Stephen King risks wrath of NRA by releasing pro-gun control

[The Annoyed Man]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/ja ... amazon-nra
Stephen King risks wrath of NRA by releasing pro-gun control essay
Bestselling author and gun owner says 'autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction' in 25-page work for Kindle

Stephen King has entranced millions with tales of dread but his latest volume will read like a horror only to the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights advocates. The best-selling author made an unexpected charge into the national debate on gun violence on Friday with a passionate, angry essay pleading for reform.

King, who owns three handguns, aimed the expletive-peppered polemic at fellow gun-owners, calling on them to support a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons in the wake of the December shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school which left 20 children and six adults dead.

"Autos and semi-autos are weapons of mass destruction. When lunatics want to make war on the unarmed and unprepared, these are the weapons they use," King wrote.

He said blanket opposition to gun control was less about defending the second amendment of the US constitution than "a stubborn desire to hold onto what they have, and to hell with the collateral damage". He added: "If that's the case, let me suggest that '[expletive] you, Jack, I'm okay' is not a tenable position, morally speaking."

King is a brilliant writer. He is also an idiot. One more fool I am so done with.....

[Redneck_Buddha]

You'd think these people would learn what a large economic force gun owners can be.

[K.Mooneyham]

TAM, so many of them have either gone off the deep end, or are showing their true colors. Its absolutely insane these days.

[Gameover]

I've read a few of king's books and have found them all to be very enjoyable but why is he sticking his nose where it doesn't belong? Just because he owns 3 handguns makes him the expert on gun crimes? Since when did a semi auto's become a WMD?? He would be wise to keep his mouth shut.

[Z0Tex]

I've read a few of king's books and have found them all to be very enjoyable but why is he sticking his nose where it doesn't belong? Just because he owns 3 handguns makes him the expert on gun crimes? Since when did a semi auto's become a WMD?? He would be wise to keep his mouth shut.

+1

I was planning on adding some of his books to my new book collection, but not anymore.

[cheezit]

was a big fan. no more of my money for him.

[Abraham]

Yes, of course we can vote with our dollars.

That said, if I boycott everyone I disagree with (and yes, the list is now dismayingly long) I may as well live in an empty cave.

Many of my favorite actors/writers/and other creative types simply aren't qualified to, but still offer up their dopey opinions about any number of things, but they do...and as my ex-wife used to tell me, she could tender her opinion on everything she knew nothing about, because, by gawd, she is an American. Toot-de-doo!

While I understand the school of thought that celebrity types can reach a large percentage of people, I rather think their opinions aren't considered as credible in the overall...

I regard their pontificating on gun matters with as much respect as their discussing the fine details of say, thoracic surgery or Newtonian physics - with a roll of my eyes...

Me, I'm gonna still read Stephen King and watch actors I politically disagree with.

I'm guessing most of have some friends and relatives we don't see eye to eye with be it political or religious. With those folks, I simply don't discuss such matters and we get along famously.

[Right2Carry]

One of my favorite writers is now off of my reading and watching list.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

Never understood the fascination with King as a "horror" writer.

To me, reading his writing seems like I'm reading the writing of a naive 13 year old asthmatic kid with confidence issues.

/shrug


Different strokes......

Regardless, his position on firearms is not shocking in the least bit.

[MeMelYup]

He has been listening to the Bradie's to much. This is a quote from the article:
"King noted that homicides by firearm declined by 60% in Australia after strict gun controls were introduced. And that about 80 people die of gunshot wounds daily in the US."

This is fron Australia.
Australian crime: Facts & figures 2011
• Over the seven year period 2003 to 2010, the number of victims across all violent crimes has fluctuated, with no consistent pattern of increase or decrease being evident.
• Between 2009 and 2010, the number of victims of homicide in Australia decreased by 11 percent.
http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/0/B/6/% ... acts11.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cheezit]

there is always the used book/movie market. that way you can still read the stuff and not support the people on the "dislike" list

[2farnorth]

Here's his pen name also: (from wikipedia)

" King has published 50 novels, including seven under the pen-name of Richard Bachman,"

His political leanings have been mostly left sided but since 2008 he's been getting more vocal about what he believes: (also from Wikipedia)

"King's website states that he is a supporter of the Democratic Party. During the 2008 presidential election, King voiced his support for Democratic candidate Barack Obama. King was quoted as calling conservative commentator Glenn Beck "Satan's mentally challenged younger brother.""

"On March 8, 2011, King spoke at a political rally in Sarasota aimed against Governor Rick Scott (R-FL), voicing his opposition to the Tea Party movement."

[VMI77]

I enjoyed your writing, but bye bye Mr. King.

[QMCS]

Say goodbye to Hollywood. Not watching or reading any of his stuff again.

[K.Mooneyham]

Here's his pen name also: (from wikipedia)

" King has published 50 novels, including seven under the pen-name of Richard Bachman,"

His political leanings have been mostly left sided but since 2008 he's been getting more vocal about what he believes: (also from Wikipedia)

"King's website states that he is a supporter of the Democratic Party. During the 2008 presidential election, King voiced his support for Democratic candidate Barack Obama. King was quoted as calling conservative commentator Glenn Beck "Satan's mentally challenged younger brother.""

"On March 8, 2011, King spoke at a political rally in Sarasota aimed against Governor Rick Scott (R-FL), voicing his opposition to the Tea Party movement."

All of the liberal-progressives have been that way in the last several years. I think they went unhinged en mass during the Bush administration. Before all that, yeah, you could tell who was a liberal but they weren't on an in-your-face, seek-and-destroy mission with it...often you could ignore the liberal messaging that would be scattered here and there and perhaps enjoy a book or movie for the plot or story...now, there is no plot or story that isn't the liberal message itself. And its only ramped up since BHO got into office. I tell you, I read a lot of non-fiction books and watch a lot of old movies these days. And for music, I've been listening to classical more. No modern politics.