ONE YEAR LATER: NEVER FORGET…

CLICK HERE to visit Sandy Hook Promise.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the victims from each of their families.

CLICK HERE to visit Moms Demand Action.

CLICK HERE to visit Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

CLICK HERE to visit Americans for Responsible Solutions.

TOP3: TOTALLY F’D UP STATE GUN LAWS

IN TWEET: IT’S TIME TO TAKE AIM AT THREE STATE GUN LAWS THAT ARE SO BIZARRE AND ASS-BACKWARDS THEY DEFY CONVENTIONAL LOGIC.

In the aftermath of another mass shooting here in the US, “discussion” of our woefully inadequate gun safety laws is again front and center. Of course, with our short attention span and 2nd Amendment zealots always at the ready to do the bidding of the NRA, you can expect two things: nothing will change and the next headline grabbing slaughter is probably just around the bend.

I don’t mean to sound hopeless or morbid but, let’s face it, gun loving extremists have the upper hand. We can pretend that the majority of gun owners, by and large a rational and law-abiding lot, are in the driver’s seat but anyone paying attention knows that isn’t our reality. In fact, in many states, a semi-automatic weapon is held in higher regard than the rights of a potential innocent victim. Want proof? Check out these three laws currently on the books in at least four states. They are just the tip of the gun nut iceberg.

LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF FIREARMS

The Governor of Louisiana is a tool named Bobby Jindal. Aside from the fact that he resembles a russet potato on a stick, the guy never met an NRA-backed idea he didn’t love. How else to explain his loud and proud support for Amendment 2, a significant change to the State Constitution that passed with support from more than 70% of  voters who showed up at the polls in 2012.

Basically, Amendment 2 made gun ownership a fundamental right in the state. Not only did it cover ownership of firearms but also transportation, carrying, transfer and general use. Even more onerous, it made imposing any firearm-related restrictions on individuals an action that was subject to the highest standard of review by Louisiana courts. 

Never mind that Louisiana is one of the poorest and least educated states in the Union. Forget about the fact that it has the highest murder rate in the nation and is the only state with a double digit stat in the “murders per 100,000 citizens” column. Who cares that opponents of the amendment red flagged it for potential abuse. Jindal, always the reliable NRA bitch boy, kept waving his pom poms of support right through it’s passage.

So how could a law like this end up coming back to haunt an already crime-ridden state? The most jaw dropping example comes from the hallowed halls of justice presided over by New Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Darryl Derbigney. In March, he sided with lawyers representing a group of felons with priors and threw out weapons charges that were lodged against them. His reasoning? Apparently, post Amendment 2,  the fundamental right of gun ownership also applies to those with criminal records. Among other things, his ruling meant a convicted felon that was caught with two semi-automatic weapons (one of them an AK-47) was allowed to walk free.

How did Governor Potato Head respond? In June he signed into law six more NRA-backed bills designed to “strengthen 2nd Amendment protections.” Louisiana is indeed the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” especially if you’re a gun-toting criminal and humans are your big game of choice.

RIGHT TO LIFE…FOR GUNS

North Carolina might be “First In Flight” but the state is now in serious contention for the title “First In Crazy” on more than one front. Firmly in the grip of GOP control, the Tar Heel state has become a petri dish of sorts where all kinds of extreme Right Wing ideas get a vigorous tire kick before being rolled out to other Red States.

The summer of 2013 was an especially productive one for conservative wing nuts in the state, with goof ball governor Pat McCrory leading the charge. North Carolina legislators passed some of the most restrictive and onerous voter ID laws in the country, with proponents wearing accusations of voter suppression as a badge of honor. McCrory also signed a restrictive anti-abortion bill in July and just hired an anti-abortion activist as a senior policy advisor to the state Department of Health and Human Services.

But wait, there’s more! Effective this month, a new law prevents any state law enforcement agency from destroying weapons that they receive during voluntary gun buyback programs. Now, if the weapon isn’t broken and has a viable serial number, police in North Carolina must keep, donate or sell the guns to licensed dealers. The legislation was backed by the NRA with the stated goal of stripping away discretion from judges and police by curtailing their ability to melt down buyback weapons. By neutering law enforcement agencies, buyback programs can no longer be looked upon as a guaranteed way of getting weapons of the streets.

This asinine law comes on the heels of similar legislation that recently went live in Arizona, courtesy of bat-crap-crazy Governor Jan Brewer. Brewer and McCrory have a lot in common, including some of the lowest approval ratings in the country among state governors (Brewer is in the low 30% range and McCrory hovers just above those pitiful numbers). Still, the Dumb-namic Duo keeps on truckin’ and doing as much damage as they possibly can until voters in both states wake up and kick their sorry asses to the curb.

FLYING (AND SHOOTING) BLIND

Of course, I’ve saved the “best” for last. Remember that song “Iowa Stubborn” from THE MUSIC MAN? Well, if one was to do a modern re-write, “Iowa Stupid” would be a perfect title. Why? In Iowa not only can a legally blind person buy a gun, they can also carry it in public thanks to changes in firearm ownership laws that hit the state books in 2011. The updated law also prohibits local law enforcement officials from denying a gun permit to a citizen if they feel the individual is too visually impaired to handle a weapon. After all, what do police and sheriffs know about firearms?

