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Amendments should at least relate to bills
Monday, May 25, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.
I’m fed up with congressional secretive sleight-of-hand shenanigans. If we don’t prioritize the need for campaign finance reform, elections are a joke. For me, slipping an amendment into the credit card reform bill that will let people carry guns in national parks is the last straw.
If you ever wondered who runs Congress, look no further than well-funded special interest groups. In this case, it’s the National Rifle Association. For this we pay our elected officials? Ah, but so do they. I suspect their political donations make federal salaries (with generous benefits) look like chump change.
Is it too much to ask that any amendments to a bill must relate to the basic bill? Although, as they say, common sense isn’t common, what do guns in the national parks have to do with credit card reform?
That gun-toting camper will soon feel so much safer. He can protect himself against that rustling noise in the bushes — that little wandering toddler, lost and trying to find his way back to the tent, or maybe a volunteer clearing brush to create a walking path.
What a pity that the Founding Fathers are not here to spell out what they really had in mind with the Second Amendment.
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HEY PATRICIA > The only person lost here is you and your lack of common sense' What are founding fathers had in mind was to protect us from people like you. WANDERING TODDLER, OR VOLUNTEER CLEARING BRUSH, or how about a couple of guys chasing a helpless woman thru the woods after killing her husband. PS. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND KEEP THE CHANGE' AND I WILL GO AHEAD AND KEEP MY GUNS.
I'd really like to know what Patricia thinks our founding fathers had in mind with the Second Amendment. I guess she conveniently forgot to tell us herself because she really doesn't have a clue.
As for why the NRA got involved in this, they, and I include myself since I am a life member, wanted to RESTORE the Second Amendment rights of law abiding citizens in national parks and wildlife refuges. It provides a consistent law across our federal lands managed by different agencies.
Also, as mentioned by powerplay, the main reason for this is for self protection. A report from the National Park Service revealed that 11 murders, 35 rapes, 61 robberies and 261 aggravated assaults occurred on parklands in 2006. Our parks also contain hidden methamphetamine labs, marijuana fields and illegal drug and illegal alien smuggling routes. In addition to these dangers and potential attacks from human predators, park visitors have to consider attacks from animal predators. Between April and December 2007 there were at least a dozen grizzly bear attacks reported by park visitors. Today, 31 states allow the carrying of firearms in state parks--all with safe and satisfactory results. So that rustling noise in the bushes just might turn out to be a bad guy looking to do very bad things.
Patricia also mentions that she's tired of the "congressional secretive sleight-of-hand shenanigans". I hate to be the one to inform you but this has been going on since our government was first created. If you already know the bill is going to get enough votes to pass, (in this case, 279-147) just throw it in with another one that you know will pass as well. It's not a sleight-of-hand move, it's done to save time and tax dollars. This IS common sense and I for one appreciate the efforts of our elected officials to save every tax dollar that they can.
Did Patricia van Betten miss the "Congressional secretive sleight-of-hand shenanigans" in the Obama/Reid/Pelosi Stimulus bill.
There is little stimulus and a lot of payback to Unions, ACORN, and others in the DEMs voter block.
"What a pity that the Founding Fathers are not here to spell out what they really had in mind with the Second Amendment."
They did with plain language: "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." What part of that do you need explained to you?
The Second Amendment was clarified by the U.S. Supreme Court in last year's Heller case.
The fact the federal government can't seem to read or take their oaths seriously is the problem.
POWERPLAY -- really, you should at least proofread before you post. Or get some coffee in you. Most of your posts are just a jumble of words.
Attaching something like a gun bill to a credit card bill is just a built in excuse that both parties can use to justify a vote that goes against their constituents wishes but satisfies the special interest lobbyists. That way they can get their money, make their deals and tell the voters that the main bill was just too important and they had to vote the way they did. Remember the internet gambling bill that was attached to the Port Security bill? Have you ever watched CSPAN when a member of congress is talking to an empty room? It's amazing how these people do things. This congress, both parties, deserve a total replacement during the next couple of election cycles. They are all beholding to lobbyists and special interest groups. There mission is to obtain and hold on to power. It's party first always.
jldour -- amen!
For perspective on your point of replacing Congress I recommend http://www.rejecttheherd.net/blog/fremen...
Crybaby says what?