Arguing politics is no longer fun for me. For years, it was one sure way to get an insight into my friends’ thinking, upbringing and values.

Today, it’s more like taking the top off a septic tank on a hot summer afternoon. Not much pleasant wafting on that breeze.

Not because people are inherently rotten at their core (at least not all of them), but there’s no discussing, debating or, heaven forbid, arguing anything with anyone these days.

Most people are either completely hidebound in their core beliefs (or misconceptions) or fearful of being called “intolerant” for daring to express an honest opinion.

OK, the possible exception might be politicians. They readily express the most indefensible positions imaginable, then dare us to call them out on their contradiction as they flip-flop to pander to someone else.

Yes, this is an usually abrupt segue into the Democratic Party’s platform for 2020.

Once again, they’re making serious moves against gun owners.

That’s not a political statement, it’s a seldom-used device called a fact. Last week’s dull-fest featured predictable roasting of the usual collection of “deplorables” - and gun owners are atop that list.

If you read their platform, listened to their presidential candidate’s acceptance speech, or did anything other than listen to the plaudits of pundits in the mainstream media’s ringing endorsement, you’d know beyond a reasonable doubt (as they say in court) that they’re pushing for a crackdown on guns.

OK, they’re calling it “Ending the Epidemic of Gun Violence” -but the 80-page platform plank on guns/gun violence includes, among other things:

• Universal background checks

• “Assault weapons” ban and buyback (mandatory)

• Standard-capacity magazine ban

• One-gun-a-month purchase limit

• Public push for the development of “smart guns”

• Incentives for states to adopt “red flag” laws

• Repeal of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, allowing firearms manufacturers and retailers to be sued for the actions of criminals

“Joe Biden, called the firearm industry ‘the enemy’ from the debate stage one year ago,” said NSSF’s Larry Keane. “Now, the rest of the party plans to follow him in that announcement with the Democratic Platform that lays out an agenda to dismantle the firearm and ammunition industry and destroy Second Amendment rights in America.”

If you’re already at your computer typing out your furious evisceration of me for “talking politics when you should be focused on the outdoors” please don’t stop on my account. It might make you feel better about your intractability on the position that “they’re really not after our guns.”

Consider this: not liking a fact doesn’t make it untrue. It only makes you uncomfortable.

There are plenty of warts on both presidential candidates in the coming election. There’s absolutely no one saying otherwise.

Granted, the incumbent has done, said and tweeted some things that would earn a “regular guy” a shot in the nose. But he has proven - with the exception of an ignorant move on bump stocks- that he’s not doing anything to diminish the Second Amendment.

The other candidate has promised- repeatedly- that he’s going to act to restrict -or eliminate- it. He’s never met a gun restriction he couldn’t support. And that’s not my suddenly deciding he’s a bad guy. That’s my studying his record for the past four decades. Mr. Biden does not believe you’re entitled to own a firearm.

If you’re a single-issue voter, that makes the choice clear. Vote for the incumbent, or stay home. Don’t support the guy who’s already promised to put the man who said “hell yes, we’re coming for your guns” in the position of “gun czar”.

Failing a litmus test like this makes gun owners seem intolerant.

If you believe that, you need to do a quick check on the meaning of “tolerance”.

Gun owners, if anything, are more tolerant than those so quick to call us out for our refusing to budge on gun rights.

My disagreement with you does not diminish my belief that we’re both within our rights to disagree. I’m willing to defend that right, because I believe that’s one of our country’s founding principles.

We should all grow up a bit and realize disagreeing on some things is to be expected in a free country, but disagreeing on everything puts the country at risk.

Voting for a candidate that’s more than willing to restrict your rights isn’t a good idea. And the industry’s recognized that -and acted. Today’s news section has news of the “Gun Owners for Trump” committee. And in a move called Hunt the Vote, the Hunter Nation Foundation has already collected pledges to vote from 100,000 hunters.

Here’s a sad fact: less than half of the fifteen million licensed hunters in this country don’t vote. Hunting the Vote says it’s their mission to change that.

“Hunters can’t sit on the sidelines or disappear to the woods when our lifestyle, our passion and our heritage is in jeopardy,” said Luke Hilgemann, President of Hunter Nation Foundation. “Hunt The Vote has united over 100,000 hunters and we’re just getting started. They will show up, they will speak out and they will vote their values this November.”

If that happens, it will make a difference. Every vote will count. Don’t waste yours.

—JIm Shepherd