Bill Richardson: Second Amendment "precious in the West"

[derby378]

I think Richardson was smart to pursue the health care angle in regards to the Virginia Tech shooting. Cho was a deeply disturbed young man, and he needed psychiatric intervention in a big way. Our system, unfortunately, let him down.

Your thoughts?

[valerief]

1. I think gun buyers should have a six-month waiting period. And

assault rifles s/b outlawed for real.

[derby378]

4. What's an "assault rifle?"

If by "assault rifle" you mean full-auto military rifles, those guns have been tightly restricted in America since 1934. In some states, such as New York and Kansas, they're flat out illegal.

But if you were referring to semi-automatic firearms that some wonk decided were not suitable for "hunting and sporting purposes," then I strenuously disagree. Keep 'em legal or say goodbye to Democratic control of Congress in 2008.

And a six-month waiting period for a .22-caliber squirrel rifle? Please tell me you're joking.

[valerief]

5. check this link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_rifle

[Solo_in_MD]

15. Your wiki reference supports Derby, not the Brady Bunch

[derby378]

16. That definition only covers selective-fire rifles (full-auto)

Tightly regulated since 1934 under the National Firearms Act. Importation largely banned since 1968. All manufacture for the civilian market outlawed since 1986.

[valerief]

18. These look pretty bad to me.

Assault weapons vs. Automatic weapons

Primarily limited to the United States, the term assault weapon is a political term, separate from the military definition, used to describe a variety of semi-automatic firearms that have certain features associated with military or police firearms. The 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which expired on September 13, 2004, defined the rifle type of assault weapon as a semiautomatic firearm with the ability to accept a detachable magazine, and two or more of the following:

* Folding or telescoping stock
* Conspicuous pistol grip
* Bayonet mount
* Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one
* Grenade launcher

[karlrschneider]

24. Yeah, all those really SCARY cosmetic features.

:eyes: :eyes: :eyes:

[doc03]

31. My Remington Model 6 Pump Action 30-06 rifle

will make you just a dead as a so-called assault rifle.

A folding or telescoping stock doesn't make a gun more dangerous, I guess it would be a little
more concealable.

A conspicuous pistol grip doesn't either.

Who the hell ever kills anyone with a bayonet, even in the military?

I could put a flash suppressor on my rifle if I wanted to.

When was the last time anyone ever used a grenade launcher in a shooting?

I have multiple detachable magazines and a pump action will fire just as many aimed shots as a semi-auto and an expert can actually fire more shots with a pump action than a semi-auto.

Also a .223 M16 is a popgun compared to a 30-06.

Oh, I forgot I have a telescopic sight and can separate you from your head at 200 yards.

[Solo_in_MD]

9. Try applying your logic to abortion...its doesn't make any sense there either

[valerief]

11. I don't understand. What do guns purchases have to do with abortions? nt

[karlrschneider]

17. Actually not that much. There's no Constitutional right to an abortion.

...

[valerief]

19. There's no constitutional right to guns. Muskets, yes. Guns, no. nt

[karlrschneider]

21. A musket is a gun.

Sorry to pee on your parade.

[piedmont]

28. that's funny stuff. Keep 'em coming. nt

[Solo_in_MD]

32. The are both recognized rights

If its okay to massively delay or prohibitively tax, or others effectively deny one right, all the rest are seriously devalued.



I'm very pro choice, that includes abortion and guns

[rodeodance]

2. mental health care is always at the bottom----funded low-maybe 6 visits or pass the pills

[El Supremo]

3. My thought. Saturday Night Specials have nothing to do with "the west".

These fuckers need to quit pandering to the NRA.

[derby378]

6. I agree with you here

"Saturday night specials" are made of cheap materials, are usually quite inaccurate even at close range, sometimes fall apart after only a few firings, and pose a danger to the shooter as well as to everyone around the shooter.

They are clearly not the sort of weapons that "a well-regulated milita" with an ounce of self-respect would even consider using.

Now, a decent 1911 pistol from Colt or S&W, on the other hand - that's a different story.

[Warpy]

23. I'm told by people who live out in the boonies

that handguns are great for dispatching rattlers in the yard.

[piedmont]

29. As a "gun enthusiast," I'd like to say...

please don't shoot the rattlesnakes. Leave them alone, and they'll go hide. Or call in someone who can safely catch them and take them where they won't get into trouble. Some species are getting very scarce!

[derby378]

7. Richardson just said Democrats should "stop using gun control as a litmus test"

Just said it to Tucker Carlson. Way to go.

[karlrschneider]

8. He's right. And it's preciious in the South, the Northwest and Southwest.

The easiest way to keep the White House in GOP hands is to hammer on law-abiding gun owners. I know some of you don't like to hear it, but ignore the fact at your peril.

[MazeRat7]

13. Yes, that is a point lost on many for whatever reason....

We need to get God, Guns, and Gays out of the debate.... The pugs live to react to to anything related to them...

MZr7

[KharmaTrain]

10. Where's LaPerrer These Days?

The head of the NRA...Wayne LaPerrier <sp>...after Columbine, you couldn't get away from the guy and the vitriol he and others threw at the Democrats and Gore in those days were damaging. But where is he now? I haven't seen any NRA mouthpiece out there in the wake of the VT tragedy. What's more interesting was a report I heard where the NRA has privately reached out to Democrats since they see several areas of common cause...and that they feel ignored by the Repugnicans.

[karlrschneider]

14. I don't know anything about that but I despise the NRA, never was a member

and I've owned guns for 58 years. I will give them up at the exact moment when every other American does.

[liberalnurse]

12. I agree with Richardson.

Essentially, tighten up the loopholes regarding the mentally ill.

I question; At where do we differentiate the degree of mental illness? What if someone is on Trazadone or Prozac, one of the mild anti-depressants for say, post a divorce or menopause, something non-threatening essentially...Does that exclude them from ever purchasing a gun?

[derby378]

20. I think ATF Form 4473 covers that fairly well

You are disqualified from purchasing or owning a firearm if you are addicted to or illegally using any controlled substance. Someone who has a legitimate prescription for a Schedule II drug such as fentanyl or methylphenidate can still legally purchase a firearm as long as their use of the drug is not regarded by the court system as addiction.

[liberalnurse]

27. Thanks.

Where can I learn more about this? I'm curious about how they define the mental health drugs and psychiatric treatment and/or hospitalization.

[greendog]

22. 2,847...

...votes.

That was Jon Tester's margin of victory in 2006 Montana Senate race. Without that victory the U.S. Senate would be controlled by the Republicans.

If a candidate is not unconditionally pro-gun they don't have a chance in the rural west. That's just the way it is.

[karlrschneider]

25. But, but...he supports the Second Amendment! He must be a GOP mole!

Or maybe he represents his constituents. What a radical concept. :eyes:

[mmonk]

26. Yes, Bill went with the correct take.

[mvd]

30. I was surprised to hear that he was the NRA's fave..

on either side. I think that we need careful background checks, tracking of guns used in crimes, a crackdown on the black market, licensing, and in urban areas we need purchase limits per month. I'm for gun control that I think will at least help keep guns out of the hands of criminals. I would prefer there be no guns, but in our culture, a complete ban would not work.