Michael Ramirez for May 29, 2022

Both!

You’re searching real hard for excuses, Ramirez!

they haven’t been lying around in people’s closets all this time, Ramirez.

Ramirez, how long has it been mass marketed as the weapon that will showcase your manhood?

Gun culture ?

Hmm, when had the assault weapons ban expired? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Assault_Weapons_Ban

There was an assault rifle ban from 1994 to 2005. Also, From wiki:‘….American Tactical OMNI AR-15 style rifle, (Lower in polymer), 5.56×45mm NATO caliber, with Millett DMS-1 scope and FAB Defense stock and gripsIn the 1990s, sales of AR-15 style rifles increased dramatically, partly as a result of the introduction of the flat top upper receiver (M4 variant) which allowed scopes and sighting devices to be easily mounted as well as new features such as free floating hand guards that increased accuracy.69 While only a handful of companies were manufacturing these rifles in 1994, by the 21st century the number of AR-15 style rifles had more than doubled.71 From 2000 to 2015, the number of manufacturers of AR-15 style variants and knock-offs increased from 29 to about 500.72 AR-15 style rifles are now available in a wide range of configurations and calibers from a large number of manufacturers.’

Not sure how such hypocrisy is allowed to flourish in these little arguments that are here everyday. The same crowd who want to penalize the law abiding and responsible guns owning citizens who are certainly in their constitutional rights to own these guns, are the very ones who see nothing wrong with taking the life of an unborn child because the parents were too irresponsible to avail themselves of any of the countless methods of birth control. Fifty three million and counting since 1973, when the Supreme Court decided to start doing the work of Congress. Where is the outrage, that is so present now from the left. I can’t hear you. This is not arguable. Until we live in a society that is more concerned with living peacefully and caring about the rights of their fellow human beings and not for themselves this will go on and on.

The assault weapons ban ended in 2004 (because the GOP failed to renew it). AR15 sales skyrocketed, especially against younger gun owners. AR15 related shootings also increased. Since 2012, there have been more than 20 AR15 related mass shootings.

The issue is unfettered access to guns. It has always been the issue. Couple that with no requirements on gun safety training, no universal background checks, no mental health screening requirement, no requirement to properly store the weapons, etc., and you get where we are today.

The GOP has blocked every meaningful piece of of gun control legislation because they are in bed with the NRA. The GOP is responsible for every death and they simply do not care about dead children.

Comparing our gun violence to all the other developed countries of the world shows how unsafe our gun culture has made the US.

Mental health is a large issue in our country.

law abiding and responsible guns owning citizens

law-abiding citizens, “guns”-owning or not, don’t engage in mass murder with deadly weapons. law-abiding citizens probably don’t need to own deadly assault weapons and there’s nothing in the constitution that guarantees you the right to own such a deadly weapon. you can deflect from the real issue of deadly weapons being used to kill people as much as you like, but the real issue isn’t going to go away because you decided to deflect…

What’s an assault weapon?

Culture… Gun culture! A the reversal of the assault rifles sales ban.

Hey, Ramirez; there is an obvious solution to the number of AR-15s in the country. But how do you propose to change the culture?

How about we do things within the range of reality rather than your fantasies?

Gun laws have been pulled back over the last ten years. Less regulation, more deaths! Even Ramirez should be able to figure that one out.

“Been around”.

What a lying, cheating phrase.

“Mostly” is another one.

The mass murder culture has twisted and warped into the monster it is thanks to gun loving conservatives. Folks like YOU helped make the “AR15 style weapon” the weapon of choice of these crazys. You are the “Guardians of the Gun”. Just look at the insane remarks that came from Houston, at the NRA Convention.

Conservatives groomed mass murders, like terrorists groom suicide bombers. You are the ones telling them that it’s ok to “give it to the libs”.

I do not believe all mass killers are conservatives, no. But I believe they share the gun loving culture that you ferociously “preserve and protect”.

This is a well drawn, thought provoking cartoon. When you submit it to the Pulitzer committee please include a link to today’s comments.

It is a culture of gun worship and fetishism fed by right wing conservatives, nra, and gun lobby that get represented and reinforced by our gaming, movies, TV, and music. But before you start attacking the 1st Amendment, let’s not forget what actually puts the holes in people and makes killing so easy and efficient for any unskilled person in pain in a country lacking in sufficient health care and even worse mental health care.

