Posted on 04/17/2005 9:39:42 AM PDT by holymoly
Majority leader urges diplomacy toward advocates of gun control
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, under attack in Washington in recent weeks, spoke to friends Saturday night at the National Rifle Association annual convention.
"Thank you very much for the warm welcome. I hope the national media saw that," said DeLay, who has been accused of ethics violations and criticized for threatening the federal judges who refused to intervene in the case of a brain-damaged Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed.
Speaking to a crowd of about 3,000 NRA members, DeLay said guns are imperative for a free society but encouraged gun supporters not to personally attack gun-control advocates.
"Political discourse tends to get so heated that it's not only policies but motives that get questioned," the Sugar Land Republican said.
Just because people want to destroy the Second Amendment, DeLay said, "that doesn't mean our opponents are bad people."
People who grew up around guns "tend to see guns as a normal part of life like fishing or watching football," he said. "Unfortunately too many of our fellow countrymen don't share our touchstone."
"Law-abiding citizens carrying guns are actually a deterrent to crime," DeLay said.
DeLay, who said addressing the convention was the highlight of his career, was presented an antique-style flintlock rifle by the NRA. He hoisted the gun over his head.
Officials said that since ethics rules prohibit DeLay from accepting the gun, it would be displayed at the NRA's museum in Virginia.
About 200 people gathered outside the event to protest DeLay, who has partially apologized for his recent comments that the federal judges in the Terri Schiavo case would be "held responsible."
Jaci Elliott, who lives in DeLay's district in Missouri City, held a sign reading, "The Constitution is not a cockroach."
DeLay is as an exterminator by profession.
"Every time you turn around, there's something questionable about his behavior," Elliott said.
Others held signs reading "DeLay messed with Texas" and "Don't DeLay, indict today."
Inside the banquet hall at the Hilton Americas Hotel, President Bush addressed the NRA members via a taped video.
"The best way to prevent crimes committed with firearms is to go after the violent criminals themselves and not law-abiding gun owners," he said.
Bush said he supports protecting hunting land and an NRA-backed bill that would shield the weapons industry from most lawsuits.
NRA Chief Executive Officer Wayne LaPierre said, after Bush's speech, "Isn't it great to have a friend of freedom in the White House?"
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison invoked one of the crowd's favorite enemies.
"The French government has raised its terror alert from 'run' to 'hide,'" she joked, bringing a round of laughter. "The only higher levels in France are 'surrender' and 'collaborate.'"
A well-regulated militia is a group of armed citizens who have some ability to function effectively as a citizen army. As distinct from a bunch of draftees who show up and have to be told which end of a rifle to point at the enemy.
The term "well-regulated" was not an adjectival phrase that meant "tightly-controlled" but rather one that referred to uniformity and consistency, as with a "well-regulated clock". Note that the phrase is different in meaning from "regulated well", just as "well-done" is different from "done well". If I order a steak medium rare and it comes back well-done, am I going to be happy with the cook?
"All able bodied citizens between 17 & 40 except those few public officials who specifically exempted by statute. The term well regulated in the time the Bill of Rights was written was understood to mean that you were proficient in the manual of arms and basic marksmanship."
Right so, everybody has to give up their guns at age 41? And what about the proficiency - which frankly I think would be a good idea. Who tests proficiency? I have a certificate from the state of Tennessee (somewhere) showing I've been through a basic course on Hunter Safety, which included gun safety and I had to load and fire a gun 5 times to pass (thankfully nothing on marksmanship because I didn't do very well).
And my argument about car registration isn't a straw man, because it isn't just about taxes. If I use my car irresponsibly (speeding, hit someone or something) my registration is how they track me down to make sure I'm held responsible for my actions.
Back to my original point, I'm in favor of more control over guns and gun ownership (to what extent, I will tell you honestly I don't know), but I'm not in favor of taking everybody's guns away. I currently live in the UK, where I think gun control has gone far too far - it would be quite difficult (but not impossible) for me to legally have a gun and I could not legally have a hand gun.
I'm certainly not in favor of dismantling the Bill of Rights, but the 2nd amendment to me isn't very clear. And just like Tom DeLay says - I'm not a bad person for wanting a more balanced approach to gun control.
Then we must agree to disagree. I have no desire to be a peasant rather than a citizen . If you are happy trusting someone else being in charge of your safety who will suffer ZERO penalties for failing to protect you from the criminals in society that is your choice. I choose to do something else.
Well stated !
Why?
This country already has numerous laws on the books which prohibit irresponsible use of a firearm.
More control is the catch phrase of a totalitarian.
What America needs is more personal responsibility and a willingness to harshly adjudicate those who fail to abide by our current standards.
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