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Original question:Why is the liberal side of America so afraid of firearms?I'm not afraid of firearms; I was born and raised in the Texas hill country. I used a gun for the first time at 7 years old with my dad, who was teaching me how to shoot at glass bottles for target practice on my family's deer lease.I'm also someone who identifies as a liberal.Here is a picture of me recently for a point of reference:However, what I am bewildered about is the GOP’s stance on firearms and the right’s history of selling out to the NRA and other pro-gun lobbyists/organizations that essentially work for gun manufacturers:The NRA and its allies in the firearms industries, along with the even more militant Gun Owners of America, have together poured nearly $81 million into House, Senate, and presidential races since the 2000 election cycle, according to federal disclosures and a Center for Responsive Politics analysis done for the Center for Public Integrity.The Senators that have voted against expanding background checks for firearm sales (like requiring private sellers to conduct background checks) have overwhelmingly received generous campaign contributions from NRA, or groups like NRA:Among the 46 senators who voted to prevent any expansion of background checks:43 have received help—either direct campaign contributions or independent expenditures—from pro-gun interests since 2000; in aggregate about $8.5 million.NRA expenditures ranged anywhere from a $95 contribution in one race to more than $2.6 million spent on the 2010 election of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).A total of 38 of those senators have gotten $15,000 or more in overall NRA help since 2000.Among the leaders: Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), $1.2 millionRob Portman (R-Ohio), $1.35 millionRichard Burr (R-N.C.), $852,000John Thune (R-S.D.), $717,000Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), $355,000.In several races, gun rights groups spent independent money both for one candidate and against his opponent (see chart).Forty-one of the 46 who voted with gun rights groups against expanded background checks were Republican.http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2013/05/nra-national-rifle-association-money-influenceI wanted to elaborate (after reading a comment to my answer) on the significance of the NRA.I didn't mention the NRA, and other organizations similar to it, based solely on the fact that it is an organization that gives money to campaigns and lobbyists who represent the NRA/are paid by the NRA (that's a topic for another discussion).I mentioned it because of the influence that gun manufacturers have over the NRA; gun manufacturers heavily influence the NRA, its funding and what the NRA spends its funding on (pays lobbyists and bribes politicians).This means that firearm profits have become a top priority for the NRA:One of the most interesting aspects of all is how an association for sportsmen became the prime defenders of assault weaponry.In its early days, the National Rifle Association was a grassroots social club that prided itself on independence from corporate influence.While that is still part of the organization's core function, today less than half of the NRA's revenues come from program fees and membership dues.The bulk of the group's money now comes in the form of contributions, grants, royalty income, and advertising, much of it originating from gun industry sources.Since 2005, the gun industry and its corporate allies have given between $20 million and $52.6 million to it through the NRA Ring of Freedom sponsor program.Donors include firearm companies like Midway USA, Springfield Armory Inc, Pierce Bullet Seal Target Systems, and Beretta USA Corporation. Other supporters from the gun industry include Cabala's, Sturm Rugar & Co, and Smith & Wesson.The NRA also made $20.9 million - about 10 percent of its revenue - from selling advertising to industry companies marketing products in its many publications in 2010, according to the IRS Form 990.Additionally, some companies donate portions of sales directly to the NRA. Crimson Trace, which makes laser sights, donates 10 percent of each sale to the NRA. Taurus buys an NRA membership for everyone who buys one of their guns. Sturm Rugar gives $1 to the NRA for each gun sold, which amounts to millions. The NRA's revenues are intrinsically linked to the success of the gun business.The NRA Foundation also collects hundreds of thousands of dollars from the industry, which it then gives to local-level organizations for training and equipment purchases.This shift is key to understanding why a coalition of hunters, collectors and firearm enthusiasts takes the heat for incidents of gun violence, like the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, rather than the companies that manufacture and market assault weapons.The chief trade association for gun manufacturers is the National Shooting Sports Federation, which is, incidentally, located