To those of us who think we make it too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous guns, this is a somber week ahead.
Friday marks the third anniversary of the massacre at Virginia Tech. Thirty-two innocent lives were taken by a dangerous young man who had easy access to guns. Four days later, Tuesday, April 20 marks the 11th anniversary of the deaths of 13 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, because two young men had easy access to guns.
Sandwiched between these painful anniversaries, two gun lobby gatherings are planned in the Washington D.C. area on Monday, April 19 -- on the anniversaries of the battles of Lexington and Concord, the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building and the conflagration of the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas. Organizers say they're fighting to restore gun rights in America.
At this time in our history, gun toters can go into a Starbucks in more than 40 states with a loaded firearm. Brady background check records must be immediately destroyed. Congress is poised to eviscerate all of the gun laws in our nation's Capital. Gun victims' access to the courts has been curtailed. And Wayne LaPierre, the president of the NRA, says "the guys with the guns make the rules." Nevertheless, the gun extremists say that gun rights in the United States are facing tremendous threats.
It's hard to consider this paranoia about gun privileges being at risk with a straight face. We need civility in our gun policy debate in America, and I make a concerted effort to be polite and open to those who disagree with sensible gun laws every day. But in America, the guys with the guns don't make the rules -- and that, whether Wayne LaPierre likes it or not, is one of the foundations of our democracy.
Gun privileges at risk? Lori Haas helped nurse her daughter, Emily, back to health after she was wounded at Virginia Tech. Does Lori think gun rights are at risk in America?
"Are you serious?" Lori responded. "When firearms sales have skyrocketed in the last 18 months? There is absolutely nothing that prevents law abiding citizens from purchasing firearms. There is no threat. On the contrary -- they, along with criminals, the mentally ill and others who are legally ineligible from purchasing firearms can walk into any gun show in most states and buy all the firearms they want -- no questions asked. I can't quite fathom those so-called law abiding citizens wanting people the law has deemed unsuitable to be able to purchase firearms. It makes no sense."
The organizers of the "Second Amendment March," near the Washington Monument in Washington, and the armed "Restore the Constitution Rally" make a point of assuring us that they don't intend to use their events as a springboard to a violent assault on the U.S., Government. "If we planned to overthrow the government," wrote one of the organizers of the Virginia event, Daniel Almond, "we wouldn't invite so many of them to join us here on the lawn, we wouldn't announce our intention beforehand, and we wouldn't meet up on the wrong side of the river."
If you want to simplify this issue, read these names.
Friday is the anniversary of the deaths of Ross Abdallah Alameddine, Ryan Clark, Daniel Perez Cueva, Caitlin Hammaren, Emily Jane Hilscher, Matt La Porte, Jarrett Lane, Henry Lee, Juan Ortiz, Mary Karen Read, Reema Samaha, Leslie Sherman, Maxine Turner, Erin Peterson , Jeremy Herbstritt, Daniel O'Neil, Brian Bluhm, Michael Pohle, Austin Cloyd, Waleed Shaalan, Julia Pryde, Matthew Gwaltney , Nicole White, Rachael Hill, Lauren McCain, Partahi Lombantoruan, Minal Panchal, Christopher James Bishop, Dr. Kevin P. Granata, G.V. Loganathan, Dr. Liviu Librescu and Jocelyne Couture-Nowak.
Tuesday is the anniversary of the deaths of Rachel Scott, Daniel Rohrbough, William David Sanders, Cassie Bernall, Steven Curnow, Corey DePooter, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin, Lauren Townsend and Kyle Velasquez.
I urge everyone to remember Virginia Tech and Columbine. One of the reasons all the victims died was our lack of sensible gun laws to keep dangerous people from getting dangerous weapons.
"Administration to Tea Parties: We're on Your Side"
Stings a bit, huh Paul?
SB358 would prohibit the seizure of firearms or ammunition during a government-invoked state of emergency as a result of a disaster. SB358 languished last year when it was introduced and was propelled forward after the February tsunami warning when the members of the Legislature were deluged with calls from NRA members and gun owners worried that their guns might be confiscated, similar to the post-Hurricane Katrina incidents.
