Late last year, I shared a very powerful article by an admitted liberal who concluded that gun control was impractical and illogical.
Now I want to share a New York Times column from another leftist. Justin Cronin also supports the right of gun ownership, but he offers a more personal reason for his support of the Second Amendment.
Here are some of the key excerpts from his column.
I am a New England liberal, born and bred. I have lived most of my life in the Northeast — Boston, New York and Philadelphia — and my politics are devoutly Democratic. I am also a Texas resident and a gun owner. I have half a dozen pistols in my safe, all semiautomatics, the largest capable of holding 20 rounds. …I’m currently shopping for a shotgun, either a Remington 870 Express Tactical or a Mossberg 500 Flex with a pistol grip and adjustable stock. …I am my family’s last line of defense. I have chosen to meet this responsibility, in part, by being armed. It wasn’t a choice I made lightly.
A “pistol grip”? A gun that holds “20 rounds”? An “adjustable stock”? Gasp, the horror! I imagine Obama is probably sending the BATF after this guy. Heck, maybe even target him with a drone.
So why does this self-described leftist own guns and believe in the right to self-defense? The answer is common sense, based in part on what happened when Hurricane Rita was heading toward Houston.
My wife and I arranged to stay at a friend’s house in Austin, packed up the kids and dog, and headed out of town — or tried to. As many as 3.7 million people had the same idea, making Rita one of the largest evacuations in history, with predictable results. By 2 in the morning, after six hours on the road, we had made it all of 50 miles. The scene was like a snapshot from the Apocalypse: crowds milling restlessly, gas stations and mini-marts picked clean and heaped with trash, families sleeping by the side of the road. The situation had the hopped-up feel of barely bottled chaos. After Katrina, nobody had any illusions that help was on its way. It also occurred to me that there were probably a lot of guns out there… Here I was with two tiny children, a couple of thousand dollars in cash, a late-model S.U.V. with half a tank of gas and not so much as a heavy book to throw. …Rita made a last-minute turn away from Houston. But what if it hadn’t? I believe people are basically good, but not all of them and not all the time. Like most citizens of our modern, technological world, I am wholly reliant upon a fragile web of services to meet my most basic needs. What would happen if those services collapsed? Chaos, that’s what.
We’ve already witnessed real-world examples of societal breakdown caused by government incompetence and failure.
I wrote two years ago to celebrate the superiority of the American system, which allowed Korean shopowners to protect themselves during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles, and the British system, which left immigrant shopowners vulnerable and defenseless to rampaging mobs.
That argument gets more relevant and powerful every year. Indeed, there have been riots all over Europe, and I suspect that we’ll see more chaos and social disarray as the welfare state continues to collapse. And as I discuss in this NRA-TV interview, only a fool (or a victim of bad government) is unarmed when the you-know-what hits the fan.
Simply stated, would you want to leave your family vulnerable, and rely on the callow and feckless political class for their safety? I hope not, which is why I’m surprised that “protection during a societal breakdown” only got about 13 percent of the vote in my poll asking the most important reason to oppose gun control.
Let’s return to the NYT column. Our liberal columnist naively wishes guns didn’t exist (as if a pack of young, male thugs need weapons to terrorize a family), but at least he recognizes that his anti-gun leftist friends don’t know what they’re talking about.
…in the weeks since Newtown, I’ve watched my Facebook feed, which is dominated by my coastal friends, fill up with anti-gun dispatches that seemed divorced from reality. I agree it would be nice if the world had exactly zero guns in it. But I don’t see that happening, and calling gun owners “a bunch of inbred rednecks” doesn’t do much to advance rational discussion. Thus, my secret life — though I guess it’s not such a secret anymore.
Here’s a final excerpt that is very heartwarming, and this picture reveals that I obviously share the same sentiments.
My wife is afraid of my guns (though she also says she’s glad I have them). My 16-year-old daughter is a different story. …she asked to take a pistol lesson. …the instructor ran her through the basics, demonstrating with a Glock 9-millimeter: how to hold it, load it, pull back the slide. “You’ll probably have trouble with that part,” he said. “A lot of the women do.” “Oh really?” my daughter replied, and with a cagey smile proceeded to rack her weapon with such authority you could have heard it in the parking lot. A proud-papa moment? I confess it was.
If you want more practical information on gun control, I strongly recommend the famous Larry Correia article. And for wisdom on the issue of so-called assault weapons, John Lott is the oracle.
And if you want to laugh at the dishonest (or naive) liberals, watch this amusing video to see how they think gun control works in their fantasy world.
Then give your leftist friends this IQ test on gun control and see if they can figure out the right answer.
