Obama’s gun-safety agenda a great place to start debate
The list of legislative proposals and executive actions outlined by President Obama is, as he promised, wide-ranging and ambitious.
Among other things, it includes a proposal to put as many as 1,000 federally funded, armed police officers in schools; boost the identification and treatment of the mentally ill; and fund research through the Centers for Disease Control into possible links between “media images, video games and violence.”
Each of the above steps endorsed by Obama has also been advocated by the National Rifle Association and other conservative groups. However, as the president noted, this is a problem too profound and complicated to be addressed successfully by such policies alone.
The most controversial and ambitious proposal is the banning of assault weapons. The gun lobby points out that under the president’s proposal, other weapons possessing similar firepower would not be banned, raising questions about the motivation and effectiveness of such a ban.
However, assault weapons have a well-documented emotional appeal to those most likely to engage in mass killings such as those at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It is clearly their weapon of choice, perhaps because features that the gun lobby dismisses as mere cosmetic in fact give such weapons a military authority and aura that feed into deadly fantasies. We are under no obligation to continue to pander to such fantasies.
Other proposed changes are straightforward reforms that would not be controversial in a more rational environment. Since 2006, for example, the Senate has refused to confirm any nominee — by Republican or Democratic president — as director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. It has nothing to do with those nominated, and everything to do with the fact that the NRA hates the agency and wants to do anything possible to cripple it. That type of death grip on policy making has to end.
The president also proposes to make background checks mandatory for all gun sales, whether conducted by a licensed firearms dealer or by a private citizen. As an administration official told The Washington Post, “The best analogy that experts talked to us about in our meetings is that it wouldn’t make any sense at the airports to have two lanes — one where if you go to a licensed dealer you go through the metal detector and if you go to a private sale there’s no metal detector at all. This is an attempt to get everybody through the system.”
There’s no rational argument, other than convenience, to be offered against such a proposal, and on deadly matters such as this, convenience is not a valid objection. The proposal will reportedly include “limited, common-sense exceptions for cases like certain transfers between family members and temporary transfers for hunting and sporting purposes.”
Even after passage of such a law, some people will of course continue to sell weapons on the black market, without background checks. But those people would then be criminals, and if it is later determined that they sold a gun to a known criminal who used it in a crime, they should share responsibility for that crime. There is no Second Amendment argument to be raised on such an issue.
The proposal also includes a ban on the sale of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Interestingly, whenever that approach is mentioned I hear two separate arguments against it:
– Banning magazines larger than 10 rounds would make gun owners less able to defend themselves against multiple attackers, because they would be forced to reload more often.
– Banning magazines larger than 10 rounds would do nothing to slow down those intent on mass murder, because it takes no time at all to exchange clips.
I don’t think it’s necessary to resolve the inherent conflict between those claims, because it is already clear that those who set off on mass murder sprees have already made their choice. As the White House notes, “the shooters at Virginia Tech, Tucson, Aurora, Oak Creek, and Newtown all used magazines holding more than 10 rounds.”
If the murderers believe such magazines are useful, then we ought to try to deny them that equipment.
The administration also proposes to get serious about gun trafficking, in which legal gun purchasers buy large numbers of weapons for later private sale to criminals. Amazingly, “there is no explicit law against straw purchasing, so straw purchasers and others who traffic guns can often only be prosecuted for paperwork violations,” the White House report states. The gun industry, and thus the gun lobby, will no doubt oppose that change because it would be bad for sales. Again, that is not an objection worthy of consideration under these circumstances.
In the weeks to come, the objection to such basic, common-sense reforms is likely to consist of heated, repeated cries of “Second Amendment!” and “tyrant!”, “Hitler” and variations thereof. That’s because, when addressed individually and on their merits, there are few rational arguments against such steps. Those who oppose the reforms must therefore attempt to shift the debate to the irrational, a battlefield on which they have the advantage by virture of more experience and firepower.
– Jay Bookman
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
668 comments Add your comment
Recon 0311 2533
January 16th, 2013
5:41 pm
JamVet,
Do you understand the difference between a democracy and a republic. We’re a combination of both with the constitution as the basis for our laws. The founders had the foresight to design our government in such a way that the minority wouldn’t be completely overruled and discriminated against by a majority, which is why we have a representative republic. Quite a work of genius in my opinion and that of many others.
