Shunned For Gun Questions

Alright guys, before I get started on this post I would just like to make a few things very clear. First, I am all for the Second Amendment giving one the right to bear arms. Second, I am all for buying and selling firearms. Third, I am all for open carry and carrying concealed weapons. Fourth, I am all for owning and shooting guns and protecting people and property with guns. And finally, I am pro-gun through and through.

However, with all that being said, I am also a strong believer and supporter of smart, COMMON SENSE gun control including universal backround checks on all firearm sales, banning internet sales of all firearms, banning the sale of firearms ya know, typically used in warfare without special, yearly, safety classes, health screenings, and license/registration renewal, limiting the number of rounds a magazine is capable of firing, closing loopholes which allow bad and or sick people to easily get their hands on guns and also coming down harder on violators of these laws and people who have guns registered in their names that were used to break the law.

Ok, now lets get on with the story shall we? I've been a member of the Clio Montrose Birch Run yardsale site on Facebook for quite some time. I've been selling items weekly through the site. A few days ago I came acrossed a post with somebody trying to sell a few guns. It kind of suprised me so I finally decided to read through the rules of the site to see if there were any policies against such sales. I was even more suprised to see that the sale of firearms is 100% permitted through the site.

My mind began racing with all of the possible scenerios that could come from the sale of firearms through the site. What if a 16 year old changed their birthday on Facebook, became a member of the site and was able to get their hands on a gun because the person selling it was too worried about the cash to check their ID? I know I need not remind everyone that you have to be at least 18 years of age to purchase a firearm in Michigan no matter the type of gun it is or the means in which you purchase it. But I just reminded you all anyway didn't I? Now, just think...what if that 16 year old takes that gun to school and does the unthinkable? What if?

What if a criminal gets their hands on  a firearm through the site? What if somebody with a mental illness gets their hands on a gun? Is it possible that every seller of a firearm through the site is making sure the buyer isn't a criminal or mentally ill? Sure, it's possible but it's certainally not probable. I know I need not remind you all that you cant have a criminal record or a history of mental illness in Michigan and legally buy or own a gun. I wonder how many illegal transactions have been made through sites like this? And who is overseeing these sales, making sure they are legal and legit?

I can tell you who isn't overseeing the sales of firearms on the site. The owner and administrators. And I know this because after thinking about my concerns for a short while, I decided to message the sites owner to kind of feel her out on the issue. I asked her about the sites full policy on firearm sales and if the site would be liable if anything bad were to happen due to the sale of a firearm through the site. I also asked how she would personally feel if something bad were to happen through her site.

She explained to me that hand gun sales were to be done at police stations with paperwork but long gun sales could be done wherever/however. She also assured me that legally, she wouldn't be responsible if anything bad happened. All responsibility lies with the seller/buyer. Which, I totally agree with. What I do not agree with is the huge loophole she is leaving open by allowing the sale of firearms through her site. The loophole which allows almost anybody to buy a firearm at any time.

Now, in my opinion here is where the story gets good. The whole reason for my post. First, let me describe my tone and the mood during the converstation I had with the sites owner. I, in no way even remotely implied to her that she should ban the sale of firearms on her site. I, in no way was mean, cocky or rude in anything that I said to this lady and told her multiple times that I wasn't starting or trying to start any problems for anybody. Again, I was just simply asking her a few questions. And I asked those questions in a calm, mature, civilized and respectful way.

When I was done asking, and she was done answering I said thank you for your time and told her to have a Merry Christmas. She said it back and told me she was talking to the other administrators about it at that very moment. I thought to myself cool...they're at least having a discussion about it and I actually thanked her again for that reason.

I was feeling pretty good about myself. Starting a discussion about something that affects the safety of at least three communities, if not more. And I know how sensitive the subjects of guns and gun control are in this country so I had no expectations and no intentions of really trying to change anything. But after she told me that her and the other administrators were talking about it I was thinking that maybe...just maybe they would all see the point I was trying to make and realize that selling firearms through the site was a bad idea.

So, you can imagine how suprised I was-even more so than seeing a gun posted on the site in the first place and even more so than learning that the sale of firearms was permitted on the site...and how disappointed I was...and how frustrated I was when I woke up the next morning only to find that I had not only been kicked off the site but was also blocked completely from even seeing that the site exist at all.

It honestly kind of felt like someone had purchased a gun illegally through that Clio Montrose Birch Run yardsale site on Facebook and shot me dead killing my dreams of a safer, more responsible America. And the false hope is still bleeding out of my body today because after realizing I was blocked, I sent the owner another message asking why I had been blocked. I didn't get any answer from her and am still waiting for at least some sort of reply back.

