Iowa GOPer Dubs NRA Legislation 'Give A Handgun To Schizo Bill'

[RandySF]

Republican Iowa State Rep. Jeff Kaufmann, speaker pro tem of the Iowa State House, was caught joking on a hot mic that a proposal which would allow state residents to carry weapons in public without permission from a sheriff and without any training or a background check might better be called the "give-a-handgun-to-a-schizophrenic-bill."

The Des Moines Register reports that the comment was caught on video during a discussion of House Study bill 219, the so-called "Alaska carry" legislation after a similar law in Alaska.

As the members discuss pulling Rep. Ron Jorgenson from leading debate on a controversial union collective bargaining bill, Rep. Erik Helland, jokes that he's going to get stuck carrying the bill because he's the "dirty hatchet man for the caucus" because he's "expendable."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/iowa_goper_dubs_nra-backed_legislation_give-a-hand.php?ref=fpb

[47of74]

1. I saw that too

Hopefully we can take the house back from these major league assholes in 2012.

[TheWraith]

2. A schizophrenic isn't legally allowed to own any weapon, let alone carry one. nt

[slackmaster]

3. Not true. Schizophrenics have the same rights as everyone else, and are not legally prohibited...

...from owning firearms unless they have been declared INCOMPETENT by a court of law, or committed to a psychiatric institution involuntarily.

A schizophrenic person who has the condition properly managed with medication and counseling presents no extraordinary danger to anyone.

[safeinOhio]

4. Besides, sometimes those

voices in your head have good ideas.

[slackmaster]

5. Absolutely true.

I listen to mine all the time.

[gratuitous]

6. So more guns in more hands

They know it's going to result in more injuries and deaths. Heck they're even joking about it. But does that cause any of them to stop and think that maybe it will be them or a family member or a good friend who becomes a victim? It does not. Because the NRA must be appeased, and human sacrifice is the price to be paid if you want to keep your phony baloney job.

Well struck, Republicans; well struck, indeed.

[denverbill]

7. More proof that Republicans are completely amoral.

They could give a shit about what's best for the country or even themselves. They just bow to their masters in the NRA/Chamber of Commerce/tobacco lobby/etc and do what they are told.