Disappointment and Frustration

So far, the first presidential debate and the one and only vice-presidential debate have gone into history. Good riddance in my opinion. Candidates, with the direction and poor questions from the so-called “moderators,” skirted or avoided vital issues of importance to those of us who support the 2nd Amendment and law and order. All of this is disappointing and frustrating.

As I wrote in my Gun Talk articles Aug. 26 and Sept. 1, firearms owners and enthusiasts need a thorough examination of campaign platforms and what a Democrat administration would mean for the country. Take a look at “Protecting the Second - VOTE!” and “More Political Observations, Law and Order.”

Perhaps debate moderators chose to avoid firearms issues because the Democrat’s campaign platform on those issues is indefensible for those who oppose overly restrictive gun control in any form. I’m not specifically implying debate moderator bias; however, there is too much at stake on Nov. 3 not to address these issues. And now it appears there may not be another presidential debate. Unless these issues come to the forefront, how are voters supposed to decide?

I have been in touch on the 2nd Amendment and firearms concerns with an astute Democratic candidate running for the Arkansas state house in my district and she points out, “I believe an informed voter is an empowered voter. I sent her my “Protecting the Second - VOTE!” article for her comments along with a list of key questions about the Democratic platform regarding firearms and the 2nd Amendment.

While she, a gun owner, and I differ on multiple concerns, she does admit, “You are correct in that you are asking questions I cannot answer. I think many of these issues will be addressed at the national level and state legislators will not ever address them. But there are some that the state will answer.”

I responded back to her, “So the question then becomes, which is the deciding factor, state or federal law? You and I both know the answer to that.” I received no followup answer, but did not expect it either.

Herein is the danger associated with the Democratic platform on firearms, including federal mandatory registration, fees and confiscation of “assault weapons” as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have endorsed multiple times. Once enacted into federal law, what are the states to do? Fortunately Arkansas is a conservative state and generally is pro-2nd Amendment, but sweeping and restrictive new federal firearms legislation or “executive orders” as the Democrats propose could change that.

Obviously some states still are pushing firearms restrictions and this will continue. Note what reported legislation California Governor Gavin Newsom signed and brought forth in September at “California Snuck in 2 More Gun Control Bills in September.” The two bills incorporate dealer signage technical violations and additional age restrictions on long-gun firearms purchases.

One of the interesting and not-so-clear phrases that pops up on a regular basis in the news media and speeches during the campaign is “gaslighting.” This simply is a form of news manipulation that has been going on for decades. In fact, the Harvard Business Review reported in 1995 how lying and compromised news media manipulates the truth in an article “Why the News is Not the Truth.”

The article says, “The news media and the government are entwined in a vicious circle of mutual manipulation, mythmaking, and self-interest. Journalists need crises to dramatize news, and government officials need to appear to be responding to crises. Too often, the crises are not really crises but joint fabrications.” What we see in the campaign now is fabrication, and this is how firearms facts become distorted to meet political needs.

The Liberal Left have been gaslighting the American people for years, but have put their gaslighting campaign on steroids since 2015.

EVERY news agency on TV is gaslighting you. Even FOX News gaslights you in a subtle manner with some of their less-than-staunch-conservative hosts and overtly gaslights you with hosts like Chris Wallace. Did you know that FOX News' Vice President Danny O'Brien, is Joe Biden's former Chief of Staff? Yes, it's true.”

I, perhaps as have other Gun Talk readers, already voted by mail. I feel I did my research on firearms issues to decide on my vote, and my articles noted above hopefully described what we as Americans face in this crucial election, along with the ramifications of curtailing our freedoms and rights if a Democrat administration takes office in January 2021.

Hopefully the election returns in November will allow us to Stay safe, be prepared with continuing judicial and Congressional support. ~ Mike

Mike Sampson

Mike now calls Northwestern Arkansas home, but has lived and worked in several states. He has been an independent contractor and consultant since 2006 specializing in risk management, emergency management and training. In addition to work as a law-enforcement planner and technical writer with the Boise, Idaho, Police Department, he has experience in journalism, crop and animal agriculture, dryland farming for 20 years in western Kansas, plant and animal diseases, pandemic influenza, agroterrorism, bioterrorism, food safety and healthcare marketing.

He has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri and has newspaper and agency writing and editing experience. At Washington State University in Pullman, he earned a master’s degree emphasizing adult education and communications, with minors in mourning dove, chukar partridge, pheasant and mountain quail on the breaks of the Snake River.

While living in Lander, WY, Mike provided photographic coverage of the One-Shot Antelope Hunt for three years, and got to meet and accompany folks such as Chuck Yeager, Carroll Shelby, Buzz Aldrin, Dale Robertson and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf on their hunts.

In addition, Mike is a Federal Emergency Management Agency certified instructor and has worked and taught for state and federal agencies. He has responded to seven presidentially declared disasters, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria when they struck Puerto Rico in 2017. He also has worked and taught in Africa and Southeast Asia. Check his website at www.sampsonrisk.com.

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