Comments

1
"Joe" the "Plumber" (not named Joe, not a plumber) has run out his string, so increasingly outrageous stupidity is the only way he can "maintain his brand", so to speak. I think his fee for public speaking must be down in the low single digits now, if indeed it is still a positive number (most would pay a small sum to have him go away).
3
I believe the 2nd amendment says something about a."well regulated militia". All I want is.some damn regulations put on gun owners.
4
Weird how these same Fox News wingnuts will violate your right to a jury trial or right to not be tortured or right to privacy or right to publish to save lives from terrorism.

How come now all of a sudden Constitutional rights outweigh a few lives?
5
Link to the letter in question -

http://barbwire.com/2014/05/27/open-lett…

And @3 - You want more militias? Militia membership required for gun ownership? What could go wrong?
6
How about we use the functionality of the founding documents and amend the right to bear arms right out of there for good? We could if we really wanted to. But, alas, 'merica won't go down that road.
7
Holy shit, what an asshole. I mean, sure, there are probably lots of people who agree with his basic premise (hello, 5280). But what kind of asshole actually says something so cold and heartless directly to the parent of a dead kid?

Fuck off, you sociopath.
8
@fnarf: I think his fee for public speaking must be down in the low single digits now

Probably not much of a security detail, either.
9
@5
I actually think its a great idea, though you wouldn't have to call it a militia. This is how Norway's gun laws work, and it works great because of the community responsibility. In Norway, you can have most any gun you want, and all you have to do is join a gun club. The clubs are how you get gun licenses and hunting licenses, have shooting ranges, and mandatory training. The biggest aspect as far as crime goes, is that if any gun related to the club gets used illegally, all the members lose their privileges for a set amount of time(hunting, guns, etc). This means that no one with access to a sidearm would ever bring it to a bar, because if he shot it all his friends would hate him. This much more effective way to control guns, since a perp might outrun to police, but he cant outrun his friendships.
10
The "well-regulated militia" argument has been around for years. YEARS. I first read it in a book by Paul Fussell, the military historian. Gun owners should be obliged to register, then ATTEND, monthly militia training sessions: seminars on gun safety, close-order drilling, etc. Like ROTC, or like the National Guard, but one weekend a month to devote to the idea of a "well-regulated militia". Then they can have their guns. Not before. I have always liked this idea.
11
good post Charles.
12
@9 Sounds good to me.

Given the negative connotations associated with the word 'militia' the term 'gun club' would definitely be the way to go IMO.
13
can one of you 2nd Amendment Absolutists explain why, in 2014, a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state?
14
I want to take issue with people who blame politicians. The blame lies with voters. And those who don't bother.
15
Note to "Joe": Restrictions on guns are reversible, while death is not.
16
Fair enough, it was most obnoxious and unnecessary what Joe the Plumber said. He should have at the very least merely expressed condolences to the Martinez family. I give Mr. Martinez a pass whatever he says. He lost a son and is in a state of mourning and shock.

On the other hand, I've mentioned this before on a couple of other posts. The NRA is not directly responsible for this mass killing. Mr. Kyle Rodger is. After that, it is the state of mental health in this country and "gun culture". I contend "gun culture" in this country was around before 1871 or when the NRA was founded. I don't believe Rodger was a member of the NRA. And, note he killed a few other people by stabbing. This young man was vicious, determined and most likely mentally ill with or without a firearm.

I am not defending the NRA let alone Joe the Plumber. I've never owned a firearm nor joined the NRA. I merely categorically disagree that they are responsible for this and any other mass killings with firearms (handguns, rifles, rifles, shotguns assualt weapons etc.). I support background checks and a ban on the sale of assault weaponry. I simply don't see a consumer need for the latter.

This is said with great respect to my learned and passionate opponent, Charles Mudede.
17
Gun Nutters are such nice people, aren't they?

Of course, lifeless guns are more important than actual human lives. That's pro-life Rightwingers for you.
18
Where Joe the Plumber falls flat on his face is that he identifies his legal right to own a gun (as stated in the Second Amendment), but completely disowns the natural, inalienable right of someone to live (as stated in the Declaration of Independence).

At some point we need to start asking these Second Amendment Absolutionists (who are overwhelmingly white, male and Christian) exactly when did they realize that their judgement and wisdom exceeded their Creator's wisdom when He endowed these victims with the inalienable right to life?
19
@17,

As with any child, the biggest threat to Samuel Wurzelbacher's way of life is to lose access to his toys.

@16,

The killer was named Elliot.
20
@10
"The "well-regulated militia" argument has been around for years. YEARS."

And people still get it wrong.
Here's the actual text of the 2nd Amendment.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

And it has been addressed by the SCOTUS in District of Columbia v. Heller.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of…
21
@20: Founding Fathers (infallible!) needed to learn how to fucking use commas coherently.
22
Ummm…. Reading the shooters “manifesto” it strikes me that a well-timed pity fuck could have saved some lives here.
23
The "plumber" is a certified asshole and always has been. He's a fame whore not very much different than Sarah Palin, Terry "Koran burner" Jones or the scabulous Phelps inbreeders.
24
Not sure why The Stranger is upset about this, they do this ALL THE TIME when a kid is shot or abused in America. Its always a paragraph outlining the tragedy, followed by an attack on the NRA or the Religious Right.

Clearly the NRA and Joe the Plumber are heartless assholes who are using this tragedy for page hits or political gain, but the Stranger is no better by using dead kids in similar incidents, as a means to politically attack someone or something.

