-control opinions. That, along with simple, fast and immediate access to social media outlets, has created plenty of bad examples of firearms usage. In addition, there are plenty of organizations out there spreading anti-gun propaganda. Keep away from these negative sources. And if you can’t eliminate them, at least try to balance them or challenge them with good sources. Share links to articles about those who have saved lives (their own or others) with guns. Post supportive memes showing safe and responsible gun ownership. I’d highly recommend leaving a copy or two of Concealed Carry Magazine around for folks to check out. Look for positive and helpful images, ideas, articles and videos.

Also, don’t be afraid to share the stories you know. I have a lot of friends who have been through some remarkable experiences that testify to the importance and the significance of our 2nd Amendment right. I can also, of course, share my own personal accounts … and share my three most important reasons to have a tool for protection: my children.

Take Them to the Shooting Range

This might sound counterproductive. I mean, who wants to bring the “enemy” right into the “stronghold?” But taking a cautious-but-curious, willing individual to the shooting range has worked on numerous occasions for many people. I’ve heard some amazing and encouraging stories of those who’d never picked up a gun try their hand at shooting … and love it! Except for the rogue, emotionally charged extremists looking to give guns a bad name, the majority of non-shooters and non-gun-owners I have taken to the range have loved their experiences — yes, even the liberals and the feminists.

Just don’t go overboard on the gun or the caliber. You want them to like this, remember? Give them something fun to use and something fun to shoot. Maybe go light with a .22 and let them try a fun game of poker or Battleship. Or try using responsive or reactive targets, from steel plates to colorful balloons. (I’d advise steering away from anything that looks human or animal. Don’t start there, as doing so might negate or destroy your efforts.) And don’t be afraid to extend follow-up invitations and, if they’re receptive, invite them to classes or training groups.

Help Them Understand

Knowledge truly is power, and you can be an unwavering resource of information and even training for the anti-gun crowd in your life. You don’t have to force it on anyone, but you can make yourself available to help with questions or concerns. It’s amazing how quickly a person’s mind can change when he or she realizes that some basic understanding and control can make all the difference in the world when it comes to using a tool like a firearm. And even if someone doesn’t want to own or carry a gun, the least he or she can do is learn about it. That way, this person can feel safer and more confident around guns. And, ultimately, if someone can recognize and follow the basics and the safety rules, then we’re all on the right track.

Be a Good 2A Role Model

We know that the responsibility of firearms owners is great, so don’t ever become too comfortable or complacent with guns. No matter what the situation, it’s important that you live as though people are watching you — all the time. Truth be told, they probably are. The anti-gun crowd seems to always be watching for us to mess up or let our guard down. That’s why it’s imperative that we stay safe, practice what we preach and stick together. The firearms community should not only stand for the right thing, we should stand together in unity whenever possible. Most importantly, we must purposefully and consistently model a positive 2A lifestyle; actions speak louder than words, so let your actions always say that you are safely and responsibly armed.

Sources

Discover how you can join nearly 300,000 responsibly armed Americans who already rely on the USCCA to protect their families, futures and freedoms: USCCA.com/gunsamerica.

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  • Kim Campbell September 1, 2019, 8:53 am

    I have some extra perspectives on our liberal friends.

    I think we in the gun community need to better understand the Democratic/Socialists party’s distorted narrative has insulated itself from any rational discourse about firearms and violence, and by doing so, has condemned itself to upping the ante with ever more gun control every time their already stringent restrictions fail.

    Depending on the next national election, it may not be long at all before we become the next New Zealand. The Left’s narrative places the blame on the “gun lobby” (which in fact supplies well engineered firearms to a large portion of our citizenry who use these firearms safely and respectfully for sport, hunting, and self-defense). And they vilify the “evil NRA” which, truth be told, is predominantly a grass roots movement of several million members. Their narrative has their boogeymen. Unfortunately, the sad fact is that gangs and criminals cause the vast majority of gun violence, not the “gun lobby”.

    As America urbanizes and post-modern thought takes root, we are losing the worldview that people are responsible for themselves, including for their own personal safety. And we are losing the skills to use firearms safely. What few genuine gun accidents that do occur could be greatly reduced by proper education and training. Very sad that a country which could field a greatest generation in WWII, many of whom were genuine marksmen, is losing the skills for personal and collective defense.

