Posted on 10/22/2005 1:41:31 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Some years ago, long after a co-worker had left the Ministry of Truth, a number of us learned that, during this person's tenure among us, the individual frequently was armed and dangerous in the workplace.
If there is such a thing as a retroactive, post-traumatic, primal scream/crawling into a fetal position/whimpering with delayed fear syndrome -- the idea that many of us once worked alongside not only a complete crazy nut job, but a complete crazy nut job with a GUN certainly qualifies.
Or, put another way, if you ever needed a reason to install the mother of all panic rooms, consider this certifiably insane statistic: At the moment, across our fair beloved state, there are 354,552 Floridians with concealed weapons permits walking among us.
Let's face it, you just know at least a couple thousand of those folks running around with their hidden weapons are probably more unhinged than Edgar Allen Poe meets Rudolf Hess.
A Simple Test
Or perhaps they are directly behind you in traffic. Brrrrrrr.
Which brings us rather neatly to state Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Tea Cup Poodle, the legislative supernumerary of the National Rifle Association, who is the leading lotion boy on behalf of the gun lobby to deny employers the right to bar workers from keeping their weapons in their car while on company property.
How deranged is this?
Take this simple test.
Look around your workplace. Chances are there are one, or two, or three, or more co-workers you and your colleagues have often joked about as being the leading candidate to bring an AK-47 to the office someday.
Or maybe that Dilbert from Hell is -- you!
And now Dennis Baxley, R-You Talkin' To Me?, wants to make it just that much easier for your resident lunatic in the next cubicle to turn Amalgamated Widgets into a killing field.
We live in an imperfect world -- filled with very, very strange people who hear voices; who have issues; who really don't like you just ... because.
And many of these people are down the hall -- seething, fulminating, over in personnel -- filling out a job application.
Perfect World
Purely, as a general principle, can you make some kind of abstract Second Amendment argument that law-abiding citizens ought to be able to take their bazookas, their Uzis, their 50-caliber armor-piercing rocket launchers with them wherever they go, including onto the grounds of Acme Nose Tweezer International?
Well ... OK, whatever.
To be sure, in a perfect world where there was no workplace violence, where some employees weren't more unhinged than Son of Sam meets Lex Luthor, it would be fine if people drove into the company parking lot with their NRA-approved death ray, or their surface-to-air missile, or their Gatling Gun in the trunk. Who would care?
However, if the private sector can regulate other forms of employee behavior, such as smoking in the workplace, why can't employers also establish rules governing the presence of lethal weapons on private property?
There's no question the Florida Legislature, a subsidiary of the National Rifle Association, will pass Baxley's Fortune 500 meets "Six Feet Under" bill.
One question for Baxley, who does happen to have a conflict of interest in his legislation since he is an Ocala funeral director:
If as a result of the representative's legislative actions an act of workplace violence leads to the murders of workers, would Dennis Baxley also be willing to create a NRA-funded compensation account for the surviving families?
Didn't think so.
Well David Ruth, Men have the same reaction to the thought that you are, supposedly, one of our gender. We also feel that way when we realize YOUR vote counts the same as OUR vote. Too bad gross, criminal level, stupidity is NOT ground for revoking a citizen's voting rights. It would improve the body politic immensely.
Is that all? I was hoping that there would be more.
"Let's face it, you just know at least a couple thousand of those folks running around with their hidden weapons are probably more unhinged than Edgar Allen Poe meets Rudolf Hess."
I hate to interrupt your fear mongering Danny, but let's take a moment to do a little fact checking. How many murders, robberies, assaults, etc. are committed each year by concealed carry permit holders?
Moral of the story: Be careful which law abiding, hard working American citizen that you f**** with as he may be packing heat! God bless America and god bless the NRA.
I stand corrected!!
Spot on!
I think that graphic should be sent to Mr. Ruth.
"At the moment, across our fair beloved state, there are 354,552 Floridians with concealed weapons permits walking among us."
Gives criminals something to think about.
Until I checked to see who wrote the article, I was convinced that it was written by a woman. Turns out it was written by a man....obviously a shut-in that doesn't get out much and spends a lot of time in conversation with women.
You've really got to get a life.
I'd love to walk up behind this little twerp and pop a paper bag just to see him pi$$ his pants.
That is a scandal. There are 16 million people in that state. Something must be done!! Perhaps a state-funded publicity campaign about how easy it is to get a CCP.
A liberal looks at America and sees 300 million potential criminals.
A conservative looks at America and sees 300 million potential deputies.
Conservatives are far, far closer to the truth.
And in your delusional world where criminals obey the law...
Notice the degree to which the writer's argument depends upon fear and distrust of other citizens. It's one long, childish rant of stereotyping, villifying and name calling. The man doesn't have a FACT anywhere in there.
Great tagline, BTW!
Another tragic case of PTBBGD...
This Dolts real concern should be the drunken teenager barreling down on him at 70 miles an hour...
Skimmed through and it appears to be a content free article.
If I'm remembering my Psych 101 class correctly, the condition is known as projection. A lot of hoplophobes have it.
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