You know, there is a right way to buy and sell guns and there is a wrong way to do it. Yardsale sites, etc. is the wrong way to do it. Regardless of anything having to do with guns and gun control here, in no way...for no reason should I have been kicked off and blocked from the site. That is not how America works. That is not how humanity works. Will these people ever realize this? Will people ever realize that by sitting back...and by not caring...and by not doing anything to fix these problems, they just make everything worse? Will these people ever be for America?

Well, thank you for hearing me out and feel free to share this story if you believe the sale of firearms through yardsale sites like the Clio Montrose Birch Run site is a bad idea and or if you agree that blocking me was the absolute wrong move on their part. Again, I thank you all for your time! Now, lets save this great country in which we all call home!

Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men?

With our country even more divided today then it was yesterday and last year and 20 years ago and with so much turmoil going on at home and abroad I'm posting these three Christmas songs to remind us all that without LOVE and PEACE and HOPE and COMPASSION this entire world would be lost.

We all need to do a better job at showing love, peace, hope and compassion not only around this time of year but throughout the entire year.

Please help me share these songs and practice the messages behind each one. Thank you. I love you all. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Amy Grant-Grown Up Christmas List
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RmF2rsDHOZc

John Lennon-Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sbKQ7nXx0o8&autoplay=1

Far f/ Chino Moreno-Feed The World (Do They Know Its Christmas)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dpZ3Hsif1jI

"Put Christ Back in Christmas"

I say "Happy Halloween" on Halloween, "Happy Thanksgiving" on Thanksgiving, "Merry Christmas" on Christmas and "Happy New Year" on New Years day. I say "Happy Holidays" when wishing cheer throughout the entire holiday season.

When somebody says "Happy Holidays" it's because they're talking about all of the holidays. They're not trying to do away with the name "Christmas". They are not knocking or trying to offend Christ. Or Christians. They are not trying to change what the true meaning of the holiday is...or excuse me what the true meaning of Christmas really is. They are not waging any kind of war on religion or Christianity. They are simply wishing you a happy Holiday Season.

Why people are offended by this is beyond me? If somebody does say "Happy Holidays" to you because they are uncomfortable saying "Merry Christmas", you should just be happy that they are even acknowledging the holiday at all.

Plus, I dont get why people are just now getting offened by people saying "Happy Holidays". I've heard people say "Happy Holidays" during each of my 30 years on this earth. I didn't see or hear anybody make a big deal about the "Happy Holidays" saying until recent years.

Not to mention the fact that there is how many different countries and religions and nationalities around the world that celebrate their holidays at the same time as us. Ramadan, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Omisoka, Fiesta of our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucia Day, Boxing Day and the list goes on and on.

And here is the thing. Unlike Christians, there are actually people who are considerate of other peoples beliefs. And seeing how America is the great and diverse country that it is, it's perfectly acceptable for one to use the phrase "Happy Holidays". Saying "Happy Holidays" is a universal and respectful way to send happiness to people of all religions and all nationalities during this most joyous time of the year.

I also dont know why people get offended by others calling their own tree a "Holiday Tree". I mean really? It's a tree. Who cares? If Christians are going to get offended by a "Holiday Tree", then as an enviromentalist, I am going to have to start getting offended that you're calling Pine Trees, "Christmas Trees".

Na, I wouldn't do that because I could care less what you call your own tree. And nobody else should care either. And you know what? I put up my tree before Thanksgiving and leave it up until New Years Day. So, technically...you know, it is a "Holiday Tree". I've even thought about leaving my tree up all year long to decorate it for every holiday. Would you be offended on the 4th of July by my "Independence Tree"? I would certainally hope not.

So for now on, just worry about what you call your tree and let others call theirs what they want. You say "Merry Christmas" all you want but let people just say "Happy Holidays" if that's what they want. Stop being offended by things that dont matter. As long as YOU remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks or says.

Because if Christ isn't a part of Christmas anymore it's because Christians are making it that way. It's because Christians would rather complain about what others call the holidays rather then just celebrate what Christmas is truly all about, Christ.

No matter what you Christians think, who are offended by one saying "Happy Holidays", nobody is trying to take Christ out of Christmas. It's Christmas. It's the holidays. Either saying is fine. Stop getting offended by nothing.

Last thing, when schools, businesses or whoever else calls it "Winter Break" or "Holiday Break", they aren't trying to offend you. They just aren't trying to offend anybody else either. So just get over it and enjoy your holidays already.

Merry Christmas to all you Christians out there and Happy Holidays to everybody else.