Sci-Fi Gun Debate – Star Trek’s Brent Spiner and Firefly’s Adam Baldwin Debate Gun Control on Twitter
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UPDATE 4/2/14: Brent Spiner is still at it on Twitter,
Don't want to get into another gun debate. Just curious. What is the problem with registering assault weapons? Feel free to set me straight.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) March 31, 2014
I’m not gonna lie, in addition to being a gun nerd, I’m also a bit of a sci-fi nerd. Not to the level of some people, but I am a sucker for television shows set in space.
So, when two guys I’ve spent some time watching on television ended up in a gun rights debate on Twitter, I had to take note.
Adam Baldwin, who played Jayne Cobb on the cult classic television show, Firefly and again in the motion picture, Serenity, is an outspoken gun rights activist and regularly lets his Twitter followers know it.
Brent Spiner, who played Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, is pretty much the polar opposite, and based on recent tweets believes that any private citizen with a gun is “dangerous”.
Spiner basically wants there to be no guns in the US. We’re not talking background checks here, we’re talking all out bans (based on his tweets anyway).
Well, enough background, let’s look at some of these tweets. In chronological order. Some of these are from other people who hopped into the conversation.
RT @JohnAWilcox: @BrentSpiner I look forward to the day that there are no shootings to report. Agreed?–or…wait for it…no guns.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
So…read my Twitter feed. Which one of these "good guys", and there are many, would you feel comfortable with them owning a gun? Or safe?
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
RT @tonybalogna: So now all gun owners are dangerous lunatics? I can't do this anymore, so small-minded.–Not lunatics. Just dangerous.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
RT @tonybalogna:So it's ok to pretend-own a gun as long as you make lots of money doing so.–It's fine to disagree. And to be nasty.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
About here is where Adam jumps into the conversation
RT @AdamBaldwin: Hi @BrentSpiner: In the wrong hands, guns are dangerous. In the right hands, guns are safe. –Hey,Adam. Who decides?
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
Next Baldwin tries to point Spiner to some educational video viewing.
RT @AdamBaldwin:@BrentSpiner: Did you watch "Why I Chose the Gun," by Peter van Uhm?- http://t.co/36qALCRskr”-Tomorrow. I have to sleep now.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
RT @JetPixi: if you know how wrk & how to use they become less dangerous and more like any other tool. –Sorry, for what is this tool used?
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
Hi @BrentSpiner: In fact, the gun is the greatest tool of peace ever invented.It is the great equalizer between individual Liberty & Tyranny
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) November 7, 2013
@AdamBaldwin @BrentSpiner if memory serves the phasers on your show represented weapons also. And they were used to keep the peace.
— Michael Reed (@Michael__Reed) November 7, 2013
And Spiner’s final reply, which is completely missing the point.
RT @Michael__Reed: @AdamBaldwin @BrentSpiner if memory serves the phasers on your show represented weapons also. –Starfleet is Military.
— Brent Spiner (@BrentSpiner) November 7, 2013
And the epic follow up from Baldwin
RT @BrentSpiner "Starfleet is Military." ~ Does the Federation deploy Starfleet to disarm its free citizenry?
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) November 7, 2013
I think I’d put Vera up against a Starfleet phaser any day of the week.