# No ma'am - A Marine's Letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100 "2013-01-04T20:47:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/1 "2013-01-04T20:47:15Z")
Hoo-Rah šŸ™‚ [http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-902515](http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-902515) > [@](#): > > I am a Marine Corps Veteran of 8 years, and I will not have some woman who proclaims the evil of an inanimate object, yet carries one, tell me I may not have one. > > I am not your subject. I am the man who keeps you free. I am not your servant. I am the person whom you serve. I am not your peasant. I am the flesh and blood of America. > > I am the man who fought for my country. I am the man who learned. I am an American. You will not tell me that I must register my semi-automatic AR-15 because of the actions of some evil man. > > I will not be disarmed to suit the fear that has been established by the media and your misinformation campaign against the American public. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/2 "2013-01-04T20:49:50Z")
They donā€™t call them Jugheads for nothing. Whatā€™s that? Itā€™s Jarhead? Oh well, not much difference. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/3 "2013-01-04T20:51:08Z")
Me Man! Me no listen to Wo-Man! ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/4 "2013-01-04T20:52:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Me Man! Me no listen to stupid, ignorant Wo-Man! FTFY. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/5 "2013-01-04T20:52:50Z")
Eh. Not particularly deep or well-written. If it hadnā€™t been written by a Marine, it wouldnā€™t have gotten any traction. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/6 "2013-01-04T20:54:45Z")
FWIW Dianne Feinstein carries a gun for personal protection. Sheā€™s also a known proponent of strong gun control. A bit like the pot calling the kettle black. \ Sheā€™s so far left itā€™s not even funny. Sheā€™s been a PITA for many, many years. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/7 "2013-01-04T20:57:41Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > FWIW Dianne Feinstein carries a gun for personal protection. Sheā€™s also a known proponent of strong gun control. A bit like the pot calling the kettle black. \ Sheā€™s so far left itā€™s not even funny. Sheā€™s been a PITA for many, many years. How does carrying a gun conflict with strong gun control? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/8 "2013-01-04T21:01:01Z")
Usually the gun as substitute penis undercurrent in these kinds of messages isnā€™t quite soā€¦overt. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/9 "2013-01-04T21:04:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > FWIW Dianne Feinstein carries a gun for personal protection. Sheā€™s also a known proponent of strong gun control. Carrying a _handgun_ for personal protection does not contradict a desire to ban _assault rifles_, any more than banning leaded gasoline means going door to door and confiscating golf carts. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/10 "2013-01-04T21:05:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How does carrying a gun conflict with strong gun control? Iā€™ve always wondered this too. Why arenā€™t responsible gun owners supporting strong regulation and registration? It makes it seem like all gun owners want guns to be sold everywhere like candy bars. Itā€™s letters like this which make responsible gun owners look bad. Iā€™m going to write a letter like this to my local tax collector to state that Iā€™m no longer registering my car. How dare she demand I register my vehicle! I know itā€™s just so she can come take it away from me one day! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/11 "2013-01-04T21:11:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How does carrying a gun conflict with strong gun control? She voted against the Vitter Amendment, that prohibits the confiscation of lawfully-possessed firearms. From 1995: > [@Dianne Feinstein](#): > > If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States, for an outright ban, picking up [every gun]ā€¦ Mr. and Mrs. America, turn ā€˜em all in. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/12 "2013-01-04T21:15:00Z")
That letter is a good example of why the word ā€œover-writtenā€ was invented. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/13 "2013-01-04T21:17:42Z")
nmn. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/14 "2013-01-04T21:20:18Z")