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=5746
In the debate between Rebecca Peters of IANSA and Wayne Lapierre of the NRA, Wayne claimed that IANSA wanted to restrict longarms to one that could fire less than 100 meters.
Would someone really make such an inane statement?
Yep.
civilians should not have sniper rifles, or rifles that they can kill someone at 100 meters distance, for example. -Rebecca Peters, CNN Oct. 23 2002
In the debate, she specifically says:
"I think Americans who hunt -- and who prove that they can hunt -- should have single shot rifles suitable for hunting whatever they"re hunting. I mean American citizens should be like any other citizens of the world. "
They also want to ban all semi-auto's and handguns (boy that sounds familiar). What's left?
BTW. The Brady Campaign, various Joyce Foundation puppets, and the CSGV are all members of IANSA.
That's because according to them, wanting to ban 99.9% of guns and put as many restrictions on the few remaining ones as possible somehow falls short of the gun ban title.
Really?
"Despite Evanston’s repeal of the ban, Tisdahl supports keeping guns out of the hands of citizens.
“Evanston is very interested in limiting handguns and banning handguns,†she said.
...we need to get guns out of the hands of young people and all citizens.â€
Elizabeth Tisdahl, in her official position as Mayor of Evanston, IL, is a member of Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
http://daysofourtrailers.blogspot.com/2010/02/mentality-of-gun-control-legislators.html
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Also, according the Brady Campaign's FAQs:
Q. Is Brady a "gun ban" organization?
A. No. Brady believes that a safer America can be achieved without banning guns.
We believe that law-abiding citizens should be able to buy and keep firearms. And we believe there are sensible gun laws that we can and should insist upon when it comes to gun ownership.
First and foremost, we should try to keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands, including criminals and children.
Second, there are certain classes of weapons that should be out of bounds for private ownership. ....
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So they claim not be be a gun ban organization then say : "there are certain classes of weapons that should be out of bounds for private ownership."
Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't something "out of bounds for private ownership" the very definition of a "ban"?
It is blatant lies and dishonest misrepresentations like this that show the weakness of the anti-gun side's position.
So tell me why a person, like my neighbor, needs a half dozen assault rifles and a stash of pistols? For the record, he upped his arsenal and ammo cache because he feared Obama was going to take his guns away from him. First off, this thinking suggests to me that he has the logical bearing of a ten year old. If your guns are going to be taken away, why purchase more of them? Thinking that you’re going to fight the government with your assault weapons suggests you're either a complete idiot or a misguided seditionist and certainly no Patriot. And if you imagine the Feds are intimidated by your small arms, you’re living a ridiculous fantasy. Waco has already proven that you're not going to win no matter how many people you assemble or how many AK's you amass.
Thank you for falling for the 'assault weapon' scam pushed by gun ban groups like the BC.
Did you know the Violence Policy Center wants to classify your 'hunting rifle' in the same category as machineguns? They call it an 'intermediate sniper rifle'.
Get the point?
I believe that one day, if there ever is a gun ban, it will not come as a result of folks such as myself who own guns for specific, legitimate reasons, but those who own guns to make up for some area they find deficient in their own personality.
Don’t fall for anyone telling you the government’s coming for your Kentucky long rifle because they’ll just be trying to play you for a stooge. But when they come to confiscate 20 AK’s or a bag of unregistered handguns from someone’s basement, I won’t consider that an infringement of anyone’s rights, I will consider it good police work and progress towards a safer tomorrow in America.
Banning all handguns because they are small.
Banning .50 cals because they are large.
Banning so-called "assault weapons" because they are medium sized and fire what is defined as an intermediate round, like your varmit rifle.
Banning all firearms able to be equiped with optics.
Banning cheap guns because they are cheap.
Banning expensive guns because they are high quality.
Banning children from "plinking".
Banning the carrying of any firearm outside your home. Not much use on a farm, huh?
Banning BB and pellet guns
Banning toy guns.
In fact, Brady financier IANSA has publically stated they wish to ban all firearms capable of firing past 100 yards.
