Article Regarding: Guns (an Essay By Stephen King)

[M&P15]

And that to me is the problem. Just my opinion. And perhaps the numerous other countries that have them in place and have much lower incidents of violent deaths.

There are dozens of countries that have stricter gun control and higher gun violence rates than the US.

I think one difference between them and those that don't is black market availability and I think we would have that same problem here even if we repealed the 2nd amendment tomorrow.

 

[hossenpepper]

LOL. Look what some here have said about me and called me. Do you think they're right to disabuse me personally to such an extent?

And again, to go back, you started your history here on the old board and then again on the new one at first, being very personally insulting to some with passive aggressive comments. We've gotten past it, but let's not try to play the victim now monkey man! Oops I mean bunny man!

 

[kingricefan]

Where's the d*mn chocolate?

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Also, the notion that SK shouldn't express an opinion on guns and gun violence because he's put some in his books is a bit silly, frankly. He writes about society. Are guns and gun violence not part of that? Should he also keep his mouth shut about dogs because he made money off Cujo? Or any of the other topics he's made the center of a story? And if one who makes their living from guns has an opinion, should they also keep quiet and with hold that opinion?

The idea he shouldn't talk about guns because he made money from stories that had gun violence in them is a very illogical point.

No one here said he shouldn't talk about guns because he's made money form stories, as far as I know. What I think the conservation is about is why some wonder why people might have issue, and express them, with him when he does.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Where's the d*mn chocolate?

LOL. Here ya go.

 

[hossenpepper]

No one here said he shouldn't talk about guns because he's made money form stories, as far as I know. What I think the conservation is about is why some wonder why people might have issue, and express them, with him when he does.

SIGH... Sometimes your need to disagree so your dogma stays in tact gets old...

What is so hard to grasp? He started off in “GUNS” with some commons sense in the piece, but quickly moved to why the NRA and guns were evil. King has glorified violence and tragedy in his books to make money, which one can't deny. His profits (or whatever you want to call them) from the sale of “GUNS” was going to the Brady Foundation, which is all about Gun Control. I don’t understand the idea that some might have a problem with the profits of King’s work going to such an organization, is so hard to comprehend, especially since he has made so much money off the subject in his books.

I was answering your misunderstanding. You said it's not so hard to understand, so that means you UNDERSTAND it, perhaps to point of agreement.

So please, tell us all, what exact logic fuels the opinion that because he has "glorified" (which implies he ENDORSES it or is OK with it) violence in his writing and makes money from that, he should not state an opinion supporting gun control (which the essay does not, it only criticizes the paranoia the NRA stirs)?

 

[M&P15]

No one here said he shouldn't talk about guns because he's made money form stories, as far as I know. What I think the conservation is about is why some wonder why people might have issue, and express them, with him when he does.

There is a point there though. Not necessarily more so with SK than any other entertainer, but gun play filled movies and such have to be a contributing factor to the "gun culture" that many of the on screen gun wielding entertainers decry.

 

[M&P15]

How can the essay not be in support of gun control if proceeds go to a gun control advocacy group?

What about the post below?

His three proposals were:

• Universal background checks
• Limiting clip and magazine capacity
• Creating a new assault weapons ban

Which points do you have problems with?

 

[hossenpepper]

This is pretty simple. If SK does not support or endorse gun violence, that does not exactly equal him not putting it in any story he writes. And I am assuming (as we all probably would) that if he publishes a story, enough will but it so that he profits. If we knew he was OK with it and had said so and wrote about it and made his living that way, then I would 100% agree it is very hypocritical for him to proffer anything that decries guns and send the profits of such an opinion piece to something trying to undermine gun privileges (in the eyes of some).

As far as that he might contribute to the "gun culture", well, I suppose you can't advise everyone who reads your stories. I'd say visual mediums have much more impact in that arena. And he did pull "rage" off the shelves in case it had any influence. But still, unless you think he is endorsing such violence, I don't see why he should have to have a "pro gun" opinion for it to be OK to write about it and make money from that writing.

 

[ghost19]

I don't know. I'm a firearms enthusiast but I'm also an avid Stephen King fan. I've been around guns since I was five and I've been reading Stephen King since I was about 10. I've never felt conflicted one way or the other. Whether or not Mr. King agrees or disagrees with anything I say, read, or do, has no bearing on my respect and admiration of his works. He's the best at what he does, past, present, or future. Whether he's liberal, conservative, democrat, or republican, doesn't matter to me at all. Mr. King is the most talented writer of our time. I've been fortunate enough to meet him, and just the fact he'll meet his fans and shake hands is admirable. He talks and curses just like anyone of us and also just like anyone of us, he has different ideas about different topics. Mr. King is entitled to his opinions as much as any of the rest of us are. I'm sure my views on the world differ from Mr. King's on many issues, but we both like a good book, there's no question about that, and that's why I'm here. However, there is one thing I always keep in the back of my head when posting, and that is the SKMB belongs to Mr. King, we're all just guests here. I appreciate that Mr. King thinks enough of his fans to support a forum such as we all enjoy here and I appreciate how much effort Ms. Mod and all the staff pours into keeping the SKMB a very cool place to visit. Have a good weekend everyone.