Goldy did this all the time, mostly attacking the NRA and Dan continues to do it in attacking the Church. Not saying you should stop attacking these things, but damm, show a little respect for dead kids. If your going to mention it, mention it, don't add your snarky Jerry Springer little "Final Thought" vomit at the end.

Be better than them.
25
@22 Watch the video to see why that didn't happen. The guy absolutely oozed 'creepy psycho'.
26
@12: Yeah, people might associate gun ownership with the most strident, paranoid and ardent gun owners, the ones that consistently throw themselves in front of a camera at the slightest opportunity to spew ignorant rants against the government. It's enough to make people a little ashamed to admit they belong to such an organization, and we certainly wouldn't want that!
27
@26

Most militias aren't racist organizations. The ones that don't seek media attention are the ones all over the country that are made up of volunteer firefighters, search and rescue personnel, and plain people of all colors who come together to provide organized community service.

The Sovereign Law wackos can be used to paint all such organizations with a broad brush, but you can find extreme examples and outliers in any group. Using such a technique doesn't prove anything, aside from willingness to be an asshole.

28
@25
True that!
29
Is Joe saying he can't pass a psych screen? Well, I'm not surprised really. A little bit that he would admit it, but not shocked or anything.
30
You can blame the NRA for that psycho's actions all you like, but the fact is half the people he killed were stabbed. Who can we fault for this, Cutco? Psychotic people like these are the reason I legally carry a concealed pistol at pretty much all times. More sane Americans need to exercise their right to bear arms, and maybe we wouldn't see so many people getting defenselessly massacred. I know I won't be caught with my pants down when the shit hits the fan.
31
You can blame the NRA for that psycho's actions all you like, but the fact is half the people he killed were stabbed. Who can we fault for this, Cutco? Psychotic people like these are the reason I legally carry a concealed pistol at pretty much all times. More sane Americans need to exercise their right to bear arms, and maybe we wouldn't see so many people getting defenselessly massacred. I know I won't be caught with my pants down when the shit hits the fan.
32
sincarnato, You win at gun-nut bingo:

http://pic.twitter.com/Y4kyVisY89
33
@31:

Tell that to the grieving families of the 100 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year alone. If professionals who are trained, authorized, and prepared to use deadly force can be killed, what chance do you really think you have?
34
@33

Presumably the chance to live in a constitutional democracy. Possibly the chance to not get raped, robbed, or mauled by attacking animals. Hopefully the chance to have an option which never has to be used.

I carry as well, and it isn't about chances. When you or someone near you is being robbed, beaten, stabbed, raped, and mauled the question is what *options* do you have? In your case the option is taking a cellphone video and hoping someone who is prepared arrives quickly. Good luck with that, I hope it works out well for you, but I won't be taking that chance - Even if fearful little liberals wring their hands and use the grieving families of dead police officers as a political talking point.
35
My my! Raped, robbed or mauled by attacking animals! (Really! Mauled by attacking animals) and here I thought from your impassioned description that Ballard was a safe community.
Why you almost make it sound like, what was that phrase? Oh yes, a shitty fucked up ghetto.
Thank god you're armed. Ballard sleeps safer I'm sure.
36
@35 "Thank god you're armed" - Thank the Constitution and sig sauer for that.

How's that racism coming along Lissa? Here's a word - Thug!

Once you're done crying and trembling in the corner from the scary image of a scary black man with a scary gun that word conjures up for you, perhaps you would like to consider the fact that I carry my weapon throughout the greater Seattle area. So far, no need to use it. Hopefully there won't ever be a need. I hope the same goes for you. The difference between us is, if someones pitbull rips into you or your child, you won't be able to do a damn thing about it except whine and cry (which you do seem to enjoy). Good luck with that, hope it works out for you.
37
I don't care for a sig, I'm a ruger girl myself. Don't get me wrong, they're a nice gun, but I'm sentimental. I had no idea there was such a pit bull problem in Ballard! Who knew that they were snatching children on Market like Dingos in the outback?
Personally I carry a little more judiciously. When I worked late in Pioneer Square, sure. At the grocery store, not so much. I feel a mugging ( or pit bull attack, seriously have you called 911 about that? I understand that's what you Ballard people do) is probably unlikely in the produce aisle.

I guess I'm just a little less fearful than you are. :)
38
Fear =/= preparation. If I knew where and when unpleasantness was going to happen, I'd avoid the area. Failing at precognition, I'm left with having all the options I can. Seems unlikely to be needed for a grocery run, but crazy people never seem to respect conceptions of acceptable behavior. If you want to talk dog attack statistics we can, or you can simply be aware that they can and do happen.

As for make, I'm mostly agnostic. Sig was best rated for reliability, fits my hand perfectly, fits nicely in a tuck holster with no imprint, and isn't a damn glock.
39
Oh I am so with you regarding the glock. Too blocky to conceal easily, and every douche wants one because of name recognition. I can't fault the sig either for reliability as you mention, but it's a little too big for my hand, and as I said I'm sentimental about a ruger.
40
@38&39
I like the Springfield XDM 40 Compact
A nice reliable gun for an easy carry at a decent price.
Conceals real nice with the short clip (and fits a small hand well), but takes a longer clip (making the grip a bit bigger and better for large hands like mine).
41
See! At the end of the day, this what I love about Slog. Finding common ground!
When I do carry I like my SP101. It's not too big, it's simple to operate, and as a revolver, it has that retro chic. :)
42
@33

What chance to I have? That's hard to say, but it's undoubtedly a better one that being unarmed.

Please wait...

Comments are closed.

Commenting on this item is available only to members of the site. You can sign in here or create an account here.


Add a comment
Preview

By posting this comment, you are agreeing to our Terms of Use.