Evolution of an Argument with a GunLoon
There’s a familiar pattern to any argument with a GunLoon.
First, the quotes. It is important to understand most GunLoon quotes (usually from historical figures, politicians, or ‘experts’) are bogus. They will often be created out of thin air, or taken out of context, or truncated to distort the actual meaning.
Recently, we saw Don Kates, Jr. completely fabricate a quote from Freud. This is a fairly common practice among GunLoons. Here are some famous GunLoon quotes that simply are bogus:
“The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. “–Thomas Jefferson
“
This year will go down in history! For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!” -Adolf Hitler
Here’s an actual quote from Ghandi that has been taken completely out of context:
“Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest. If we want the Arms Act to be repealed, if we want to learn the use of arms, here is a golden opportunity. If the middle classes render voluntary help to Government in the hour of its trial, distrust will disappear, and the ban on possessing arms will be withdrawn.”
What the GunLoon omits or, more likely, is ignorant of is that this quote comes from Ghandi’s outrage that Indians weren’t conscripted into the British military in WWI.
An example of a GunLoon truncated quote is:
“”Arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual descretion, in private self-defense.” –John Adams
Unfortunately for GunLoonery, the real Adams quote is:
“To suppose arms in the hands of the citizens, to be used at individual discretion, . . . , is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man is a dissolution of the government. “
Here’s a favorite quote of GunLoon and InstaCracker Glenn Reynolds from Patrick Henry:
“The great object is that every man be armed…. Everyone who is able may have a gun.”
Unfortunately for InstaCracker, Patrick Henry was actually talking about funding the federal militia:
“Our militia shall have two sets of arms, double sets of regimentals, &c.; and thus, at a very great cost, we shall he doubly armed. The great object is that every man [of the militia] be armed. But can the people afford to pay for double sets of arms, &c? Every one who is able may have a gun. But we have learned, by experience, that, necessary as it is to have arms, and though our Assembly has, by a succession of laws for many years, endeavored to have the militia completely armed, it is still far from being the case.”
Bottomline: if a GunLoon quotes a politician or historical figure–the safe money is that its bogus.
Yet what might be the most common bogus quote on the Net:
“Dissent is the highest form of
patriotism.” — Thomas Jefferson
…seems to be overwhelmingly the work of those on the left.
Comment by JayF — December 11, 2007 @ 6:55 pm
Actually the quote is from Eisenhower.
Comment by Administrator — December 11, 2007 @ 7:31 pm
Here is the full Eisenhower quote:
“Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionists and rebels - men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion”
Comment by Administrator — December 11, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
Eisenhower? No — the Eisenhower quote may be similar in meaning, but the “Jefferson” quote is a complete fabrication beloved and oft-used by those on the left.
And here’s another one:
(The Constitution is) “just a God damned piece of paper.” — George W. Bush
You just cannot count how many on the Left have quoted THAT fabrication.
Comment by JayF — December 11, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
JayF: Actually, I haven’t seen the bogus TJ quote used by the Left.
WRT the Bush quote that comes from a reporter (Doug Thompson)who claims 3 people who were in a meeting with Bush say Bush said that.
Comment by Administrator — December 11, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
The bogus TJ quote has been all over the Net (on the Left).
Thompson is a “reporter” in the loosest sense — none of the mainstream media have run his Bush “qoute” as a real story.
He claims “three” ANONYMOUS sources? LOL — I claim FIVE, no make that TEN who say otherwise.
And those on the Left repeat it like Gospel.
Comment by JayF — December 11, 2007 @ 8:48 pm
Yeah we learned taking thing out of context from the VPC
http://www.vpc.org/studies/unincont.htm
Comment by JDFAR — December 12, 2007 @ 9:58 am
Of course VPC wouldn’t lie, but the US Goverment Supplied the item in question
http://www.vpc.org/studies/unincont.htm
Comment by JDFAR — December 12, 2007 @ 10:01 am