 

[M&P15]

I do not necessarily disagree with you on the violence in his books thing but I just don't understand this:

he should not state an opinion supporting gun control (which the essay does not, it only criticizes the paranoia the NRA stirs)?

Did you misspeak?

If he proposes we have magazine and "assault weapons" bans etc and the proceeds go to the Brady center then the essay clearly does just that.

 

[Sigmund]

I don't know. I'm a firearms enthusiast but I'm also an avid Stephen King fan. I've been around guns since I was five and I've been reading Stephen King since I was about 10. I've never felt conflicted one way or the other. Whether or not Mr. King agrees or disagrees with anything I say, read, or do, has no bearing on my respect and admiration of his works. He's the best at what he does, past, present, or future. Whether he's liberal, conservative, democrat, or republican, doesn't matter to me at all. Mr. King is the most talented writer of our time. I've been fortunate enough to meet him, and just the fact he'll meet his fans and shake hands is admirable. He talks and curses just like anyone of us and also just like anyone of us, he has different ideas about different topics. Mr. King is entitled to his opinions as much as any of the rest of us are. I'm sure my views on the world differ from Mr. King's on many issues, but we both like a good book, there's no question about that, and that's why I'm here. However, there is one thing I always keep in the back of my head when posting, and that is the SKMB belongs to Mr. King, we're all just guests here. I appreciate that Mr. King thinks enough of his fans to support a forum such as we all enjoy here and I appreciate how much effort Ms. Mod and all the staff pours into keeping the SKMB a very cool place to visit. Have a good weekend everyone.

EXACTLY.

Thank you, sir.

You have a good weekend, too!

 

[M&P15]

I don't know. I'm a firearms enthusiast but I'm also an avid Stephen King fan. I've been around guns since I was five and I've been reading Stephen King since I was about 10. I've never felt conflicted one way or the other. Whether or not Mr. King agrees or disagrees with anything I say, read, or do, has no bearing on my respect and admiration of his works. He's the best at what he does, past, present, or future. Whether he's liberal, conservative, democrat, or republican, doesn't matter to me at all. Mr. King is the most talented writer of our time. I've been fortunate enough to meet him, and just the fact he'll meet his fans and shake hands is admirable. He talks and curses just like anyone of us and also just like anyone of us, he has different ideas about different topics. Mr. King is entitled to his opinions as much as any of the rest of us are. I'm sure my views on the world differ from Mr. King's on many issues, but we both like a good book, there's no question about that, and that's why I'm here. However, there is one thing I always keep in the back of my head when posting, and that is the SKMB belongs to Mr. King, we're all just guests here. I appreciate that Mr. King thinks enough of his fans to support a forum such as we all enjoy here and I appreciate how much effort Ms. Mod and all the staff pours into keeping the SKMB a very cool place to visit. Have a good weekend everyone.

This is true, but in hot topics, we are debating with other members here, not with SK.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

SIGH... Sometimes your need to disagree so your dogma stays in tact gets old...

I was answering your misunderstanding. You said it's not so hard to understand, so that means you UNDERSTAND it, perhaps to point of agreement.

So please, tell us all, what exact logic fuels the opinion that because he has "glorified" (which implies he ENDORSES it or is OK with it) violence in his writing and makes money from that, he should not state an opinion supporting gun control (which the essay does not, it only criticizes the paranoia the NRA stirs)?

Once again, no one is saying he should not be allowed to state an opinion on the issue... for the umpteenth time.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

I don't know. I'm a firearms enthusiast but I'm also an avid Stephen King fan. I've been around guns since I was five and I've been reading Stephen King since I was about 10. I've never felt conflicted one way or the other. Whether or not Mr. King agrees or disagrees with anything I say, read, or do, has no bearing on my respect and admiration of his works. He's the best at what he does, past, present, or future. Whether he's liberal, conservative, democrat, or republican, doesn't matter to me at all. Mr. King is the most talented writer of our time. I've been fortunate enough to meet him, and just the fact he'll meet his fans and shake hands is admirable. He talks and curses just like anyone of us and also just like anyone of us, he has different ideas about different topics. Mr. King is entitled to his opinions as much as any of the rest of us are. I'm sure my views on the world differ from Mr. King's on many issues, but we both like a good book, there's no question about that, and that's why I'm here. However, there is one thing I always keep in the back of my head when posting, and that is the SKMB belongs to Mr. King, we're all just guests here. I appreciate that Mr. King thinks enough of his fans to support a forum such as we all enjoy here and I appreciate how much effort Ms. Mod and all the staff pours into keeping the SKMB a very cool place to visit. Have a good weekend everyone.

