Gun Legislation

[Ombudsman]

This is not meant to be racist...

Yeah right, and the SC didn't secede over their desire to maintain slavery.

[O Really]

Look, Ex, nobody has to "refute" your numbers. I'm certainly not. I'm saying that those numbers are perhaps a starting point, not a point in themselves. But what is your point in emphasizing the black homicide rate? Are you saying law enforcement is not working on that? Are you saying that because they're black, they should be ignored? But once you've looked at overall rates, you have to look at the why and where. And the why of most of that black on black homicide is not the same why as domestic homicide or group homicide or random homicide.

[O Really]

Here's another example, Ex, of why your pointing out the percentage of black homicide isn't very helpful in discussing possible solutions. As an analogy, the state of Alaska has, or at least had in the measured time, about 57% of all US earthquakes. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/ ... states.php

Using your logic, we would be expected to discuss earthquakes and disaster preparedness by quoting the indisputable fact that "57% of earthquakes are in Alaska" and that "Washington only has 2% of the quakes." Fine so far, but does that mean we ought to ignore earthquake potential in other places? Looking only at that chart, we should be safe in Vermont, right? But Vermont has had quakes in the past, and has had effects from quakes centered outside the state. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/ ... istory.php

So a rational approach might be to look at Alaska and say "we need to make sure there is disaster preparedness there" but also look at how much of the state is unpopulated. Then we might say, "look, the statistical frequency of a quake is a lot greater in Alaska than Cali, but the effect if a quake does occur in Cali is much more. So we'd put different resources to work in Alaska than in Cali.

Unless, of course, we weren't actually interested in disaster preparedness and just wanted to use the quake figures to show what a rotten place Alaska is to live in.

[O Really]

Four reasons why the gun legislation failed... http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/n ... picks=true

[Boatrocker]

4. Our Weak Presidency

Facing a Congress in which the House is controlled by Republicans and the Senate is hobbled by the filibuster, Barack Obama’s legislative strategy this year leans heavily on his use of the bully pulpit to shame Republicans into backing his initiatives, especially on gun control.

Indeed. At this point I'd prefer he give us the pissed off BO we saw at the post-vote press conference from the White House. Those assholes are not going to respond to shaming or pressure or bullying. Fuck the carrot- get a stick.

[bannination]

Pretty good piece that The Daily Show did on gun control.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episod ... k-mazzetti

[O Really]

4. Our Weak Presidency

Facing a Congress in which the House is controlled by Republicans and the Senate is hobbled by the filibuster, Barack Obama’s legislative strategy this year leans heavily on his use of the bully pulpit to shame Republicans into backing his initiatives, especially on gun control.

Indeed. At this point I'd prefer he give us the pissed off BO we saw at the post-vote press conference from the White House. Those assholes are not going to respond to shaming or pressure or bullying. Fuck the carrot- get a stick.

With regard to that, here's a good Maureen Dowd column... http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/opini ... ulpit.html

[k9nanny]

No background checks for gun buyers.
Rodney Moore, Democrat Rep from Mecklenburg, introduced a bill requiring background checks for buyers of "aggressive dog breeds." Thank goodness, the bill was mercifully euthanized.
Just goes to show all the nutjobs aren't Republicans, though I imagine this dude would likely support the gun version.

[AntiAlias]

Pretty good piece that The Daily Show did on gun control.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episod ... k-mazzetti

I saw that. Loved John Oliver's bit.

[AntiAlias]

Democratic Sen. Baucus rules out 7th term

Too bad the Dems in Montana couldn't have forced him into retirement; it's Joe Lieberman all over again. Draft Schweitzer!

[AntiAlias]

http://www.theydontworkforyou.org/

[Leo Lyons]

The article is about the recent Watertown searches but this is interesting:

...She noted a situation several years ago in which the Boston police wanted to conduct door-to-door searches seeking out illegal firearms. In that case, the ACLU spoke out against the proposal, and it was dropped...

