Gun rights on the hot seat

[EdMc]

Money makes for strange bedfellows.

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/12/17/the-money-behind-the-massacre/?hpt=hp_t2

Probably too much to ask, but maybe someone in Congress will think about the loss of jobs caused by any knee jerk reactionary legislation. Being more symbolic than meaningful, I'm sure they'll jump on the bandwagon as it distracts from their self imposed 'Fiscal Cliff' problems or getting answers to what happened in Benghazi.

[The_Shadow]

Congress is also part of the problem, they will shoot themselves in the foot, by driving the firearms and ammo industry into the ground, that they will need to supply firearms and ammo for their own governmental needs!  Not to mention what that will do to cost for local law enforcement agencies across the country!

If they worked as hard to build a better ecconomic situation for this country by creating jobs instead of disposing of them, the country and its people will be better off!

Nothing that the GOVERNMENT GONE WILD can do will bring those people back from the grave!  I feel very bad for the loss of lives by all instruments of death what ever they maybe...the mentally ill or criminal mind doesn't obey laws of neither man, nor God!

[pacapcop]

Both sides will get what they want,more spending for one,cuts in entitlements for the other.Your right,don't let the left know what your right hand is doing.In no way did I take the cliff for what it is,a show piece for the masses.

[Patriot]

Good luck passing anti gun legislation through the House, right now it has 240 Republicans and 190 Democrats.

[BCDWYO]

I think sqlbullet summed up my concerns perfectly.  I see a lot of previously "pro gun" and otherwise rational people (like my wife too) starting to slip.  There is a huge need to "DO SOMETHING".  The emotions are understandably running really high.  I've been hearing the argument "if it would even save ONE child, it would be worth it" a lot.  I am with all of you.  I don't think restricting the rights of law abiding citizens will save anyone, but I feel a shift in the overall sentiment of the country right now.  I hope I'm wrong and that more logical and rational thought wins out.

[EdMc]

Good luck passing anti gun legislation through the House, right now it has 240 Republicans and 190 Democrats.

Looks like they know they can't run a bill through both Houses quickly. A committee chaired by the VP is going to look at the 'problem'. Not just guns but mental health questions etc. I think they're hoping for more anti gun sentiment to sway/pressure representatives to their side over time. Look for the media to keep fanning the flames for as long as possible.

[sqlbullet]

Which means we have to be calm, rational and spot on with facts over the coming months.  Review sound data.  Spend time on the CDC site looking at the wisqars data for 1999-2007.

Point out that any number of "target" 22LR rifles (thinking 10/22 or Marlin model 70) would have been pretty much just as effective in this crime. 

Point out that you can never stop a madman from doing great harm.  This guys was willing to kill his own mother.  Do we really doubt that if she had not had an AR rifle he would not have taken out a cop instead to gain access to the rifle.

Point out that CT already has some form of assault weapons ban.  Point out that Norway's extremely cumbersome firearm laws didn't stop a madman there from killing 77 people in 2011.  The median age of that group was just under 18, with over 3/4 of the victims being people 18 and under.

Remain calm, even if people attack you personally.  Empathize.  Apologize for their heart ache.  And gently remind them that we have tried varying degrees of gun control in this country for over 70 years, without any correlating reduction, or increase, in violent crime rates.  Join them in the cry to look for ways to prevent this, but stand firm that doing something that is proven to have no effect is worse than doing nothing.  It only wastes money and resources that might otherwise be used on a real solution.

Remember that these poor children and their parents are heroes of the highest order, who have given their lives in the name of our Liberty.

Finally make sure when quoting or reciting facts you are meticulously accurate.  Don't offer data you can't support with a citation.  Don't interchange similar words, there is a huge difference between words like median and average.  The average age of the Norway victims was 20, while the median age was 2 years younger.  If someone on the fence feels you have mis-lead them, they will never believe another fact again in support of gun rights.

I think this will, unfortunately, blow over.  It shouldn't.  Those kids should have a national memorial.  They are heroes who should remind us all the liberty we enjoy is not without price.