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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 | 12:01 p.m.
Harry Reid
Sen. Harry Reid echoed President Barack Obama’s strong signal Sunday night that Congress has a responsibility to address Friday’s massacre of 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., by changing some laws.
But what specifically, neither Reid nor the president is saying.
“Part of the healing process will require Congress to examine what can be done to prevent more tragedies in towns like Newtown, Conn., Aurora, Colo., Oak Creek, Wis., or Portland, Ore.,” Reid said. “As President Obama said last night, no one law can erase evil, no policy can prevent a determined madman...but we need to accept the reality that we’re not doing enough to protect our citizens.”
Reid called for a change in the “laws and culture that allow this violence to continue to grow” and said “every idea should be on the table as we discuss how best to do just that.”
He stopped short, however, of calling for a national discussion on gun control.
In the few days since the Newtown tragedy, several Democratic lawmakers and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg have come out with impassioned pleas to address gun control at the federal level, at least with a bill to revive the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
According to authorities, gunman Adam Lanza used a semiautomatic Bushmaster .223 rifle when he gunned down his victims. The weapon, and the other firearms used in the massacre, were registered to his mother, Nancy Lanza, who was shot to death at her home.
The latest voice to join the call for a debate on gun control is conservative Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, an avid sportsman who maintains an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association.
He told the hosts on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning that it was time for everybody, including NRA members, to have an honest discussion about gun control.
“I don’t know anyone in the hunting or sporting arena that goes out with an assault rifle,” Manchin said. “I don’t know anybody that needs 30 rounds in the clip to go hunting. I mean, these are things that need to be talked about.”
At least this administration sent dangerous guns to Mexico (Fast and Furious) so people there could get killed by them---but Harry doesn't want to look into that. Oh wait, two Americans were killed as well. Not to bother.
Oh, also, Obama and Congress (Reid runs the Senate, I believe) cut funding from school security programs for 2011 and 2012.
The media ignores both, but still does stories to make it look like Obama, Reid, and their ilk are working to protect us.
You are complicit.
What if a Fast and Furious gun was used in the Newtown shooting? Would the President ask for an investigation of himself into why it happened?
Fast and Furious guns were used to kill 300+ Mexicans and at least two Americans. These guns are still out there and Obama and the media ignore.
Hey reid, when are you and the other bozo's in washington going to start protecting citizens from the ravages of the illegal's continuing invasion and destruction of our economy?
give me a break!! a guy who stays at the ritz instead of taxing the rich is going to lead this? in fact, reid hates nevada and proved as much last year when he came to the legislature and talked about the problems economically all come down to illegal prostitution...yea, unbelievably, that was his big idea...saying we'd have business if we only got rid of our dirty little secrets means he's a hater / hypocrite / loser!! hey, remember how he even blamed obama for telling people don't vacation in vegas, remember? but its ok for him to hate on vegas's lifestyle, especially since he has no ideas?!?! what a hypocrite / crock for a leader!! in fact, this is basic lack of leadership unless you're a corporation so that these dunderheads can run interference. after all, if they wanted balance in a society based on individual success then tax the rich who don't deserve no where near what they're worth. or didn't this lightweight notice the banks causing this calamity but still flush with cash in record numbers?!?! reid doesn't want to lead, he wants to blame the american middle class, which just so happens to be the only group with power other than the rich in the world, get it?!?! he's evil with his ommissions alone. finally, notice that the crazy people seem to be always those telling others how to live, and i have to bring this up because nevada may lead the nation with gibbons, ensign, sisolak, goodman and his hate for those suffering most at the same time he engineered his wife to get around term limits. PEOPLE WAKE UP WE'RE BEING PLAYED!! OR DO YOU WANT SOMEONE LIKE SISOLAK'S JUDGEMENT TELLING THE ENTIRE COUNTY HOW TO HANDLE THE MENTALLY ILL?!?! NOW THERE'S SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS PEOPLE, RIGHT?!?! WAKE UP, WE'RE BEING PLAYED!!
this is a terrible tragedy to be sure
but why do voters/parents think they need to voluntarily hand over their children to the state to be educated? to a state that can't even protect 4 americans in Bengazi when the state even knew what was coming and had all the entire army, navy, airforce and marines?
this is precisely why all laws pertaining to mandatory tax supported education need repealed. all of them.
for all you democrat communist sycophants who are pimping the tax supported system for your own benefit and who proclaim children are going to be malajusted if they learn away from the tax supported communal lowest common denominator so called education system, ala Joy Behar on MSDNC,
why arent you decrying the movie stars kids who go on the road with the parents and learn on the busses or the star children themselves who learn on the road?
tax supported government cannot ever hope to "protect" people 100%. just look at the crappy job government has done on the border with the flood of millions of illegal aliens and their anchor baby offspring who now collect tax supported government payments and are getting defacto voter registrations with their drivers licenses, aka motor voter.
thats sadly the lesson to be learned here, reid and his communistic democrat buddies, along with Obama the crier, will never understand this.
If the guns don't kill people, people kill people ethos was legitimate..then why outlaw any weapon? Hand grenades for anyone. Sub machine guns for anyone. Gatling guns for anyone. Then we can discuss biological and nuclear.
It's a lame argument pushed by the gun nut lobby. Hopefully automatic weapons and multi bullet clips get outlawed soon. That's a start.
Then the focus needs to turn to mental health.
it turns my stomach hearing from harry reid on this!! in fact, our leaders could not be more ill, and this headline should've simple read: REID THE HYPOCRITE AT THE RITZ IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING AWAY RIGHTS!!!
The problem -- deranged monsters living among us -- can't be addressed at the national level. It would be futile. Harry needs to get back to things the congress can deal with like preventing the U.S. from becoming Greece in four years.
@Joan
Yes, and I begin to wonder what was going on thru their formative years? Were there signs that family members ignored or tried to hide. Was it shame? Did the parents take an active role in getting help. There's been a recurring theme of some of these shooters holed up in their rooms, absorbed in their computers, anti-social....Just because your kid becomes an adult does not mean your responsibilities as a parent go away or he should be left to his own devices. If there are problems at 20, 30 or whatever ever age parents should get themselves involved. They are likely the first line of defense in fighting mental health issues at any age.
Nancy should not have had guns in the house.
If gun owners would simply make sure their guns are absolutely secure and not accessible to some nut job-future tragedies like this would be prevented.
... TOTALLY agree WITH Sen. Reid, an HONORABLE/Liberal Mormon, who've I known since starting my 39+yr. career in Print-Journalism at thee LV Review-Journal in '73! We here, in thee Bflo./Niagara region, are with Pres. Obama & you on this matter!!!
No gun control will come out of the Senate without Senator Reid giving the ok. Sounds like he is holding his cards close to his vest on this issue. Could it be he's just looking out for the millions of honest gun owners who follow the law, have done nothing wrong and are shocked at what this madman did in Ct.
What we really need is "protection" from Reid the Red and his fellow travelers. Not to lessen or demean the immeasurable pain, suffering & loss caused by Adam Lanza, as a whole, they are doing far worse damage to this nation than any screwed up monster who guns down innocent victims. Sooner or later, everyone will be a "victim" to their leftist agenda as it takes the USA down the toilet.
Sorry to say but I would never ever trust Reid with protecting me and mine.