Now, before you get your panties in a twist and accuse me of being mean to visually impaired folks, CLICK HERE and watch the video of Michael Barber and his wife buying a gun. Barber is blind. He and his wife look like lovely people but when he says “I can hear where people are…so I just point and shoot” all I can think of is how I don’t want to in the mall, park or food court when Barber decides he needs to defend himself.

I have no objections to laws that allow visually impaired citizens to buy and use firearms in controlled circumstances (like a shooting range) and with a required sighted companion or instructor. The new firearm ownership and carry laws in Iowa have no such restrictions and have already resulted in citizens being granted handgun permits despite the fact that they are so blind they are not permitted to drive.

There’s been more than a little noise made about the Iowa “blind people with guns” conundrum and it has made headlines across the country and around the world. Naturally, a number of legislators in the state are calling for changes to the law that would impose reasonable restrictions specific to the visually impaired. What does Governor Terry Branstad plan to do to address the hue and cry? Not a damn thing.

RE-VERSE: WAYNE LAPIERRE

IN TWEET: A RE-VERSE IS A REVIEW OR COMMENTARY TOLD IN VERSE. WHO BETTER TO MOCK WITH A KICKY RHYME THAN WAYNE LAPIERRE, THE GRAND POOBAH OF THE NRA?

He rants! He raves! He pounds his fists and blames gun violence on video games no one has played for ten years. He’s WAYNE LAPIERRE, the guy who runs the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Let’s be very clear: the NRA is not a member driven organization. That’s just a front for a lobbying machine bought and paid for by weapon and ammunition manufacturers. The NRA generates PR paranoia that whips fringe groups into a frenzy. They use these hapless sheep as their frontline foot soldiers in a war of intimidation orchestrated from the boardroom at NRA HQ. The mission is simple: stop all gun safety regulation and arm everyone.

The easier it is for people to buy guns, ammo and high capacity clips, the happier Wayne LaPierre is. Humanity, humility, empathy and reality are not part of the plan. As far as the gun lobby is concerned, it’s a numbers game. The tighter the regulations, the lower the profit potential.

While most people worry about their safety, the NRA cares only about the bottom line. Murder and mayhem are simply necessary evils in the pursuit of profit and CEO bonuses. That’s not insane. That’s offensive.

WAYNE LAPIERRE

A LIMERICK FOR A ROTTEN MAN

There once was a LaPierre named Wayne.

His rants make him seem so insane.

Guns aren’t just a hobby.

For this guy from the lobby.

That helps those who murder and maim.

NOTE: YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THIS VIDEO FROM ANY DESKTOP OR LAPTOP BROWSER. SOME MOBILE BROWSERS, HOWEVER, DO NOT SUPPORT VIDEO PLUG-INS. IF THAT IS THE CASE, CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE VIDEO AND OPEN IN YOUR YOU TUBE APP.

CLICK HERE for an in-depth look at the NRA and those running the organization.

VIDEO: THE NEWTOWN FAMILIES

IN TWEET: A POWERFUL AND MOVING TRIBUTE TO THE NEWTOWN FAMILIES AND THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THEIR LOVED ONES DID NOT DIE IN VAIN.

This will be short because words cannot convey the loss and suffering of the families and friends of those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary on that sunny December morning.

This segment of THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW moved me to tears. Grief is a powerful emotion. While it can cripple a person and leave them hollow, the Newtown Families have come together and somehow found a way to turn sorrow into action. They are true heroes; people who will stop at nothing to make sure their love ones did not die in vain. NOTE: MOBILE BROWSERS MAY NOT SUPPORT THIS VIDEO PLUG-IN. VIEW ON DESKTOP OR LAPTOP.

The very least you, me and anyone who will listen can do is pick up the phone. Call your Senators and Representatives in Washington D.C. and keep the pressure on until there has been a vote and meaningful gun safety reform has become the law of the land. Opponents are counting on us forget and move on. The lives of these 26 innocent victims and the lives of those lost every day to gun violence should be more than enough to make sure that never happens.

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE OFFICE NUMBERS OF YOUR TWO SENATORS.

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR CONGESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND THEIR OFFICE NUMBER.

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE BELOW TO LEARN MORE.

        

  
 

“Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country.”   - Franklin D. Roosevelt

THE QUICKIE: WE WANT A VOTE!

IN TWEET: 14 SENATORS WANT TO DENY A VOTE ON GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION, INCLUDING UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS SUPPORTED BY 90% OF AMERICANS. DEMAND A VOTE!

If you care about this issue (especially if you are a constituent of one of the Senators threatening to filibuster any vote on gun safety legislation) take action now! Please call the Senate switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to both of your U.S. Senators. Be polite but firm. Demand a vote!

You can agree or disagree with the legislation but let your Senators know that this is an issue that deserved an up or down vote in Congress.

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