in Newtown, Conn. But the NRA takes front and center after each and every shooting."Today's NRA is a virtual subsidiary of the gun industry," said Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center. "While the NRA portrays itself as protecting the 'freedom' of individual gun owners, it's actually working to protect the freedom of the gun industry to manufacture and sell virtually any weapon or accessory."There are two reasons for the industry support for the NRA. The first is that the organization develops and maintains a market for their products.The second, less direct function, is to absorb criticism in the event of PR crises for the gun industry.It's possible that without the NRA, people would be protesting outside of Glock, SIG Sauer and Freedom Group - the makers of the guns used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre - and dragging the CEOs in front of cameras and Congress.That is certainly what happened to tobacco executives when their products continued killing people.Notoriously, tobacco executives even attempted to form their own version of the NRA in 1993, seeing the inherent benefit to the industry that such an effort would have. Philip Morris bankrolled the National Smokers Alliance, a group that never quite had the groundswell of support the industry wanted…But if history is any indication, the NRA will be front and center of the new gun control debate, while gun manufacturers remain safely out of the spotlight.How The Gun Industry Funnels Tens Of Millions Of Dollars To The NRAHow the NRA operates.The NRA is not the grassroots organization that it once was. The NRA used to only defend hunters, those wanting a gun for self defense or 2nd amendment policies, but not anymore.The NRA has evolved into a corporate lobbyist group that prioritizes protecting gun manufacturers as well as maximizing the sales of firearms and accessories.The NRA directly profits from a lot of the profits firearm manufacturers make.The intentions of the NRA are hidden/camouflaged (pun intended) under propaganda and divisive rhetoric.Another thing that disturbs me in that 80% of firearms used by mass shooters in the U.S. from the last two decades have been obtained legally. I don't think that it is possible to correctly withhold a gun from everyone who has the intent to murder a person/people, but I do know that the current gun laws don't appear to be doing enough.How the system works:A background check is initiated as soon as someone tries to purchase a gun from a gun dealer or manufacturerThe background check is limited to 72 hoursIf the background check isn't completed within 72 hours, a default sale occursBasically, if the background check is still in process but exceeds 72 hours, it doesn't matter and the sale happens anyways = default sale.~1 in 10 people trying to buy a gun will have background checks that take longer than 72 hours to completeSecondary firearm transfers (private sales of firearms - sales of guns where the seller isn't a gun dealer or gun manufacturer) are basically impossible to track:Secondary firearm transfers:Aren't regulated nationwideIf states do regulate these sales, many don't enforce the rules - if regulation is required in a state, that means that owner of an assault rifle has to register it with their county sheriff.Because this is unpopular and sheriffs are elected officials, many refuse to enforce this.Guns Used in Mass ShootingsAnother thing that makes no sense is the collective Republican hysteria over possible foreign terrorists (Trump’s Muslim ban), yet domestic terrorism from right-wing extremists is a much larger threat:Law enforcement agencies in the United States consider anti-government violent extremists, not radicalized Muslims, to be the most severe threat of political violence that they face,” the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security reported…based on surveys of 382 law enforcement groups…The problem is getting worse…Multiple confidential sources notified the FBI last year that militia members have been conducting surveillance on Muslim schools, community centers and mosques in nine states for what one informant described as “operational purposes”…The FBI also learned that right-wing extremists have created bogus law enforcement and diplomatic identifications…because they believe they hold those positions in a government they have created within the United States…The three ideologies within the violent American far-right are:RacistAnti-federalistFundamentalistEach has subgroups—the racists include white supremacy groups such as the KKK, neo-Nazis and skinheads, which can differ in subtle ways.The anti-federalists include militias, self-defined “patriot” groups and what are so-called “sovereign citizens,’’ who hold that they are legally bound only by their personal interpretation of common law and are otherwise not subject to federal, state or local laws.The fundamentalists are primarily Christian identity groups that believe the biblical war of good vs. evil is between descendants of Anglo-Saxon nations and all other ethnic groups. Tangential to the fundamentalists are the anti-abortion attackers, who also invoke religion as a foundational motive for their violence.These disparate groups of people—violent and nonviolent—pine for different versions of a highly idealized past.Right-Wing Extremists Are a Bigger Threat to America Than ISISRegardless of the threat of domestic terrorism from right-wing extremists, the GOP doesn't seem to care about it, which makes the collective judgement of the Republican Party questionable and insincere:…If these Republicans truly want to keep us safe, why don’t they ever raise the issue of right-wing terrorists?