Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam in braccas mea vide
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Something something good guy with a gun?
Seriously, though, is it possible that the culture in Michigan is more diverse than you think? The State House represents more than just Metro Detroit: the West side, the rural towns and the UP have their own distinct cultures, which may idolize guns or at least the image of a guy with guns.
Judging by your response, I'd say you are outside the metroDetroit™ area. As far as your accusation of my underestimation of Michigan "culture", are you saying, like the cited Texans and their baggage, Michigan's colonial fur trade is the root of all of our musket carrying? I certainly do like my Battle Creek-born Corn Flakes and my Kalamazoo-born Les Paul.
Regardless of "distinct cultures," I don't see how any rational being could consider carrying a weapon outside of certain conditions justifiable, cited example being one where there is absolutely no reason to carry, even to the parking lot. Am I missing something here?
Edit: syntactical error.
No accusations here, friend. I'm in the Metro area, and I thoroughly despise the gun culture in this country. But for whatever reason, there is a gun culture, especially in rural areas, in Michigan and across the whole US. I don't think it has a basis in logic or rational thinking, but in cultural heritage and "freedom". But we who emphasize gun safety and limitations need to understand how they think if we're to make real progress.
I think Jordan Klepper had a good video on YouTube about guns in his native Kalamazoo that's worth watching.
Why would anybody ever realistically need a firearm in a voting booth?
For the sake of argument, I suppose one could need it to prevent voter intimidation and suppression like we've seen in many right wing areas over the last several years (and centuries before too).
ITT: people forgetting that once upon a time the Black Panthers had to open carry to the ballot box to prevent racist mobs from attacking them.
Yes, it is a different time now, and yes, banning guns from voting places is probably a good idea. Just keep in mind that arguments for carrying to the ballot box are not entirely without merit.
The ballot and the bullet
Why? That's easy. To intimate other voters. That's it.
I think it’s high time we ban gun ownership outright in this country. This is a good first step towards that. Open carrying at polling places only serves to intimidate.
Ban the government and police from owning and carrying guns first, then we'll talk.
Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary.
I get where you're coming from, but on a practical level such laws would almost universally be enforced against minorities and the disenfranchised, while cops and fascists will be allowed to keep their guns unchallenged. I absolutely do not trust any level of US government or law enforcement to enforce gun bans fairly and evenly.
I really hate how right you are about this =\