    The traumatized liberal is incapable of rational problem solving on violence. People are bombarded by graphic violence in crime shows and their nightly news so badly that the typical urbanite is genuinely traumatized. And when traumatized, the logical, rational parts of the brain go “offline”. Anyway, in current culture truth is determined by the intensity of its emotion, not facts. One survivor of the Parkland shooting argued that banning assault rifles would be worth it if it saved even one life. An emotional, not rational, argument. By the same logic, if we banned swimming pools, bicycles, electrical appliances, and cars and saved even one life, would it not be worth it? Absurd logic since more people die from these sorts of accidents than by accidental shooting. A hallmark of the traumatized brain is it loses its capacity to reason and explain. Traumatized people make poor policy makers.

    And finally, we have deluded leaders who trot out the most utopian “solutions”, which Chicago proves do nothing but infringe on law abiding gun owners. If those solutions had been effective, then maybe all we needed to do is put up “Gun Free Zone” stickers at Chicago’s city limits. Simple! Why did we not think of it before?!

    The latest twist in the narrative is that Clinton was wrong; there are no “super-predators”. After all we have statistical models to prove so. Tell that to the citizens of Chicago (and Baltimore, D.C, Houston, New Orleans, et. al.,) who cannot go out at night, especially weekends.

    The liberal narrative is that we want to be “civilized”, meaning like the western Europeans. Unfortunately, that brand of “civilization” has brought us two (almost three) world wars (which the United States resolved with considerable loss of life and national treasure), numerous inhumane philosophies (Nazism, Communism, nihilism to name a few) and economies that are approaching basket cases (even Germany’s GDP is nearly stagnant). And being “civilized” did not solve the murder problem in either Australia or New Zealand. No, thank you, I would rather remain an uncivilized American with my God and my guns, thank you.
    So as sad as the violence is, what is sadder is delusion of the political and social left that is eroding our second amendment. They have concocted a false narrative and have come to trust and espouse it like a religion.

    The upcoming election may be pivotal.

    • Ricky B. September 1, 2019, 4:37 pm

      I do agree with your well articulated comment, ma’am! The only part I have any issue with isn’t something you have explicitly stated but it is implied in your mention of next year’s election… In our sadly polarized nation today it seems to have become an assumption that our options are strictly binary (i.e. our ONLY choice is either conservative or liberal). I am neither 100% conservative nor 100% liberal and I simply reject the assertion that those are our only options.

      While I have never lived in a rural area, it is very clear to me why I may feel the need to be what extreme liberals refer to antagonistly refer to as a “single issue voter” when someone who does live in a rural area perceives their 2nd amendment rights to be threatened. Personally, I would never even visit an area that is far enough removed from a big city for it to be home to mother nature’s most magnificent beasts without enough fire power to take down a grizzly bear. I have no excuses to provide you for the way the far left demonizes a simple tool that it is VERY REASONABLE for you to view as a simple necessity to you & your family’s very existence.

      Having said all of this, I don’t think my belief that Donald Trump is an unethical individual should be at all controversial with as long as he has been a public figure and all the indisputable FACTS that we know about him from all of the decades he has lived his life in the “celebrity spotlight”… I hope we can agree on that & if so, it’s important to remember Trump has NEVER supported the 2nd amendment until his 2016 election campaign was so well paid to pretend like he supports the 2nd amendment.

      Do y’all remember back in 2016 when Trump stood on the debate stage & spoke openly about all of the politicians he had bought and paid for during his “business career”? Well, I certainly hope all of the Americans who paid Trump to support the 2nd amendment in 2016 paid him more than Trump’s relationship with the Kremlin has earned him because he was VERY CLEAR with all of us about how purchasing politicians works in America… Whoever paid the most “political contributions” is owed the most “political favors”.

      https://www.businessinsider.com/spies-react-trump-g7-summit-russian-asset-2019-8

  • Sharon Hollen August 30, 2019, 12:56 pm

    A well written article, BUT…it is WRONG to lump all gun control advocates into a category of “anti-gunners”! A am very much a firearms gal/pro 2A (and even reload) and I am for sensible gun control. And I know that anti-2A people are a minuscule number of people. Yet all the rhetoric is speaking to them.

