No One's Going to Take Away Your Guns, So Calm the Fuck Down

I don't usually get political on my blog - this is supposed to be a place for introspection with some comic relief thrown in, but this topic has been weighing on my mind for the past few days.
I am SO sick of hearing people bitch about the state of this country, lay the blame on the president, and whine and cry assuming that, because of new gun law proposals, the government is going to take their guns away by creating a countrywide ban.  Guess what people - it's not.  And if all you're going to do is sit on your ass and complain via Facebook, why not be more proactive and start contacting your state representatives and legislators?  Bet yet, get educated?
On a personal note, as far as the issues of mental health and gun control - I don't even know what to think.  I've never been a fan of guns, and more or less ambivalent when it comes to a person's right to own them.  The fact that my ex kept guns in the house solely for hunting purposes used to scare the shit out of me because sometimes it doesn't matter how safety conscious one is when it comes to handling them.
I've been following this whole clusterfuck closely and making sure my points are valid.  I watched President Obama state that no one is planning on taking away the rights of law-abiding, gun-owning citizens as I huffed and puffed away on the elliptical machine at the gym on January 14th.  However, as of today, he has signed 23 executive orders meant to tighten the reigns and curb gun violence, and I agree with them 100%.
If people did their research, maybe they would stop crying.  If people are law-abiding citizens, maybe they would calm the fuck down.  I am shocked at the outpouring of rage in regards to this topic coming from people I thought I knew.

I never knew you hunted with assault weapons.
I didn't think you had any reason to be concerned about having a background check run on you if you go to purchase a new firearm.
I'm surprised you managed to graduate high school without a full understanding of our country's Constitution and Bill of Rights, because your rants make it abundantly clear that you do not have one.
Because, let's face it, the chances of one being forced to protect their home, family, and livelihood while wielding a firearm, at least in Delaware, are slim.  Unless you live on 4th street or in Brookside, I don't want to hear it.  (The people I hear doing most of the complaining?  No, they do not live in crime- or drug- ridden areas of this state.  And to be honest, I felt safer in my own home than I ever did at my ex's, with his cache of firearms and hunting rifles.)
This is my opinion.  I do not demand that anyone agree with me.  This is my blog, and I write what I feel passionately about.  No one has to read it.  I do not shove my thoughts on gun control down anyone's throat.  I will, however, discuss it with people who feel the same way I do.  Unfortunately, I do not feel compelled to discuss it with those who think differently, because I have better things to do - like decide how or whether or not I am going to start writing letters to my state representatives and legislators inquiring as to why my paycheck has shrunk - rather than become a little dumber by listening to uneducated and uninformed people berate me with misinformation.

Why I Shouldn't Log Into Facebook During Election Time

I personally think Facebook is overrated and overused.  But I've been sucked into the world of social networking just like the rest of you.  I usually log in while I'm drinking my morning coffee and do a quick scroll to see whose birthday it is and to catch any important updates.  Note that I said the word "important." I don't care what your plans are for the day unless they include me.  And I don't work with even 1/8th of you.
I haven't seen too many status updates pertaining to the upcoming presidential elections aside from the torrent of nonsense put out every time there was a debate, but the ones I do see have me second-guess "friendships" I have with those who post about it.  I've decided who I am going to vote for, but it's my business and no one else's.  The only people I've discussed it with are my mother and one of my closest friends.  If you want to know, you can ask me.  I don't need to announce it to all of my friends, anyone I meet, or the Facebook nation, and I'm not going to.  I think we can all agree that this year's election is personal.  For me it all boils down to the social issues plaguing our nation - Medicare, home interest mortgage deductions, immigration, equal pay and funding for Planned Parenthood.
The other morning I read a well written status by a guy I used to go to school with -
"I have finally 100% made up my mind who I am going to vote for for President of the United States. I have spent the past year watching tons of Republican Primary Debates, both conventions, all three Presidential debates, and the Vice Presidential debate. I have taken care to get my news from a variety of sources- talk radio, Fox News, Cnn- the whole political gambit. And I have a million reasons for my decision I'd be happy to discuss with any of you. I endorse President Barak Obama."  (This was quoted with permission.)
As you can see, he didn't attack either candidate or ramble on about why he is choosing to vote for President Obama.  He did what I believe most people on my timeline don't - took the time to get his information from both sides of the spectrum and based his decision on who he thinks is the best person for the job.  Whether it's right or wrong is no one else's call to make, and whether or not I agree with him is irrelevant.  (I do, by the way.)  But my favorite part of this status update is "...I have a million reasons for my decision I'd be happy to discuss with any of you."  Note he didn't feel the need to clog his friends' timeline with his reasons.
I was tempted to respond to a post someone made bashing the President and expressing support of the Republican candidate, but I figured my opinion was better left unsaid.  The person has every right to voice their opinion, but the way it was done and their choice of words is what made me shake my head.  I wanted to respond with something along the lines of - "If he does get elected, I hope you are blessed with a daughter shortly there after...then you might rethink how you feel," but I held my tongue.  I don't have the time or energy getting into "Facebook wars."  I save my comments for nice pictures, celebratory statuses and birthdays.
This is all relevant to a previous post I made, No, You Cannot Come Into the Voting Booth With Me.  I could go on and on about the dumb shit I see posted on Facebook every day.  Why do I keep logging onto it you might ask?  Because sometimes the dirty laundry people air for all the world to see makes me feel better about my own life.

No, You Cannot Come Into the Voting Booth With Me

-Installment Number Three-
I don't even really want to elaborate on the upcoming presidential election.  All I can do is shake my head.  I made myself watch the debate the other night and I can honestly say that I'm frightened for the future of this country.  I feel an impending sense of doom.  It doesn't help that we are bombarded with political ads and are unable to decipher fact from fiction.  I don't know who or what to believe, I don't know if there even is a better option.  So we have to go with the lesser of two evils?  It truly, truly frightens me to think where this country will be in the next four years.  I said to Ma while we were watching Romney repeat and contradict himself, and Obama not doing much better, "You know, if Pop had just been able to get his shit together, he could have been president.  He was a logical man when he wanted to be, and I remember some of his views being a little extreme, but the man would have cleaned this mess up."
Everything needs an overhaul, starting with the educational system.  I'm in schools every day, and what I see scares me.  Teachers are babysitting as opposed to teaching.  (That's a whole different beast, I'm a firm believer in that we are all products of our environments - home life and school life are two entirely different worlds.)  Awards for "adequate progress" are a joke.  The healthcare system, military spending, financial institutions, importing, exporting and immigration policies - it all needs a drastic makeover.  We can talk about it until we're blue in the face, but what are we going to do about it?  If I had chosen a different path in life, maybe I would have gone into politics.  But I'm not cut out for that, so that's why I want a government in office I can trust and have faith in, (ha, what a joke)  that keeps the best interests of the American people in mind rather than lining its own pockets.  I think that's what most of us want.  Okay, I'm done with this part.  I could go on and on, but if I don't have resources to back myself up, I'm going to stop.