The attempt at depriving law abiding citizens of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms is often led by hypocritical people, who wish to have guns for their own defense, while denying that right to others. A recent example of such hypocrisy involves T.I., a rapper who has violated gun laws (and other laws) for years, and is now sponsoring an anti gun rally, right before he goes to prison for violating gun control laws himself.
Background on T.I.
T.I., whose real name is Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr., is a rather successful rapper who has had quite a few run-ins with the law. In 1998, he was convicted on a drug charge. While on probation for this offense, he racked up multiple parole violations for offenses including gun possession by a felon, and marijuana possession. After other arrests for parole violations, assault, etc., T.I. was arrested for possession of three unregistered machine guns, and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was sentenced to 1 year and 1 day in prison for these charges, along with community service and a fine.
The hypocrisy
T.I. is now rallying against guns and gun rights, despite his desire and willingness to possess guns time and time again. He unlawfully owned guns as a convicted felon, and while on parole, breaking the law multiple laws. He acquired machine guns and sound suppressors, breaking even more laws. When asked why he purchased these guns, T.I. replied that he wanted them for self defense, having recently lost his best friend in a shooting, and believing that he was the intended target.
Essentially, T.I. is in favor of (illegal) guns for himself, but rallies against gun rights for those of us who obey the law. It seems that rather than trying to take away the gun rights of us non-felons, who wish to defend ourselves against violent criminals, T.I. should focus on conforming his own behavior to the law.