Posted on 06/25/2017 11:37:50 PM PDT by richardb72
When Republican lawmakers came under fire during a June 14 baseball practice in Virginia, they were trapped by a tall fence with one exit. Thanks to armed officers guarding House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, only five people were wounded.
But although members of the congressional leadership are provided security details, the rest of us have to count on luck. When congressmen and senators are off the Capitol Hill campus, we are still high-profile targets, but we have zero protection, Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama told John Lott of the Crime Prevention Research Center.
Mr. Lott, who worked with me on this article, and I have talked to some of the congressmen and staffers who were there during the attack. They uniformly want to change the District of Columbias gun-control laws.
Rep. Steve Pearce of New Mexico described to me how a security officers shots put the attacker into a defensive position, causing him to come out from behind a wall to fire before taking cover again. Had the attacker taken even six steps forward, Mr. Pearce said, he would have seen several exposed people concealed from his line of sight.
At least five congressmen at the baseball practice have concealed handgun permits in their home states. At least one aide also has a permit. Others may be reluctant to announce publicly that they do, since part of the benefit of carrying a concealed weapon is that potential attackers do not know who is armed. Thats why uniformed police have an almost impossible job stopping terrorist attacks. A uniform is like a neon sign flashing: I have a gun. Shoot me first.
In 2015 the Daily Caller surveyed 38 conservative members of Congress, asking whether they held a concealed-carry permit. Thirty declined to answer. Of the eight who . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
If only there was a body of power that could change this...
National reciprocity for concealed weapons carry.
Just like marriage (how the SCOTUS forced gay marriage on America) and drivers licenses...
Seems to me it is time to repeal all firearms laws nation wide, after all, the 2nd ammendment clearly restricts government, not citizens.
I agree.
But until then, when the law puts you and yours at risk, ANY law, it’s time to say #### the law and use one’s judgement on what’s best.
Two things come to mind, the first is that Congress clearly has the Constitutional power to set laws in DC. The second item is the attack occurred in VA and many states are reciprocal with VA. Of course, the primary factor here is that having a firearm as a sports participant is problematic, license or not. And then there’s those pesky DC laws when they go from the practice field directly to the office.
Other comments in this thread regarding national reciprocity hit great points on the pros and cons. I’m generally one who says the state level is best for this because the feds generally bring more problems than solutions.
Boy them people from Alabama need to elect another representative because this guy is daft. There is all kinds of protection and it is called the 2nd Amendment.
I believe what he meant to say, is they do not have any paid for security and heaven forbid have to defend for themselves like we do and he is SCARED and he should be.
If these butt cracks would represent the people that put them in office they would be far less afraid when out and about. They would only have one group of people to worry about. The way it is now, they have the All Americans after them and the loons from the left on their trail.
Everyone is smelling blood in the water and the dinner bell is ringing. They dug this hole, poured the water in it and stocked it with sharks. I do not feel sorry for them
We are talking about politicians here.
Their track record of "judgement" calls is not that great.
Look at the new SenateCare bill that is rolling out for first example of why I say what I do.
That should be covered under the legal protection laid out in Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution:
They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3563899/posts
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3563899/posts
It’s a farce. Let’s call it for what it is.
I forgot the part of the constitution that said healthcare, snap and section 8 are inalienable rights.
They are in full control of this situation.
This “request” from Congress is like asking the family dog to fix one’s plumbing leak.
Agree, self protection is a God given right.
Buckets of stupid here, and they make laws for us and restrict our rights.
All good for the officeholders but not so much for the staffers.
Our people’s representatives should have the same rights as citizens, no more, no less. Give all national reprocity.
Good point...Congess can set that D.C. Shall accept any state CCW.
“...since part of the benefit of carrying a concealed weapon is that potential attackers do not know who is armed. Thats why uniformed police have an almost impossible job stopping terrorist attacks.”
And there’s the CCW dig.
That’s gonna change!
Constitution, Article I, Section 8 on powers of Congress: "To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States".
No excuse. Repubs control House, Senate, and Presidency. Pass a law saying that DC is "shall issue", and has reciprocity with all other states.
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