From John
Late 18th Century
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
21st Century
‘A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Glocks, Bushmasters, semi-automatic and automatic weapons, shall not be infringed.’
Guns is Big Business
Bingo. The NRA drapes them selves in a misinterpretation of the Constitution and questions the patriotism of anyone who does not agree.
On another note, Wayne LaPierre calling for more guns is not the answer to gun violence. Really think about what he said. The way to protect our children from guns is to surround them with even more guns. Sorry, that makes no sense.
I have no problem with responsible people owning guns, but more guns does not equal less violence. That is faulty logic.
How about putting more funds towards mental health research and treatment?
To me, the issue is less about guns and more about violence. Even if, hypothetically, it would become possible to take all guns away from all criminals, and all citizens in generaal so that only active duty military and police officers had them, would that keep our kids safe at school? Even if all guns are completely off the streets, and we put bullet proof glass in all doors and windows of every school, and we station an armed police officer at the door, would that keep our kids safe at school? Sadly, I don’t think that it would. I think that no sooner could we acomplish all of those safety measures, then some evil sicko would drive up and park his car-bomb at the door and blow the school to smitherines – just to prove that he can. That’s evil. Government can’t fix evil. It is naive of us to assume that it can. Government can do little to protect us from someone intent on committing mass murder. High powered weapons are one type of deadly weapon, but we’re kidding ourselves if we think they’re the only weapon, or that ridding the country of them will solve the problem of evil sickoes getting their kicks from slaughtering innocent people.
Bingo is right. This is what it’s all about. Profits for gun manufacturers who advertise and fund various gun magazines and the National Rifle Association which pays Wayne LaPierre $1 million dollars a year.
Since the right wingers want to interpret the Constitution in it’s original terms, I say gun rights should be limited to muskets, flintlock pistols and restricted to members of a well regulated state militia.
I am reading that gun sales spiked after the Newtown massacre. It would be interesting to zero in on this and see if that happened after Aurora and other mass murders. If true, that would mean that the gun industry is actually profiting from mass murder, and using the NRO as its lobbying front to maintain and enhance their profits.
JTO, it is my understanding that sales go up each time these horrific acts occur because people think that Congress will find the balls to go against the NRA to pass meaningful gun control legislation…and of course neither party can find those organs to put together a bipartisan coalition to do what needs to be done…I would be very interested to find out how many members of Congress have received campaign contributions from the NRA…
I am not opposed to increasing security in our schools. The problem I have with the NRA statement is its narrow focus. The problem and the solutions are multifactorial. But what did we expect from the NRA? Its like asking the bankers what we should do about solving a financial crisis.
I agree with Newcomer that government will never be able to stop all violence, but I do think that they can do a lot to curb it. Stricter gun laws, increased security, greater access and affordability of mental health care would all help.
All these efforts will cost money though, and its becoming more apparent, at least to me, that the right wing has no interest in protecting the citizens of this country. Just follow the actions of the Republican congress this past week and their interests become quite transparent. Their function is merely to protect the political and financial interests of the wealthy. Gun manufacturers not excluded.
Wayne LaPierre, Director of the NRA, held a press conference yesterday, …(see JTO’s new article. Admin).
Mental illness is not “evil”. It is illness. This is another Christian-right distortion intended to enhance the social control of the bible-thumpers.
Lib Dem:
I agree with your call “Stricter gun laws, increased security, greater access and affordability of mental health care would all help.”
The NRA doesn’t speak for every gun owner I don’t know why they think they do.
It is disturbing to me that everything bad that ever happens becomes a political fight.
Can we not find any common ground and solve problems?
Especially problem with such deadly consequence.
Db
Thanks Db. I read a poll somewhere that showed the majority of NRA members supported gun regulations that are currently being called for. That is encouraging. However, while the NRA represents those members, they are also the political face that markets for gun manufacturers. So in the end, the NRA will sell out and give the Republican party their marching orders. Hopefully, the more pragmatic, less profit driven members, will voice their concerns.
It is disturbing that a political battle always follows a calamitous event. The way I look at it though, is that if we want political solutions, then we need a political debate that brings out both sides of the issues. So I am not opposed to the battle. Unfortunately, a healthy debate relies on the integrity of both sides to set aside their monied interests and do what is best for the country. I don’t see the Republicans doing this. They didn’t do it in 2008 when the financial crises struck, they didn’t do it with the debt ceiling debates, they aren’t doing it to avoid the fiscal cliff, and I am not hopeful that they will do it with gun control legislation.
And this is why I am not a Republican any longer. Party before country is abhorrent to me and should be to you as well. You deserve better than the Republican party. We all do.
JTO,
Mental illness is one thing. Evil is another. Most of the time, a person suffers with one or chooses the other. However, it is not unheard of for both to be present within the same individual.
Someone who injures themself because they are not able to “feel anything” or receive sensory input the way a “normal” person does is mentally ill. A person who deliberately destroys their computer so their tracks cannot be traced makes a shrewd strategical calculation that is more characteristic of evil than it is of mental illness. My understanding of the Newtown shooter based on media reports is that he did both. Not everyone who is mentally ill is evil – of course. That should be obvious to anyone. Evil is not the same thing as mental illness and I am not equating the two. Evil infects people who are mentally sound just as it does those who are not.