Peter King - Introduction of gun control legislation

[kcballer]

Rep. Peter King, a Republican from New York, is planning to introduce legislation that would make it illegal to bring a gun within 1,000 feet of a government official, according to a person familiar with the congressman's intentions.

King is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. The proposed law follows the Saturday shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and a federal judge that left six dead, including the judge, and 14 wounded.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, one of the nation's most outspoken gun-control advocates, is backing King's measure and is expected to put the weight of his pro-gun-control organization behind it.

"Yesterday everyone here joined in observing a moment of silence on behalf of the victims of the shooting, and today we come together to speak up for ways to prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future, by adopting commonsense fixes to some of our broken gun laws," Bloomberg said Tuesday. "Civil debate is important, and I've long spoken out in favor of more cooperation and less antagonism, but I think it's true that the more we learn, the more it becomes clear that this case is fundamentally about a mentally ill drug abuser who had access to guns and shouldn't have."

A spokesman for King wasn't immediately available for comment.

In 2009, Bloomberg's pro-gun-control organization specified 40 ways President Obama could rein in illegal gun use without passing any new legislation. At a press event in Manhattan on Tuesday, Bloomberg added three steps to the list, including revamping the system of federal background checks on gun buyers, sharing information between gun background check databases, and appointing a head of the federal law enforcement agency responsible for controlling gun crime, which has operated without a director for almost five years.

"We simply can't afford to have ATF at less than full strength when so many gun murders are occurring," said Bloomberg. Every day 35 people are murdered at gunpoint in the U.S., according to the Brady Campaign website.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/11/peter-king-strict-gun-control_n_807323.html

1000 feet might be a bit much maybe 100 feet?  But all in all it's hard to argue with this legislation from a common sense perspective.  There is no good reason why you need a gun on you when you are near a US representative. 

[Kazan]

Why whats makes them any more important than any other American?

[Soul Crusher]

And what happens when someone stabs on these reps to death?   or throws a molotov cocktail?  

[kcballer]

Why whats makes them any more important than any other American?

It's sad it has come to this but the fact they are representative of the people of this country.

[Kazan]

It's sad it has come to this but the fact they are representative of the people of this country.

So what? They are public servants, they work for us, so again what makes them more important than any other American

[kcballer]

And what happens when someone stabs on these reps to death?   or throws a molotov cocktail?  

That is why we have a need for bodyguards to protect our elected officials. 

[240 is Back]

Making it ANY GOVT OFFICIAL is silly.

You already cannot carry in courthouses, police stations, post offices, and most govt buildings.

Is Speaker Boehnner more important than my local post office?  You betcha.

This would keep guns out of political rallies as well.

Nobody's stopping you from buying, owning, or carrying - simply going within 1000 feet (shooting disatance at best) of 1 of the top 535 leaders of our country, I'd be okay with.  No guns at congressional rallies, i'm fine there.  Stopping me from carrying on my street if some DMV employee lives on my block?  Kiss my ass.

The fact we'll have to trust the govt to draw that line - ehhhhhhhhh fAIL.

[Kazan]

Making it ANY GOVT OFFICIAL is silly.

You already cannot carry in courthouses, police stations, post offices, and most govt buildings.

Is Speaker Boehnner more important than my local post office?  You betcha.

This would keep guns out of political rallies as well.

Nobody's stopping you from buying, owning, or carrying - simply going within 1000 feet (shooting disatance at best) of 1 of the top 535 leaders of our country, I'd be okay with.  No guns at congressional rallies, i'm fine there.  Stopping me from carrying on my street if some DMV employee lives on my block?  Kiss my ass.

The fact we'll have to trust the govt to draw that line - ehhhhhhhhh fAIL.

Why is Boehnner any more important than you or I?

[Soul Crusher]

What about if you don't even know you are within 1000 feet and there for unrelated reasons. 

[kcballer]

I see your point.  Perhaps this is a start and will be debated down to a more manageable and acceptable piece of legislation.  