Paul
January 16th, 2013
5:41 pm
Off Topic
“Veterans’ checks could be delayed and active-duty troops may not get paid if the ongoing battle between the White House and Republican-led Congress results in a government shutdown over the debt ceiling, President Obama said Monday.”
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/01/14/troop-pay-vet-checks-at-risk-over-deficit-fight.html?ESRC=airforce-a.nl
Nice going, cons -
TBS
January 16th, 2013
5:41 pm
Whether an armed guard would have prevented Sandy Hook or not we will never know, but which whack wing sites and talk shows are still feeding the rifle wasn’t used LIE? WORLD NET DAILY?
“The veteran medical examiner told reporters that the victims had all been identified and their bodies released. In what appeared to be an uncomfortable moment for Carver, he said all of the victims he had examined had all been shot by a Bushmaster .223 caliber assault rifle, one of at least two weapons Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old suspected shooter, used to commit one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.”
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/medical-examiner-sandy-hook-victims-died-multiple-gunshot-211722237.html
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
5:41 pm
Kam: “Fred’s” famous ribs in about 45 minutes. Shame you are stuck in the hills with the other hill billies…………
Brosephus™
January 16th, 2013
5:42 pm
There were no assault weapons used at Sandy Hook. He left the AR 15 in the car and used 4 handguns.
Already debunked by the coroner.
Debunked enough that it’s amazing that the story can continuously rebunk itself. Given the people who continue to push that stuff though….
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
5:42 pm
Meat,
Give up the charade of intellectual debate.
You just got crushed.
This forum is not a good place to practice making idiotic statements about democracy.
Jm
January 16th, 2013
5:42 pm
Towncrier and others. A few interesting facts.
Obama is left handed.
Only about 10 percent of the population is left-handed. About 20 percent of people with schizophrenia dominantly use their left hands.
People who use their left hands tend to be more affected by fear than people who use their right hands, according to recent research presented at the annual conference of the British Psychology Society.
For the study, participants watched an eight-minute clip from the frightening film Silence of the Lambs. When asked to recall events from the segment, lefties were far more likely to show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder than righties, including giving fragmented descriptions and making more mistakes.
If you just can’t get let go of that spat you had with your right-handed pal (but he seemed to move on just fine), you may be able to blame it on your handedness: According to a small study published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease , lefties are more prone to having negative emotions. In addition, they seem to have a more difficult time processing their feelings.
Obama. A leftie, angry fearful schizo. Sounds about right to me.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:43 pm
parrot,
con upset you?
So?
Brosephus™
January 16th, 2013
5:44 pm
The administration also proposes to get serious about gun trafficking, in which legal gun purchasers buy large numbers of weapons for later private sale to criminals.
as in “Fast and Furious”?
……………………………………..________……………………
………………………………,.-‘”……………….“~.,………………
………………………..,.-”……………………………..“-.,…………
…………………….,/………………………………………..”:,……..
…………………,?………………………………………………\,…..
………………./…………………………………………………..,}….
……………../………………………………………………,:`^`..}….
……………/……………………………………………,:”………/…..
…………..?…..__…………………………………..:`………../…..
…………./__.(…..“~-,_…………………………,:`………./……..
………../(_….”~,_……..“~,_………………..,:`…….._/………..
……….{.._$;_……”=,_…….“-,_…….,.-~-,},.~”;/….}………..
………..((…..*~_…….”=-._……“;,,./`…./”…………../…………
…,,,___.\`~,……“~.,………………..`…..}…………../………….
…………(….`=-,,…….`……………………(……;_,,-”……………
…………/.`~,……`-………………………….\……/\……………….
………….\`~.*-,……………………………….|,./…..\,__………..
,,_……….}.>-._\……………………………..|…………..`=~-,….
…..`=~-,_\_……`\,……………………………\……………………
……………….`=~-,,.\,………………………….\…………………..
…………………………..`:,,………………………`\…………..__..
……………………………….`=-,……………….,%`>–==“…….
…………………………………._\……….._,-%…….`\……………
……………………………..,<`.._|_,-&“…………….`\…………..
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:45 pm
Pay the troops cons.
Paul
January 16th, 2013
5:45 pm
Fred 5:34
Yeah, but she’s good-natured.
