MovieChat Forums > Law and Order (1953) Discussion > Gun Control

Gun Control

posted 17 years ago by kfarad
3 replies | jump to latest

Ironic that this NRA-backed conservative disregarded the "right to bear arms"

[–] events888 17 years ago

Well, it's always been the right to bear arms (no scare quotes) and never been the "mandate to bear arms."(See what I did there?)
Anywho, this movie is a 1953 release and Reagan was still a New Deal Democrat. He became a Republican sometime in the early 60's as I recall.
So all this "irony" seems to be in your head.

[–] Kelleah 9 years ago

Reagan may have called himself a New Deal Democrat, but he held a lot of political beliefs that were aligned with conservative politicians at the time this film was shot. Russell Johnson, who plays his brother Jimmy in the film, recalled having many arguments with Reagan during the shoot on issues where they were violent opposed. (Source: Russell Johnson's autobiography.)

Johnson was a die-hard liberal and disagreed with Reagan on most of his decisions from SAG president to President of the United States. Maybe Reagan hadn't come out of the closet as a Republican yet, but his politics were evident.

[–] ejhutchaz 16 years ago

This is ONLY a movie. While it really has nothing to do with either the NRA, or Ronald Reagan's political views, it is a thinly disguised version of Wyatt Earp and his brothers during their stay in Arizona. The same gimmick has been used in any number of westerns,( "Winchester 73" for instance, where Wyatt was portrayed by Will Geer, later as Grandpa on "The Waltons" ) without raising all those confrontational postings (which I suspect would not have happened had the lead part been played by someone other than our former President). Before the NRA existed, and long before any political confrontations over the 2nd amendment, Wyatt had placed a "NO Guns in Town" law in Tombstone - drop it off when you come into town, pick it up when you leave. Like it or not, it was one way to try and control the drunken shoot-em-ups, and wild cowboys of the day, and just how effective it really was is debatable. Some of the irate political rhetoric postings this movie has generated would be laughable, if not so pathetic.
Some of you need to "Get a Life", as I said at the start - It's only a movie.