Tom Coburn: Holder 'Doesn't Believe In Second Amendment'

The Hill:

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said this week that the administration will try "all sorts of things" to chip away at the individual right to own a gun, warning of gun control policies aimed at "disarming us."

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Cushing, Oklahoma, Coburn warned that Attorney General Eric Holder "doesn't believe in the second amendment" and "doesn't even know what an assault weapon is."

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[HisXLNC]

Well, Tom is pretty much right.

Up until recently, Eric Holder didn't believe the Second Amendment was an individual right. He believed it was a "collective right" of the state to form a militia. He didn't finally acknowledge that is was an individual right until he was essentially forced to say it in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. And even then, he underscored his forced acceptance with continued belief in nonsense like the "Assault Weapons Ban".

[sandals]

Hurry up and go buy your guns now. The Rethuglican Party has been saying that the when the
Democrats are in power they will take your guns for the past 30yrs. Has it happen yet? NO!
So now we know why the Right wing extremism is so high!
We also know that is on the rise because all these people that were out "tea bagging" are just racist!
You know there is a BLACK MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT!

[djkrlsn]

The Dems certainly have tried in Kali and New Jersey--and Diane Feinstein said that if she could have gotten the votes for complete mandatory civilian disarmament is the Clinton AWB--she would have put it in

[Mr Mabujo]

Is that a grenade launcher on that thing? I'm all for the second amendment and all, but, you can cry self defense all you want but I don't really think you'll ever see a situation in your life in which a grenade launcher would be necessary, ah who am I kidding. If you argue the militia thing then, I guess you could argue that you might need it but, seriously? I need to start looking up where the limit on explosives are in the 2nd amendment, since that just seems illegal. Its probably just for show or something though. I hope.

[ChangeNow]

The picture is a little dishonest. The grenade launcher is a bolt-on item that would be separately regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934, the same act that bans fully automatic weapons. They can be purchased, but the process is extremely difficult and typically only done by collectors.

[4 Real]

Quite the conundrum these days. You have right-wing news and GOP legislators stoking fear and hatred with these types of remarks yet scream foul when DHS and other groups report of increased right-wing extremism.

After hearing some of the protesters explain their views about taxes and Obama, it's pretty obvious most of them have no idea why they are doing it other than they were told to, or they just hate Obama. It's not about taxes since most of these people will benefit from the new tax policies.

I find a lot of intelligent people are not buying.

[dmbraddy]

"Our founders created the second amendment not for a militia," Coburn said.

Oh, I guess that's why the 2nd amendment starts out, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..." Er, wait a minute, I mean...

[dcaven]

Have you read the Heller decision? It will clear up your confusion. All nine justices stipulated an individual right. The only disagreement had to do with scope.

Look it up. You mind find it helpful.

David

[djkrlsn]

Sorry--reading Heller and MIller would educate the gunbanners
the other David

[theone718]

Gotta love the fearmongering.

[djkrlsn]

Then the Dems should not have nominated a Chicago politician that has never seen a gun ban that he hasn't LOVED with all the passion of a 14 year old male dreaming of a supermodel

[LindaLeigh]

I really dislike scare tactics.

[ChangeNow]

Just for a little historical fun, he should be reminded that the last attempt at an assault weapons ban was H.R. 6257, introduced in the house in June of 2008, by a Republican, and co-sponsored by three more Republicans. It died in committee in a Democratically controlled congressional session.

Maybe he should change parties.

[ChangeNow]

Oops, I almost forgot...H.R. 6257, the Republican lead assault on assault weapons and the second amendment, was NEVER mentioned by the NRA. Not ever. You can search their web sites - NRA, NRA-ILA - and there will be no reference whatsoever to the bill. Imagine that, the NRA, the great bastion of gun rights, forgetting to be outraged at the introduction of an assault weapons ban. Makes me think they just might be bought and paid for by the Republican party.

[ObjectiveRealist]

Confirmed by Google, "Your search - nra.orga.org 6257 - did not match any documents."

