Disappointment

I grew up in a family that was active in local politics.  My Grandpa sat on several boards and was a precinct captain.  Both of my parents were election judges.  From the time I was tiny, I helped my Grandpa knock on doors, collate election materials and shout "Punch 23!" as voters entered the polling place.  (They tend not to arrest really cute 4 year olds for electioneering.)What I learned from this participation is to believe in the process.  Poppy always taught me that every politician, even the ones we don't agree with, are just doing what they believe is best for their electorate.  I learned to vote with my conscience, not my party.  Most importantly, though, I learned that this is MY government.Since the 2000 election, when my guy won the popular vote, but the other guy got to be President, many of my friends have poked fun at my (in their eyes) naive view of politics.  They tell me that my vote doesn't really count.  That political office is really just for the highest bidder.  That special interest groups are who really run this country.  But I held onto my cherished belief that, though flawed, the process works. I thought I finally had some vindication at the promise of bi-partisan talks to discuss gun control.  A discussion we desperately need to have.  I mentioned in passing to my husband how proud I was, because for many conservative legislators, this conversation is political suicide, but clearly, they too were voting with their consciences.  And then those legislators, that I was just so proud of, shut the conversation down.  They bowed to a special interest group and blocked the most basic gun control measure there could be.  Despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans believe in background checks for the sale of all weapons (90% is the number bandied about, but I'm not sure of that accuracy), anyone with any record will be able to purchase a gun without a background check at a gun show or on-line.Apparently, we are just supposed to trust that on-line shoppers are telling the truth.  I am sure there will be a box to check saying that you don't have a criminal record before buying the weapon.  I mean, that "Are you 18" check box on porn sites totally stops teenage boys from entering the sites, right?  For those of you who are pro gun, I understand you have the second amendment right to bear arms.  I don't love it, but you have it.  What you don't have is the UNLIMITED right to bear arms.  No where are you promised the right to own as many of any type of weapon you want without question.  And furthermore, the second amendment is not guaranteed.  Our forefathers gave us a brilliant gift when they gave us a constitution that could be shaped and molded as times changed.  After all, prohibition was an amendment, too, and we don't have that any more, do we?  All of our rights are limited by our responsibilities to ourselves and each other.We have to find a place to meet in the middle.  I know I cannot have a completely gun free society, no matter how badly I may want it.  I accept this as a fact of life.  But that doesn't mean that you get to build an arsenal in your basement, either.  That doesn't mean that you shouldn't have to prove that you are capable of responsibly owning that weapon and have no intention of actually using it against a human being.  That doesn't mean that just because the technology to shoot hundreds of rounds in seconds exists that you should have access to that technology.We are never going to find that place in the middle if we can't have a rational conversation.  I have been called a "quasi retarded liberal" by someone that (until then) I respected, despite disagreeing with them because I questioned how he could call himself Pro Life and pro unlimited access to guns.  I have been told that I am fear mongering, despite the fact that I am not the one arming myself to the teeth in my home.  Right now, I am struggling.  I want to believe that the process works.  That one small group doesn't really run this country.  That this conversation will happen and we will find a way to compromise so you can have your right to own a gun and I can have my right to feel safe about that.  I need to believe that is possible.