The Washington Post digs into the latest on Gabby Giffords’ fight against gun violence:
In a new ad set to air before and after Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, former Rep. Gabby Giffords says it’s time to “tell Washington it’s too dangerous to wait” for gun-control legislation. The ad was produced by Americans for Responsible Solutions — the 501(c)(4) started by the Arizona Democrat and her husband Mark Kelly soon after she was critically injured at a campaign event in Tuscon that left six of her constituents dead — and is set to air on MSNBC and CNN nationwide.It juxtaposes the gun violence-prevention plan outlined in President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union with the relative inertia that followed, especially after the Manchin-Toomey amendment pushing for universal background checks failed 54 – 46 in the Senate (60 votes were necessary for the bill to advance). Giffords mentions a Washington Post/ABC News poll from April that showed over 90 percent of Americans support background checks — specifically at guns shows — in the ad, as well as the $243 million the National Rifle Association spent in 2010 fighting these efforts.
“As Congress delays,” Pia Carusone, Americans for Responsible Solutions executive director, said, “gun violence rages on in our nation and we continue imploring Congress and state houses around the country to take action. It’s too dangerous to wait. For example, today we are in Washington state to lend our voice and support to the state initiative to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals, terrorists and the dangerously mentally ill.”
This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2014.
She is a great lady but this is America. It was built with the 2nd Amendment firm. And many of us Americans were raised on and still cherish our firearms and the responsibility that comes with ownership. It is the not responsible persons that create the issues. Just because the Govt. doesn’t want to pay for the law enforcement agencies to do a better job in enforcing law appropriately does not mean we should be stripped of our rights.
I agree with Gabby. The NRA has paid off and wined/dined congress too long. Why is it that people preach the 2nd amendment without mentioning ”a well trained militia”??
I am the gun lobby, and Congress should be afraid, because I vote, and understand the issues.
Over 11,000 gun deaths a year is NOT responsible gun ownership and it shows clearly that the right to own a gun, which I support, is not being matched with the responsible security and use of guns. Support the Giffords efforts to institute reasonable and responsible measures.
The overwhelming majority of gun violence is perpetrated by criminals. In Connecticut, there were stringent background checks, parental liability statutes that hold the parent liable for use of the gun by minors, assault rifle ban, legal storage requirements of guns and hundreds of other laws in place that were there before the Newtown shooting. Did any of those laws stop that horrible event? No they didn’t. What is the root cause of ALL mass shootings? Mental illness, the part that’s too tough for state and federal legislators to tackle. Will more laws stop criminal behavior? After all, aren’t the crimes that are being perpetrated by the criminals with guns also illegal? Murder, assault, robbery, rape… They’re all illegal and they are still being committed. Criminals get guns in Connecticut because they buy them stolen or steal them directly. They seem to have no problem obtaining them just like they obtain illegal drugs – The black market thrives when things are made illegal or restricted and you cannot control that by implementing laws. Support mental health legislation and community outreach programs to curb crime and mass killings.
My calendar says today is January 29, 2014, not 1791, not 1814, not even 1914. The 2nd Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights because able-bodied men were expected to train and serve with a well regulated militia, bringing their own firearms to their militia units. Military service today, as in the National Guard, doesn’t involve guardsmen and women showing up for training or deployment with their own guns. Let’s recognize the fundamental differences from the 18th and 19th centuries and bring the country and the Constitution up to date. It’s time for a 28th Amendment:
Section 1. The second article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2. Congress shall have the power to regulate the sale and possession of firearms in any State, Territory, or possession of the United States.
fanklymydear:
People like you make me want to buy a gun. Try that move and there will be a revolution in this country that will make the Revolution look like a picnic.
Gov (fed, state, local) are responsible to generate a do-not-buy-guns list. Gabby is
being used(wittingly/unwittingly) by folks who do not care of our right of self
protection (to bear arms). Therefore individuals not on the do-not-buy-guns should be
allowed to buy guns without so-call back ground checks and registrations scheme being
pushed by the gun-control gang.
The gun did not hurt Gabby…it was the shooter holding the gun who hurt Gabby.
The shooter was on law enforcement radar…? The shooter was on the college staff
radar…? What has AZ and the US done to care for and place such people with care and
placement on do-not-buy-guns list until their mental health condition is resolved/cured?
Let’s just ban Evil. It’s less complicated than instituting background checks or banning this type of buttstock or that type of flash hider on guns, and it will have the same effect on reducing crime and tragedy as all of those laws combined! Keep it simple, people!