Richmond today.

It’s funny how some gun freedom advocates are saying ‘see, we didn’t shoot anybody today at the Virginia State House! We are good people.’    I am seeing them on Facebook making a statement about how gun owners can be civil.     Don’t get me wrong: I am really, really, really glad that nobody got hurt or killed today.   I was worried about the rally they had planned.   I am therefore happy to say that prayers were answered.  Cooler heads prevailed.

I also know that those who were on the opposite side of the gun control issue did not show up to ‘counter demonstrate’ at the state house.    So, thankfully the gun advocates were basically there alone, gathered in an area, without anyone pushing back on them.   Yay!

I want to state here that there continues to be a real disconnect when it comes to the gun control issue.   Those, like the ones who gathered in Virginia today, are certain that everyone on the left side politically want to take all their guns.   They believe that their constitutional right to own a gun will all of a sudden be gone.  Just like that!  Guns here today  –  gone tomorrow.      As I said earlier on Facebook , I read many posts on line from people extremely worried that they were going to lose their “right” to ever own.

But, listen…     please…

I have never heard any Democratic leader, elected official, or even regular joe, say that all guns will be collected, house by house, and citizens will no longer have any way to protect themselves.   Never.      But somehow there is a fear out there that it will happen.  Who is spreading such a lie?   And why?      This is my opinion but I think the NRA and gun manufacturers are playing their own members and customers, using fear, and increasing the urgency to  stockpile more guns.    It’s smart.   And it’s making them very rich.

What Democrats, and Moms for Gun Safety, and other groups out there who are suggesting some changes in gun ownership are wanting are better ways to keep track of them, and better ways to keep them from being used accidentally.  They want those who have mental illness to be safe from getting a hold of a gun, or to get a mass weapon, to stop a horrible event from happening.

I can’t for the life of me figure out why that is not something that everyone, gun lover or not, would not be in favor of working towards.   There are many ways to make gun ownership safer.   There are tools, and safety features possible.   We want the bad guys to have a tougher time getting guns, right? We want children to never find a loaded gun, right? We want those considering suicide to not reach for a gun for a quick, irrational, and deadly answer, right?

So…

What is the deal?    Why are people so fearful?  What makes some dress in fatigues, and have guns hanging over their shoulders, on their belts, with ammo – ready to go into military battle?      What is their message?

The state of Virginia is an interesting state.  The northern part is highly populated, as it is really the suburbs of DC.   There are highly educated people living there.  Big incomes allow them to live in expensive neighborhoods.  They commute into Washington.  Some work in the government.   They voted quite liberally in this last gubernatorial election.   The state from Richmond on south is more rural, and conservative.  They believe the liberals are trying to change them.  It scares them.  They are the ones that want to see “America great again” because they don’t think it is now.   Somewhere around Petersburg there is an invisible line….  but it’s very deep.     Virginia went  Democratic in this last election and it woke up the lower part of the state.   This rally today was one example of it.

I am happy that those who came into Richmond today, loaded with guns, kept it together.  I am ALL for peaceful demonstrations.  So kudos to them.

I say to them…  voting is your real weapon.

Leave your guns at home and go to the polls.