How We Enable Crimes of Insanity

Peter Kings Silly Gun Ban Idea
Filed under Blog. Tagged Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, Gun Rights, Peter King, Second Amendment, Security. Yesterday I argued that Congress should respond to the shooting in Arizona by encouraging staff members to exercise their Second Amendment rights, going through a professional training program on self-defense and obtaining their concealed carry permits. But if you want to see the opposite suggestion, it comes from anti-gun New York Republican Congressman Peter King, who intends to introduce...

After The Shooting: Tucson Seeks The New Normal
Tucson, AZ -- They cheered, they cried, they celebrated and they mourned. And for perhaps the first time since the deadly shootings on Jan. 8, Tucson did it as one when the city gathered for last night's memorial service on the campus of the University of Arizona. In the days immediately following the massacre at a constituent event for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Tucson struggled to find its footing. As I was told so many times by so many different people this week, Tucson is the "Berkel...

Richard Klass: Victims and Imposters
If any further proof of the dysfunction and distortion in the American political scene is needed, the reactions to the Tucson shooting provide conclusive evidence. In short, some of the worst offenders in creating the climate of political vitriol are attempting to don the mantel of Victim hood to deflect criticism of their political invective. The responsible media reported the tragedy and sought to raise broader questions of gun culture, political culture, the interaction of the two and the d...

Guns For Killing Cops and Soldiers?
5. We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its Sovereignty. 6. We will NOT obey any order to Blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant Concentration Camps. 7. We will NOT obey any order to force American Citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext. 8. We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign Troops on U.S. soil against the American People to "keep the peace" or to "maintain control." 9. We will NOT obey ...

Funeral Set for Tucson Rampage's Youngest Victim
Like this Story? Share it: Play CBS Video Video Ariz. Victim Tormented by Death of Young Friend Erica Hill reports on Suzi Hileman, the neighbor who accompanied 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green to the event where the girl was fatally wounded. During a Press Conference for the injured victims of the Tucson, Ariz. shooting, Bill Hileman became overcome with emotion when describing his wife who was holding the hand of 9-year-old victim Christina Taylor Green. Funerals and memorials have begun for...

Mayor Bloomberg: Can't Blame Sarah Palin, Rhetoric For Arizona Man's Shooting Spree
Mayor Bloomberg struck the post-partisan tone of which he's so fond when asked today about the role (or lack thereof) of overheated Rhetoric in the Arizona shootings. “This would appear to be a very deranged, perhaps on-drugs individual from what I've read," Bloomberg said of accused gunman Jared Lee Loughner. "And I think we should focus on somebody with a gun that has killed six people. And I think the president put it very well yesterday -- the Rhetoric should be at a...

Magazine bans and unintended consequences
Missouri has no laws limiting magazine capacity.  The same is true in Illinois, although not for lack of effort on the part of the gun prohibitionists in the State Legislature (the Senate passed the bill, but it died in the House).  St. Louis area gun owners who think that they're safe from such an abomination as a magazine capacity limit law, though, need to pay attention to the volume of Rhetoric pushing for a federal ban.  We are told that perennial gun haters Rep. Carolyn "Wha...

Thursday Links: Tucson Tragedy Edition
G.I. Wood Shop Inc. Mrs. Peel Oh…My Valve! V The K’s Caption This! An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later. (Short version - everything). So, for my friends on the left: facts count. You can’t spin a narrative and not be expected to be called on the underlying, flawed premise. The response was unlike anything I have seen since the emergence of the New Media. It wasn’t just Conservatives that rebutted the left’s narrative, but diligent repor...

The Tucson, Arizona Shooting 2011: The Interaction of Mental Health Problems and the Language of the Gun
David Brooks and some of the letter writers capture the reaction to this tragic incident well with their sentiment that “the political opportunism occasioned by this tragedy has ranged from the completely irrelevant to the shamelessly irresponsible.” Looking ahead and more calmly, it will be important to think about several dimensions of the tragedy, including first the provision of Mental Health care post-deinstitutionalization, second the Regulation of dangerous weapons, third the ...

Pres. Obama's Speech Undercuts Federal Charge for Judge's Murder
It may have been inadvertent, but a passage in President Barack Obama's Speech to a memorial service in Tucson Wednesday night could undercut a criminal charge Federal Prosecutors have leveled at suspect Jared Loughner for the death of U.S. District Court Judge John Roll in a shooting rampage Saturday. You must login to comment. The Fox Nation is for those opposed to intolerance, excessive government control of our lives, and attempts to monopolize opinion or suppress freedom of thought, express...

Bill Maher slanders NRA, gun owners
“The NRA should just change its name to the assassin’s lobby, because that’s what they are” TV personality Bill Maher told Tonight Show host Jay Leno on Tuesday when asked about his take on the Tucson shootings (watch segment in sidebar media player). “I’m so tired of hearing about the Second Amendment and the Constitution,” he continued. If you love guns, just admit it -- like it's a vice. It's like Alcohol or drugs or Sex Addiction or gambling... It's ...

Gun Control Is Not Proper Reaction to Arizona Tragedy
The wake of a violent tragedy is an appropriate time for reflection, investigation, prayer, and the promotion of healing.  It is a particularly inappropriate time for political opportunism.  After last weekend’s tragedy in Arizona, Congress should put the breaks on any desire to ram through gun-control Legislation that will neither solve the perceived problems in federal law nor prevent any future assaults on public officials.  Observation teaches us that in the wake of crisis, politi

Rep. Peter King Attempts to Exploit Tucson Shootings With Nonsensical Gun Restrictions
Not all threats to our liberty come from Democrats. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) has distinguished himself for his strong stand against Islamic Terrorism and his open contempt for the New York Times. Yet he lines up behind leftist congresscritters like Carolyn McCarthy and Robert Brady to exploit the Tucson Massacre as yet another opportunity to chip away at what remains of our constitutional liberties. The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee wants to ban people from carrying weapons wit...

