What Political Party do you want with your rifle?

I can not believe how parties other than Republican see any actions as an unfair move. Who have made owning a firearm a political move any. AND your statement Mostly second amendment loving conservatives.' Is just the talk that has pushed me out of the party. The American I know are sportsmen. That enjoy all our nation has to offer. To say it is wrong to make voter of those getting into into firearms. Is just good thinking to do just that. Now that owning firearms has been made a political statement. Any way we all should be voters To protect our own rights. Trust me. Many people are now switching to the Republican Party but none are by force to do so, gun buyer or not. If one must become a Republican to be able to enjoy life sign, me up.

Mr. Shepard has a very valid point as many would consider this a very edgy move, suggesting the partisanship involved in it. Although it is based on generalizations of members in the Republican party, it is entirely valid due to the "ploy by the Florida Rebulican Legislature". After all, America's continuing evolution in to the 21st century suggests that Gun-toting conservatives make up the Republican party. Due to the partisan concern on the effort of the legislature, the issue has become a tactic that would hinder the Democratic party and in turn hinder progress. A prominent example found in history includes the bill passed by the Radical Rebulican Legislature during Democratic-based Andrew Johnson's presidency during the Reconstruction Era that made Johnson consult the Senate--which at the time was Republican--before removing any cabinet member previously apointed by Lincoln. This was a sufficent tactic used later to impeach Johnson by using the 3 parties, the Legislature (Florida), the Executive (Governor Jeb Bush), and the people. Therefore it is important to consider the danger involved int he situation. The Second Amendment is based on old war-times and was a desparate clause added to satisfy the volitile, revolution minded American public. Just like any other supreme document, even religious text, it must be interpreted loosly and adapted to the correct and appropriate time period. America is no longer a country composed of voluntary militias; instead America is a highly advanced country with global military influence with highly sophistocated policing organizations available domestically. So why do Americans need guns? Ask Canada how their residents sleep safely at night--people kill people WITH GUNS!

If this isn't a partisan move, then it's pretty frigging random. Why should people have to register to vote when they buy a gun but not when they buy, say, a house or a car? Or why not require people to register to vote when they get their Driver's License? Unless your point is to target a specific demographic (gun-toting Republican nut bags--whoops, that slipped out) to beef up on the voter rolls.

The American I know are sportsmen.

I'm glad I don't know the Americans you know.

Here in the state of Indiana you do register to vote when you apply or renew for a driver's license. As for Republican gun nuts there are a whole lot of Democrats that are so-called gun nuts also. I live in the county that is almost totally controlled by Democrats and a majority of my friends are Democrats and gun lovers. But because of their party's insistence on taking away their Second Amendment rights they have voted in the last two elections for some Republican candidates that support their right to bear arms. These people have no intention on switching parties they have and their families have been Democrats all their lives but choose to vote for Republicans when it comes down to their personal right to own a gun. Democrats in control need to understand that the Second Amendment is important not only to Republicans but also to members of their own party.

Mark Vanderberg
http://msaagroup.org