Suck on that gun-luvin', ACLU-hatin' cons.

Something like 'biting the hand that feeds you' comes to mind.

Of course that move would be considered 'illegal search and seizure' under the Constitution. ACLU, in speaking out, only reminded BPD of that pesky little tidbit.
Wouldn't want fellow liberals getting their hineys in a sling.

[O Really]

The article is about the recent Watertown searches but this is interesting:

...She noted a situation several years ago in which the Boston police wanted to conduct door-to-door searches seeking out illegal firearms. In that case, the ACLU spoke out against the proposal, and it was dropped...

Suck on that gun-luvin', ACLU-hatin' cons.

Something like 'biting the hand that feeds you' comes to mind.

Of course that move would be considered 'illegal search and seizure' under the Constitution. ACLU, in speaking out, only reminded BPD of that pesky little tidbit.
Wouldn't want fellow liberals getting their hineys in a sling.

That's an example of why "they're gonna take away our guns" is just totally paranoid bullshit. There is simply no realistic and practical way to do it, even if there were an effort afoot to try. It's not just the Second that prevents it.

[Boatrocker]

Members Of Congress Introduce Legislation Based On Fringe Conspiracy Theory

The bill is a response to far-right conspiracy theories that the government is “stockpiling” ammunition, either to wage a war against the American people or to dry up the ammunition market so average citizens can’t buy bullets.

And the nuttery continues.

[O Really]

Gotta hand it to 'em - that "opps" defense is really effective.
5-year old gets .22 rifle for birthday...shoots sister. Mom on porch. "Ruled accidental"
Yeah, I know - it's Kentucky, but still...Makes me want to scream.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ ... story.html

[Boatrocker]

Gotta hand it to 'em - that "opps" defense is really effective.
5-year old gets .22 rifle for birthday...shoots sister. Mom on porch. "Ruled accidental"
Yeah, I know - it's Kentucky, but still...Makes me want to scream.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ ... story.html

Damn- you beat me to it. I guess it just goes to show that that 2 yr old should've had better access to a gun!

[rstrong]

Members Of Congress Introduce Legislation Based On Fringe Conspiracy Theory

It's tradition. Another state recently introduced anti-Agenda 21 legislation. The conspiritard global conspiracy of Agenda 21, not the real-life non-binding feel-good declaration from over 20 years ago.

A few years back another state introduced anti-North American Union legislation in response to conspiritard demands.

[O Really]

Gotta hand it to 'em - that "opps" defense is really effective.
5-year old gets .22 rifle for birthday...shoots sister. Mom on porch. "Ruled accidental"
Yeah, I know - it's Kentucky, but still...Makes me want to scream.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ ... story.html

Damn- you beat me to it. I guess it just goes to show that that 2 yr old should've had better access to a gun!

That's right. She should have had her own gun. And if the mom had been packing, she could have shot the 5-year old before he shot the 2-year old. Boggles the mind, but it does show the obvious (to anyone with a brain) fallacy in the "more guns, safer places" theory.

Speaking of defensive efforts... http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/video?v ... snhpvidmod

[O Really]

Interesting place, Cumberland County, KY... http://www.city-data.com/county/Cumberl ... ty-KY.html

For example: "People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 56.0%"

And where people seem to think it's normal to say things like...

“It’s a Crickett,” Cumberland County Coroner Gary White told the paper. “It’s a little rifle for a kid.”
“The little boy’s used to shooting the little gun,” White said.
The shooting occurred while the boy was playing with the rifle, police said. It was “just one of those crazy accidents,” White told the Herald-Leader.http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05 ... GT1-43001=

Crickett... http://www.crickett.com/

[bannination]

Crazy accident... lol

If you put a 5 year old in the drivers seat and put him on the interstate and *when* he wrecked, called the resulting events a crazy accident you should be put in a mental institution.

It would be *crazy* if he *didn't* have an accident.