There's certainly nothing there to get upset about. A more reasonable proposition is hard to imagine. Robert Farago didn't see it that way though. He suggested this may be the first of several incrementally severe statements. And, as a bottom line of sorts, Robert said, "The instant you accept the antis’ premise that “some people just shouldn’t have guns” you have lost."• First, we should begin by enforcing laws that are already on the books. The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the filter that's supposed to stop the wrong people from getting their hands on a gun. Bipartisan legislation four years ago was supposed to strengthen this system, but it hasn't been properly implemented. It relies on data supplied by states - but that data is often incomplete and inadequate. We must do better.
• Second, we should in fact reward the states that provide the best data - and therefore do the most to protect our citizens.
• Third, we should make the system faster and nimbler. We should provide an instant, accurate, comprehensive and consistent system for background checks to sellers who want to do the right thing, and make sure that criminals can't escape it.
Speaking to the "you" plural of his readers, Robert Farago seems to be advising or preaching. The remark is a sort of rallying cry, meeting the president's extremely reasonable statement with extreme antagonism.
What's your opinion? Is President Obama just softening them up for the real plan? Or, is he issuing an honest statement which can be used in future policy making?
About Farago's extremism, do you think he really wants NO ONE prohibited from gun ownership? Could he really be that extreme?
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
President Obama is a very reasonable man, if nothing else. But Farago makes a good point. It makes me wonder, what are the conditions or offenses that currently disallow a person from gun ownership? How much privacy do we have as citizens concerning our medical records? If a person seeks therapy, can that disqualify them for any reason? Can a person who has been misdiagnosed as bipolar or depressive seek to have their mental health certified, so to speak?
ReplyDeleteI doubt Loughner was ever even hospitalized for a mental disorder. Clearly Loughner had not exposed himself publicly to anything more than a reprimand. Should that history alone disqualify him from owning a gun? What is Obama referring to that we should have “caught?” Instability? One thing is for sure, we're all pretty fucking crazy. When somebody has a breakdown, the mental health system is here to try to restore them to wholeness. Even amphetamine or alcohol induced manic depression disappears when a person regains their sobriety.
I think it makes more sense to limit the availability of big clips and semi-automatics. Are we really going to have a successful witch hunt to see who’s crazy or druggy or alcoholic, versus who is fit to own a gun? Now that idea really is crazy.
Yes, he's that extreme. He's one of those NO COMPROMISE - NEVER sort of people with the doom-and-gloom pessimism that any sort of understanding or agreement means that the next step is complete banning of all guns for everyone. That sort of attitude leads only to increasing the infernal divide that this issue already conjures.
ReplyDeleteNo, the vast majority of people in this country understand that criminals get guns too easily and that improving background checks is a commonsense improvement that is much needed. It forces criminals to go underground and use accomplices to get guns, which drives up the cost of black market weapons and potentially indicts their accomplices, both of which make getting the weapons harder. Will it still happen? Sure. But poll after poll affirm that our people are ready for this change and don't share that extremist's paranoia.
Snicker. The apologist are out in denial again.
ReplyDeletePoint one. Obama only cares about Obama. If he has any chance of getting a second term he HAS to pacify gun owners. He knows that. The votes in the house were 3/4 pro gun. 1/4 guncontrol. He has zero political capital in the bank. He has absolutely NO desire to fight a war he can't win. His party has no desire to pick a fight he can't win. In this case the message has gotten out. Legitimate gun owners vote their beliefs. And they show up to vote.
The People have watched state after state pass carry laws and remove restrictions on legal self defense and the fear mongers have been proven wrong. No wild west Shootouts. No blood ankle deep in the streets. No fender benders resulting in mass murder.
The truth is killing gun control.
I'm glad to see our President backing more stringent background checks. It's an area of agreement among the vast majority.
ReplyDeleteMore needs done, but this is a good start.
I posted on New Trajectory, as well:
http://newtrajectory.blogspot.com/2011/03/president-obama-on-gun-violence-and.html
Flying Junior, I really have grossly underestimated you, and your depth.
ReplyDeleteI very strongly disagree with you about any kind of magazine ban, but your concerns about things like medical records confidentiality, and the potential for abuse of that information--related or not to gun ownership--are not only very much in line with my own, but superbly articulated as well.
Beyond magazine bans, there is, I suspect, rather a lot on which we disagree (Obama's "very reasonable[ness]" comes to mind). I have, though, in the short history of our interaction, unfairly maligned you, with my assumption that you, as a "gun control" advocate, had little or nothing of value to add to the discussion.
I was clearly very wrong, and you have my sincere apology. You may be the only person on your side of this issue for whom I can muster any respect.
Zorroy, You really know how to hurt a guy, although I agree with you about Flying Junior. I just wish you would make known your deep respect and fascination with me. I've already offered you mine. Please don't relegate me to that barren realm of the unrequited.
ReplyDeleteCome home Mike! We'll have you appointed as President Obama's Gun Tsar!
ReplyDeleteI liked the NRA's and SAF's response better. They were very polite while they told the President to go pound sand up his butt!
ReplyDeleteMe, I just sent 50 more bucks to the NRA ILA! I'll make more!