# Where are all the 2nd Amendment people now that Trump has said his "authority is total"? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 14, 2020, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805 "2020-04-14T23:43:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/41 "2020-04-16T18:57:00Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > You mean this guy: > > [https://jonmcnaughton.com/](https://jonmcnaughton.com/) > > It doesn’t appear that he’s painting happy little trees. Looks like this one (titled “The Impeachment Mob”) is his latest: > > [Patriotic - Americana - The Impeachment Mob - McNaughton Fine Art](https://jonmcnaughton.com/patriotic/americana/the-impeachment-mob/) > > Another noteworthy one would be this one (titled “MAGA Ride”): > > [MAGA Ride - 24X36 inch Limited Edition Giclee Canvas Print, Signed and Numbered (200) - McNaughton Fine Art](https://jonmcnaughton.com/maga-ride-24x36-inch-limited-edition-giclee-canvas-print-signed-and-numbered-200/) > > According to the artist, “I wanted to paint a picture of President Trump and Melania on a jacked-up motorcycle, painted up with the American flag and patriotism, as they ride down a bumpy, crumbling road that represents the hazards and the problems that this presidency has faced since Trump has been elected.” > > So, no happy little trees, but he’s been keeping busy anyway. Wow! I hadn’t heard of this artist until just now. Weird, wild stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2020, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/42 "2020-04-16T19:31:10Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Gee, what was it about Obama that alarmed so many NRA members? Oo! Oo! Mr. Kotter, I know! I know, Mr. Kotter! He’s a Constitutional scholar and one of those East Coast elites with a PhD from a liberal educational institution! That means he’s evil and also he’s a pansy-assed librul[SUP]1[/SUP]. [SUP]1[/SUP]My tongue is firmly in my cheek, and also I am slathering the sarcasm on about 40-feet deep. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/43 "2020-04-17T00:15:28Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > \ I am a Republican [registered since 1979, when I turned 18] and I object, and have been objecting all along. God, I wish you would finally shut the fuck up. You have always been a clueless idiot, and this post does nothing to remove that impression. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/44 "2020-04-17T18:46:24Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Well, there ya go. You have the president of the US claiming he has dictatorial power. > > What do we get from the NRA and gun folks? > > _ **crickets chirping** _ > > Tl;Dr Gun rights nuts are full of shit making specious arguments for why they absolutely must have their guns. In other news water is wet. Look, anyone who proclaims, “Imma take a shot at taking down the gummint first chance I get.” is a fucking idiot and you shouldn’t be surprised when an idiot has an idiotic view. It’s not that I think gummint is sacrosanct or even unbeatable. It’s that telegraphing that kind of ambition means you haven’t thought any further than “I know how to operate a firearm”. If a gummint is serious about oppressing, the first targets will be those who have demonstrated a propensity to stand up to gummint, right? Theoretically, that would just leave low-testosterone-packing sheeple. The important thing to remember is bloviating gun fetishists do not comprise the majority of gun owners. There are a nontrivial number of armed Americans who are smart enough to keep their traps shut about their openness to insurrection. > [@Spoons](#): > > According to the artist, “I wanted to paint a picture of President Trump and Melania on a jacked-up motorcycle, painted up with the American flag and patriotism, as they ride down a bumpy, crumbling road that represents the hazards and the problems that this presidency has faced since Trump has been elected.” Or maybe an image of Trump living large and carefree while disregarding the infrastructure crumbling beneath him. Art can be quite subversive, eh? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dogginit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogginit/32/16920_2.png) [@Dogginit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogginit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/45 "2020-04-17T20:44:43Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Yesterday president Trump proclaimed he has some pretty exceptional powers as president: > > Of course that is complete bullshit but I guarantee you if president Obama had said that while in office the NRA and a lot of 2nd Amendment people would be racing to gun stores to stock up on guns and ammo. Hell, Obama said a lot more tame stuff than this and gun sales would soar (happened more than once). > > Isn’t this _exactly_ the sort of thing they tell us why the 2nd Amendment is there and important? To protect us from a government that would try to take their freedoms away? > > Well, there ya go. You have the president of the US claiming he has dictatorial power. > > What do we get from the NRA and gun folks? > > _ **crickets chirping** _ > > Tl;Dr Gun rights nuts are full of shit making specious arguments for why they absolutely must have their guns. In other news water is wet. I can assure you this is one who is busy buying up ammo (when it’s on the shelves - been scarcer than toilet paper lately!) & reloading supplies for just such an occurrence, have been for a while. There’s been quite an impressive trade going on at our local gun stores, as well. We just feel it’s best not to let the other side know our exact plans. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/46 "2020-04-18T00:29:05Z")
> [@Dogginit](#): > > I can assure you this is one who is busy buying up ammo (when it’s on the shelves - been scarcer than toilet paper lately!) & reloading supplies for just such an occurrence, have been for a while. There’s been quite an impressive trade going on at our local gun stores, as well. We just feel it’s best not to let the other side know our exact plans. What a piece of shit you are. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/47 "2020-04-18T01:24:42Z")
