The conventional wisdom in Tennessee at the moment is that Democrats need to somehow stop letting Republicans make every piece of legislation a referendum on God, Guns, and Gays. We, so the thought goes, should focus on jobs and education and healthcare, things that are very popular with Tennesseans and which Democrats are good on.
Of course, this makes sense, so it will never happen.
So, tonight, it occurred to me that I’m going to find some pro-gay piece of legislation and talk the sponsor into sticking some kind of guns-rights clause into it. I don’t know what the legislation will be. It really doesn’t matter. But the guns part could be as simple as just reaffirming that gay people can carry guns anywhere straight people are allowed to. I mean, Campfield all the time proposes legislation that does the same damn thing as legislation we already have, so the precedent is set.
If we want to pass progressive legislation, we just have to find a way to make it a gun rights issue.
Brilliant.
Oh fuck me. I’ve already proposed this, haven’t I? I’m not even going to bother to look because I will be so disappointed, but the more I type, the more my deja vu grows.
I think I recommened arming children so that they could get pre-K funding, if I’m remembering right.
Rats.
Still, it’s a good idea.
Tiny Cat Pants 
You could always try to get these folks’ logo on a specialty license plate.
Guns and Gays. That’s an easy duo to join up. The 2nd Amendment pretty well sums the right to be armed, so we could just pass a resolution in support of the Constitution and call it good.
http://www.pinkpistols.org/
Yes, thank you. Someone else already linked to them. Considering how few comments there are on this post, I’m surprised you didn’t notice.
What on earth makes you think that supporters of 2nd Amendment rights to armed self defense would not support other civil rights? Seems like there is some projection of intolerance going on here….
How about a billboard program where public service adds are placed on billboards around TN using Oleg Volk’s artwork
What on earth makes you think that supporters of 2nd Amendment rights to armed self defense would not support other civil rights?
Probably because I can think of at least a few people who absolutely support the 2nd Amendment but who would also tell you that anything that would prevent them from bashing gays would violate their religious freedom. I’m sure that small “c” conservatives and libertarians wouldn’t see it that way, but the theocrats sure do.
For what it’s worth, a whole lot of us gun folks strongly support gay rights. The aforementioned Oleg Volk is a modern legend in the gun rights world, and he does extensive photo work with gay people (hell, a bunch of his “partners in self defense” posters feature same-sex couples without commenting on their orientation–it’s a normal thing, and he treats it as normal).
Me, I support dismantling our ineffective and burdensome gun control laws, _and_ support full marriage equality for gay Americans. I just think that both movements need to build on baby steps to overcome the emotional biases so many people have against them. Demanding everything up front is a recipe for defeat.