Fortunately, the gun grabbers are on the defensive right now and we intend to keep it that way.
.50 cal too large? Agreed as well. Except maybe black powder, then they're too small.
Varmint rifles like my Mini 14 w/folder? I'm not worried. Woodchucks are a b/tch around here! Legitimate Use Farm Equipment. Get it? ;)
Optic equipped rifles? That’ll never happen. Hunters.
Cheap guns? Too accessible to cheap criminals and should be banned.
Expensive guns because they’re high quality. Richboy toys will never get taken away, trust me.
Banning children from plinking. I almost peed myself reading this. "Officer, (who I call Bob), they're not children, they're midgets! Mary’s making dinner at 5 on Sunday you say? We’ll be there."
My farm is my home MH. And every couple of months, Phil, my gunsmith, expects me in for servicing. He'd feel terrible if I didn't come around to see him!
Banning BB and pellet guns. "You'll shoot your eye out kid!" Sorry, I had to do that.
Banning toy guns. Great idea. Save the money on toy guns and buy those kids a laptop. It will make them better, more productive Americans.
I’m running out of wordspace here and don’t have all day to argue. Here’s my last word. There are too many guns out there. Too many knuckleheads have access to dangerous weaponry IMO and there’s too much gun violence.
I had never heard of the VPC before today. Thank you, I’ll join them.
BTW, I like your nick, MH.
While you have been busy yelling at Starbucks, Arizona residents just got permitless carry.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have some coffee to enjoy.
Tuesday is the anniversary of the deaths of Rachel Scott, Daniel Rohrbough, William David Sanders, Cassie Bernall, Steven Curnow, Corey DePooter, Kelly Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin, Lauren Townsend and Kyle Velasquez.
I urge everyone to remember Virginia Tech and Columbine."
I agree. We should remember these defenseless victims who were slaughtered in Brady Center endorsed "gun free zones". We should remember how such "gun free zones" facilitate mass murder and how the Brady Bunch is determined to keep them that way.
Your comment is reprehensible.
You foolishly believe guns are the answer for violence -- while denying every means to stop the violence.
You and the gunners on this blog represent the worst in our nation as you cling to your guns and the myths made up for your sad fearful natures by the corporation's psychologists and word doctors. Your gullibility is beyond reason. Your foolishness contributes to gun sales and deaths.
If you ever wake up from the fairy tales NRA spoon feeds you, you might be ashamed. Very ashamed.
Your comment is reprehensible.
You foolishly believe gun control is the answer for violence -- while denying every means to stop the violence.
You and the gun controllers on this blog represent the worst in our nation as you cling to your gun controls and the myths made up for your sad fearful natures by the special interest psychologists and word doctors. Your gullibility is beyond reason. Your foolishness contributes to more violence and deaths.
If you ever wake up from the fairy tales BC and VPC spoon feeds you, you might be ashamed. Very ashamed.
When someone can take your post and basically turn it around at you the way I just did to yours, that is a big, big red flag that your post is nothing but a giant ad hominem/personal attack.
So which is it Paul?
A right or a privilege?
You might want to read the Heller ruling to find the answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1cYzATHcqA
You'd think that after spending 20+ years trying to destroy the 2A, he would at least be able to quote the darn thing.
Nor is it "paranoid" to believe that the U.S. gun-control lobby still wishes to ban the most popular civilian rifles and over-10-round magazines, or that it seeks increased restrictions on state-licensed carry by mentally competent adults with clean records.
The way to built a succuessful political movement in this country is to promote every aspect of your cause as extremely significant. That's what the NRA and other gun rights groups have been doing, and why they have been winning so much.
Incorrect.
What "gun victims" can no longer do is sue legal manufacturers selling legal products to legal distributors which then sell to legal retail stores to legal purchasers.
They can still sue the criminal who shot them.
But I guess in your world, somebody hit by a drunk driver should be able to file lawsuits against General Motors, huh?
In this one case, when otherwise in America, the customer is always right, the customer isn't right.
It's also worth noting that gun manufacturing is one of the few industries left in our nation. We used to be an industrial giant in the world. The corporations have taken all the jobs overseas or across borders. Does that mean that gun manufacturers can build faulty products or have dangerous policies and get away with it?
