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Friday, March 22, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
• Editorials - the Sun's viewpoint.
• Columnists - local and syndicated writers.
• Letters to the editor - readers' views.
Have your own opinion? Write a letter to the editor.
Are the voters among the 90 percent of the public that is for gun control in one form or another? Are voters appalled that the National Rifle Association controls Congress through fear of job loss? Do they still shudder at the thought of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, as The Washington Post calls it, or at the thought of those innocent children riddled by multiple rounds from an assault weapon?
Forget Congress. The voters are the only ones who can restore sanity to Congress. Make their fear of job loss comes true.
Starting with the next election, vote out each and every politician in thrall to the NRA, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent. Surely our children are worth it. Surely a responsible representative Congress is worth it.
James must be really really mad at Harry Reid And Obama who laid down on the gun and clip ban
Think Ed Gein, Jeffery Dahmer, Debra Denison, Eddie Ray Routh, Steven Brooks, Oscar Pistorius, Mark Chapmen, Christopher Jordan Dorner, Jimmy Lee Dykes, Seung-Hui Cho, Jared Loughner, James Holmes, Adam Lanza, Monserrate Shirley, Mark Leonard, Bob Leonard, One Goh. All were KNOWN mentally ill.
James,
This is your second anti-NRA letter to the editor in 6 weeks. I admire your political passion however, attacking the NRA, unions, teachers, the Occupy movement, TEA party, MSNBC, Fox News, OP-ED columnists and the like wont sell voters on limiting guns to only lawbreaking criminals as most gun laws typically do.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/feb...
By now, voters should be accustomed to special interest organizations such as the NRA working against something even 90% of us favor. It happens all the time.
James is correct that the cure for that would be for voters to turn an "A" rating from the NRA into "the kiss of death" at the next election.
It is sad that so many Americans like Mr. Begley can so clearly see that our 'representatives' in Congress are indeed controlled by the NRA but cannot see that they are also controlled by 'other' powerful interest groups of all sorts.
The solution isn't to vote the representatives out, because they will simply be replaced by others who will be cowed by 'other' powerful interest groups. The solution is public financing of campaigns and term limits.
Mr. Begley sees the corruption in Congress but only seems concerned about it when it intersects with a cause 'he' cares about. We all need to understand that the corruption Mr. Begley writes about is not limited to the NRA. It is instead pervasive and it works to crush our hopes and dreams and substitute for them the desires of powerful interest groups with money and lobbyists. The NRA is one of those groups, but under our system, they and other groups are allowed to 'advocate' for and against legislation. We cannot outlaw them and playing musical chairs with members of Congress won't fix the problem. We need to change the 'system' to lessen the influence these groups have on members of Congress. PUBLIC FINANCING OF CAMPAIGNS AND TERM LIMITS.
Michael
When push comes to shove and the government is confiscating your rights, freedoms, liberties, personal property and wealth [think Cyprus] it's a warm, fussy, comfortable feeling to have like the NRA and an equalizer called a "GUN."
Carmine D
90%? Your figure is imaginary. There is nothing wrong with the NRA. The NRA is only the voice of its members and like-minded individuals. If the NRA didn't have vast voting support, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
The gunmaker's plan is to turn everyone into paranoid lunatics like Wayne LaPierre. And after years of multiple mass shootings and daily gun murders, people became numb and fearful. Meanwhile, the NRA says "We can help. You just need to buy more guns and ammo to feel safe."
The scheme to sell more and more firearms is working perfectly -- but then 20 first-grade children and 6 faculty members, all women, were gunned down in the classroom at their elementary school. The bloody Newtown massacre has hit a nerve and made us question what it means to be a healthy, free society. Is America great because of the wealth we generate or is the protection of citizens, especially the most vulnerable among us, the standard by which we call ourselves a civilized people?
300 million firearms are killing us, one bullet at a time. With each death we lose another part of our shared humanity.
The NRA has not offered a single intelligent solution to stop mass murder. Their goal is to support their money supply, gun manufacturers.
NRA offered national background checks 30 years ago and recently, after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary, recommended arm security guards in all US schools. Both provisions are part of the House and Senate gun control bills that will likely pass and be approved by Congress and signed into law by the President.
Carmine D
Pro gov says "
The NRA has not offered a single intelligent solution to stop mass murder. Their goal is to support their money supply, gun manufacturers."
Where have you been hiding
The NRA HAS LONG RALLIED FOR BACKGROUND CHECK FOR ALL MENTALLY ILL. MANY STATE WILL NOTUT THE NAMES INTO THE DATABASE.
FURHER MANY STATE DO NOT CRAKE DOWN ON CRIMES USING GUNS
Carmine belives his peashooter is an equalizer. If we had the type of government that you fear, don't you think they would take you out easily?
The NRA, unfortunately, has become a radical group. What used to be a group for hunters, sport shooters,etc. has now become almost a quasi-terrorist group who wants unlimited high power weaponry in the hands of the public at the behest of their weapons manufacturing funders. They care little for liberty and safety, but rather lining their pockets with cash, bloodshed be damned. They make excuses and deflect the topic when it comes to the carnage so they can line their pockets for another day. This organization is an embarrasment to long time NRA members.
