In last night's Republican YouTube debate, a questioner submitted this video of himself shooting what looks like an AK-type semi-automatic assault rifle at a target in the desert. In less than two seconds, self-identified NRA Life Member Jay Fox fires off six rounds. (Check the timing of the video yourself.)
Then, after he slings his rifle over his shoulder, he asks a question to the candidates for President: "What is your opinion of gun control?" After this, someone off-camera tosses him what looks like a 12-gauge pump shotgun. Then he quips, "And don't worry" - as he pumps the slide, cha-chick - "you can answer how ever you like."
The crowd roared with laughter. The candidates laughed too.
If yesterday was typical, 32 more people were murdered by guns. Their families weren't laughing last night. And remember, 32 people were murdered by guns at Virginia Tech just seven months ago. The dangerously mentally ill shooter in Blacksburg fired off about 175 rounds in less than 10 minutes with his two semi-automatic handguns.
Gun violence isn't funny. Ask Peter Read, father of Mary Read, who died at Virginia Tech. Ask Joe Samaha, father of Reema, who died at Virginia Tech. Ask Lily Habtu, a survivor of the Virginia Tech shootings, and who is still undergoing surgeries for her wounds. Ask any of the families who suffer from gun violence if guns are something to joke about.
I'm sure they would like to ask all of the Presidential candidates the following: "How would you help prevent future tragedies like Virginia Tech? Would you support the NICS Improvement Act to strengthen the Brady criminal background check system, that is currently blocked in the Senate? Will you support other common-sense legislation to strengthen our tragically weak gun laws?"
To them and many others, the candidates' answers would be taken without any humor at all.
(Note to readers: This entry, along with past entries, has been co-posted on bradycampaign.org/blog and the Huffington Post.)
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=2027
This video was shot in California, which has an assault weapons ban that the Brady Campaign holds up as a model for the whole country. The firearm Jay Fox is firing is not an assault weapon, yet the Paul laments the rate of fire of this ordinary self-loading rifle.
The Brady Campaign denies it wants to ban ordinary firearms, yet here they are lambasting an ordinary firearm, which is not an assault weapon under California Law, or under the expired federal assault weapons ban the Bradys keep claiming we need to reauthorize to fight crime.
So I ask again, is the Brady Campaign favoring a ban on all semi-automatic firearms and revolves, which are all capable of firing at the rate of speed they are unhappy with?
They write with obvious hatred towards gun control & advocates; preferring, instead, to preach the glories of private gun-ownership ~ while readily ignoring the obvious dangers that such weaponry poses on our cherished society.
They are examples of weak-minded/weak-spirited individuals, IMHO.
Even to enthusiastic gun-owners, they often prove to be a real irritant/cause for concern ... as in the case of "Misanthrope," who recently broke rank with this gun-group & called them nothing short of deceptive.
And yet, they scream at us to trust them. LOL.
Kelli
You notice Helmke thinks that people are murdered by guns? Aren't these people murdered BY murderers (other human beings) WITH guns (inanimate objects)?
In a not too subtle way, this reveals the irrationality of anti-gun ideology including that espoused by the Brady Campaign. Any one or any organization who can't differentiate between criminals and their tools, and assigns responsibility for crime to the tools ("32 people beaten by baseball bats", "32 people choked to death by ropes", etc.), draws serious questions about their grasp of reality.
That's the point. It's the point of the majority of these screeds of which their followers adhere to with a cult-like mindset.
I get the impression that most of those writing today lack any empathy, understanding or smarts when it comes to gun violence issues & victims. That could well be why they've completely missed the point of Paul's blog topic here.
KELLI
Do you believe it should be illegal for civilians to own a firearm which fires 12 .30 caliber bullets with a single trigger pull? How about 20 bullets with a single trigger pull? How 'bout 50?
yes or no?
"Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake."
Napoleon Bonaparte
Keep up the good work, Kelli!
"Let your gun be your companion on all your walks." -- Thomas Jefferson
Yes, I know they're really trying hard to be abusive bastards in doing this ganging up behavior ~ but I can't help but laugh at their obvious immaturity ... and lack of good sense/good judgement.
Big Grin,
KELLI
Interesting ...
... and, a lot like boys throwing temper tantrums, don't you think?
It would be foolishly optimistic on my part, to think that they were joining my userprofile fanlist, because they actually enjoyed my viewpoints.
LOL,
Kelli
Of course you do!
to remove preemption when it comes to less restrictive laws.
It's absolutely vulgar.
Also, a couple of other comments:
One of the most fanatical of the gun-nuts here, "thirdpower," signed up to be one of my "fans." Now ... what in the world could he be thinking, by doing that? Do you suppose he's trying to intimidate me somehow ... or perhaps, he has some control issues he needs a brain scan/psychological medication for?
A real toss-up (LOL)!
I also noticed that more than a couple of gun-fanatic types ~ such as, "dmeadows" ~ are (interestingly) employing near-exact wording from fellow posters, usually gun control advocates ... & then, manipulating such words and ideas, to fit their twisted cause for more firearms/fewer restrictions.
I wanted to point out such bizarre behavior here, esp. for others to take note of.
Have a very good one, Paul Helmke & the Brady Campaign. As you already know, many are behind you in your important work!!!
Kelli
I present my evidence of this here (http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/?p=2027). Take a look, and decide for yourself whether The Brady Campaign is deceitful.
I also love how Paul uses someone out having some fun plinking at targets in the desert to set up a post admonishing us that gun violence isn't a laughing matter. What does target shooting have to do with gun violence?