[kcballer]

What about if you don't even know you are within 1000 feet and there for unrelated reasons. 

What about if you got a life and stopped trolling with nonsense?

[Kazan]

Anyone? Why is any member of congress's life more important than mine? As matter of fact I would have a much greater chance of being shot, you see I don't have a security detail following me around.

[Soul Crusher]

What about if you got a life and stopped trolling with nonsense?

Why don't you answer the damn question?   

[240 is Back]

Why is Boehnner any more important than you or I?

cause if you or I get shot, it's just some jackass getting capped.

if the person is in congress, it's assassination attempt.

Big difference there.  national leadership is bigger than you or i.   It's like taht in every country in the world.  it is how it is.

[kcballer]

Anyone? Why is any member of congress's life more important than mine? As matter of fact I would have a much greater chance of being shot, you see I don't have a security detail following me around.

You are not an elected official.  This isn't communist russia, we aren't all equal.  It may suck but elected officials are deemed more important than most people.  Trump is also more important than you, deal with it.  

[Soul Crusher]

You are not an elected official.  This isn't communist russia, we aren't all equal.  It may suck but elected officials are deemed more important than most people.  Trump is also more important than you, deal with it.  

Dear god are you screwed up in the head.  In USSR russia, th govt officials were treated FFFFAAARRR better than the typical slave to that evil system.

   

[Kazan]

cause if you or I get shot, it's just some jackass getting capped.

if the person is in congress, it's assassination attempt.

Big difference there.  national leadership is bigger than you or i.   It's like taht in every country in the world.  it is how it is.

Maybe in your world, what happens if in 2 years he gets voted out, then suddenly he is just another jackass? Your perception of what a government official is, is screwed the fuck up.

[Kazan]

You are not an elected official.  This isn't communist russia, we aren't all equal.  It may suck but elected officials are deemed more important than most people.  Trump is also more important than you, deal with it.  

OK, public servants are more important than the people they represent? Russia, WTF does that have to do with anything? Ah I see it comes down to how much money you have as to how "important" you are in your world.

[kcballer]

Why don't you answer the damn question?   

Why don't you log off, take in some fresh air and stop trolling everyday and making stuff up.

[Soul Crusher]

Why don't you log off, take in some fresh air and stop trolling everyday and making stuff up.

What am I making up? 

[240 is Back]

Maybe in your world, what happens if in 2 years he gets voted out, then suddenly he is just another jackass? Your perception of what a government official is, is screwed the fuck up.

Then, he no longer is a target based upon his policy making power, and he doesn't get the benefit of this law.

I dunno what the beef is here - you're disagreeing with the policy of every nation on earth that those in elected office are afforded extra protections?  Not gonna win that argument.

[Kazan]

Then, he no longer is a target based upon his policy making power, and he doesn't get the benefit of this law.

I dunno what the beef is here - you're disagreeing with the policy of every nation on earth that those in elected office are afforded extra protections?  Not gonna win that argument.

Really? Who was the first POTUS to have a SS detail, I can guarant-fucking-tee you it wasn't George Washington. And  elected officials getting extra protection is relatively new in America.

[Kazan]

Well 240, lay your wisdom of all things related to "elected Official" security on me

[MB]

I see your point.  Perhaps this is a start and will be debated down to a more manageable and acceptable piece of legislation.  

Why is there a need for any legislation?  Can't we just accept this as a random act of violence and move on without making more laws? 

[Skip8282]

You are not an elected official.  This isn't communist russia, we aren't all equal.  It may suck but elected officials are deemed more important than most people.  Trump is also more important than you, deal with it. 

What a sad and pathetic mentality that is.

There are certainly people who need more protection than others because their jobs or circumstances place them in a greater degree of danger (presidents, federal witnesses, etc.).

But to argue that we are not all equal or that the possession of money makes a person's life more important than anothers only suggests that your own feelings of self worth are pathetically low and you wish to project them onto others.  Probably the historical basis for royalty - maybe...