The American Spectator

Some progressives want to understand gun owners instead of blindliy villifying them. Others could hardly be less interested in constructive dialog. Over at Arianna’s Post, Los Angeles County Supervisor for the Second District Mark Ridley-Thomas huffs:

Let’s stop mincing words; Let progressives — not all but certainly many — stop feigning tolerance for a gun culture we abhor and rampant gun ownership we cannot comprehend.

Later, he jarringly changes course:

No, I am not proposing that government strip citizens of their guns.

But you still want them?

I am calling for something more serious — that the ethos of nonviolence reenters our national dialogue. In King’s day, nonviolent direct action dismantled a system of segregation. Today, we must adapt those principles to our daily lives — to our personal relationships, in our neighborhoods and in our communities. Let us banish violence and choose peaceful means of conflict resolution, such as mediation. I reject the idea that our destructive gun culture is an American legacy to defend and uphold.

Mr. Ridley-Thomas wants it both ways. He wants to rally the troops and discuss terms of peace. He wants to invoke Dr. King, but insists that his fellow ideologues “stop feigning tolerance.”

His only clear objective is bringing attention to himself. In this, he has succeeded, but I doubt any intellectually serious observors will be impressed by what they find.