Senate GOPers: Loosen Gun Laws To Defend Gay Rights

Washington Independent:

One month after successfully tucking an amendment into the credit card reform bill that expanded gun rights, a small number of Senate Republicans are looking at the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as another chance to score a victory for the Second Amendment. The possible plan -- to add an amendment that would allow gun owners to carry their weapons from one state to another in accordance with concealed carry laws. The possible rationale -- to defend gay rights.

Read the whole story: Washington Independent

Comments

[yellowdoggie]

Now why did I never put these two together before. Of COURSE gays need to carry guns. Just not in the military..­.right?

[LintLass]

Nuffin but net. :)

[LintLass]

Though, come to think of it, maybe all the GOP wants is a 'justifiable' shootout. Never know with the NRA and all.

[djkrlsn]

that is one area where Clinton screwed up--the same antifraternization regs that work with heterosexuals would work with gays

[plzchuteme]

I fail to understand why the conservative answer to every problem is to get a gun.(or two...or five!) Why would these people want to put less restricted firearms into the hands of degenenerate, sodomizing, child molesting, abomination of humanity. Just maybe, "gay bashing" would not be the problem it is, if some of these same "leaders" did not lead the charge to demonize, and condemn gays as being freaks, the very worst kind of sinner, and a threat to the very fabric of society. What will they come up with next week? The answer to "gay bashing" is to eliminate the capital gains tax? It seems as though these two solutions are the only thing the collective mentality of the conservatives can come up with...for anything.

[kathy001]

Absolutely frickin' right!!!

[JulieSA]

Strawman arguments.

[plzchuteme]

That makes absolutely no sense at all, but apparently you feel the necessity to respond to each and every comment that you find fault with whether you have anything useful to add to the discourse or not.

[Drumbum2112]

I don't think you know what that even means.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

It was TWO closeted Republicans Ken Mehlman and Karl Rove who put 13 state innitiives to AMP up hatred of gays/lesbians to re-elect that oaf Bush Junior. Then Democrats chose to BLAME LGBTs for Kerry's failed campaign.
THAT'S when gays knew NOBODY had our backs, and we armed ourselves, and LGBT gun clubs mushroomed in all 50 states.
So those who wanted fewer guns and pointed fingers at US in 2004, or those who lie and say they want to help gays with their gun Rights....­..careful what you wish for.

Either way you get gays and lesbians who fend for OURSELVES.

[onepotatotwopotato]

"You may not like guns, and choose not to own one. That is your right. You might not believe in God. That is your choice. However, if someone is breaking into your home the first two things you're going to do are: 1) Call someone with a gun. 2) Pray they get there in time."

[Drumbum2112]

And who do you call when the neighbors kid takes that same gun to school and kills your children?

[JulieSA]

Excellent. That's the way I felt when i grew up and learned that a man would not always be there to protect me, and worse, that there were men who wanted to assault me, just for being female.

I decided to become more self-reliant.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Perhaps you also weren't happy taking up arms, but it is what you were forced to do to protect yourself. I had been supportive of barring assault weapons and cop killer bullets prior to 2004. I still support sane rigourous registration of guns, and want gun shows to abide by reasonable laws. ONE particularly FOUL action of the NRA is to go bat sh*t crazy after every major school shootings, and do absolutely stupid and callous conventions while people are grieving.
Gun Rights organizations need to do some house cleaning themselves.

[JulieSA]

Blacks in the south also learned this. There were many black neighborhoods that were able to protect themselves from k lan attacks because they had firearms. This was their only recourse, because the local law enforcement agencies refused to protect them.

All groups should know they can reserve this right. They don't have to be at the mercy of corrupt government.

[JakeMontero]

I support both g.ay rights and concealed carry laws. both are important rights.

[judiNJ]

Fine, but please do NOT bring your weapon into my state!

[onepotatotwopotato]

Why?

[TiredandPragmatic]

Yeah and not mine either!

[OdinsEye]

NJ allows concealed carry. And firearm ownership.