Future: You open the comments with a list of "known" mentally ill shooters. Listing 17 individuals guilty of gun-oriented deaths every year is far from productive. Had all 17 of the people you list been committed before they did any shooting, there would STILL be tens of thousands of shooting deaths every year.
Personally, ANY person shooting another outside a true life/death confrontation is mentally ill. Practically - by far the greatest number of people doing the shooting are not certifiable at the time they do the shooting, nor would they be certifiable before or after the shooting.
NRA is for one thing and only one thing. Put more guns of every kind on the street.
Background checks do not stop criminals and mentally ill from getting their hands on assault weapons. The only thing that will is a ban on assault weapons.
Armed security at elemantary schools makes the USA look like a third world country.
As I stated earlier, no Intelligent Solutions.
"it's a warm, fussy, comfortable feeling to have like the NRA and an equalizer called a "GUN."
Really? Only a fool would believe:
One - the gov't. is out to get us
Two - civilians could compete with the military in fire power.
Red Dawn was an entertaining movie, but totally unrealistic.
Vernos,
I agree with you that it is highly unlikely that our own government is going to come after us. And if they enlisted the military and did come after us, we'd most likely get mowed down pretty quickly.
However, I do favor a citizen's right to own firearms. Where do you stand on that?
Michael
"Really? Only a fool would believe"
Really? Put guns in the hands of the citizens of Cyprus and see if the government would have confiscated the peoples' bank accounts.
Carmine D
" Cyprus has strict gun control. Private citizens are completely forbidden from owning handguns and rifles in any caliber, even .22 rim fire. Only shotguns are allowed, and these require a license. Shotguns are limited to two rounds. The only shotguns typically sold in stores are double-barreled side-by-sides or over-under. Pump actions and semiautomatics are prohibited. A private citizen can own a total of ten different shotguns. A citizen is not required to specify a reason for ownership to obtain a license, but most own their guns for hunting. Licenses are issued by provincial police. A gun license is required to buy ammunition, and ammunition sales are recorded. A shotgun owner may purchase up to 250 shells at one time. Cyprus also controls air guns, and air gun owners require a license.[25]"
Carmine D
"The only thing that will is a ban on assault weapons."
Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic Majority Leader of the Senate, refused to bring the Feinstein bill banning assault weapons to the floor for a vote. He told Madam Senator Feinstein that they were not enough Democratic votes, let alone GOP, to pass.
"Armed security at elementary schools makes the USA look like a third world country."
Armed guards are already in 2/3 of U.S. schools and have been for decades. The tragic murders of students and children by crazed killers with guns have ALL been in schools that are zoned gun-free.
Carmine D
"Red Dawn was an entertaining movie, but totally unrealistic."
Who's the fool? Art imitates life...or life imitates art.
Carmine D
Take the high capacity magazine and assault weapons ban out of my cold dead hands !
Since the shootings in Newton which was last December 2,883 people have died from gun violence. In 1999 I lived in Englewood,Co. just an eight minute drive from Littleton, Co. where two students shot and killed 15 people and wounded 24 others in Columbine High School. About that time I also attended the theater in Aurora, Co. where years later another gunman killed 12 people and wounded 58 more. In those years since Columbine I wonder how many thousands of people died from gun violence in this country. In this country there have been 31 school shootings (not including other mass shootings) in the last 13 years and only 14 world wide. What does that say about Americans and their love for guns?
Michael,
I have like guns and owned several different caliber semi-auto and revolvers. I was a life long member of the NRA but quit many years ago when they became unrealistically political over gun regulations. I also was in the military and can attest to the destructive power of weapons. I never could understand why people would want sub-machines guns, hand grenades, RPG's, assault weapons and high capacity magazines. I also believe if you use registration and background checks you would cut gun runners and straw buyers out of the system, reducing the amount of weapons criminals have access to.
The majority of Americans have already said that
thay want a new assault weapon and mega clip ban.
Harry Reid said he will allow a separate issue
vote for a ban on assault weapons.
Any Senator or Congressmen who votes against the
will of the majority of Americans will be fired
and voted out next year.
No more stupid republican comments are needed.
WE NEED A NEW BAN ON ASSAULT RIFLES!
We don't want America turned into a third world
country with idiots runnung around with assault
rifles.
Those kids, teachers and movie goers would still
be alive today if the republicans left the old
assault rifle ban in place.
Another huge screw-up by republicans.
Let's get a new ban on assault rifles DONE!
NOW!
I'm all for gun ownership. The problem is we have too many stupid citizens owning or wanting them who aren't trained in their use, storage, cleaning, etc. nor do they have an understanding of the dangers of gun ownership.
Weed out stupid gun owners. Full background checks and they must pass a gun competency test. 10 year jail sentence for anyone in possession of an illegal firearm. No parole. No good behavior. Stuff 10 of them in a cell. The message needs to get thru. Revolving door justice is a a blight on civilized society.