    As soon as someone like me mentions an AR or AK, your eyes roll. We all know semi-autos are not used in war. But these ARE the weapons of choice for mass shooters for a reason, and it is this reason we want them off the street. (I.e., reinstating the assault weapons ban of 1994) Do we care that it won’t include sedate looking guns that perform the same, like a Mini-14? NO. Because we want to do something rather than nothing. Do seat belts save all lives? Or course not.

    If your position is based on a fear of humanity rather than a love for it, this is our true disparity.

    • Sepp W August 30, 2019, 9:07 pm

      “I am for sensible gun control.” You’ll have to explain what that means. Some the democrat-controlled enclaves and states have imposed such onerous laws, registration schemes, may issue, bans on certain firearms and accessories, and so on and so forth not to deter crime, but to infringe law-abiding citizen’s rights. Liberals abhor the Constitution and individual rights and freedoms.

      Title 18 provides for penalties and identifies prohibited persons who cannot buy, own, possess, or use a firearm. The states have similar laws that closely follow federal law. We don’t need more laws, we need enforcement of federal law and reporting criminals and mentally ill to NICS so they get flagged when trying to obtain a firearm. Yes, yes, yes, criminals don’t abide by the law and neither do physcopaths and sociopaths. If they want it bad enough they will find a way. It’s also against the law to do straw purchase and to give or sell some one a firearm if you know them to be a prohibited person.

      “We all know semi-autos are not used in war. But these ARE the weapons of choice for mass shooters for a reason, and it is this reason we want them off the street.”

      Semi-auto is mode of fire in many weapons specifically for military use, that is a selector switch or lever to select a mode of fire. The difference is the “assualt weapons,” a term BTW made up by liberals and anti-gun types, function like any other semi-auto firearm, they just look an assualt rifle or machine gun or fully automatic weapon. If I am in war, and I have been, I want a machine gun or fully automatic weapon, not a semi-auto. That doesn’t mean a semi-auto is useful in military. On the contrary, it is more accurate in semi-auto mode than auto.

      In a 2nd DoJ-funded study it concluded, ““The AW provision targets a relatively small number of weapons based on features that have little to do with the weapons’ operation,” their report stated. They also reiterated that “AWs were used in only a small fraction of gun crimes prior to the ban: about 2% according to most studies and no more than 8%,” with most of those “assault weapon” crime guns being pistols, rather than rifles.” Likewise, the report showed the ban had no effect on the criminal use of what today’s gun control advocates consider the paradigmatic “assault rifle,” the AR-15. “There has not been a clear decline in the use of ARs,” they wrote, an assessment that was “complicated by the rarity of crimes with these weapons … .”

      And finally, handguns are used more often in a violent crime than a rifle. One only needs to check the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Reporting on firearms used in murders, which FBI considers a violent crime.

      So it comes down to these notions of “sensible gun control” and “common sense gun control.” They are bandwagon fallacies that doesn’t address the person using a firearm to commit a violent, but just the firearm. I have an issue with that.

      And finally, red flag laws may be something to look at. However, they are ineffective if due process isn’t protected for the accused and severe penalties for an accuser making an unsubstantiated accusation.

    • Archangel August 30, 2019, 9:54 pm

      Sharon Hollen
      You do know that the assault weapons ban of 1994 was not reinstated as it was “TOTALLY INEFFECTIVE” in doing what they said it would do.
      That’s right, the government verified it’s worthlessness and published the data to prove it!
      Also, if you expect criminals to abide by any weapons ban, you should also expect them to not break the law in the first place because it’s ILLEGAL!
      None of my guns have ever been involved in any shooting (including 2 AR-15’s 2 AR-10’s and a Romanian PSL) other than assaulting a paper target or the occasional water filled can or jug.

    • Donnie Douche August 30, 2019, 10:01 pm

      “But these ARE the weapons of choice for mass shooters for a reason…”
      Correction: But these ARE the weapons of choice for leftist mass media reporting for a reason. Pistols are used far more than those evil cosmetic “assault” rifles, but they’re too boring to warrant your attention (as determined by your “news” feeders).

  • Pat August 30, 2019, 12:33 pm

    There is no dealing. No speaking with. No negotiations with bolshevik vermin. They are a cancer that needs to be eradicated.