…”Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly twice as many people have been killed by white supremacists, antigovernment fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims.”The reality, of course, is that talking about scary Muslims plays great with the GOP base. In fact, a recent poll found that three-quarters of Republicans think Islam is “at odds” with American values…We hear non-stop whining from the right about why won’t President Obama use the term “radical Islam”? Well, I have a question for Trump, Cruz, and Rubio: Why are you afraid to use the term “radical conservative” and address the threat posed to Americans from the right?The GOP Ignores the Bigger Terror Threat—From the RightDomestic terrorism and right wing extremists are important to bring up in this context because it reflects the GOP (collectively) not being able or not wanting to assess threats and safety properly.This inability to properly assess threats, which is coming from the side that is overwhelmingly pro gun (to an extreme), shows that the GOP’s opposing arguments on basic concepts, like expanding background checks for purchasing firearms, aren't rooted in reality.The majority of the arguements from the right seem to fall in the following categories (in my opinion):There should be no gun laws.Gun laws are pointless.Guns are the best protection against terrorism.Democrats deliberately target gun owners.Democrats want to abolish the 2nd Amendment.Liberals are scared of guns (like this question believes)Increase in gun sales are evidence that gun rights are at stake.Polls that show gun laws in a positive light are fake.These extreme and baseless accusations make it impossible to have rational conversation about guns.Basically, the gun argument from Republicans tends to show a lack of skill in:Thinking rationallyAssessing threats properlyHaving the ability to make responsible decisions on policy that deals with safetyHaving any reasonable arguments to explain their unyielding views on firearmsEverything seems to be blown out of proportion in the collective Republican rebuttals to those wanting to increase background checks or pass more laws on guns.It is common to hear:“Democrats hate the constitution and are unpatriotic!”“Guns don't kill people! People kill people!”“Should we outlaw cars too?”“The problem of gun violence is that not enough people have guns to protect themselves from gun violence!”Conspiracies are also created and paranoia (created from fear mongering tactics, thanks to right wing pundits, media outlets, politicians, the NRA, etc.) takes over logic and absurdity abounds:“Sandy Hook was a false flag operation set up by the government to justify disarming gun owners!”“The liberal elites want to establish a second world order! They'll pass one gun regulation law and before you know it, everyone will have their guns taken away!”“The first thing Hitler did was disarm citizens! That's what the left is doing!”Because of this, I think that the collective argument coming from the right regarding guns is moronic and shows an inability to make rational decisions or consider laws that might have the potential to make people more safe.That is what scares me.

Formed in 1871, the NRA was established to protect second amendment” right to bear arms ” in the Bill of Rights. In truth the NRA exists because the Union Army were lousy marksmen. NRA co-founder George Wingate traveled to Europe and fancied the level of training. Back in America Wingate lobbied the New York legislature to correct lousy shots by funding gun ranges. The NRA was born. The first NRA president was Civil War General Ambrose Burnside.A humble enough beginning; completely understandable and practical in it’s time. This “non-profit” was funded by the likes of Remington and Sharps rifle manufacturers. They established gun clubs, taught marksmanship and certified gun owners. The NRA of today is far more.From practical enough beginnings to a tax exempt, non-profit organization, arguably the most powerful lobby in America is an astounding example of how corporate coffers influence policy for personal gain. This non profit organization contributes millions of dollars to political campaigns. The NRA doesn’t even pay taxes, their executive officers aren’t elected. NRA power resides in their ability to bank-roll political aspirations of candidates favorable to their mandate.

