In the comments policies below I have made it clear that MikeB is not permitted to post comments. You may wonder why. You might even wonder who “MikeB” is. Here’s my reasoning for this comment policy:
I am a peaceable armed citizen. I’m not exactly a “law abiding citizen,” because there are unjust laws. One cannot be moral and decent while simultaneously honoring and respecting unjust laws. All the same, most of the time laws are just and should be followed. As an honest citizen, it behooves me to scrupulously avoid the company of the low, unjust, and the plain criminal. MikeB, by his own admission is such a criminal.
People who not only own firearms illegally, but are bold enough to brag about it on the internet are not the sort of people that I want to be associated with. This is entirely separate from the fact that he is a lying, link whoring, anti-rights troll. Rather than rehash it, go here to read about it. I always say that there is no point re-inventing the wheel. Linoge was kind enough to write it all down for us, so read it at his place.
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Update:
Due to some blog unpleasantness, I offer this email exchange with the person in question
Sean,
Those are pretty strong words you wrote. Like I said to Breda once, I swear to god you’ve got me all wrong. Did you take Linoge’s word for all that? I know he can be pretty convincing in an overwhelming kinda way.
For example, calling that quote about my having owned guns legally and illegally bragging, where do you get that? It was nothing of the kind. It was an attempt to respond to serious questions on a comment thread ONCE. It was Linoge and Weer’d who took it and ran with it.
You even described yourself as “not exactly a law-abiding citizen” because of the immoral laws. Why do you use such a rigid measuring stick with me? My description of myself could be explained in many ways which don’t make me a “low, unjust, and [the] plain criminal.
Another thing is, do you really want to ban people? Aren’t you opposed to that kind of thing in general? Isn’t that the antithesis of pro-rights philosophy? Please reconsider.
So far you’re the first that I know of who’s banned me even before I ever visited. Now, why don’t you be the first to lift the ban. Make a post about it. It’ll do you good and your readers too.
Sincerely,
Mike
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Mike,
It is you who have got me all wrong. It is not Linoge’s words that have condemned you, it is your own. You told of how you are(were?) a criminal. I do not permit criminals in my house. You are and will remain unwelcome.
Sean
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Sean,
For curiosity’s sake, what did you mean when you described yourself as not really law abiding? Is that not the same as criminal, using your harsh judgment?
Mike
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Mike,
The main difference is that, at such time that I feel the law is immoral enough to warrant breaking it, I will do so publicly, daring the government to arrest me. If a man feels that a law is worth breaking, he should have the courage to do so in the same manner as Gandhi or MLKjr. Moral and honest civil disobedience to change a law is honorable behavior. Ignoring the law for one’s own convenience is selfish and
for a person who advocates increased gun regulation, i find it strangely hypocritical that you are proud enough of your lawbreaking past that you tell everyone online. Perhaps you are assuming that since you have no respect for the law, none of the rest of us do either. In that you are very mistaken. It is because I have a respect for the law that I insist that the law be moral and based in the Constitution. When I find that the law is neither, I will work to return the law to its proper foundations.
Sean
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Sean,
Thanks for elaborating. I mean it.
Consider something. You have no idea what I did or failed to do in the past. That excerpt from a post of mine was the only time I mentioned that business until months later after being viciously attacked scores of times by some of the pro-gun guys. Then I wrote of it again basically to say I wouldn’t share any more of my past. You just don’t have enough information to conclude that I’m proud of anything, or ashamed of it for that matter.
You can’t possibly think it’s morally right to condemn someone on evidence like that.
You also cannot conclude that I have no respect for the law. I do. The fact that I disagree with you on what the 2nd Amendment means in modern society, like a lot of people do, is not grounds to think I have no respect for the law.
I’m inviting you to separate yourself from the likes of Linoge and Weer’d and Bob S. There are ways to fight for your cause without stooping to their level, examples abound.
I’m sure you’ve looked at my blog, but I invite you to participate there. It’s one of the best discussions around. There are always five or six regular pro gun guys putting up the good fight for your cause. I’d love it if you’d join them. You know how most of the pro-gun blogs don’t like disagreement and argument, they prefer like minded commenters. That’s why I’m blacklisted from so many. And the gun control guys are worse, most don’t allow comments at all, as is continually pointed out. If you don’t want me coming to yours, come to mine. I mean it.
Whatever you decide, I’ve enjoyed chatting with you.
Take care,
Mike
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Mike
>You can’t possibly think it’s morally right to condemn someone on evidence like that.
Condemn, no. Ban from my house and my blog, yes.
>I’m inviting you to separate yourself from the likes of Linoge and Weer’d and Bob S.
No
>I’m sure you’ve looked at my blog,
No i haven’t. Like I said, I’ve been around a long while watching you get banned for cause.
Goodbye
Sean
