Yet, how many people would classify me as a “computer nut”, or a shower nut, or a car nut, or a TV nut, or a coffee nut, or a book nut, etc….because I spend 20 minutes (or far more in some cases) of daily time with those activities.

Gun nut is a term meant to disparage and to vilify. It’s used with bigotry, prejudice, and disdain. It’s used by people who have a bone to pick, or who simply don’t like guns, or simply want to discriminate against gun owners, and think of them as all the same, and lower than them (similar to how some people view or use other disparaging terms such as “dykes”, “spicks”, “crackers”, etc. They are terms used, and meant, to vilify and belittle. “Gun nut” does the same. People who use that term are often hypocritical, and simply won’t accept that free people can make their choices regardless of the fact that “bigotry nuts” hate and vilify them.

No… and I’m not arguing that Jen Stein is insane either. And as an agnostic, yeah, I think all religion is a little weird. Nonetheless, UFO stuff is far outside the mainstream… certainly farther than gun owners. She should be leading the charge to protect the rights of individuals, not leading the charge against them.

You are correct. On it’s face it is an ad hominem argument. That said, as long as one’s views on UFOs, gun control, and God enter into the realm of public policy, they are best made rationally and objectively. Belief in UFOs and precog are simply testament to one’s likelihood to think rationally and objectively. Nothing more, but nothing less.

I don’t really have any issues with Ms. Stein believing what she does, but her views are not shared by most Americans. I absolutely believe she has the right to believe them, and live her life based on those beliefs. That’s what freedom is about.

But then she turns around and joins a group that’s out to take freedom away from other people, because she finds their interest in firearms revolting. In a free society, she has a right to do this.

But I also have a right to call her out for enjoying her freedom to be part of a quirky minority, but then arguing that other people who’s behavior she finds offense are quirky minorities who don’t deserve the kind of freedom she enjoys for herself.

Sure, I personally think a lot of that is either nuts or perversions of something else that’s been lost to time, but I’d rather focus on her wanting me disarmed and/or dead for not agreeing with her on my self determination in the life God gave me.

Sorry, but this just looks as bad as atr’s rantings on gays and blacks.

I don’t like them either, but this directly speaks to how much credibility this woman should have in terms of public policy discussions.

At any rate, I found your following statements to be particularly mature and well-said…thanks for them!

“…folks…that like to study crop circles and UFO phenomena…A free and confident society has plenty of room for such people.”

“…Ms. Stein associates with an organization who believes that idea is far outside of the mainstream, and only held by a tiny vocal minority, who don’t deserve to be listened to.”

“…How much farther from the mainstream can you get than believing a highly advanced race of spacefaring creatures has the inclination to take a break from warping time and space to doodle in Farmer Bob’s corn field?”

“It saddens me to see someone like this speaking out against other people’s liberty, while pretty clearly taking advantage of it themselves.”

Heh.