jumbleofnotes:

Brian Stroup:

“Let me try to put this into terms a conservative can understand: gun ownership.

“One of my beliefs is that guns are bad. I live in a country that recognizes the right of all citizens to own a gun. I still believe guns are bad. I follow my belief by not owning a gun. The fact that my government allows others to own guns does not invalidate my belief that guns are bad. No government agent has every tried to coerce me into buying a gun. I have friends who are avid gun collectors, and I am happy for them when they get a new gun or have a great day at the range. At the end of the day, gun control laws have no direct effect on my life. I believe the world would be a better place without guns, but I acknowledge that I do not have the right to force others to give up their guns just to satisfy my belief. I also recognize that toy guns, which can be painted to look just like real guns, are not the same as real guns, and wouldn’t expect anyone to accept that ownership of a toy gun fulfills their right to gun ownership.

“Each of us has the right to follow our own beliefs. None of us has the right to force others to follow our beliefs.”

Of course, there are some conservatives — true conservatives — who understand that the government should not be in the marriage business, and they are more interested in equality than some give them credit for.

Not that I entirely agree on the gun stance but I love the argument

(via elyseexplosion)