Pretty simple. It’s the Perfect Storm of Leftist opportunity.
“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” -Rahm Emanuel
BZ
P.S.
You want some actual facts involving firearms — facts that can buttress your arguments based on statistics and logic? Go here.
As the result of the recent Newtown, Connecticut shootings, the White-Plains, New York newspaper The Journal News (at lohud.com) published the article “The gun owner next door: What you don’t know about the weapons in your neighborhood.”
The point of the article was this:
“I would love to know if someone next to me had guns. It makes me safer to know so I can deal with that,” said Thompson, whose group counsels youths against gun violence. “I might not choose to live there.”
That is: according to the author, Dwight Worley, people need to know who has a gun in their home so that potential neighbors can decide to avoid that person and/or area. The further intimation being: because you can never quite tell when that heinous gun owner will uncork and shoot up the community.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, the article also included an interactive graphic that displays the specific name, address and telephone number of those persons holding firearms permits in Rockland and Westchester counties in New York state. See: “Map: Where are the gun permits in your neighborhood?”
Weasel Zippers weighed in here on the matter originally.
But wait; there’s more. Weasel Zippers then thought it would be appropriate to reveal the address and phone number of the article’s author, Worley, along with those of the newspaper’s president and editors. That article is here.
A bit of tit-for-tat, so to speak.
Because I’m certain those journalists would want their personal information displayed on the internet for all to see as much as lawful gun owners would.
As does The Politico, whose bias is indicated by its title: “Right up in arms over paper’s gun map.”
Anyone besides me believe this is 1) reprehensible, but 2) only fair that the publishers have their personal information revealed as well?
BZ
I love it: the Left investigating the Left.
And the Left thinking it is somehow, magically, mystically, immune from its OWN laws.
From Breitbart.com’s Big Journalism:
A first thought: hoisted upon the petard of your own making, yes? And so, Gregory, how does it feel to have your own loving government instigating an investigation which may result in some form of criminal prosecution?
In a discussion about gun control, host David Gregory brandished a 30-round magazine purportedly for an AR-15 or similar “assault rifle.” The discussion took place on December 23, during the broadcast of NBC’s Sunday morning political talk show.
Washington D.C.’s gun laws, however, state that even possessing such a device is a violation. Meet the Press is filmed at NBC’s D.C. studios.
Quite admittedly, the shadow of Schadenfreude has reared its ugly head here.
And I suspect: there is much more of it to come in the next two or three months.
BZ
P.S.
Mr Gregory, do you perhaps wish that the Second Amendment was more highly enforced and guaranteed — now? Just a question in passing. . .
First, outright confiscation is advocated by MSNBC’s Leftist Ed Schultz on Twitter:
Ed Schultz @WeGotEd @gt500cws who’s facts ? I have a fact for you. We are the Constitution and we as a people can change whatever we want. Get ready Dude !
Ed Schultz @WeGotEd @gt500cws a Glock pistol qualifies as an assault weapon.
Ed Schultz @WeGotEd The NRA needs to state the case why assault weapons are needed by anyone.
Ed Schultz @WeGotEd @gt500cws a Glock pistol qualifies as an assault weapon.
Ed Schultz @WeGotEd Write all the feel good laws you want, it’s the confiscation of these types of weapons that counts and will have an impact.
Ed Schultz @WeGotEd Why should anyone own an assault rifle ? We need to be realistic about the 2nd amendment..society has changed, views have changed.
“Write all the feel good laws you want, it’s the confiscation of these types of weapons that counts and will have an impact.”
Two Demorat senators want an outright assault weapons ban here.
Fornicalia Senator Diane Feinstein, 79, said on Monday:
“This is really the straw that breaks the camel’s back. I’m beside myself over this.”
She’s going for “assault weapons,” she states.
Adam Lanza was, in fact, “deranged.”
And so-called “gun-free zones” do nothing but guarantee, to an offender, that they will not be met with resistance of any kind. A bit of an obvious conclusion, yes? But, of course, not to Leftists, Progressives and Demorats, who possess not the capacity to understand such concepts. They act and react only upon emotions, not logic or common sense — a sense of which is not common any more.
Further, let us harken back to Eric Holder in 1995: “we need to brainwash people against guns.”
How about this, Mr Holder: we portray crime and criminals as they are? Losers. Cultural losers. And to whom are you aiming this ire? Truthfully: to large and compacted cities such as Detroit, Chicago, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles — cities that are packed with a high “minority content” (Though, in Fornicalia, as a Caucasoid I am now the literal statistical minority.) that belong to gangs because they have no two-parent families. A paradigm that was eliminated by the very federal government with which you now work. At one time the black family was the tightest nucleus possible. But when you — the federal government — paid black women for more children absent a male in the household, the nuclear black family was inexorably doomed. By Demorats. Leftists.
But what will Demorats and Leftists and Progressives fail to mention? Yes. That would be statistics. As in: violent crime has been trending down for the past 20 years.
Yoni the Blogger writes more truth:
Rampage violence is not solely an American problem.
It is a world wide problem. Since 1904 the world has seen over 1,261 such incidents.
They happen in free countries such as America, and they have happened in dictatorships such as the former USSR and China.
The weapons range from edged weapons, firearms and metal bars.
I predict that America will see new gun control, over the latest school shooting. Despite the evidence of the good that guns have done in two of the latest incidents.
But prepare to be confronted with Truth that NO ONE in the DEM/MSM has mentioned, and that most persons fail to mention. Truth:
We know that the shooter in Oregon was confronted by a civilian that was carrying a pistol, the civilian held fire because of people being behind the shooter. The shooter was working to try and clear a malfunction in his rifle, he saw the civilian aiming at him.
