Active shooter?

[Brian Peacock]

This is a political matter, and a federal matter at that, but I feel that the point should not be made on the grounds of conservatism vs liberalism but on political corruption vs political responsibility. If the interests of political donors outweighs or trumps the interests of constituents then politicians literally representing no interests but their own. Seems to me that you shouldn't vote for the NRA-sponsored candidate if you want a sensible approach to gun control, or even a reasonable discussion about personal firearms.

[L'Emmerdeur]

A significant and very devoted element of the Republican base is NRA supporters. It's not just campaign donations that have made the NRA so powerful, it's their relentless whipping up of the 'gun rights' voters.

The NRA's use of independent spending — on ads, mailers and emails — to mobilize voters has made it "one of the most powerful political organizations in America," said Adam Winkler, a UCLA law professor and author of 2011 book, Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America.

"Politicians don't listen to the NRA simply because they spend money, they listen to the NRA because the NRA's money is effectively spent swaying voters," he said.

Sheila Krumholz, of the Center for Responsive Politics, said it's not just money that gives the NRA influence, but its membership of nearly five million activists.

"The money is a megaphone for another significant asset: a powerful base," she said.

I've encountered this personally. Even mild criticism of the NRA will get a vitriolic response from its true believers.

[Seabass]

It looks like Trump's plan is already working!
Armed Georgia teacher in custody after report of shots fired at high school

The teacher — identified as Randall Davidson, 53 — initially barricaded himself in an empty classroom at about 11:30 a.m. ET as confused students tried to get in, Dalton police spokesman Bruce Frazier said at a news conference. There were then reports that a gun was fired. Davidson, a social studies teacher, surrendered after 30 to 45 minutes, police said.

Frazier confirmed that at least one shot was fired after a principal used a key to try and get into the barricaded classroom. A bullet had gone through an exterior window of the room, but it didn't appear Davidson was aiming at any person, Frazier added.

[Seabass]

https://www.mediamatters.org/video/2018 ... ays/219516

[pErvinalia]

What could possibly go wrong?

[Brian Peacock]

I'm no fan of Walmart...

... but in this regard I think they and Dick's should be applauded and encouraged...

Walmart and Dick’s Raise Minimum Age for Gun Buyers to 21

Two of the nation’s leading gun sellers, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, took steps on Wednesday to limit their sales of firearms, thrusting themselves into the middle of the polarizing national debate over gun violence.

Early in the day, Dick’s said it was immediately ending sales of all assault-style rifles in its stores. The retailer also said that it would no longer sell high-capacity magazines and that it would not sell any gun to anyone under 21 years of age, regardless of local laws.

Walmart, the nation’s leading gun seller, said late Wednesday that it, too, would require any gun buyer to be at least 21. It also said it would no longer sell items resembling assault-style rifles, including toys and air guns....

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/busi ... ifles.html

[JimC]

The times, they are a changin'

[Scot Dutchy]

Nope.

[Brian Peacock]

Never say never...

Donald Trump stuns allies by signalling backing for tighter gun control

Donald Trump has repeatedly endorsed a series of gun control proposals that put the Republican president at odds with the National Rifle Association and stunned lawmakers within his own party.

The president made the remarks during an extraordinary, hour-long White House meeting on Wednesday with congressional Republicans and Democrats who are under pressure to address gun violence in the aftermath of the massacre at a Florida high school earlier this month.

During the meeting, Trump called for a “beautiful” comprehensive bill that would expand background checks on gun purchases, remove guns from the hands of the mentally ill, bolster security on school campuses and restrict young people from purchasing certain weapons.

Within hours of the meeting’s conclusion, conservatives and some Republicans turned on Trump, who was elected with broad support from the gun lobby and claimed on Wednesday that the National Rifle Association had “no bigger fan”. Breitbart, the far-right news organization that fanned the flames of Trump’s rise, denounced the president as a “gun grabber” who “cedes” to Democrats...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... _clipboard

[Seabass]

Never say never...

Donald Trump stuns allies by signalling backing for tighter gun control

Donald Trump has repeatedly endorsed a series of gun control proposals that put the Republican president at odds with the National Rifle Association and stunned lawmakers within his own party.

The president made the remarks during an extraordinary, hour-long White House meeting on Wednesday with congressional Republicans and Democrats who are under pressure to address gun violence in the aftermath of the massacre at a Florida high school earlier this month.

During the meeting, Trump called for a “beautiful” comprehensive bill that would expand background checks on gun purchases, remove guns from the hands of the mentally ill, bolster security on school campuses and restrict young people from purchasing certain weapons.

Within hours of the meeting’s conclusion, conservatives and some Republicans turned on Trump, who was elected with broad support from the gun lobby and claimed on Wednesday that the National Rifle Association had “no bigger fan”. Breitbart, the far-right news organization that fanned the flames of Trump’s rise, denounced the president as a “gun grabber” who “cedes” to Democrats...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/201 ... _clipboard

Never. We're talking about Trump here...

[Rum]

As ever - a populist - and he knows where the votes are moving to.

[Scot Dutchy]

The bill is not law. Plenty of time to scrap it.

[pErvinalia]

Congress will scuttle it. Then Donald will get all petty and childish.

[Forty Two]

Trump has always had a compromise position on guns. He wrote about his support for some sensible measures in his book The America We Deserve. Basically, he does not consider the 2nd Amendment as prohibiting reasonable regulation, particularly limits on certain weapons, background checks, age limits and restrictions for felons and seriously mentally ill. This should not come as a surprise.

The press seems to take his general statements of support for the Second Amendment as meaning that he must oppose every single regulation.

[Brian Peacock]

It's difficult to know what Trump means when he says things with words, and his positions flip-flop according to fickle forces of fancy, but I hope that he has the gumption to stick by this one and at least promote the idea that the 2nd amendment doesn't give anyone a right to own any kind of weapon they can imaging owning or afford.