[onepotatotwopotato]

Actually, being pro-gun and pro Second Amendment is very liberal.

"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."
-- JOHN F. KENNEDY

"By calling attention to a well-regulated militia for the security of the Nation, and the right of each citizen to keep and bear arms, our Founding Fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fears of governmental tyranny, which gave rise to the second amendment, will ever be a major danger to our Nation, the amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic military-civilian relationships, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of the country. For that reason I believe the second amendment will always be important.­"
-- JOHN F. KENNEDY

"The right of citizens to bear arms is just one more guarantee against arbitrary government, and one more safeguard against a tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible."
-- HUBERT HUMPHREY

Gun bans don't disarm criminals, gun bans attract them.
-- WALTER MONDALE

[springsm]

Yes, and the scholars that have studied this second amendment to the end has a totally different explanation for what it means now and meant then. The NRA and gun nuts would never believe it or acknowledge these scholars. And therefore, we are a gun happy sick nation.

[JulieSA]

Scholars and the Supreme Court have found just the opposite of what you said.

[onepotatotwopotato]

D.A.D.T. = Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
O.K. Don't "ask" me if I'm carrying and I won't "tell" you that I am.

[yellowdoggie]

How about DADOOISY? Don't ask, don't tell, or I sh()()t you?

[SangZe]

Change you can count on.

[avshanbh]

BS!!!! GOP standing for gay rights??

[omobob]

Huh? Convoluted illogic? As an NRA member, high power service rifle competitor and Range Officer anyone one who thinks carrying a loaded weapon in public has already failed any test of safety, responsibility and prudence. period. Civilians have neither the experience, training and experience in the use of deadly force. The suggestion that Gays will be safer with loaded weapons is irresponsible and dangerous advice.

[onepotatotwopotato]

http://bbs.chinadaily.com.cn/attachments/month_0801/jesus_sitting_nra_GYLGjBroxY3c.jpg

[onepotatotwopotato]

Awright! You carry yours UN-loaded then.

[wm1066]

Ya, I agree...15 years ago I moved into a bad area of town so I figured I would get a gun ( I grew up on the farm with guns for hunting, got my gun saftey patch from the local VFW). But I quickly realized that I would have to keep a loaded gun in the house( and practically wear it around the house) to be safe. That went against my gun training so instead I got an 18 inch double edged knife( called a pigsticker) and kept it by the door. and moved as soon as my lease was up! This idea to arm everybody is just nuts!

[springsm]

And omobob you would be the last one I would trust on the street with an armed weapon. bubba

[omobob]

Firearms Safety from The Florida Dept. Of Licences (CCW)
These simple steps may prevent needless and tragic injury or death so often associated with the careless storage and handling of firearms. Responsible and informed firearm owners use these storage and handling methods, without exception, to ensure the safety of those in the home.
Never store or handle a loaded firearm in the home. Tragedy can occur in only one instance of negligence.
Keep a trigger locking device on the firearm, in addition to keeping it locked away, as an additional safety factor. There is no such thing as overemphasizing firearm safety.
Lock firearms and ammunition in separate locations. This is a good backup precaution.
Never point a firearm at anyone, loaded or unloaded. Too often the unintentional discharge of guns, even those believed to be unloaded, have killed or wounded innocent persons.
Educate everyone in the home about firearms safety - especially children. Firearms are not toys! Emphasize the danger in, and outside, the home. Give reinforcement training frequently.
Firearm owners must always remember that a firearm may protect life, but it can also be a potential deadly threat to innocent persons. The proper storing and handling of a firearm must always be foremost in the mind of the owner who is responsible for the safety of those in the home.

Be safe or sorry.

[JulieSA]

Sorry, but you are misinformed. Concealed carry permit holders have a very low record of incidents of any kind.

Statistics show that resisting crime with a firearm is safer than not resisting, or resisting without a firearm. "Civilians" defend themselves with firearms over a million times per year.

The range officers and police officers I know are very much in favor of concealed carry permits. The record has proven their worth.

