Views on topics relevant to my editing

In the past I have thought that opinions on user pages were highly inappropriate, but as the topics below have come up I have thought disclosure of this might help other editors decide if I am pushing a POV. I think I will keep adding this about any relevant controversies as they arise. I am not intentionally centrist but often considering both sides of an issue can lead to that.

Firearms

I support reasonable controls on firearms access and pretty much any sort of qualifications, tests or ongoing requirements that would help keep them out of the hands of murderers and suicidal people. I also support the right to a reasonable ability to defend oneself and one’s family, which to me, at least in the US, includes some extent of semi-automatic weapons.

Gender Identity

Complex topic, but generally I think we should label people as they wish to be. When I think of the word woman I usually envision someone who acquired those traits by birth, but I support calling a trans woman a woman in most contexts because that is her preference. I am comfortable with the words for sexes having multiple meanings.

Social Justice, Feminism, Intersectionality

I support the goal of freeing people from unfair systemic bias and oppression. On the other hand I think some degree of meritocracy is beneficial. No one, with a few exceptions perhaps for particularly bad people, should be kept down because of a bias against their group, and everyone, even a despised person, deserves a comfortable quality of life, and in most cases a hand up so they can reach their full potential.

Immigration

Countries should decide through a democratic process whether, how much, and what type of immigration should happen. In my opinion, it benefits a country to take in immigrants of any background who are skilled in an important industry, but I do not fault countries like Japan for maintaining a homogenous society. I think there is an obligation to take in some amount of refugees each year because many people are in dire situations and need help, though I still would leave this up to a democratic decision.