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Friday, December 14, 2012

Crime / Politics Governor-Elect Says Basically Nothing About Shooting

Posted by Dominic Holden on Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 3:59 PM

Several hours after the massacre in Newtown, Washington State's recently elected future governor, Jay Inslee, issued this statement:

This is an incredibly dark day for our nation. Words can’t convey the sense of sorrow this tragedy has brought. My heart – and the hearts of all Washingtonians – go out to the people of Newtown today, especially to the families of the victims and the parents of the children.

Today is a day for mourning, but in the days to come I will be listening to all in our community with ideas for how we can prevent such violence.

You read that right: Today is a day to be sad, tomorrow is a day to listen, and that's it. There's no commitment to do anything, yet it took several hours to write, apparently. I asked his transitional office by e-mail and by phone: "Does Jay support tightening state laws on gun ownership and access? Which ones?"

Still nothing.

As I wrote earlier, elected leaders feel like they're on a short leash. It's the job of people outside the capital to impose this discussion onto political leaders. We'll have the policy debate only after we win the fight to make this issue politically mandatory. But, jeez, this sort of statement is just... maddeningly vapid.

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The only thing the Stranger loves more than a manufactured Holocaust is a real event. Get hysterical and, more important, pay attention to the Stranger while they feign hysterics!

Posted by Stranger'sWorstNightmare on December 14, 2012 at 4:26 PM

Pa-fucking-thetic.

Posted by biffp on December 14, 2012 at 4:40 PM

I think he's become to be known as ol' sleepy Jay - sure fits!

Posted by Phoebe in Wallingford on December 14, 2012 at 4:46 PM

Maybe Inslee recalls the fate of I-676?

Posted by Mister G on December 14, 2012 at 5:17 PM

Re-FUCKING-lax. Does every single person in the world have to talk about this until we are numb? Stop jerking off to this tragedy.

Posted by NancyBalls on December 14, 2012 at 5:25 PM

OMG JAY INSLEE DID NOT SINGLEHANDEDLY STAMP OUT OUR CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER A SCHOOL SHOOTING THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY

Posted by beef rallard on December 14, 2012 at 5:26 PM

@6, but he's so tall! Who better to stamp?

Posted by gloomy gus on December 14, 2012 at 6:21 PM

Correction: Ol' boilerplate Jay

Posted by Phoebe in Wallingford on December 14, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Poor Jay Inslee! How quickly the "progressives" line up to kick him in the balls!

Posted by Mister G on December 14, 2012 at 7:29 PM

What do you want from a guy who wrote a book that says

Public sentiment will demand more and more emphasis on nonfossil fuels...

But has nothing to say about a coal train?!

http://www.amazon.com/Apollos-Fire-Ignit…

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on December 14, 2012 at 10:30 PM

Wow, #10, will you fake-o "progressives" stop at nothing? A massacre in Connecticut, and you're using it to push your opposition to coal trains? What a scumbag you are.

Posted by Mister G on December 15, 2012 at 1:20 PM

While I appreciate what the Stranger does, who the heck is Dominic to Mr. Inslee and what does the shooting have to do with a guy who hasn't even taken office yet. Should he have had a knew jerk reaction to the events or did he run on some sort of anti-gun violence stance? Give it a rest Dom., let us morn, let us formulate and let us plan on how we are not going to rush down the hill to "F" one cow, let's plan on "F'in" them all.

Posted by tmax on December 17, 2012 at 12:33 AM

Jay Inslee's tel number is 360.902.0626. Call him and ask what he's doing to close the gun show loopholes. In order for it to be done, all 50 governors have to make the changes. When I called, I was told that there's no information on it. He takes office in Jan; this can be in place soon thereafter if enough of us call. Call Patty Murry at 206.553.5545 or 202.224.2621 (Wash DC) and ask her what she's doing about banning semi automatic assult weapons (they used muskets when they wrote the constitution); closing the 'Straw Purc haser Loophole' when a gun is stolen or lost and increasing funding to the atf so there's some control. There's 300,000,000 guns in this country..and many of those who own guns, as well as those of use who don't, want the world to be safe for our children. If we all make just one call a day to our elected politicans, we will be more powerful then the gun lobby. Please ask others on your facebook, twitter or wherever to post the politicans names and tel numbers, ask them to call just once a day and we can affect change.

Posted by Time for change on December 17, 2012 at 5:34 PM