[deeppeace]

It's so difficult to respect the supporters of guns rights when they go off on a tangent like this. Next it will be 'guns slow global warming.'

Reminds me of the subway walls of the '60s: "Carrying guns for gay rights is like f***ing for chastity."

[JulieSA]

The Pink Pistols have been a well-regarded gun rights group for years.

[dave1111]

Armed gays don't get bashed, they get $hot with their own weapons.

[JulieSA]

Can you name an incident in which that happened?

Never mind, because it rarely if ever happens, and any rare incidents are outnumbered by the millions of times citizens defend themselves with a firearm.

[plzchuteme]

Millions? Would that be just 2 million? Or are we talking 4, 6, or perhaps 38 million?

[tiredofthesameoldstuff]

Funny how these supposed incidents when investigated turn out the suspect was apprended or surrended before someone came up with a weapon to point at the criminal.

People are far more likely to shoot themselves or an innocent bystander then actually kill a criminal in the act of commiting a crime.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

NOT this one

[JakeMontero]

you r a m0ron davey

[Telemachus]

Are you a gay Republican, or are you just glad to see me?

[Gladys1963]

LOL!

[JakeMontero]

not funny. another stooopid post from u

[oafishcad]

Oh common. It is funny.

[SouPro]

Brings a whole new meaning to carrying "locked and c0cked" don't it? :-D

[Cambridge9]

Pretty soon this country will be more liberal than the 'Old West' where gunslingers were at least required to leave their guns at the bar-room door. How can these folks call themselves conservatives? But then, they won't care if more old ladies, Seven-Elevens, banks etc. get held up - or more children die from gunshots. Not exactly a 'Right to Life idea!

I'm sorry, but years ago I was the British Champion Rifle-woman and I respect firearms too much to agree with these NRA standards.

[springsm]

I am sorry, but you can not pin this obsession for loaded weapons on a person on the "liberals". Totally wrong on that. There is nothing liberal about the NRA either..th­ey are fundy conservative rightwing nuts who, except for the ones who do the competitve shoots. are neaderthal bullys and cowards. And yes, that is a wild generalization. BUT....

[Cambridge9]

My comment was that I was equating the NRA with the "Conservatives' who are being more liberal than Democrats. That they don't care how many people get hurt because they are pushing their 2nd ammendment.

[onepotatotwopotato]

Actually, it was the N.R.A. that collected rifles to send to (the formerly) Great Britain at the start of World War Two.

[judiNJ]

That was then, this is now.

[kathy001]

So? That doesn't mean that everything they've done or will do after that is the right thing.

[Cambridge9]

And in those days there were statesmen in this government - and yes, I thank the USA for all their help FREEING ME from Nazi oppression. Don't ever think that it wasn't appreciated. In those days the NRA were patriotic, not political.

[JulieSA]

The number of states that allow concealed carry has steadily increased since the 1990's. In that time, the violent crime rate has decreased. The record shows your assumption that there will be more convenience store holdups is incorrect. The science is settled--isn't that what the Dems like to say?

[oafishcad]

You cannot prove cause and effect. Maybe the crime rate went down for other reasons. 3 strike laws, better economy, who knows?

[NPA]

It amazes me how the GOP and the far right advocates guns. WWJD? (what would jesus do?) Live by the sword die by the ______?

Hypocrisy.

[onepotatotwopotato]

Then he said to them, "But now whoever has a wallet must take it along, and his traveling bag, too. And the one who has no sword must sell his coat and buy one.

[springsm]

Beat your swords into plowshares­....

[Imago]

So, will this destroy the sanctity of gun ownership?

----

(I cannot claim this for my own -- thank you Michael, who commented on the original Washington Independent story's comment board -- I have taken the liberty of sharing! But I thought it was too funny to leave behind.)

[jmpurser]

Okay, that's funny!

[onepotatotwopotato]

Gay rights, gun rights
http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/apr/18/gay-rights-gun-rights/

[Cosmic-Zantor]

So you support gay marriage?

That's good at least.

[SouPro]

Bravo!