Clark favors gun safety locks

[Renew Deal]

DURHAM , Oct. 29 – Wrapping up a two day trip through New Hampshire on Wednesday, retired General Wesley Clark said he favored safety locks on firearms as a general principle though he said he needed to review the situation more before he would make any specific suggestions on how, if elected president, he plans to mandate such an action.

Clark said guns were always in his house while growing up in Arkansas , but he never touched them because his father warned they were always loaded. And even during a 35 year career in the military he said he always stored guns in an “arms room” away from his son.

“My son was never exposed to guns back then because I didn’t believe it was necessary and I don’t believe it now,” Clark said.

Clark gave these remarks in answer to a question at the Every Child Matters presidential candidate forums at the University of New Hampshire . At the same forum he also said he was “concerned” about the federal No Child Left Behind education act because the standards were to “narrow” on the items tested and the penalties “too tough” for public schools. He also reiterated his health care plan mandating all children receive health insurance, a plan he announced Tuesday on the same university campus.

<snip>

http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2003/september/10_29guns.shtml

[CarinKaryn]

1. Kick to the top

:kick:

[slackmaster]

2. When will Dems learn to make an intelligent comment about gun locks?

Clark said just enough to allow rabid pro-RKBA factions (i.e. mostly GOP) to say "Clark wants to force YOU to keep locks on all of your guns all the time." Or "Democrats want to dictate how you store a gun in your own home." Surely both are exaggerations but they are bound to lose votes of some moderates (both Republicans and Democrats) who value their privacy. Without that kind of "swing" voter we cannot win elections.

The 2000 DNC platform says Democrats support "Mandatory trigger locks" but doesn't explain what that is supposed to mean. I surely don't want anyone telling me I have to store the guns in my home in any particular manner. The platform statement needs clarification.

Here's my suggestion for a policy statement that would satisfy the need to address gun SAFETY without being perceived as dictating to people how to store stuff in their own homes:

- We support Child Access Protection (CAP) laws that provide criminal penalties for gun owners who through negligence allow guns to fall into the hands of minors or children, when an injury, death, or property damage occurs. (Please refer to California's CAP law as an example of a good one.)

- We support making trigger locks available for every new gun sold. (Exactly the same way child safety seats have to be made available for every new car sold.)

- We support educating people about the need to store guns safely. (Maybe even spending a little federal money on ad campaigns.)

- We support tax credits for people who buy robust gun safes or other effective storage devices.

Clark said just enough to get himself into trouble on this one. He's practically forced himself to waffle or backpedal next time the subject comes up.

:eyes:

[MrBenchley]

3. Too too funny

"Clark said just enough to allow rabid pro-RKBA factions (i.e. mostly GOP) to say "Clark wants to force YOU to keep locks on all of your guns all the time." "
Which will enrage all of the chinless gumps wandering the aisles of gun shows in shirts with confederate flags on them. Who hate blacks and gays as much as they love their guns and would never in a million years vote Democratic.

[demsrule4life]

4. By your definition all of us from Alabama

would be a bunch of chinless gumps wandering the aisles of gun shows in shirts with conferderate flags on them. And would never in a million years vote Democratic. Also what I hear people saying here the idiot repug spoild brat Riley will be gov for only one term. As usual you are wrong.

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/senate/senators/senateroster_alpha.html

http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/representatives/houseroster_alpha.html

[slackmaster]

5. There's nothing wrong with being a "gump"

The word isn't in any dictionary presently at my disposal. I've ordered the latest OED but it hasn't arrived yet.

Perhaps it's supposed to be the root of "gumption" - meaning enterprise, intiative, common sense, etc. I think that's the intended reference of the name Forrest Gump, the mythical idiot savant who is surely a better and wiser man than most of us will ever be.

I'd be proud to be called a "Gump". I do have a chin. No Confederate flag, but I have been known to vote Democratic from time to time.

[MrBenchley]

9. Gee, dems...

When was the last time a liberal idea was actually spoken aloud in Alabama?

And since the civil rights movement, how many Alabamans have voted Democratic?

[demsrule4life]

10. Since the democrats hold

a majority in both the house and the senate of the Alabama legislature I guess someone must have voted democratic.

[1a2b3c]

19. opps

Looks like the alabama racist gun owners redneck hillbilly spin didnt work out as planned. Probably why you didnt get a reply back.

