Posted on 02/03/2013 1:31:34 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Mark Kelly, husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, spoke to Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday this week, reiterating his support for universal background checks and responding to the NRA’s anti-gun control arguments. Simply put, Kelly said, less people would die due to gun violence if the legislation were put in place.
Wallace looked to the example of Jared Loughner, the gunman who opened fire in Arizona, killing and injuring many, including Giffords. He passed a background check, Wallace noted.
Loughner clearly was mentally ill, Kelly said — and if his condition was entered into the background check system, presumably he would not pass. Arizona, he said, hadn’t entered 121,000 records into the system, and that could certainly make a difference given that 1.7 million have been rejected since 1999.
Wallace further asked what difference a limit a restriction on high-capacity magazines would be make. Kelly replied that it does matter, because the time spent reloading is time for others to restrain the person.
Next on the list was the controversial assault weapons ban, which the NRA’s Wayne LaPierre vehemently opposes. Previously, LaPierre has said, the ban didn’t work, so it’s not necessary now.
“I don’t know if it worked or not,” Kelly said. “I haven’t at all the statistics. Common sense tells me that if it is much more difficult for criminals and the mentally ill to get assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and guns in general, we will save lives.”
Having served in the military, Kelly said he knows the value of assault weapons — in when used in mass shootings, more people die. He did agree with LaPierre that many gun laws need to be better enforced, but also asserted the need to close the gun show/private seller loopholes.
“This isn’t about the Second Amendment anymore,” Kelly said. “This is about public safety.”
There isn’t sufficient legislation, he continued, leading Wallace to point out the NRA’s political clout and ask how much, realistically, can be achieved on the gun control front.
Both sides of the aisle agree we need to do something, he said. It’s not going to be easy, but we need “common sense” answers. “I know the value of an assault weapon, and it’s to kill a lot of people very quickly,” Kelly added.
Asked for his message, “man to man,” to LaPierre (who was on in the next segment), Kelly said: He’ll say background checks don’t work, but that’s not true.
“I hope Mr. LaPierre can think about what would his members want,” he said. “Seventy-four percent of NRA members think it is a very reasonable thing to do to have a background check before buying a gun. … I hope he would listen to his membership because members of the NRA tend to be very reasonable on this issue.”
No, it’s always about the second Amendment. There is never a time when, you want to infringe in some way, that it’s not going to be about it.
Has this guy been a lifelong Baraqqi, or just fall into the trap after hooking up with a Dem chick in 07?
Wonder how much Kelly is making on this tour.
If he’s an astronaut, I assume he is former or current military, right? And he doesn’t know that a firearm can be reloaded in 2-3 seconds? Huh?
There’s a ton of info on Loughner that has been kept quiet. I was stunned when I started googling..
Yes, Mark, it is about the Second Amendment and always has been. Educate yourself, maybe even you can learn something.
Or would that not fit your agenda?
This is about money. Sarah brady move over. Gabby Giffords is the new gun control poster child. Psst honey. We can make lots of money protesting guns
They already have background checks except for the illegal and criminals.
BUT, BUT, BUT Joe Biden said the gun laws we have on hand now cannot be enforced because there are not enforcers to do it....so why do we need more gun laws??????Hmmmmm????
The latter
I live in AZ CD 2, Gabby Giffords old district. The talk here is that Mr. Kelly wants a political future, and he is using his wife’s issue to obtain it. The question is: what office will he seek - her old congressional seat, AZ governor (2014) or John McCain’s seat (2016). Ms. Giffords has achieved sainthood down here and he easily could capitalize on it.
Regards,
GtG
A gun control whore just like his wife.
I object to background checks for several reasons, primarily that it provides a permanent record of a transaction thereby acting as a de facto registration, wastes time and money, and restricts trade. Every gun owner I know involved in private sale transactions is aware of the responsibility associated with the transfer of a firearm. Most sales are to friends and/or fellow collectors. Because I have a common name, I’ve had to wait over a day to get permission to buy a gun. In the world of collectible firearms, many an opportunity to acquire a desired item would be lost just waiting for approval. And then there’s always the question: “What do you really accomplish by having a background check?” Do most guns used in crimes come from legal transactions or were they stolen or black market firearms? I think we overlook the obvious; that someone with intent to do harm will do so, whether it be guns, hammers, poison, fertilizer, bats or whatever as the method of delivery.
permits require permission... which can be withheld
a right cannot be withheld... only denied
“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.”
THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED
exactly how did some govt flunky get the ability to deny me my rights? show me the Constitutional foundation for it
You are correct...why should be submit to more scrutiny than our elected officials submit to?
My background check is under Obama’s birth certificate.
I see he’s working for Elon Musk now, I wonder if that is an influence also?
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