Are guns your most important political issue?

[Manedwolf]

The 2A is important, but not as important as freedom of speech.

If we don't have freedom of speech, we're screwed.  Fixing things politically becomes impossible.  The only option left is violence, which I wish to avoid as much as possible.

Again, if they take away the freedom of speech and they have guns, and you don't, what are you gonna do about it?

[Dntsycnt]

Well, yeah...I'm not saying I'd toss out my guns if told I could still openly bash the government, but I think the first amendment is at least as important.  What good are your guns for use against a tyrannical government if you've been raised to zealously believe in the State, and have never read a word of Orwell, Jefferson, or any of the founding fathers and free-thinkers?

On the other hand, you can't exactly back up your dissent without arms.  But if it comes time to use weapons against the government, there's always getting them illegally, making them, stealing them, etc...

[Ben]

If there was a choice between one and two, that's what I'd click. I chose "most important" only because like others here, I find a politician's stance on the 2nd an incredibly good indicator on how he/she stands on other issues that are very important to me.

Edited way late for spelling

[AJ Dual]

You're right.  We'd all grab our AW's, drive our SUV's to D.C. surround 'em, smoke 'em out and pick 'em off.   

There's two concepts that come to mind that are much more realistic than the "million gun march" on D.C. that seems to arise on the boards from time to time, either in earnest but naive origins, or in jest as more of a reductio ad absurdum.

First, a page of the play book leftist/environmentalist/anti-WTO/kumbyah set. "Think globally, act locally." Translated into anti-totalitarian RKBA tactics, it means the local low-level officials are either too terrified to enact the dictates of D.C., or dead. It's obviously no gaurantee of success, but it levels the playing field immensely.

Second, the other is "MAD" from the cold war. In our terms it means, "Yes, Joe-six-pack RKBA believer won't 'win', but if enough of them are angry, the U.S. will devolve into balkanization, or become a Somaliaesque 'failed state'." And thus, both sides at least have a vested interest in maintaining the status-quo of our battered, but still functioning Constitutional Republic.

[Sergeant Bob]

Guns are the litmus test.

[Werewolf]

RKBA is most important.

Once that right is gone the others will be departing soon after.

[Balog]

If there was a choice between one and two, that's what I'd click. I chose "most important" only because like others here, I find a politician's stance on the 2nd and incredibly good indicator on how he/she stands on other issues that are very important to me.

+1.

Although I rate border security issues a close second to RKBA and related civil rights issues, I honestly think the greatest threat isn't the evil bad guys from afar but the homegrown statists. From Londonesque surveillance to the war on drugs, I'm with Lewis all the way.

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.

[Scott]

I have always looked at a candidates views on the 2nd, in the last few years it has become the most important thing I look at when deciding on who to vote for. A small part of it is I like evil black rifles quite a bit but more important is it is a good indicator what respect they will give the rest of our human rights. If they only give lip service to the 2nd ( Mc Cain, Bush the elder, Clinton, Kerry)  they will tend to be willing to infringe on the others such as the 1st (McCain again, Bush the younger) or the 4th ( Bush) and all of them stomp on the 9th and 10th every chance they get. It's one of the reasons I have tended to vote Libertarian anytime I have a choice on my ballot. I look at taxes and some other stuff also but that is a pretty small part of my decision.

[Tecumseh]

The 2A is important, but not as important as freedom of speech.

If we don't have freedom of speech, we're screwed.  Fixing things politically becomes impossible.  The only option left is violence, which I wish to avoid as much as possible.

Again, if they take away the freedom of speech and they have guns, and you don't, what are you gonna do about it?

  Well I often wonder why the Founding Fathers put that freedom of speech thing first. 

And guns work most of the time but sometimes revolts happen without them.  India and the civil rights movement come to mind.

[Mabs2]

I consider it equal with the rest of the Bill of Rights, even though I consider it a tad more important, as I believe it's the right that protects the other rights.
Or some such.
So I try not to let that one subject dictate all my decisions.

[seeker_two]

If a politician can't understand a part of the Constitution as simply & clearly written as the Second Amendment, I have concerns about his/her understanding of the entire document.......

[Antibubba]

Four years ago I would have been "Absolutely!! 100%!!!" 

Now I look at other factors, like the descent into fascism--of which gun control is a critical part.

[Finch]

RKBA is most important.

Once that right is gone the others will be departing soon after.

I use to agree with that sentiment, but lately I think that they are going after the other ones first. Detention without counsel, Warrantless searches and wiretaps, McCain-Feingold, etc. It seems they attack others full force, but just slowly chip away at the 2nd amendment. Maybe by doing that it will be harder to fight when they finally try an outright attack on the 2nd.

[Silver Bullet]

Most Important

That's the litmus test issue.  If a politician isn't on the right side of RKBA, I don't consider him as a candidate.  I then look at the other issues, but only regarding the politicians who passed the RKBA test.

[Fly320s]

RKBA is the most important issue, but not the most pressing.

[Tecumseh]

RKBA is most important.

Once that right is gone the others will be departing soon after.

I use to agree with that sentiment, but lately I think that they are going after the other ones first. Detention without counsel, Warrantless searches and wiretaps, McCain-Feingold, etc. It seems they attack others full force, but just slowly chip away at the 2nd amendment. Maybe by doing that it will be harder to fight when they finally try an outright attack on the 2nd.

  My thoughts as well.  The current administration has destroyed what this country was about.  The Bill of Rights is a "goddamn piece of paper" according to Bush.