After tragedy, Ariz. lawmakers eye more gun rights

[RamboLiberal]

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Arizona Republicans remain adamant that the shooting will not dissuade them from pushing their pro-gun agenda.

They want new laws allowing college and university faculty members to be able to carry concealed weapons on campus, an issue that gained attention after the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech University. Only Utah has a law allowing concealed weapons on college campuses while 24 states have bans, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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Bills already introduced this year in Arizona in the Republican-controlled Legislature include barring landlords and homeowner groups from restricting the right to bear arms in self defense, and expanding the current law that allows gun owners to display a weapon in self defense. And Wentling said his group's priority bill, which he wouldn't discuss, hasn't been unveiled yet.

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At the Legislature, some female lawmakers with concealed weapons permits have acknowledged carrying guns in their purses despite a state law prohibiting guns in public buildings. Visitors to legislative buildings are supposed to place their weapons in lockboxes.

Last year, Arizona become the third state to make it legal for adults to carry a concealed weapon without getting training and a background check. In 2009, the big change was allowing armed people in bars and restaurants, if they're not drinking alcohol and the establishments haven't posted signs against it.

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Brewer signed bills into law that let people keep guns in locked vehicles at parking lots of businesses that prohibit guns and barred local governments from prohibiting a person with a concealed weapon permit from having a gun in a park.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/17/AR2011011701787.html

[Teaser]

1. We're headed toward a cliff

so slam down that accelerator.

[SteveM]

22. Maybe you are. I am not.

[Teaser]

27. thanks for your random

what?

[Statistical]

2. Rights over fear.

Only wish we had a similar response after 911 when instead we chose fear over protecting rights.

[Hoopla Phil]

5. I agree with all that completely!

[niceypoo]

3. Everything that comes from the GOP is madness

Madness on steroids

[shadowrider]

4. They want to ensure YOU keep YOUR right.

Exactly where is the madness?

[niceypoo]

6. The republicans are ensuring my rights? Like they ensured Giffords?

If more guns make us safer, shouldn't the US be the safest country on earth? We have the highest percentage of private gun ownership on the planet.

Of course it's all bullshit, republicans dont give a shit about rights. All they want to do is sell guns and get campaign donations.

[shadowrider]

7. Giffords has a carry permit and does carry. She ain't a Republican, last I heard. Now you happy? n/t

[niceypoo]

13. Is she calling for everyone to carry guns?

Is she calling for a 100% armed society? On airplanes? In schools? No, only republicans call for total madness, and a couple misguided DUers.

[X_Digger]

18. We have a DU member named straw man, but I don't think he actually said that...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=259042

Perhaps you can quote the DU member who is 'calling for a 100% armed society'?

[RSillsbee]

20. You are aware

that some of the most restrictive gun laws in this country were signed by republicans right?

You do know that Paul Helmke is a republican right?

Sarah Brady?

Michael Bloomberg?

Chimpy?

[SteveM]

24. Completely false assertions, and you know it....

Who is "calling for everyone to carry guns?" Who is calling for a "100% armed society?" "On airplanes:" you may properly check-in a firearm on airlines, and this is nothing new. Just who are the "misguided DUers" who call for "total madness?"

Please cease this culture war. It is only harmful to those of us who wish to better this society.

[lawodevolution]

8. "shouldn't the US be the safest country on earth?" It's not that simple, there are many factors but

nations with higher gun ownership rates have 5 times lower murder rates than the nations with low gun ownership rates by civilians, back by t test at 95% confidence interval.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=118&topic_id=339915&mesg_id=339915



Now I wonder what the chance is you are just going to dismiss this from your mind and continue to think the way you do even with evidence presented at the highest level of statistical backing of any gun argument presented on this forum which just happens to show that more guns does not equal more violence but in fact shows more guns may equal less violence.

[niceypoo]

14. The main factor is the GOP position is 100% bullcrap

But you already knew that

[RSillsbee]

9. Gifford's rights

How, exactly , did the Republicans infringe on Gabrielle Gifford's rights?

[shadowrider]

10. Sometimes I just gotta shake my head in disbelief n/t

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shadowrider]

21. Ahh yes, the old "You're no Democrat if you support the 2A" card

Shuffle the deck, that card is old and obvious.

[SteveM]

26. You really are spoiling for a culture war...

my position on "gun policies/talking points" are my own and have been before some misguided "liberals" decided to launch a self-righteous culture war that has had disastrous political consequences. The GOP has perfectly used the issue as a wedge, and the gun-controllers/prohibitions (esp. the GOP-led, GOP-founded) have placed that wedge into the wood for them.

[niceypoo]

15. I didnt say they infringed on her rights

I did say that the republicans have ensured ZERO rights for her, or anybody else.

[SteveM]

23. Too bad you associate liberalism with gun-control/prohibition...

I have been left of center my whole politically-conscious life. And only during the last 30+ years has "gun control" been grafted onto a belief system that had some REAL MEANING. Gun-control is not a litmus for liberalism; it is a toxic turn-off for those who are looking for an alternative to right-wing ideology.

A "safe" or unsafe country has more to do with its history and culture, not with its weaponry. Hopefully, you realize that the violent crime rate in this country has gone down for the last 15 years, even as the number of weapons in civilian hands has gone up by over 100,000,000. This makes the "more guns=more crime" meme unproven.

I don't care much for GOPers, but most don't sell guns. They do play on the issue supremely well, and they couldn't do this without help from folks like you, with all respect.

Ms. Gifford's right to life was hugely threatened by a punk. He will be made to pay for that. But there is no government or party on earth which can ensure my life or rights, however that they may be charged with that duty. I am sure you know that the police departments of this country cannot, nor are they required to ensure my safety. They are charged with gathering evidence of a crime, apprehension of suspects, and presenting evidence to grand juries for further prosecution.

[Katya Mullethov]

11. See why I am always in such a good mood ?

Told ya . And there will be more forthcoming .

Aaaaand.... in yesterdays late afternoon/after dark percussion shooting/recruitment session ....I gained not only a convert to black powder shooting , but more importantly an eager street preacher willing to help me spread the word about Constitutional Carry .

This was my new years resolution and I had made good on it by Christmas . To get the word out . Truthfully , this stuff sells itself , it's like internal combustion or electricity that way .

[shadowrider]

12. Just goes to show ignorance can be cured through education. n/t

[Katya Mullethov]

17. But ..sometimes it does become necessary to retract the foreskin of ignorance

And apply the wire brush of knowledge .

But .. sometimes that doesn't work either .

[Euromutt]

19. That's an image I could have done without

x(

[Katya Mullethov]

25. Consider yourself

"Scared straight "