[Lefty48197]

22. Let's remember that a lot of southern racists call themselves Democrats

when nothing could be further from the truth. Witness Jesse Helms, Strom Thurmond, Zell Miller etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

[DoNotRefill]

11. so glad you asked....

In 2000, there were 1,178,271 votes cast in Alabama for Democratic candidates in the races for President, Senate, and House of Representatives out of a total of 3,105,266 votes cast. I guess a million votes for Democratic candidates doesn't mean anything to you...

http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2000/geparty.htm

[MrBenchley]

12. Gee, refill

Amazingly, there's also about 1.2 million black citizens in Alabama....and they tend to favor gun control.

[CO Liberal]

13. Perhaps That Is Because......

...in the past, they were shot at by whites who tended to favor RKBA.

[MrBenchley]

14. You may have something there...

[DoNotRefill]

28. Are you seriously suggesting...

that there are NO white Democrats in Alabama?

[1a2b3c]

18. Where is iverglas to point out all these grammer mistakes?

Or does that only happen to the pro RKBA's crowd?

[CO Liberal]

6. And When Will Pro-RKBA Stop Reading More Into Things Than Are There?

No one is saying that each and every one of your guns has to be locked 100 percent of the time. Just when it's not under your direct control.

I for one have no problem with someone keeping one gun unlocked and at the ready. But common sense dictates that his or her other guns should be locked up.

[jody]

7. CO, will the law say one gun may be kept unlocked? For many gun-grabbers,

"gun locks" is a code phrase for preventing law abiding citizens from exercising their inalienable right to self defense. Thank goodness that you aren't with that group. :hi:

[Lefty48197]

23. The locks on my truck don't stop me from driving it

nor do they erode my inalienable rights, my freedom, my liberty, etc. etc. etc. etc.

[slackmaster]

24. And you don't ever have to use them

Your truck is not required by law to even have locks.

[slackmaster]

8. Perhaps if the platform was written better this problem would go away

CO Liberal opined:

No one is saying that each and every one of your guns has to be locked 100 percent of the time. Just when it's not under your direct control.

That's not what General Clark said.

That's not what the platform says.

...common sense dictates that his or her other guns should be locked up.

FWIW I agree with you. Why not make our platform say exactly that? It still leaves some wiggle room for interpretation, e.g. "Nobody is home and my doors are locked, ergo the guns are locked up!"

[Man_in_the_Moon]

15. California's CAP is stupid.

It is not a 'good one'.

I probably has already cost a couple of kids' lives to a pitchfork wielding madman.

And there is no evidence that it has saved one kids life.

Child locks do not stop kids from getting guns and using them irresponibly, responsible parents do.

[Romulus]

16. hold on there, pardner

What about the theft deterrence from all those gun safes that were bought?

I think that would be a good rationale for requiring some sort of safe to be required for handgun ownership. You can get one of those gunvaults from WholesaleHunter.com for less than $100; It's something people should be buying, anyway.

[slackmaster]

17. Not sure why you think the pitchfork incident was related

California's CAP law does not set any specific gun storage requirements for anyone. It does not require guns to be locked up or unloaded, or even out of reach of children.

If you are suggesting that the victim in that case was cowed into the situation you may have a point.

[Lefty48197]

21. I think trigger locks should be required for every single gun sold

oh sure, I know it will make guns unaffordable for all the cop wannabees that are running around in the woods practicing to "defend my country".

[jody]

25. What is the value of requiring a "trigger lock" for each firearm? eom

[Withergyld]

26. Since I own a Gunsafe,

Why should I be required to but a trigger lock???
Trigger locks will not work on some firearms, specifically lever action rifles.
:shrug:

[demsrule4life]

27. If you would do a little research instead of

making remarks that make you look like a real idiot, you would know that most of the major gun companies provide trigger locks and or cable locks for their firearms.

retired military/law enforcement I dont have to play it

[slackmaster]

29. What do you mean by "required"?

Required to be available?

Required to be sold?

Required to be used?

Your remark as written doesn't explain you plan.

:shrug:

[Lefty48197]

20. Why then, he must be a...

communist, who hates freedom, America, the Constitution, liberty, apple pie...
I'm surprised the NRA isn't advocating jailing him for those high crimes.