Search - Michael & Me on DVD

A thoughtful, comprehensive overview to the 2nd Amendment de

Mother Hen | 10/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Larry Elder gathers input from an impressive collection of historians, lawyers, criminologists, and scholars on the role of guns in America, including comparisons of other nations' relationships with guns and gun control. In addition to the erudite speakers interviewed by Elder, there were numerous man-on-the-street interviews which reflected the knowledge, ignorance, and opinions of Americans about gun rights. Also fascinating were the insights of reformed gang leaders and their anecdotal experiences and views on guns and crime.

The American public ranges from ignorant to sharply astute in their understanding of our Constitution, our nation's gun laws, and gun statistics. Elder dispels misunderstandings, clarifies realities, and reveals the plain-spoken truth of guns. The result shows guns to be tools (dangerous in the hands of criminals and life-saving in the hands of those who would deter them); shows that these tools are used far more to protect than to harm; explains that even if you could undo the 2nd Amendment and remove guns from the law-abiding, you'd still have a thriving black-market abundantly providing them to the lawless; and unambiguously explains that, love them or hate them, it is our Constitutional right to own guns.

I confess a bias in reviewing this documentary: I came into the 1990's a gun-hater, but found my opinions irrevocably altered over the course of that decade by exactly the kind of hard facts compiled and introduced here by Larry Elder. So be warned, those of you who think you are faithfully married to the ideals of gun control: this movie can alter your thinking, it can lead to the kind of knowledge and understanding that, once achieved, can never be undone.

My one beef with this documentary is the title, which I thought was slightly misleading. I had hoped for a greater confrontation between Elder & Michael Moore, though in all fairness, it's been so long since I saw "Roger & Me" that I don't remember whether Moore succeeded in any better of a showdown between himself and Roger Smith in that movie. Fortunately for America, Larry Elder never had to ambush Alzheimer's patients to score pathetic points against his opposition, as Michael Moore did in "Bowling for Columbine". I guess you really don't need to rely on propaganda and ambushing the disabled when you have facts & history on your side."

An Important Film

B. Green | 08/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Larry Elder takes a clear stance about the role of guns in a free society and backs it up with compelling evidence. Unlike other films that pretend to look at both sides fairly but lie and twist facts to get to their agenda, Larry gives it to you straight. If you really watch the film from start to finish, I believe you will find it a very worthwhile film filled with insightful and surprising ideas."

...shall not be infringed

just a vet | California | 08/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"How many years have we been told that guns are bad? How many of us believe this without ever challenging ourselves as to why we believe it? Most of us are lucky enough to have never been in a situation where a gun could have changed the outcome of a horrific event in our lives such as, "if I had a gun I may have never been raped", "if I had a gun I wouldn't have seen my parents being killed in front of my own eyes". We typically aren't forced to really think about protecting ourselves so we live our lives happily in a daze.

Year after year we have allowed our elected officials, who work for us and suppossedly represent us, take away our constitutional right to protect ourselves.

I hoped that Larry would have proposed a scenario to the nay-sayers on the street..imagine you are shopping at a grocery store in an idyllic suburban community and a person takes out a Samurai sword and starts slicing people to death with it. I'm in the store and I am in the same aisle as you. The attacker starts running towards you, you're next to die. What do you do?..run!! Of course. Now imagine that just two minutes earlier I gave you this interview and in it I mentioned that I always carry a gun. Now, the attacker is coming after you, you're next to die, I'm still in the aisle what do you do? You scream, Larry shoot the guy!! Of course.

Seem crazy? A few years ago at an Albertson's in Irvine, CA an employee came to the store and killed several people with a Samurai sword. The would be victims were throwing cans of tuna fish at him. Eventually it was a gun that took him down and stopped the carnage.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being able to protect yourself. Larry, thank you for reminding me that it is OK. It is ignorant to think that nothing bad will ever happen to you so you are allowed to be indifferent.

The only negative comment I have is that I wish that he would have spent more time on the English man who was sent to prison, with a charge of murder, for shooting two burglars in his house that had been broken into 7 times. This story infuriated me and I wanted to know more."