The Daily Beast
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg
already had the gun lobby in his sights. Now Bill Gates is donating $1
million for universal background checks—and there’s more where that came
from.
Somewhere
in a large glass tower in Northern Virginia, there’s a guy who runs
guns with a French name having a bad day. With good reason.It was reported Monday that Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and incredibly wealthy guy, and with his wife, Melinda, have given $1 million to Initiative 594 in Washington state. The ballot initiative, if passed by voters on November 4 (and it currently enjoys overwhelming support), will require universal background checks for all firearm purchases in the state.
Gates is only the latest Washington billionaire to give to the effort, with original Amazon investor Nick Hanauer providing crucial early funding, and more recently upping his overall donation to $1.4 million. Additionally, Gates’s Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, has provided $500,000 for the cause.
How many armed bodyguards surround Gates 24/7? I bet they're carrying reduced capacity mags too, right?
ReplyDeleteI'll bet he gets more threats than the average American.
DeleteSome animals are more equal than others.
DeleteAnd I bet the average American is an actual victim of violence more than he is.
DeleteWealthy people who need it can afford protection. Average Americans cannot. So?
DeleteAverage Americans can afford a gun. They just can't afford to pay someone to carry it for them and follow them around everywhere they go. So?
DeleteSo we should not have protection for the president of the United States?
DeleteWha wha wha, the rich can afford it and we can't. What a crybaby complaint.
DeleteThe only complaint is when you don't allow regular people to protect themselves. Buying a gun is affordable for most Americans.
DeleteWha wha wha. The rich can afford healthcare and we can't. What a crybaby complaint.
DeleteIf it's a natural, pre existing, necessary tool of life, then the government should have a program where the government supplies a gun for every citizen.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see what will happen when the big money is coming from the other side. Current polls on the two opposing initiatives don't seem to be showing the gigantically high numbers often quoted here and in the media.
ReplyDelete"A poll from July showed support for the gun control initiative reaching 70% of potential voters. A competing measure, which would prohibit the state from adopting stricter background check standards than national laws dictate, had support from 46% of voters. Curiously, 32% of respondents said they would vote for both initiatives. "
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-gates-donates-1-million-to-gun-control-campaign/
It will be interesting.
DeleteSee, that should just nullify their vote. If you vote for something to be illegal, and vote that it should be illegal to make it illegal at the same time, it shouldn't count. That's like voting for Bush and Gore. This is why felony law shouldn't be put to a majority rules vote of the masses.
DeleteTS does bring up an interesting point. My understanding is that since they are separate initiatives, every voter can vote for each according to their conscience.
DeleteIts interesting to note that the Washington Association of Police and Sheriffs oppose Initiative 594 and the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs are supporting Initiative 591. I wonder what effect the lack of law enforcement support for 594 will have on the vote.
http://wagunrights.org/endorsements/
http://ballotpedia.org/Washington_Universal_Background_Checks_for_Gun_Purchases,_Initiative_594_(2014)
Universal background check requirements are pretty limited in their effectiveness unless combined with licensing and registration.
DeleteSo would you consider opposing the creation of new felony code when it won't be effective by itself?
DeleteNo, of course not. Limited effectiveness is better than none, which is what I actually said, not "won't be effective" like you attempted to misrepresent my position.
Delete