I am Chiang Kai Shek, the supreme ruler of a shrinking country. It’s 1936, and the most prosperous region of China had been lost to Japan 5 years ago, but that’s ok for now, because the Japs are the disease of the skin, but the commies are the disease of the heart. And that’s why I have a ceasefire with the Japs and I’m kicking commie ass.Even if my secret Palantir did not show me my future 8-years of brutal warfare resisting the Japs, I should do this to get rid of the commies for good:Invite the LEGION CONDOR to China aka Ever-Victorious Army 2.0In real history, the Spanish Civil War became a proxy war pitting Nazi Germany against the Soviet Union and France. In this alternate history, China is the proxy.The KMT has had a fruitful relationship with Germany since the 1920s. Even as Germany moved from a weak republic to a dictatorship under Adolf Hitler, commercial relations remained healthy, and military liaison actually increased.The real Chiang perhaps did not realize it at the time, but Adolf Hitler could actually be his best friend, because they both shared a religious hatred for communism.For the purpose of eradicating the CCP, in addition to purchasing of military hardware and hiring military advisors for the NRA, China proposes the following:Form an expeditionary force to fight on our side. It would give your newly formed Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe valuable live combat experience. You might even discover new tactics like terror bombing,dive-bombing, combined arms Blitzkrieg, and refinement of military hardware.China will provide additional troops for fighting and logistics support under your command for the duration of the campaign, so they may train tactics and familiarize with the hardware under actual wartime conditions. There is historical precedence for this: the British and French lead Chinese armies to defeat the Taiping Rebellion.China wants the best military hardware Germany has to offer. We are fighting a goddamn war, so we’ll help the manufacturers refine their products much faster than sitting at the drawing board in Germany. There is also very low risk compared to selling to your other clients in Europe who might use your own weapons against you later if you plan on starting a World War or something.China will compensate by providing Germany with all the military raw materials that it seeks for its own rearmament. Due to the size of the campaign and China’s modernization, there’d be a great positive effect on development of the military industrial complex.To sweeten the deal, we’ll re-allot parts of Tsingtao and Shanghai as a German concession where you’ll have extraterritorial rights.Furthermore, I hear you have a Jewish problem. No problem, send them all to China instead of to Dachau.If Germany choses not to be a partner of China, we’d be forced to seek assistance from your rivals, such as Great Britain, France (bluff… would never do it!), or even the Soviet Union (which happened in real life).Deal?I see, Mr. Führer, that you are concerned that China is weak and not as technologically advanced as Japan, so they make a better ally to Germany than China.Well, Mr. Führer, Japan is just a preview of what China would be like in a couple years, but bigger in every way, because China is not only resource rich, it also has the world’s largest population, i.e. potentially the largest army in the world. You want to destroy the USSR, and believe me, so do I, and you know how many people they have and how big their army is? Size does matter, and we promise to be a faithful partner in your crusade against communism.If Germany accepts those conditions and all goes well:Many more Chinese would be employed in infrastructure building and war-time industries, reducing the recruitment pool for the CCP.With more infrastructure and military hardware, especially railways and airports, China may have better troop movement capability, against both CCP and the Japanese.Mao and the CCP may actually be completely eliminated!China gets more than just a dozen divisions that are German trained. The entire army would have some sort of German training and war fighting experience, most importantly in logistics and the newest tactics as they are being developed.With the pseudo-colony of Tsingtao right at the front line, it may deter the Japanese for longer, or they don’t care, and Germany gets dragged into the war on China’s side. This is the core point: if Japan wants to fight China, they will be fighting Germany as well.Skilled refugees coming to China (i.e. the Jews that Hitler did not want) would contribute to the civilian and military economy.Imagine a Chinese military machine using these bad boys competently :One of the most advanced fighters of the time: the Messerschmidt Bf 109One of the most advanced tanks of the time: the Panzerkampfwagen IVA German-influenced China is as strong as Krupp steel.Finally, the worldwide diplomatic offensive.The world may largely sympathize with China at the time, but it might also flip its shit seeing that it’s working with the fucking devil himself (though to be fair, Hitler’s reputation in the 1930s wasn’t so so bad yet).In addition to the usual fundraising and lobbying great powers against the rising Japan, the Chinese First Lady needs to keep the Roosevelts happy about China’s deep co-operation with Germany, since FDR actually hated Hitler.With the Red Scare in the 1920s, it’s not hard to remind the Americans that the CCP would be the biggest threat to the US if it manages to infect all of China. Japan cannot win China, because it would grow powerful enough to challenge the US in the Pacific. China has historically been a land power and inward facing nation focused on self-development, so a powerful China does not threaten American interests.If all goes well, the 2nd Sino-Japanese War may not be the invasion of China but the retaking of Manchuria and perhaps the liberation of Korea and Taiwan.With very different alliances in Asia and Europe, the world might not find itself in one huge WWII, but rather the world would be at war with very complex intertwining of diplomacies. For example, Germany and China might find themselves fighting the Soviet Union with American support while Germany and France square off with Britain as their reluctant ally (with America as the Brits’ reluctant ally).