The letter makes a good point that law abiding citizens and people that fought to protect this country shouldnā€™t be punished for the actions of a few mentally ill criminals. You can count the major spree killers in the past twenty years on both hands. Weā€™ve sent nearly a million reservists into Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. A lot of those men returned wounded or even dead. Why should the actions of a few sick bastards that shot up a school, Sikh Temple, or a movie theater take away the gun rights of millions? It makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/15 "2013-01-04T21:21:18Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Iā€™ve always wondered this too. Why arenā€™t responsible gun owners supporting strong regulation and registration? Because there are so few of them most likely. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/16 "2013-01-04T21:23:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The letter makes a good point that law abiding citizens and people that fought to protect this country shouldnā€™t be punished for the actions of a few mentally ill criminals. No it doesnā€™t. Or, if it does, it does so poorly and clumsily. > [@aceplace57](#): > > Weā€™ve sent nearly a million reservists into Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. I canā€™t figure out what this has to do with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/17 "2013-01-04T21:27:18Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Iā€™ve always wondered this too. \*\*Why arenā€™t responsible gun owners supporting strong regulation and registration? \*\* It makes it seem like all gun owners want guns to be sold everywhere like candy bars. Itā€™s letters like this which make responsible gun owners look bad. > > Iā€™m going to write a letter like this to my local tax collector to state that Iā€™m no longer registering my car. How dare she demand I register my vehicle! I know itā€™s just so she can come take it away from me one day! From things Iā€™ve read here in the past month, responsible gun owners believe that we already HAVE strong regulation and registration, and theyā€™re not seeing (or donā€™t feel responsible for) the information gap between what they know of the current setup because they had to through it all, and what the non-gun-owning public fail to understand because theyā€™ve never gone through it. What we also have is a relatively tiny number of people with a propensity to go nuts, grab a relatively tiny percentage of the guns and start shooting the place up, and the non-gun-owning populace sees a simple, unenforcable, and (in the eyes of the gun-owning public), ineffective solution: take away most (if not all) of the guns, require that the rest be locked up in safes, and find some way to tell in advance if somebody who would currently pass all the tests will some day snap like a twig, get out the keys to the gun safe, and start shooting. And where do you live that you have a local tax collector? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/18 "2013-01-04T21:27:52Z")
A lot of veterans own and fire civilian assault weapons. At least thatā€™s the way it seems at the ranges Iā€™ve visited. Itā€™s always ex military guys firing the AR-15ā€™s. Itā€™s a hobby they enjoy. > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > No it doesnā€™t. Or, if it does, it does so poorly and clumsily. > > I canā€™t figure out what this has to do with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/19 "2013-01-04T21:28:21Z")
[QUOTE=Joshua Boston] I will not register my weapons should this bill be passed, as I do not believe it is the governmentā€™s right to know what I own. [/quote] This asshole uses his service to this country to back up his position, while at the same time threatening to willfully disobey a (hypothetical) law of the land. Which is it? Do you support this nation and its flaws, or does your sense of honor and duty only go so far as the laws and rules that appeal to you? What other laws do you feel like you have a right to disobey because you are an ex-soldier? > [@](#): > > You maā€™am have overstepped a line that is not your domain. As an elected representative, it most certainly is her domain. > [@](#): > > I am not your subject. I am the man who keeps you free. I am not your servant. I am the person whom you serve. I get where heā€™s going here, I think; that an elected representative serves the people (and we are not her peasants to squash at will, or something), but this bit comes off as creepy, disgusting, and anti-democratic. There is a strong implication that because he was a soldier, that he is in a position of authority over another person. Fuck that noise. **aceplace57** , what about this letter caused you to endorse it? That the guy put a senator in her place? That he will refuse to obey the law if it is enacted? That the dude was a soldier, and so his rant is more worthy of note than the scrawlings of an ordinary citizen? **ETA:** ah, on review, it looks like itā€™s because there are ex-soldiers who donā€™t want to give up guns, and their opinions count more. Gotcha. Wonā€™t someone think of the veterans! ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100/20 "2013-01-04T21:29:30Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > A lot of veterans own and fire civilian assault weapons. At least thatā€™s the way it seems at the ranges Iā€™ve visited. Itā€™s always ex military guys firing the AR-15ā€™s. Does that somehow give them more of a right to own a firearm than somebody who hasnā€™t served in the military? > [@Eonwe](#): > > That the dude was a soldier, and so his rant is more worthy of note than the scrawlings of an ordinary citizen? Ahem, he was a Marine. It matters to some people. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-maam-a-marines-letter-to-senator-dianne-feinstein/646100.md?page=2)