  • Ti August 30, 2019, 11:44 am

    Caught. The previous admin has been caught.

    You have to keep shrieking the thing, that YOU have been doing to a duly elected president.

    Now for justice.

  • boss August 30, 2019, 11:29 am

    Ricky B. you liberal clown, go drink your cool aid elsewhere.

    • Ricky B. August 31, 2019, 12:15 pm

      Oh look here; I have a fan… I’m so touched by your affection it almost brings a tear to my eye! =)

      Just to clarify my actual political position for my entire fan club… I am more fiscally conservative than most people who run around claiming to be conservative but yes my views on social policies do tend to lean to the left. If the libertarian “party” wasn’t such a historical joke, I guess that is the closest thing to a political “category” into which my views could possibly be squeezed. Since labeling me as either a “conservative” or a “liberal” doesn’t really make any sense, y’all can just call me independent.

  • Bruce Wayne August 30, 2019, 9:24 am

    Wow, seriously. Most of you are the poster child of exactly what Alcazar was talking about. It as if you didn’t even read the article. But that’s no surprise. It’s easier to just read the headline than get you daily Kool Aid from CNN or Bloomberg. It’s NOT a political debate. It’s a debate on the Constitution and Amendments to the Constitution. Either you believe that an individual has the God given right to protect themself and their loved ones or you believe that it is NOT a right. The latter has this twisted idea that you should just lay and wait for the police to come when the national average response time falls within the 8 minute time frame. People hate Trump but want to give him and the government to be the only ones with guns. You must really love him to trust him that much. In that regard the left is hands down the biggest group of Trump supporters. There is absolutely no logic in the left narrative. Truly an emotional train heading to a false utopia over a bridge of logic and reasoning that is built out of straw.

  • Ron & Anna Winship August 30, 2019, 7:29 am

    *Obama got it right. The best course for Democrats is to let the laying dog lay there and slowly twist in the wind. Wayne and the boyz are currently under fire and with the Russian connection….harder to avoid….and
    maybe not getting $30 Million to help re-elect The Trumpster….well….there you go again….as Ronald Reagan
    might say. Should the Congress do Expanded Background checks? We already do it in the major States like
    California, New York and Illinois. The Republicans can’t win in 2020 without adopting Expanded Background Checks….but then the truth of the matter is that what really needs to happen are Mandatory Drug Testing for all NEW Firearm Purchases and Transfers….utilizing the current non-invasive TSA Glove Swab Technology for Class II Drugs and above….which would include Opioids of course. Heck, aren’t Law Abiding Gun Owners supposed to be Law Abiding and not a danger to themselves or others? Forget the politics and anything that the Dems do to Ban any firearm or magazine….is on course for immediate Self-Destruct. Every firearm we have ever seen needs SOMEONE to pull the trigger, whether it is a Muzzle Loader or an AK…..
    t

  • The Old Fed in Viirginia August 30, 2019, 6:58 am

    I knew Robert Swain Muller III when he was a dashing young second lieutenant of United States Marine Corps Reserve. On the plus side he tried to better himself when he went to Army Airborne and Ranger Schools! Why did Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin change the name of the K.G.B. to S.V.R. because the people from the G.R.U. (Russian Military Intelligence) told me they called the K.G.B. the gang of clumsy bandits. The people from the G.R.U. really do have a sense of humor. I have spent my whole life since I was seventeen years old in the military and law enforcement and I have lost count of the number of times I sworn an Oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic. I will be the first person to tell you that I have a divergent sense of humor that borders on the sick, perverted and utterly twisted. When reality exceeds my sick, perverted and utterly twisted sense of humor exponentially I really start to worry. For years I have referred to the Washington Post as Pravda on the Potomac then I find out that their Moscow bureau is headquartered in the Pravda building. In Russian Pravda means “truth” who says the pig farmers don’t have a sense of humor and how is that for real Russian collusion?

  • JIm G. August 30, 2019, 6:21 am

    Try to talk sensibly to anti-gun people is like raising the dead ! It’s a waste of your time & efforts. They have been spoon fed the MSM anti-gun agenda for so long with out the real info & they’re not interested in learning. As an example calling semi-auto AR’s & AK’s weapons of war, they may look the same but they’re Not ! Countries do not have armies with semi-auto only .