The shooter only fired one more round, the one that took his own life.
We know at the Sandy Hook, that when the shooter heard the first responders approaching he took his own life.
It is time we have a serious discussion about the positive aspect of gun ownership.
Guns in the hands of good people, prevent violence.
Israel proved that guns in our schools, stopped our schools from being targeted by terrorist.
Gun free zones create a pool of victims for these sick individuals.
I promise you, let a teacher kill one of these crazies and the rampage violence at schools will stop.
Precisely. Because America and American politicians are addressing the wrong issue. They are — of course, once again — taking the EASY WAY “out.”
Just as cash is an “answer” and is completely impersonal, so is addressing the tool in violence — the gun — an “answer” and is completely impersonal. Because “impersonal” won’t cost votes.
Because Demorats and Leftists and Progressives and the DEM/MSM refuse to address the true issue: PEOPLE.
Why?
People VOTE. Tools and cold pieces of paper and metal do not. People — voters — don’t want to hear or read that they are the problem.
However, the Second Amendment has been upheld:
Most recently, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 11 struck down an Illinois law that prohibited most individuals other than hunters or law enforcement personnel from carrying weapons in public. The ruling relied, in part, on a 2008 Supreme Court decision striking down Washington, D.C.,’s strict handgun ban.
“The constitutional right of armed self-defense is broader than the right to have a gun in one’s home,” Judge Richard Posner wrote in striking down the Illinois law.
There are serious issues here.
Issues that the Demorats are truly unwilling to address.
BZ
P.S.
I will write about the “mental health” factors later — a much-needed issue to be discussed.
A great tragedy occurred last Friday.
Twenty small children and six adults were killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. One adult, the mother of the suspect, was killed first, in her home.
Since then a major fuse has been lighted due to the significance of the event, and (predominantly in the DEM/MSM) the obvious and simple solution is to confiscate your weapons and proscribe personal ownership of firearms. Then, clearly, all will be well with the nation and the world.
In the meantime, the bloody deaths of small children is fodder for competition, job advancement and ratings in the national media:
Nothing that any logically-thinking and informed American didn’t already know and expect, however, from the DEM/MSM maggots.
[A small aside for those unfamiliar with the firearms industry in America: there are, to the best of my knowledge, at least seven firearms or firearms-associated manufacturers located in the state of Connecticut, to include Smith & Wesson; Colt; Sturm, Ruger & Co.; Mossberg; Winchester; Remington; and Martin Firearms.]
Mr Obama made it very clear that he believes immediate action is necessary:
“And this must change. We can’t tolerate this any longer. These tragedies must end. Are we prepared to say that we’re powerless in the face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard? Are we prepared to say that such violence visited on our children year after year after year is the price of our freedom?”
Good and true words. To be utilized — like any tool — for good or for ill.
Involving Mr Obama and Demorats, Leftists and Progressives — in consideration of my inherently doubting and questioning nature — I cannot help but think that what Mr Obama has in mind isn’t really much of an observance of our Bill of Rights.
But instead, something more along the lines of what Mr Bush created with Homeland Security — and worse. Much worse.
Texas Fred has an excellent installment regarding his post-Newtown thoughts here.
Further: “we all know that guns are evil,” but do they ever save lives — and — who advocates them? None other than black rapper Ice-T:
Asked by a London news anchor about America’s gun culture, Ice-T said: “Well, I’d give up my gun when everybody does. Doesn’t that make sense? If there were guns here, would you want to be the only person without one?”
Anchor Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Channel 4 News: “So do you carry guns routinely at home?”
Ice-T: “Yeah, it’s legal in the United States. It’s part of our Constitution. You know, the right to bear arms is because that’s the last form of defense against tyranny. Not to hunt. It’s to protect yourself from the police.”
Anchor: “And do you see any link between that and these sorts of (Aurora-type) incidents?”
Ice-T: “No. Nah. Not really. You know what I’m saying, if somebody wants to kill people, you know, they don’t need a gun to do it.”
Anchor: “It makes it easier, though, doesn’t it?”
Ice-T: “Not really. You can strap explosives on your body. They [Muslims! – BZ] do that all the time.”
Anchor: “So when there’s the inevitable backlash of the anti-gun lobby, as a result of this instance, as there always is–“
Ice-T: “Well, that’s not going to change anything. The United States is based on guns.”
Alas, finally, a truism. One that we must all face. Because history precludes us.
There is an American gun magazine that has featured a monthly column, for years, documenting incidents where the presence of a gun saved lives.
Check this from John Stossel:
Outrageous. More guns lead to more violence. Plainly. Or — dare we say it? — not?
But: “if someone breaks into your house, which would you rather have? A handgun, or a telephone?”
Clearly, Leftists, Demorats and Progressives would prefer this sign on their front yards:
Oh wait. No they wouldn’t. Because those signs don’t exist on front yards. ANYone’s front yard. Does that mean that — gulp! — Demorats and Leftists and Progressives are slightly smarter than your average houseplant? Answer: yes. And calculatingly so. They say one thing and espouse and live another.
Yes, I know you’re quite shocked. Shocked, I tell you!
Various other killings stopped by armed citizens? Click here.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch:
– Democrats vow to push for gun control measures in Congress
– Progressives Plan March On NRA In DC Monday
But if you’re not retarded or an idiot or a Demorat or a Leftist or a Progressive or immature or ill-educated or homeless or autistic or a GOWP or a parasite or an advocate or consumer of Free Cheese. . .
. . . then your gun rights are under assault.
Oh, right. That would equate to a normal human being protected by the Constitution of the United States of America.
BZ