Posted on 01/22/2011 9:27:03 PM PST by FTJM
A very public shooting spree, with victims including a congresswoman, a judge, and a little girl, committed by a known lunatic, using equipment that had previously been banned: Jared Loughner’s crime seems an unparalleled opportunity for gun control advocates to gin up support for new legislation to restrict the weapons legally available to Americans and to restrict which Americans have access to those weapons.
Loughner reportedly used a Glock 19 pistol with 33-round magazines. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) therefore wants to restore a provision of the Clinton-era “assault weapon” ban that prohibited the manufacture or importation of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. McCarthy’s proposal would toughen the expired law’s requirements by prohibiting the sale or transfer of ownership of existing high-capacity magazines as well. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) intends to sponsor similar legislation in the Senate.
Meanwhile, Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) has called for a ban on possessing weapons within 1,000 feet of a member of Congress and certain other high government officials. Taking another tack entirely, a bipartisan pair of congressmen, Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) vow to start packing heat themselves, and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) wants to allow congresspeople to carry weapons in D.C., something normal citizens still can't do.
King didn’t explain how such a rule would be enforced, given that politicians have an annoying habit of moving from place to place—though such a law could provide a presumptive excuse to search everyone getting near a politician in public. The primary result of King's law would be to make meet-the-public events of the sort where Rep. Giffords was wounded legally untenable. (In a cliche that bears repeating: Someone preparing to shoot others has already demonstrated their willingness to break the law.)
Calling Captain Obvious....
That's right. Murder is against the law; whether it be by a firearm, knife, strangulation, drowning, club...
Yes. And blaming Sarah Palin and “right-wing talk radio” for the Tuscon shootings is like blaming Chef Ramsey and the Food Network for Rosie O’Donnell’s weight problem.
Most gun control is directed at law abiding citizens.
Gun control is like trying to solve drunk driving by making it harder for sober people to own cars.
Most gun control was aimed at blacks. In the 1970’s they started including hispanics and whites.
I should add, law abiding or not.
You are correct, early gun control was racist. Still is to a great extent, but has roped us all in.
Or by poison, fire, automobile, broken glass, or any other method or combination of methods.
What is always overlooked is the simple fact that criminals are, by definition, people who commit crimes (break the law).
Also, I understand that she has her reasons, but Carolyn McCarthy is ready to propose anti-gun legislation if someone sneezes loudly in her vicinity.
na...not even triple double. In ‘06, Mexico made anything above a 22cal pretty much illegal to possess. Last year, there were 12,000 drug-war-related-executions - some 36,000 since the severe restrictions were passed. Making guns illegal for the Average Joe or Jose’, and/or severely restricting caliber, doesn’t cure gun-related deaths. In fact, the restrictions probably contribute to the death rate since Average Jose’ now has no way to defend himself from the slimeballs of the world. Mexican gun policy is a lesson learned the hard way.
What is the most dangerous place to find yourself?
A gun free zone.
Of course, even with a 10 round clip, there would have been nothing stopping the shooter from bringing more loaded guns instead.
How long are the people of Long Island going to allow for this woman to ride her husband's corpse into elected office? Rep. McCarthy is like the 1990s version of the Jersey Hags.
10s of millions if not 100s of millions of guns in America.
Try to “control” them or their users.
Be like herding a passel of cats.
Bah. He’s pretending that there’s no deterrent effect in knowing that many people around you are packing heat too.
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