Thanks to an article in today's Gainesvile Sun, I drove by and took a picture of this sign:
The sign is on this building:
Here is the owner, G.F. Butch Ford, in his own words in the article: “The Democrats have been traditionally anti-gun. I’m just stating my thoughts as to who I think should run the government based on that very narrow issue,” Ford said. “Do I want to shoot Democrats? No. The Democrats love the First Amendment, which is freedom of speech, but tend to ignore the Second Amendment.”
I think Mr. Ford might enjoy a few phone calls and faxes from people who would like to exercise their First Amendment rights and let him know what they think of his sign.
Gee, with the arrests in Minnesota the last few days for "conspiracy to riot", I wonder if Mr. Ford might similarly be at risk for conspiracy to murder? Don't hold your breath.
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Comments
Aren't they all really?
Great writing on that sign. The advantage of a fifth-grade home-schooled education.
That business has been around since long before I moved here, so I hadn't actually made the connection to the pun. That really is appropriate.
Of course, what I also should have put into the post is a reference to the shooting and killing of the head of the Democratic Party in Arkansas a couple of weeks ago. That makes the sign even that much more deranged.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
* * *
Practically no one believes that the first amendment is absolute - free speech is curtailed by laws regarding libel, slander, advocating the violent overthrow of the government, inciting to riot, and a host of other restrictions.
But gun rights supporters continue to make the ridiculous assertion that the constitution gives them the right to own any and every sort of ordnance made, or which might be made in future. Karen Thurmond, recently Congresswoman of my district, is on record as saying that every American citizen should be able to own any weapon which a military commander can deploy. That would include atomic bombs, atomic cannons, cluster bombs, etc.
Can you imagine how 9/11 or the Oklahoma City bombing might have gone down if Mohammed Atta or Timothy McVeigh had access to those devices?
Just as free speech can be limited in the interest of public safety, so can gun ownership.
(Donning bullet-proof vest and retreating to underground bunker)
NRA, take your best shot, er, take your best swing.
BTW, did anyone wind up prying his rifle from Charlton Heston's cold, dead hand?
Clearly, Ford's position is:
-Get your guns today because of the Democrats come, they will take away your right to own a gun.
-Therefore, vote Republican.
So, he seems to me to respecting democracy and not advocating violence at all.
I'm just saying...
I also think that ridiculing the moron who put the sign up is appropriate, but I took the threat seriously enough that I emailed a heads up to the local Democratic headquarters telling them to be careful. It doesn't matter what Ford says in the newspaper; what he says on his sign has much more impact. It's on a very busy street and right next to the downtown campus of the local community college.
Wayne: Yes, Thurman's position on guns is about the only area where I disagree with her. I had the good fortune to meet her several years ago when she represented our district (she later was gerrymandered away) and she was quite reasonable. She also let us down this year as Chair of the state party. It seems like she could have done more to avoid the primary fiasco.