I grew up, at least my late teens on, in the gun culture. Went to a bazillion gun shows, exposed to all the conservative talking points and conspiracy theories about gun confiscation. I was always told that the 2nd was so an armed populace could defend against a tyrannical government. Then one day, after I got on the internet in 1997-ish, I was exposed to a post by someone that pointed out that an armed citizenry could just as easily fight on _behalf_ of a tyrannical government. Everything I read about gun rights is now filtered through that lens. Lately, it’s looking like prophecy. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/48 "2020-04-18T13:15:36Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Huh? Did you miss the part where he said > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Your confusion stems from not reading the OP. In the OP he did not say Trump said he would take guns. That was in a later post. The answer to the OP is that the gun rights folks see Trump as being on their side. He would never come after _them_. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/49 "2020-04-18T18:57:12Z")
[quote=“running\_coach, post:32, topic:851805”] [Obama’s Gun Record Basically Consists Of Expanding Gun Owners’ Rights](https://www.businessinsider.com/gun-laws-obama-has-signed-2012-12) > [@](#): > > One of those pro-gun laws took effect in February 2010 and allows people to carry loaded firearms into the Grand Canyon and other national parks, according to the AP. > > The other major pro-gun law Obama signed allows Amtrak passengers to carry guns in checked baggage, reversing a ban that was put in place after 9/11, according to USA Today. > > In addition to signing pro-gun laws, the Chicago Tribune has pointed out, Obama also failed to make good on a campaign promise to close a loophole that let some people buy guns without background checks. > > It’s not so shocking then that the Brady Campaign gave Obama an F in January 2010.]/QUOTE] > Those two bans were put in place by Reagan and Bush. I agree that the substance of what he did was expand gun rights. But his rhetoric was not gun friendly ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/50 "2020-04-18T18:58:59Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Gee, what was it about Obama that alarmed so many NRA members? The same thing that alarmed us about Hillary Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/51 "2020-04-18T21:23:38Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > I agree that the substance of what he did was expand gun rights. But his rhetoric was not gun friendly Trump’s rhetoric isn’t freedom-friendly, for what it’s worth. The \*substance \*of what he’s done, well… ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/52 "2020-04-18T21:56:34Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It doesn’t appear that he’s painting happy little trees. Looks like this one (titled “The Impeachment Mob”) is his latest: > > [Patriotic - Americana - The Impeachment Mob - McNaughton Fine Art](https://jonmcnaughton.com/patriotic/americana/the-impeachment-mob/) I’m really kind of digging this one. If he sold a poster for $10 and the money wasn’t going to such a piece of shit person, I’d probably buy it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2020, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/53 "2020-04-18T22:24:02Z")
He used the word “Total” purposefully. It’s going to be about the election and any attempt to remove dt from the oval office. He is going to use his “total” power to manipulate the election for reasons of “crisis.” The word “total” is meaningless outside of that context. Guns are not at issue. Gun fans don’t beleive dt when he speaks out loud to the country. They know he is tcb for them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/54 "2020-04-19T02:19:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > That’s great. > > Who will you pull the lever for in November is where the rubber meets the road. Certainly will not be Trump … > [@RTFirefly](#): > > This! It’s totally circular. They need guns to protect their freedoms, and the freedom in question that they need the guns for in order to defend is the freedom to own and play with firearms. Actually, I need my hand gun for either being a coup de grace shot on game I have shot with a larger weapon, or to defend myself if someone breaks into my house - being of extreme limited ability to walk unassisted, I have very little ability for either escape or evasion. I need the larger weapons for game hunting, I am particularly fond of venison.If we are attacked, I plan on playing along as best I can to avoid being killed - I am not an idiot. Though I would dose any bottles of booze in my house with colchicine and enjoy the thought that in about a week the cascading organ failure will begin \ > [@Monty](#): > > God, I wish you would finally shut the fuck up. You have always been a clueless idiot, and this post does nothing to remove that impression. Who peed in your wheaties. Have I ever given any idea that I _like_ Trump or his government? Please do point out my cluelessness in the political realm involving the Second Amendment or Trumps ego. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2020, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805/55 "2020-04-19T03:51:51Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Certainly will not be Trump … > > Actually, I need my hand gun for either being a coup de grace shot on game I have shot with a larger weapon, or to defend myself if someone breaks into my house - being of extreme limited ability to walk unassisted, I have very little ability for either escape or evasion. I need the larger weapons for game hunting, I am particularly fond of venison.If we are attacked, I plan on playing along as best I can to avoid being killed - I am not an idiot. Though I would dose any bottles of booze in my house with colchicine and enjoy the thought that in about a week the cascading organ failure will begin \ You can barely walk but can carry larger weapons and hunt large game ok? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-are-all-the-2nd-amendment-people-now-that-trump-has-said-his-authority-is-total/851805.md?page=2)