Congressional Staffers: Arm Yourselves
Filed under Blog. Tagged Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords, Gun Rights, Second Amendment, Security. In the wake of the terrible Assassination attempt on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the Murder and assaults on so many of her constituents, some members of Congress are talking openly about their concerns for their safety and security. While this incident seems to clearly be the work of an insane individual without rational motivation (other than an obsession with Giffords which dates back several years),...

Right Wing Media Reports That Obama Lied About Giffords Eyes Are Untrue
The right-wing blogosphere is classily playing “Gotcha!” with President Obama ’s uplifting revelation, at last night’s Tuscon Memorial Service, that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords “opened her eyes for the first time” shortly before the memorial. A report originating at Gateway Pundit, and currently circling the globe, alleges that “It Looks Like Obama Fibbed” about the milestone in Giffords’ recovery, and of Obama’s revelation, “unfort...

Benson owes apology to Tucson dead
Here's a letter I wrote to the Arizona Republic this morning.  Just in case they decide not to publish it, I thought I would post it here: Steve Benson’s despicable, tasteless and childish cartoon on Thursday depicted Sarah Palin’s mouth as the end of a revolver, her eyes mad with the rage of Loughner, as she sported a tag of her rhetorical declaration—“Don’t retreat. Reload!”—that ever-so offended the left-wing ilk who can stomach neither gun ...

9/11 flag unfurled, raised at Ariz. girls funeral
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The largest flag recovered from Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center is being unfurled and raised at the Funeral of the youngest Victim of the Mass Shooting in Arizona. Services are being held Thursday in Tucson for 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green. She was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and was killed Saturday when police say a gunman opened fired on a crowd at an event for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The congresswoman was gravely wounded and six people...

The Case For Doing Nothing
It's strong, as Will Wilkinson shows as he ponders post-Tucson Legislation: Some of these proposals may have merit, but no more now than on Friday. The issues they address have become no more urgent. Sadly, people are shot to death every day. The odd and the infirm roam our streets. Some of them buy guns and use them. With the Incarceration of Jared Lee Loughner, the odds of crazy people shooting and killing officeholders (and untitled, less newsworthy human beings) has gone down, no...

9/11 Flag Unfurled, Raised At Ariz. Girls Funeral
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP/CBS 2) - As the Funeral for the youngest Victim of the Mass Shooting in Arizona was set to begin Thursday, the largest flag recovered from Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center was unfurled and raised, flanked by two fire trucks with ladders extended. Nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green was born on Sept. 11, 2001, and featured in a book called “Faces of Hope” that chronicled one baby from each state born on the day Terrorists kille...

Open Letter to Sarah Palin
Governor Palin - Your widening sphere of political influence, along with the Tea Party, is changing the course of political history. A powerful shift in political thinking occurred immediately after the devastating tragedy in Tucson. Revealed to all Americans was the underbelly of the political left. Witnessed was the brazen attempt and rabid reaction by the left’s political attack dogs to use the loss of life and Attempted Murder of a congresswoman as political fodder. Victims barel...

Limbaugh: Obamas speech was poll-driven pep rally
Glenn Beck and his colleagues on Fox News may have been complimentary of President Obama’s Speech last night, but Rush Limbaugh sure wasn’t. He criticized the timing of the memorial service on Wednesday, four days after the Tucson shootings, saying it should have happened sooner. “The reason they waited as long as they did is they were waiting for polling data,” he said. “If they polling data had been different, the Speech would have been different.” CBS rel...

How To Read A Legal Opinion
Recently on a TMV comment thread I was presented with this question: “Well, now that you have brought up the subject of reading legal opinions, Elijah, I have my opening to ask HOW, in your view as a legal professional, a layperson *should* read a legal opinion?” Because of the many discussions on legal topics, constitutional issues and political policy issues that touch on court decisions or are later affected by court decisions, it seemed a pertinent question. To start at the beginnin...

In politics, Palin has her own rules
WASHINGTON (AP) — With her video defending herself against critics — in which she accused them of "blood Libel" — former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin again showed she is weighing a presidential bid in unprecedented and even daring ways. Mrs. Palin commands nationwide attention with her selective use of Facebook and Twitter, choosing provocative words when others testing the presidential waters prefer a lighter touch. Some political pros say her tactics, which protect her from mainst...

Tucson Was Obama's Best While 'Blood Libel' Was Palin's Worst
Last evening, Barack Obama gave the best Speech of this presidency. President Obama’s Rhetoric is reminiscent of John F. Kennedy’s. So it is fitting that President Obama's best effort came the week before we celebrate the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's celebrated inaugural address. [See 5 Lessons From JFK and Eisenhower] The president at his best is a calming influence in troubled times. Last night, he reassured an anxious nation that things would be fine if we practiced ...

Attribution of Cause and the Events in Tucson
One obvious outcome of the Tucson shootings this past weekend has been the search for explanations. This search is, in part, a reflection of a basic human tendency to want to find explanations for high profile and unusual occurrences. President Obama took note of this fact of life in his Tucson Speech Wednesday night: You see, when a tragedy like this strikes, it is part of our nature to demand explanations -- to try and pose some order on the chaos and make sense out of that which seems sens...