Just about every good King story has a villain. Why should the SKMB be any different?

 

[M&P15]

Someone was asking why it seems more progressive people tend to flock to SK's writing. I don't think it's just SK. It's writers in general. more educated people tend to be readers and stats show more educated people tend to be more progressive or centrists. Not espousing an endorsement of anything, it's just what research shows as to why this is the case with the political spectrum. Obviously, that's not 100%, but in general I've found it to be true for any group that follows an author closely.

I was asking about the progressive dominance of this online community rather than readers in general, because I think novel reading for pleasure appeals equally, at least in my experience.

The fact that SK is liberal and things like the gun essay may turn some conservatives away, but when I hear of members leaving or creating shade accounts or returning under different names, it seems to usually apply to conservatives.

That could be because they detect here, a hostility toward their brand of politics or feel rightly or wrongly, that they will be more heavily moderated than liberals are.

Or maybe liberals just like scary stories more.

 

[Moderator]

I was asking about the progressive dominance of this online community rather than readers in general, because I think novel reading for pleasure appeals equally, at least in my experience.

The fact that SK is liberal and things like the gun essay may turn some conservatives away, but when I hear of members leaving or creating shade accounts or returning under different names, it seems to usually apply to conservatives.

That could be because they detect here, a hostility toward their brand of politics or feel rightly or wrongly, that they will be more heavily moderated than liberals are.

Or maybe liberals just like scary stories more.

Perhaps because on average, they are the ones who do it most often. When we allowed people to change their names once/month on the old board software, there were a lot of name changes that had nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with the novelty of being able to change things up, so I'm not factoring in any of those. I think it had more to do with their becoming upset that their POV was challenged more often and deciding to leave but then coming back after a cooling off period but that's just a guess on my part based on comments having been made before the departures.

 

[Moderator]

There are dozens of countries that have stricter gun control and higher gun violence rates than the US.

I think one difference between them and those that don't is black market availability and I think we would have that same problem here even if we repealed the 2nd amendment tomorrow.

Do you have sources for that?

And no one except the most left leaning liberal/progressives is suggesting that we repeal the 2nd amendment including myself and I HATE guns. What we are asking for, among other things, are stricter rules about purchasing them such as a wait period and background checks to make them less accessible to those who shouldn't have them.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Perhaps because on average, they are the ones who do it most often. When we allowed people to change their names once/month on the old board software, there were a lot of name changes that had nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with the novelty of being able to change things up, so I'm factoring in any of those. I think it had more to do with their becoming upset that their POV was challenged more often and deciding to leave but then coming back after a cooling off period but that's just a guess on my part based on comments having been made before the departures.

I'd say you are mostly correct in your your theory. But I'd render a guess it had a little more to do than just one's POV being challenged.

 

[hossenpepper]

I was asking about the progressive dominance of this online community rather than readers in general, because I think novel reading for pleasure appeals equally, at least in my experience.

The fact that SK is liberal and things like the gun essay may turn some conservatives away, but when I hear of members leaving or creating shade accounts or returning under different names, it seems to usually apply to conservatives.

That could be because they detect here, a hostility toward their brand of politics or feel rightly or wrongly, that they will be more heavily moderated than liberals are.

Or maybe liberals just like scary stories more.

Very simple. Writers/reading tend(s) to attract a more progressive crowd (including SK's prose). That translates to his fan base being more progressive. That translates to more progressive people coming to his de facto "official" fan site, the SKMB. Hence the "average opinion" here will lean more center-progressive.

A larger group having an opposing opinion and not agreeing is not hostility. That is all up to the perception of the individual. Which I am now convinced, in part thanks to your insightful comments, no one here is responsible for. After all, if, for example, you've offended someone, instead of admitting you maybe shouldn't have said something, go on a concerted effort to be snarky to the person who pointed it out to draw attention away from your comment. I figured since you've led me to a higher state of understanding on this specific ancillary matter, you yourself were already well bathed in such. Maybe not. I am not bright enough to unpack the complexity of your very unique way of thinking.

Maybe conservatives just like conspiracy stories/fantasies?