  • Ricky B. August 27, 2019, 7:01 pm

    So what are gun laws like in Russia these days y’all?

    Considering Russia’s dictator basically owns the current US President, I’m very curious what the puppet master (i.e. Vladimir Putin) ultimately has planned for all us Americans… Did y’all see the great orange clown begging other world leaders to allow his boss/owner/pimp back into their little club at the G7 summit this past week? Complaining that “Obama had President Putin unfairly removed from what was previously the G8″…

    I really wish Ronald Reagan was still alive to see all this… I would love to hear directly from the Gipper his thoughts on the Trump administration, that clown’s “relationship” with “President Putin”, and the entire GOP’s response (or lack thereof) to these incredibly disturbing developments. How are any of you people who still make excuses for the great orange embarrassment not totally ashamed of yourselves at this point?

    I would really rather NOT have to vote for a Democrat who publicly opposes the 2nd Amendment in the presidential election next year… If, however, the GOP continues to support Moscow’s puppet as their own standard-bearer come November 2020, I don’t understand how any real American (regardless of party affiliation) has any other choice.

    • Jamie in North Dakota August 28, 2019, 1:14 pm

      Go get yourself a Sanders, Warren or Biden 2020 sticker and put it on your Prius. #KAG 2020 👍🏻🇺🇸

      • Ricky B. August 28, 2019, 7:12 pm

        The financial records from Deutsche Bank the orange clown is fighting so hard to hide from Congress will prove he is Putin’s whore…

        https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/house-needs-its-subpoena-power-against-trump/596857/

        If you are from North Dakota and not somewhere in Russia, don’t you think the American people deserve to know what Trump is hiding from us?

        • The Old Fed in Viirginia August 30, 2019, 7:01 am

          Just out morbid curiosity how can President Donald John Trump be accused of violating the Constitution of the United States of America for spending money not specifically allocated by Congress by Speaker of the House Nancy Patricia D’Alessandro Pelosi when President Barrack Hussien Obama was never questioned about the unallocated funds given to the Islamic Republic of Iran? Or did I miss something? Since former Special Counsel Robert Swain Muller III has opined that a sitting president cannot be indicated and tried in a court of law and since former President Barrack Hussein Obama is no longer a sitting president then there is nothing that precludes him from being indicted by a grand jury and then tried before a petite jury in a court of law by a jury of his peers!

        • Rob August 30, 2019, 7:16 am

          Are you really that stupid or just trolling? If you really believe all that b.s; you need to crawl outta your mom’s basement and stop watching all that mainstream media crap.

          • Ricky B. August 30, 2019, 9:26 am

            Rob, please don’t so stupid bro… The extremely non-partisan article you just referred to as “all that b.s.” was written by:

            KERRY W. KIRCHER who was general counsel of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016 under speakers John Boehner (GOP) and Paul Ryan (GOP), and deputy general counsel of the House from 1996 to 2010 under speakers Newt Gingrich (GOP), Dennis Hastert (GOP), and Nancy Pelosi.

            Kerry Kircher is certainly more of a real Conservative than any of the morons who are supporting a US President that clearly appears to be owned by the Kremlin. Please learn how to read and WAKE UP!!!

        • Rob August 30, 2019, 10:17 am

          Wow, you calling anyone stupid is an example of the pot calling the kettle black. I served in the U.S Air Force and last time I looked; you have to have some intelligence to serve. Looking at your comments; clearly you never served and have your head up your anus. You’re a Muppet from the left who will believe anything the left says.

          • Ricky B. August 30, 2019, 12:37 pm

            Thank you for your service Rob! I apologize for calling you stupid and suggesting you don’t know how to read… I’m passionate about my love for both freedom & country; I get a little carried away sometimes.

            I’m honestly just terrified of my perception that our President may have an inappropriate relationship with the Kremlin… Have a good day sir.

        • boss August 30, 2019, 11:35 am

          There are no financial records from Deutsche Bank. You, however, are exposed as the liberal whose lies you espouse on this page.

          • Ricky B. August 30, 2019, 1:41 pm

            Ha!!! There certainly are financial records from Deutsche Bank that will clearly prove what is already obvious to anyone who has objectively studied the Muller Report.

