What do Scott Roeder, the alleged killer of abortion doctor George Tiller, Richard Poplawski, arrested in April for ambushing four police officers in Pittsburgh, killing three and injuring one, and Wayne LaPierre, the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association all have common?
They all believe that "the guys with the guns make the rules"--the rallying cry LaPierre offered attendees at this year's CPAC convention. LaPierre's red-meat statements to pro-gun activists--cynical, incendiary bafflegab designed to anger up their hearts and open up their wallets--has effects that go far beyond the NRA's own political and financial interests. The NRA likes to brag about its alleged four million members and its ability to sway a compliant Congress with the merest hint of displeasure. But when asked whether it should ever be held accountable for the effect its language (both as potential instigator and chronic validator) has on the fringe of American gun ownership its public response is a surprised, "Who, me?"
On the rare occasions when it has been called to account--for example, when during the Clinton Administration it stated that the "final war has begun" and former member Timothy McVeigh took the organization at its word, blowing up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City--the organization has made slight tacks in its language (so long "final war," hello "culture war") but has always retained the disparate combination of bullying and paranoia evident in LaPierre's words
The danger lies in the literal interpretation of LaPierre's statement and the NRA's publications. According to the Wichita Eagle, "Those who know Roeder said he believed that killing abortion doctors was an act of justifiable homicide." The Eagle also reports that Roeder had at one time been a member of the anti-government "Freemen" movement. Poplawski feared the Obama administration would ban his guns. According to news reports, "One friend, Edward Perkovic, said Poplawski feared 'the Obama gun ban that's on the way' and 'didn't like our rights being infringed upon.'"
Right now there is a consensus that our nation--from the president down to the cop on the beat--is at increased risk of violence from extremist organizations. And each time a smoldering ember sparks resulting in death and injury, the question that should be asked is who is fanning the flames?
On June 11, the top law enforcement officials of nearly half the states signed a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, expressing their opposition to reinstatement of the federal ban on semi-automatic firearms.
"We share the Obama Administration's commitment to reducing illegal drugs and violent crime within the United States. We also share your deep concern about drug cartel violence in Mexico. However, we do not believe that restricting law-abiding Americans' access to certain semi-automatic firearms will resolve any of these problems," the letter said.
The letter notes congressional opposition to bringing back the ban, and calls for increasing enforcement of existing laws.
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=4971
http://www.sullivan-county.com/id3/militia_sep.htm
Mao" Political power is at the barrel of a gun"
Thomas Pain" Give me Liberty or give me death"
Ghandi " Sometimes you have to fight evil" refering to Hitler
Could Roeder have read these qouts not just Wayne Lappeirre which Roeder isn't qouted as using to justify his act.
FDR " ...a day which will live in infamy" encouraging American soldiers to fight the Japanes who were called with the derogatory term Nip and allowed the president to rationalize the internment of all American Japanes. This speech had link to violence but the one from Wayne Lapeirre has none since there are many books including the founding fathers writtings that can be used to justify a deranged persons act. According to the CDC video games have influence on people to act on violence.
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2009/06/04/vandalism/
And your proof that it was a straw purchase is?
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35. Do you support legislation to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of
a. handguns?
While a complete ban on handguns is not politically practicable, I believe reasonable restrictions on the sale and possession of handguns are necessary to protect the public safety. In the Illinois Senate last year, I supported a package of bills to limit individual Illinoisans to purchasing one handgun a month; require all promoters and sellers at firearms shows to carry a state license; allow civil liability for death or injuries caused by handguns; and require FOID applicants to apply in person. I would support similar efforts at the federal level, including retaining the Brady Law.
b. assault weapons?
Yes.
c. ammunition for handguns and assault weapons?
I would support banning the sale of ammunition for assault weapons and limiting the sale of ammunition for handguns.
The Revolution required guns.
Creating the Constituion and the Bill of rights required level-heads, compromise and diplomacy.
You probably confused my explanation of non-violent protest which Ralph Waldo Emerson said " works only in a government with a concience". Meaning a government that listens to the opinions and wishes of the voting population unlike the despots and kings who do as they wish. The three shooters did not understand that our current government has a concience so there is no need to resort to violence.
LaPierre ignores all of this and brazenly throws out his "total ban" mantra to his easily led and paranoid acolytes. His interest is financial; as head mouthpiece for the NRA he boasts four thousand new members a month, and the highest total membership in the organizations long and what once was distinguished history . The organization is so successful that now they are giving away one-year memberships knowing the signees will re-up for Year Two.
LaPierre and his lieutenants have placed the reason for the high increase in gun sales upon Obama, saying he's the "best gun saleman ever," when in reality it is they who are stoking their baseless firearm prohibition fear that is fueling these mind-blowing sales.
As a firearm owner for over forty years, I have yet to see the NRA ever take a position of culpability in any shooting. Please enlighten me and offer one citation to support your claim.
We need a vastly improved care for the mentally ill and we need to make sure that people who are seriously mentally ill...
NEVER GET A GUN.
But TOO MANY " guys with the guns " are angry, violent dimwits
with NO SELF CONTROL and even LESS COMMON SENSE.
Legislators and others who allow those types to have guns
endanger everyone's safety.
America's "a free country".
Those GUYS ARE FREE TO KILL.
Are you "free" to die?
NRA membership is up due to Obama.
Gun sales are up due to Obama.
Gun safety class registration is up due to Obama
(2 and 3 can help ensure future gun owners)
Firearms manufacturing is the only industry running DEEP in the black due to Obama.
The current nominee to the Supreme Court is rallying firearms manufacturers stock, again due to Obama.
What's the point? The gun industry is experiencing all kinds of growth, again due to Obama.
So VPC logic dictates that Obama is the *NRA!!!
*as in National Rifle Association, not National Restaurant Association, or National Recover Act.....
"What do Scott Roeder, the alleged killer of abortion doctor George Tiller..."
"But when asked whether it should ever be held accountable for the effect its language,..."
Language is a big pat of the problem and we need to be careful of others defining words that we then use. What I mean is, when all the headlines refer to Dr. Tiller as the "abortion doctor," we take part of the responsibility for the problem. My understanding is that Dr. Tiller was so much more than an "abortion doctor." From those that knew him, he was a kind compassionate doctor who cared about women's health. It's the same as when we refer to anti-choice as pro-life. I am very much pro-life as well as pro-choice. I hope we all become more careful with the implications of our language choices.
due to GUN VIOLENCE.
Hey, it's the right-wing's POPULATION CONTROL!
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Yep. It says the evil "G" word, advocates laws other than federal, and says "morally straight", an obvious dig at gays. They MUST be extremists!
http://www.voltairenet.org/article160061.html
Wayne LaToilette
It is impossible for any legitimate gun owner to get access to a shooting range more than once or twice without joining the club. And ALL clubs are certified by the NRA, therefore ALL of them require NRA membership of the club members.
IOW, if you want to practice shooting your firearms you have no choice but to be a member and receive their propaganda. If that were not the case, I have no doubt the membership would be a fraction of what it is.
Absolutely 100% incorrect.
1. Many shooting ranges are not "clubs"
2. Of the shooting ranges which are "clubs", only a fraction of them require membership in the NRA