For all the LeftWingNuts . .

Filed under: National — Badrose at 11:37 pm on March 27, 2007

who are using Senator Webb’s recent gun kerfuffle to screech for tighter gun control laws AND for all the RightWingNuts who are jumping around like pantyless cheerleaders when the other team is fourth down with 80 yards to go, GET A GRIP! You’re missing the point completely:

EVERY member of congress should be packing (or having staff tote their pieces). Firearms should be issued to members upon entering the chambers and those opposed can take their chances.

Remember the days when important issues could be settled with duels? I say bring them back. We’ll see if Pelosi is half the man she portends to be . . .

UPDATE: Jackson’s opened the door for thoughtful discussion. I suggest we all walk through it.

10 Comments

1702

Comment by Spank That Donkey

March 28, 2007 @ 12:43 am

That is a great looking Christmas Ornament.. Where did you get it?

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Comment by Badrose

March 28, 2007 @ 12:47 am

Gen. Grievous’ Dog made it for me…at Bible camp…last summer…yeah, that’s the ticket!

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Comment by Junius

March 28, 2007 @ 10:52 am

I’m rather enjoying watching the reaction of the left to this whole thing. Because surprisingly large numbers of liberals are coming right out and saying that they’re glad Webb was packing, that they support the 2nd Amendment and oppose the DC gun ban.

News events and political dramas like this are what molds the opinions of different groups on issues. If it takes having one of their own getting flak to make some liberals change their minds about gun control then so be it. I don’t reckon it’s any more disingenuous than any other political transformation than a group might undergo.

If only 2nd Amendment supporters on the right would also stand behind Webb, this would be a great moment in which to illustrate to the media and elected leaders that gun-grabbers are now a smaller minority than ever before. Unfortunately, what’s actually happening is that I am seeing how partisan the 2nd Amendment rights movement really is. So long as the right wing 2nd amendment community rejects support from the nascent 2nd Amendment community on the left, we are divided. And you know what that generally leads to.

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Comment by Badrose

March 28, 2007 @ 11:05 am

Right on the money again, Jack. The DC gun ban has never made any sense - guns should be mandatory in DC!

I think those on the right are still feeling sore about the ‘06 elections. The left is still sore about ‘00. Both sides are acting like high school football fans that had the state championship taken from them.

Meanwhile, voters are turning off to both parties. No one wants to relive high school! It’s no wonder that the percentage of voters in Iraq is higher than that in the US.

I didn’t support Webb but now he’s my senator and I want to see him do really well. Maybe we should send him a locking strongbox to mount under his car seat so that incidents like this can be avoided.

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Comment by Kilo

March 28, 2007 @ 11:10 am

I don’t think anyone is arguing Webb’s right to carry. I do think he should be held responsible for securing his weapon and practicing safety. He failed on both accounts and is very lucky no one was hurt. How many parents have been just as negligent and lost a child because they did not secure their gun.
If Webb wants to champion my right to carry, then he should be responsible with his own weapon first. Scott has the reasons.

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Comment by Jack

March 28, 2007 @ 3:02 pm

Badrose,

I see exactly what you mean. For my own part, I’m happy with my party’s wins in 2006 and 2000 is old news to me. My great hope is that the new conservative, pro-gun blood in the Democratic party can lead to some really great bipartisan legislation. We’ve got a group of influential Democrats with broad support from their own party’s base who want to join forces with a big chunk of the GOP caucus to get some really good 2nd Amendment legislation done. We over here on the left really want to make this happen.

How many opportunities like this have there been in the last 30 years? None. We have this great moment where a large proportion of Democrats are in agreement with a large proportion of Republicans on the importance of the 2nd Amendment and they finally have elected leaders to act for them.

So what happens now that we have a historic opportunity to get things done? I find that the majority of conservatives seem to be spitting on it. Partisanship first, Constitution second. I’ve spent the last year doing my best to get Democrats lined up behind one of the GOP’s biggest traditional issues and now that everything is finally in order, I’ve got the very people whom I’m trying to help giving the finger to my point-man in the Senate for our common issue. The whole thing is just sad. Trying to give someone a helping hand and they spit on it.

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Comment by Badrose

March 28, 2007 @ 4:11 pm

Kilo: He didn’t hand his bag/briefcase over to a pack of Cub Scouts! They’re former MARINES, current HUMANS who can make human mistakes. It’s what we do best!

Yes, if Thompson had carried the briefcase (even unknowingly) into a daycare and the unthinkable happened, I’m sure my objectivity would be out the window. Fortunately, that didn’t happen and everyone can use this as a reminder of the importance to always practice gun safety. You and Jack are on the same page with this. None of us want to see our gun rights gradually stripped away.

Turn these lemons into lemonade, build bridges and mix metaphors!

AND remember: Even the most conscientious of gun owners will sometimes make a mistake.

Rightly or wrongly, I’d trust any of the former Marines I know with ANY of my firearms. Even the Southern One-Pounder.

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Comment by Badrose

March 28, 2007 @ 5:21 pm

Jack: I guess all we can do is “stick to our guns” and try to keep fighting the good fight. Even when it gets us pounced on from both sides every now and then.

What I really hate is the vilification of guns. “All guns are bad, only bad people have/need guns.” My big fat granny. But it’s working. My son’s third grade class recently performed a play about how the West was settled. You guessed it: no guns allowed! (And I had just bought the cutest toy musket you’ve ever seen.)

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Comment by Wendi

March 28, 2007 @ 7:09 pm

Badrose,
You would just eat Benjy with a spoon if you could see him wielding his nerf gun at Curt. It’s quite a sight to behold. Makes even me rethink my position!