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] Which is why I’m always delighted to share admissions from honest leftists that gun control simply doesn’t make sense. […]
[…] As noted above, I hope Mr. Kaufman has an epiphany. Sort of like the one that Justin Cronin experienced when he dealt with a breakdown of civil […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] Here’s a column from someone on the left who became a gun-rights supporter after dealing with the chaos caused by a […]
[…] is common sense, which is why some folks on the left have had epiphanies on the issue of […]
[…] you think this is an empty slogan, I very much recommend this article by someone who leans left but had an epiphany on the importance of self […]
[…] On a more serious note about gun control, I invite readers to peruse my collection (here, here, here, here, and here) of honest […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] Which is why I’m always delighted to share admissions from honest leftists that gun control simply doesn’t make sense. […]
[…] explains, even researchers on the political left like herself admit that restricting gun ownership would do nothing to address the issues actually driving gun violence up in certain states. After all, these […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] 2013, Justin Cronin explained how he became a left-wing supporter of gun […]
[…] Cronin explains how he became a left-wing supporter of gun […]
[…] Cronin explains how he became a left-wing supporter of gun […]
[…] Cronin explains how he became a left-wing supporter of gun […]
[…] the utter impracticality of gun control, and since a growing number of honest liberals (see here, here, here, and here) also acknowledge that such laws are ill-advised, I didn’t think another […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] similar articles, see Jeffrey Goldberg at The Atlantic and Justin Cronin at The New York […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained […]
[…] The best evidence that we’re winning on the issue of gun control is that more and more and more leftists are now admitting that private gun ownership is a good […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained how […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained how […]
[…] Even some leftists have seen the light on gun rights, as you can see here, here, and […]
[…] And even some leftists, as you can see here, here, and […]
[…] And even some leftists, as you can see here, here, and […]
[…] Cronin explains how he became a left-wing supporter of gun […]
[…] in 2013, I wrote about a column by Justin Cronin in the New York Times. He self-identified as a liberal, but explained how […]
[…] of all, though, I recommend you read what Jeffrey Goldberg and Justin Cronin wrote about guns. They’re both self-confessed leftists, but they also decided that […]
[…] when there is a contradiction between statist ideology and real-world results. Just look at what Justin Cronin and Jeffrey Goldberg wrote about gun control and whatNicholas Kristof wrote about […]
[…] when there is a contradiction between statist ideology and real-world results. Just look at what Justin Cronin and Jeffrey Goldberg wrote about gun control and what Nicholas Kristof wrote about […]
[…] targets of my IQ test, not all liberals are misguided on the gun issue. As you can read here and here, there are a couple of them who put reason ahead of […]
[…] the very powerful testimony of a true gun expert, as well as the admissions of two leftists (here and here) who admit that gun control is grossly misguided. All three of these links should be […]
[…] are also two pro-2nd Amendment columns (here and here) from self-confessed leftists that also make very persuasive […]
Mr Mitchell –
I’ve long been following a blog entitled “The Smallest Minority”, run by a man named Kevin Baker. You might consider perusing this blog, as he has some amazing uberposts discussing gun control.
[…] I’m increasingly optimistic that we are beating the statists on this issue. Honest leftists (see here and here) are acknowledging the value of private firearms ownership. We have very strong polling […]
[…] increasingly optimistic that we are beating the statists on this issue. Honest leftists (see here and here) are acknowledging the value of private firearms ownership. We have very strong polling […]
[…] friends, there are two posts that may convince them to be rational about guns. Justin Cronin explains here that restrictions on gun ownership undermined his ability to protect his family. And Jeffrey Goldberg looked at the evidence and […]
I’ve heard a conservative is just a liberal who was mugged by reality, or just mugged. Seem to be true here.
[…] friends, there are two posts that may convince them to be rational about guns. Justin Cronin explains here that restrictions on gun ownership undermined his ability to protect his family. And Jeffrey Goldberg looked at the evidence and […]
[…] friends and colleagues who favor gun control, show them this article from The Atlantic andthis column from the New York […]
[…] from an actual firearms expert, as well as remarkable admissions from leftists that can be read here and […]
[…] And you can read the confessions of two honest liberals here and here. […]
[…] And you can read the confessions of two honest liberals here and here. […]
[…] My favorite examples of liberals crossing the ideological aisle are Justin Cronin and Jeffrey Goldberg, both of whom wrote very powerful anti-gun control […]
[…] My favorite examples of liberals crossing the ideological aisle are Justin Cronin and Jeffrey Goldberg, both of whom wrote very powerful anti-gun control […]
[…] being said, we should never get overconfident. Yes, it’s good that some honest liberals (here and here) have recognized that gun control is misguided. And it’s great that we have powerful […]
[…] Cronin, for instance, explained that restrictions on gun ownershipundermined his ability to protect his family. And Jeffrey Goldberg looked at the […]
[…] Cronin, for instance, explained that restrictions on gun ownership undermined his ability to protect his family. And Jeffrey Goldberg looked at the evidence and […]
[…] Cronin, for instance, explained that restrictions on gun ownership undermined his ability to protect his family. And Jeffrey Goldberg looked at the evidence and […]
[…] But the biggest sign of progress may be that honest leftists are beginning to acknowledge the benefits of the Second Amendment. If you have squeamish friends and colleagues who favor gun control, show them this article from The Atlantic and this column from the New York Times. […]
[…] But the biggest sign of progress may be that honest leftists are beginning to acknowledge the benefits of the Second Amendment. If you have squeamish friends and colleagues who favor gun control, show them this article from The Atlantic and this column from the New York Times. […]
[…] And you can read the confessions of two honest liberals here and here. […]
[…] And you can read the confessions of two honest liberals here and here. […]
[…] Dan Mitchell has written frequently about the gun control topic and he had a good column yesterday titled Another Honest Liberal Writes about Gun Ownership and Second Amendment Rights. […]
Being that he’s in Texas, my guess is he’s liberalism isn’t long for this world.
Reblogged this on just telling it as it is.
Reblogged this on Freedom Is Just Another Word….
Reblogged this on Grumpa Joe's Place and commented:
A different liberal opinion.
HE IS ACTUALLY HIS FAMILY’S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, THE COPS WON’T BE THERE TIL LATER.
It’s good to see that an otherwise deluded lefty can pull his head out of his ass on this issue. He’s got promise! And I predict that he’ll become more libertarian as he ages. He’s showing the signs.