GM is not liable for people driving their cars too fast or while drunk.
Wustof Trident is not held liable for people stabbing each other.
Firearm manufacturers can and are held responsible for defective devices.
It is worth noting that the people who were bringing the lawsuits againstthe firearm manufacturers were the same lawyers who had been going after big tobacco for years and who had decided on a strategy of "death by 100 cuts" or Pyrrhic Victory for the manufacturers. The lawyers knew they stood very little chance of winning their individual cases and history has shown that 99% of their cases failed, but they also knew the manufacturers had very small profit margins and defending against all these cases could bankrupt the manufacturers -- and that was their goal.
Two things changed this approach: 1st, the manufacturers started hitting the plaintiffs back for payment of court costs and 2nd Congress stepped in and put an end to these frivolous lawsuits -- but not to the end of defective product lawsuits.
Small correction here, Paul.
APPROVED background checks must be immediately destroyed. There is no limit on record retention for NICS denials.
Once the FBI says it's okie-dokie to proceed with the sale, what purpose is served by retaining those approved checks?
What a joke.
Cho passed two seperate Brady Background checks and complied with Virginia's one-gun-a-month law, which you say will prevent massacres.
Incorrect.
Prohibited persons are not allowed to even touch a firearm. It's illegal.
The worse hypocrisy is that the gun industry and its propaganda arm, the NRA, are going to State legislatures to pass laws to allow felons to get the right to own guns. As long as they didn't murder anyone .... This goes unnoticed on the national level, which is the plan, as the attempt to change the law is being vigorously pursued in the states. Sneaky.
The NRA is the propaganda arm of the gun industry?
GritsJr: "I've never heard anyone claim that gun manufacturers control the NRA. It's completely the opposite and obvious to anyone with an IQ of 80 or above."
Uh-oh, DreamWeaver2nd. GritsJr says your IQ must be under 80. He must be one of those gun nuts, right?
DreamWeaver2nd: "are going to State legislatures to pass laws to allow felons to get the right to own guns. As long as they didn't murder anyone"
Only for the few who apply and qualify. But Democrats are going to State legislatures to pass laws to allow felons to get the right to vote, even if they DID murder someone. And it would be for ALL felons -- not just those who apply and qualify.
http://www.jamesswan.com/paper.html
"Weapons serve a variety of functions, both for individuals and for society. One such function is that of a selfobject for narcissistically vulnerable persons. This selfobject function allows the damaged self to maintain cohesion and to offset feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness. Because the weapon allows the personality to feel in control and to exert dominance over others, it may come to be viewed in an idealized manner. This is very similar to the idealizing selfobject transference described by Kohut. Weapons are more likely to become selfobjects for those personalities suffering from some degree of self pathology. The selfobject function of weapons, however, may have significance beyond individual psychopathology. Groups of individuals, societies, and even nations may utilize weapons to counter feelings of vulnerability and to diminish fragmentation of the group's collective self. Their destructive potential may be unleashed in response to an intense narcissistic injury and narcissistic rage. The importance of weapons can thus be better understood by examining them within the context of self psychology."
Feldmann TB, Johnson PW, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Abstract
The NRA mole or the gun industry mole lied that the campaigns to stop gun violence were intent on banning guns.
If you weren't so psychologically invested in this nonsense you would see how transparent the lies are.
There can never be a ban on reasonable ownership of guns in the United States of America. (Unless you keep holding on the love of assault weapons, of course.)
The for-profit gun industry is a fear monger.
The NRA is a fear monger.
If you believe them, you are a fool.
But hey, if “the damaged self†needs to use question-begging made-up words “to maintain cohesion and to offset feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness,†I hope that has all the therapeutic value those people need.
Young, poor, uneducated males between the ages of 15 and 29 probably contribute to 70% of gun crime in this country.
We don't have a gun problem. We have a socio-economic problem.
Guns for so-called self defense, as marketed by the NRA and gun industry, are leading cause of domestic violence and those numbers are growing ... as are the deaths of children by guns.