Yet, here it is in thomas.loc.gov!
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.6257.IH:

[Epitomee]

Okay.. I am now totally convinced, the republicans are really some sick puppies. I mean, we really need universal health care or single payer so that we can get these folks some much needed psychiatric care.

[ExpatDane]

Are there no Democrats or anyone else speaking in the name of sanity making news? Must Obama really fight the battle on his own. Let us hope he is as strong as he seems to be. The vitriol and hatred being cast at him is more than I can take and the reason I left the USA.

[ObjectiveRealist]

You're right. Just because the corporatist media are reporting doesn't mean I have to read it. What I'd really like to know is how I apply for solar and wind power funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

[dcaven]

You will probably be much happier where you are. Good for you.

David

[BuzzingAlong]

I have sent e-mails on several occasions to every single Democratic Senator and most of those in the House, including the so-called leaders, asking why they have remained silent in face of the constant attacks against President Obama. A few of them are speaking out. The best I got from them were the precanned "thank you for contacting me" e-mail. Now I have begun to get e-mails from some of them soliciting money.

I have even made a few phone call to the local offices asking why the Dems are silent and have been told that my message will be passed on. Yeah, right.

I have e-mail the Democratic Party, DCCC, DLC, Tim Kane (has this guy moved to the moon), and even some members of state legislatures.

I truly don't understand what is going on. One thing I inclued in all of the e-mails is that I will make no further contribution to anyone runing for the U.S. Congress until the people we elected started to speak out when the right-wing republicans attacked the President. I am just now paying off all of the money I placed on my credit cards to support the Democrats during the last election. Won't do that again.

http://democrats.senate.gov/members
http://democrats.org/contact.html
http://www.dccc.org/page/s/contact
http://www.dlc.org/cobrand/contact_us.cfm
http://democraticleader.house.gov/email_and_rss/email_updates

[dinglebe]

I'm all for a new constitutional amendment: You can wave your gun, or you can wave your Bible, but not both. They are mutually exclusive.

[doctordoubt]

Not. If you're really good, you canhide you gun in your bible. Me, I want an assualt rifle so I can protect myself the next time an SUV attacks,

[djkrlsn]

I am saving my semiautos for the next time I have to live through something like the Rodney King riots AGAIN--that was a bit scary to see buildings I drive past every day burning because of a freaking riot

[dcaven]

Um... not really. Have you read either?

David

[djkrlsn]

Luke 33--Jesus tells the disciples to go buy a sword

[an observer3]

These republicans are really candidates for an insane asylum.

[felisa11]

i wonder how much the NRA is paying Coborn to drum up business for them.

[yellowdoggie]

Coburn may be a reactionary jerk, but he's honest. I really doubt the NRA is paying him. He sincerely believes that sh_t.

[djkrlsn]

The Dems are doing just fine drumming up business for the NRA WITHOUT Coburn's help

[Abraxas79]

False Left-Right Paradigm in full action. Governing party proposes something, opposition opposes vigorously, legislation passes, oppositon promises change, opposition sweeps into power, proposes legislation, oppositon opposes it, etc etc etc.

The dogs barks, but the caravan moves on !

[Strywever]

Except "governing party" has proposed nothing, in this case. This wingnut is just making it up, trying to turn thin air into more anger against the Obama administration.

[JumonvilleGlen]

I am a gun owner who voted for Obama and I don't fear him taking away guns. I don't understand this fear. I own several guns, but my favorite is an AK-47 semi-automatic. I have a couple thousand rounds of ammunition left that I haven't shot yet, but I bought the gun and ammo from a friend several years ago. Great gun. Anybody else on the site own one of these weapons?

[dcaven]

Given the guys record as well as the statements of the Attorney General and the Secretary of State within 60 days of his presidency, Holder actually made two statements, one where he identified "just a few changes he would like to make." When that tanked he waited all of two weeks to use Mexico as a reason to look at the issue again. I think there may be reason to worry. After all, when Nancy Pelosi made her statement about not banning any weapons, she qualified the statement with the phrase "for now."

I don't really think it is irrational to be worried.

David