recession and … right-wing extremism?
this study was personally timely, given the fact that i found myself wishing i had a gun this morning, for likely the first time in my life (it had to do with an all-too-chirpy bird at 5 a.m., but don’t worry, i remain staunchly weapon-free). though my gun-totin’ desires had nothing to do with the recession, i don’t think, a new report says that “Right-wing extremists in the United States are gaining new recruits by exploiting fears about the economy and the election of the first black U.S. president.” the article goes on to state that:
Such fears were driving a resurgence in “recruitment and radicalization activity” by white supremacist groups, antigovernment extremists and militia movements. It did not identify any by name. The Department of Homeland Security had no specific information about pending violence and said threats had so far been “largely rhetorical.” But it warned that home foreclosures, unemployment and other consequences of the economic recession “could create a fertile recruiting environment for right-wing extremists.” … Extremist groups are preying on fears that President Barack Obama, the first African American U.S. president, would restrict gun ownership, boost immigration and expand social programs for minorities.
even if obama does all those things, i don’t see how that’s a call for extremism - plus, the DHS says reports like these are done all the time and it’s no big deal. so, is it business as usual, or are people more fervently clinging to “their guns and religion?”
April 14 2009 03:29 pm | politics
April 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Hi Alexis.
I live in Utah, which has pretty conservative gun laws. Anyway you reminded me of an ad campaign on the radio, for a local gun store franchise.
The gist of it was “buy your guns now before they take away your second amendment rights are gone.” That was about how subtle the ads were. They dropped a somewhat more subtle line, implying that the “current administration” had stiff gun restrictions on their agenda. An obfuscation of course, not even a clever one.
Now, I don’t own a gun. I don’t see myself ever buying one in the future. But I can’t say I have a problem with otherwise law-respecting people owning them.
IMO, if you want to protect your home and family, the best defense tool is, for example, a doberman or rottweiler. I can’t think of a better investment.(Good way to teach kids respect and responsibility too….)
I’ve never heard of a case of a woman being robbed or raped- while walking her doberman.
April 16th, 2009 at 9:43 am
thanks for your comment, josh! that’s hilarious about the dobermans! my husband always says the exact same thing - he’s like, “if we had two dobermans, we wouldn’t have to live in a good part of the city. we could live somewhere cheap and you’d be fine” - lol :-) right now, we have two beagle … vocal, but not exactly intimidating!
i don’t own a gun, either - have never held a gun, fired a gun, nor do i really want to. (in san francisco, i think the only way to get a concealed weapons permit is to be a cop or ex-cop.) but i agree that - while i don’t LIKE the idea - i don’t have a problem, politically, with people owning guns … as long as they’re properly screened, licensed, trained, etc. however, the nuances of the gun debate are something i have yet to take sides on.