Well said, Mr.Ramirez. Well illustrated, also.

Culture, how about prayer in schools. The thing is these people doing this aren’t really all that mentally ill. Sure, they aren’t all that well wrapped but there are certain kinds of Border Line Personality Disorders. Not a Sociopath, Psychopath or Schizophrenia.

Yes, we need to keep guns from these people. Going out after law-abiding gun owners, won’t fix this.

Republiguns keep weapons of war legal.

The second amendment wasn’t about an individual’s right to bear arms: it was about preventing the federal government from interfering in the ability of the individual states to establish “well regulated militias” and thereby protect liberty in a newly formed representative republic.

They didn’t want a standing army, either.

How far we have come from those days!!

Today, it’s American “conservatives” who fetishize gun rights. They’re ignorant of the history and ignorant of the impact of gun laws in other countries.

How do we cure this sickness? The regressives say “it’s the culture” and they are right. The anti-government culture has created a strange mix. Every individual gets to “believe” they are “free” from the government, while remaining 100% tethered to it for their very lives.

Such a sickness.

Religion won’t help. Thoughts and prayers don’t stop the violence. Civic duty is virtually nonexistent among the regressives, so forget about that. Mental illness is a factor, but we don’t commit the resources to address the problem. Just like children once they are born.

I’m willing to admit life begins at conception if others will admit that all mothers and children need food, shelter and sufficient resources to thrive. And who’s going to do that?

I’m willing to admit two parents are better than one. But how are you going to,enforce that in the “land of the free and the home of the brave?”

It’s complicated, but nobody seems willing to accept that reality and promote real solutions.

Why the regressives have no political platform at all except to bask in their emotional anxiety promoted by Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity.

Truly sick.

Automatic weapons are illegal, and have been illegal since 1933. The AR15 is semi-automatic, and any modifications to make it fire as an automatic is illegal.

Semi-automatic weapons include pistols, rifles and shot guns. The AR15 is being targeted as an ‘assault rifle’ by dishonest politicians on both sides. The AR15 is NOT an assault rifle. It is not an automatic weapon and an assault rifle must be fully automatic to be an assault rifle. The AR15 functions the same as any other semi-automatic weapon, such as the M1 Garand, carbines, and a host of hunting rifles. In fact, some use the AR15 for hunting. It just looks different. It looks like the M16A1 or the M4 fully automatic assault rifle. It’s looks are based in contemporary/modern design versus the older wood stock weapons.

Don’t be fooled by those whose agenda is to confuse people, rather than solve the issue. Know the facts and not the hype. We need to make smart decisions, not knee-jerk reaction to supposed ‘leaders’ who aren’t interested in doing the hard work to solve the issue. We need to be precise and correct in terminology and in application or we will leave loop-holes that would undermine any solution we get.

Keep in mind that many Americans from both sides of the isle are sensible gun owners who are absolutely horrified and sickened about these outrages killings. DON"T blame Republicans for society’s failures in the last couple of decades. Reasonable gun laws have been in place and effective for over a century and have been working. What has changed in the last few decades? Typical Democrat response, can’t let a crisis go to waste to keep their political choke hold.

The AR style of rifle is the modern version of a long gun. It is precise, accurate, versatile, and can replace many of the older style of long guns as being the only one needed for hunting and sport competitions.

I’m very much in favor of changing the culture: start by getting rid of the idea that people should have guns.

Americans are evil

It’s due to the Assault rifle ban expiring in the mud 2000’s.

That is one warped argument, not to mention factually incorrect. (Forgot Columbine, did you?)

In the last 10 years, we relaxed a ban on them. I would think even you would be able to correlate the two.

Ramirez conveniently leaves off many red states enacting laws in more recent years making it easier and easier for anyone to get such weapons. Also, the AR15 and knockoffs have only been on the market since George W. Bush allowed the bipartisan assault weapons ban to end. Before that, they were kept in the military where they belong.

As of 2018 there were 18 AR-15 manufacturers in the U.S.. Each plying for business and probably all donating to the NRA.