Teamster:
The assault weapons ban won't pass in a separate vote.
The ban on high capacity magazines will likely get added in the Senate to one of the gun control bills that will pass. The magazine ban stands a better chance, in fact a good chance, to pass as a amendment to the gun control bill.
Carmine D
"Another huge screw-up by republicans."
Teamster:
It was the Democrats in the Senate, including Harry Reid, who told Madam Senator Feinstein, that they wouldn't vote for the assault weapons ban. I told you that months ago. The Democrats are coming up for reelection in 2014 and all have a B or better rating with the NRA. They don't want to lose that status and the reelection. Kudos to the Democratic Senator from W. VA. Mr. Manchin. He's working with Republicans to get the magazine ban passed. Why? Manchin is a gun enthusiast and despises Obama. Recall when he ran for election he used a TV ad that showed him using the Obama care bill as a target. Also one of the few Dems who won in the 2010 mid term election.
Carmine D
"Starting with the next election, vote out each and every politician in thrall to the NRA, be they Republican, Democrat or Independent. Surely our children are worth it."
Begley -- such a fine example of herdspeak. Far too many times our governments discard Constitutional restrictions for the obvious "it's for your safety" and "it's for the kids." The latter is utterly despicable.
"By now, voters should be accustomed to special interest organizations such as the NRA working against something even 90% of us favor. It happens all the time."
pisces -- where exactly does that "90%" come from? Just because our media had a field day with Sandy Hook and similar incidents the last few months only means it either manufactured or simulated public opinion. And it doesn't matter if the number was a bona fide 99.9%. That does not trump one's inalienable rights, one being expressly protected by the Second Amendment.
"It is sad that so many Americans like Mr. Begley can so clearly see that our 'representatives' in Congress are indeed controlled by the NRA but cannot see that they are also controlled by 'other' powerful interest groups of all sorts."
wtplv -- excellent post. It reminds us of how we have the best Congress money can buy. Yet the last election proved we keep electing the same corrupted politicians right back into office. Which makes my point again -- if We the people are going to act like livestock, that's how we should be treated.
"When push comes to shove and the government is confiscating your rights, freedoms, liberties, personal property and wealth [think Cyprus] it's a warm, fussy, comfortable feeling to have like the NRA and an equalizer called a "GUN."
CarmineD -- another excellent post. My only contention is your choice of "equalizers," the real deal being the Second Amendment and its state Constitutional counterparts. Because that protected liberty to keep and bear weapons in one's own defense, etc., means any law enacted in violation is without authority, and therefore only color of law.
"Really? Only a fool would believe: One - the gov't. is out to get us Two - civilians could compete with the military in fire power."
VernosB -- in mocking CarmineD you've proven how profoundly ignorant you really are. Waco and Ruby Ridge being only two examples of "the gov't. is out to get us."
"Personally, ANY person shooting another outside a true life/death confrontation is mentally ill."
renorobert -- not really. No one knows how any confrontation with the potential for violence will end. Having once faced a violent home invader -- he beat in a door with a sledge hammer -- I can tell you firsthand you only have time to react, and that's a primal thing when you're the only one standing between him and your child.
"Abe Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal." -- post-Civil War slogan found @ http://www.colt.com/ColtLawEnforcement/H...
"Abe Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal."
Killer B: One of my 10 best quotes. Perfect choice. The only contention my Italian immigrant grandfather would have with it is that he would say it was Garibaldi who freed the slaves! Why? Garibaldi proved that the blood of all men was the same regardless of color. When, as a youngin, I asked him who freed the slaves, being educated in Italy and not very long because he was a farm boy in Palermo, he thought a while and answered.
Carmine D
Carmine......
Wrong again.
A new assault weapon ban will pass.
Democrats aren't afraid of the NRA.
And Comgressmen who are, will be fired next year.
You and killerbee fool no one here or anywhere
else.
We will not be held hostage by crazy republicans.
NOBODY NEEDS AN ASSAULT RIFLE, PERIOD!
And if Abe Lincoln were here today, he'd be a
DEMOCRAT.
"Carmine......
"Wrong again.
A new assault weapon ban will pass."
Teamster:
Perhaps someday it will but that day is not here yet.
"And if Abe Lincoln were here today, he'd be a
DEMOCRAT.
If President Lincoln were a Democrat, he likely would never have been assassinated in Ford's Theater in Washington, DC by John Wilkes Booth.
Carmine D
Instead, let's "rid" the House of the traitors (i.e., mostly Democrats) that will attempt to eliminate the Constitution starting with the Second Amwendment and any other pesky Amendments that obstruct their left-wing agenda and one-party rule.
Next year, in the mid-term elections, American voters will make the 2010 electoral decimation seem like a Tea Party by comparison..
Bring back a McCarthy to clean out the traitorous CSP's (communists, socialists and progressives) these traitors need to be removed from power as quickly as possible.