            If what you intended to say is the Trump administration is currently in court fighting tooth & nail to prevent those records from being made public, then I can’t argue with that statement because THAT is 100% true… So yeah, the current US President does have a lot of power and so far he has used that power to prevent the release of those records. However, for those of us who are NOT blinded by our loyalty to that clown, his refusal to allow the release of those documents just makes us more skeptical of his relationship to Russia!!!

        • Rob August 30, 2019, 2:11 pm

          @Ricky B. I appreciate your apology and perhaps I was a little carried away with some things I said. I understand your love of freedom and country as I swore an oath to defend this country. No American should be terrified of Pres. Trump despite what some of the media tells some of us. I truly believe Pres. Trump is doing a great job and could accomplish a lot more if he wasn’t faced with all the negativity he receives. Good day to you and all fellow Americans.

    • D.J. August 30, 2019, 1:52 pm

      Ricky B. ,
      Do you live in a state that has legalized marijuana ?
      If you do , you might consider going a little easier on
      that shit , ” bro. ” !

    • Sepp W August 30, 2019, 9:26 pm

      I’m not following what your trying to get across. One thing is certain, it has nothing to do with this article. But if you want to go down that rabbit hole, the fact is Hillary Clinton, the DNC, the Obama administration, main stream media, and the deep state colluded first to ensure Clinton won the presidency and when she lost the election, conspired to delegitimize Trump’s presidency.

      The day of day reckoning is approaching. The DoJ IG report just released showed the underhandedness of former FBI Director Comey and the rest will be revealed in the main report and whatever AG Barr is looking into.

      The gun laws in Russia are pretty much same when it was the USSR. Like any socialist or communist state, the people are disarmed because in order to subjugate the people to tyranny, they have to be disarmed.

      • Ricky B. August 31, 2019, 11:59 am

        I’m not interested in “rabbit holes”, you can argue conspiracy theories with someone else…

        What I am interested in is the US Constitution, which has effectively been the foundation of this great nation since it was first enacted. I believe our founding fathers did a pretty good job of designing a system of self-government that has held up well over time. No political system is perfect, but I think the one our founding fathers developed is as close as any form of government can get to perfect.

        I think I’ve been very clear about what I’ve been trying to get across and I even provided a very thoughtful NON-PARTISAN article from the Atlantic because it articulates my specific concern in very plain clear language. The extraordinary efforts the Trump administration is currently taking to circumvent the specific checks and balances our founding fathers designed to prevent tyranny from ever taking hold in our great nation ARE NOT OK!!!!!

        When you add the Trump administration’s alarming response to congressional oversight to all of the other extremely clear warning signs that this man IS IN BED WITH THE KREMLIN, it shouldn’t be too difficult for any Real American to understand my point and my LEGITIMATE concern.

        If you stand firming in the Trump cheer-leading section and that is more important to you then the continuity of the United States of America, then you are just plain Anti-American & need to find another country to call home. If you stand firming in the Trump cheer-leading section but also love America, you should be totally fine with Congress exercising their Constitutionally Mandated Job of Presidential Oversight… If Trump truly has nothing to hide, the documents the US Congress is seeking shouldn’t include any evidence of any inappropriate relationship with Russia.

        Oh and about that joke of a report released by AG Barr’s DOJ… Well here you go, I’ll let the main stream media address whatever conspiratorial little rabbit hole you feel like diving into today; enjoy & have a nice day:

        https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/29/politics/james-comey-russia-donald-trump/index.html

      • ExNuke September 28, 2019, 10:23 pm

        Having lived and worked in Far East Russia for over 4 years I can tell you that just like Mexico the average Russian is disarmed and the most violent of the criminals have no shortage of guns or reluctance to use them. While I was there at a hospital in Vladivostok there was a retaliation killing where not one but two hand grenades were tossed into a patient’s room since he was recovering from being shot multiple times.

        Don’t fall into the 144 character limit of the Twitterverse, just like the US there is a major difference and separation between the Russian politicians and the people of Russia. Just like here the political class there is only interested in personal power and wealth, and there is no more separation there than here between the criminal and political classes. We have all been played off against each other by those who could profit by the hate and suspicion of others.

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