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
5:45 pm
Debunked enough that it’s amazing that the story can continuously rebunk itself. Given the people who continue to push that stuff though….
FOXBOT/talk radio is based on lies and the gullibility and stupidity of their listeners.
Soothsayer
January 16th, 2013
5:46 pm
Jm: get some help, OK? It’ll do you good.
too little time
January 16th, 2013
5:46 pm
Someone in the previous JBookman blog said (and I paraphrase) : “watch all the cons go nuts”.
Looking at THIS blog, it appears the libs are going nuts. Lets face it, the whole Obama speech, in the end, amounts to very little. Liberals lost this round. No gun owners lost anything significant in his executive orders, and it is unlikely anything will pass Congress.
DannyX
January 16th, 2013
5:46 pm
” I can’t even be satirical here any more,”
Gross.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 16th, 2013
5:46 pm
Fred
You’ll pay for that tease one day.
Gonna get chilly up here tomorrow, and depending when the precip moves out, we might get the frozen stuff.
Been waiting for it to get cooler, cause I wanna make some chili.
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
5:46 pm
We’re a combination of both…
Hallelujah!
A Republican who gets it!!
I was beginning to wonder if there were any of you right wingers still around who hadn’t excised the D word from your lexicon!
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 16th, 2013
5:48 pm
There is something terribly wrong with a scum-ball like Obama even mentioning Ronald Reagan.
I can understand why a pure… evil …..cretin would want to be associated with basic decency….but it doesn’t work.
.
There oughta be a law.
josef
January 16th, 2013
5:48 pm
Jm
And the ambidextrous? -)
That Black Guy
January 16th, 2013
5:48 pm
Those who oppose the reforms must therefore attempt to shift the debate to the irrational, a battlefield on which they have the advantage by virture of more experience and firepower.
_________________________________________
Jay, would that “battlefield” include people who say irrational things like;
you want a gun to compensate for your small member
well why can’t I have a boozka, F-16, tank, aircraft carrier, etc if the 2A protecte your right to have AAARRRRMMMMSSSS
you want to give EVERYONE guns
_______ blood is on your hands
All of those statements and more are used by some in the pro gun control tent to bash those in the pro gun ownership tent.
It’s not an appeal for rational discussion.
It’s an appeal for irrational sniping.
Anyone interested in civil, rational, PRODUCTIVE dialog (on any topic) would refrain from those tactics.
JMO
Brosephus™
January 16th, 2013
5:50 pm
FOXBOT/talk radio is based on lies and the gullibility and stupidity of their listeners.
Maybe I need to start one of those talk station things and sell advertising. I know it’s wrong to play with the minds of those too lazy to think for themselves, but it would probably be kinda fun throwing a bit of spice and color into these tired ass conspiracy theories. I can damn near recite them all and I don’t listen to that crap. All you have to do is read the lickspittle here.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:50 pm
The cons will fail the mental check to lose their guns jm.
Your last post is proof of that fact.
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
5:51 pm
Liberals lost this round.
Probably true.
The Do Nothing Ever Party knows that the answers are much, much too difficult to even try.
So they do what they do best – nothing.
And in this case, I think it served them well…
That Black Guy
January 16th, 2013
5:51 pm
BTW, I see nothing wrong with the President’s proposals.
My only question would be what happens to all the higher cap magazines already out there?
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:51 pm
Bro,
They make millions and beck is starting a cult.
Recon 0311 2533
January 16th, 2013
5:51 pm
“Veterans’ checks could be delayed and active-duty troops may not get paid if the ongoing battle between the White House and Republican-led Congress results in a government shutdown over the debt ceiling, President Obama said Monday.”
The administration would have sufficient revenues to service the national debt and pay all of the above. The government just would not have an extension of a maxed out credit line and would therefore need to curtail additional borrowing and deficit spending.
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
5:53 pm
I’m pretty sure that the “decent” (LOL!) Reagan administration is still the all time leader in criminal arrests, prosecutions and convictions in his administration…
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:53 pm
del,
Yeah, too costly to save the children.
Good grief del.
Get a grip son.
Brosephus™
January 16th, 2013
5:54 pm
getalife
In the middle
January 16th, 2013
5:55 pm
Jay,
A while back you posted this a made mention of your “smile” though not a happy one. The inference was that the NRA was nuts for wanting armed guards in school.
“The National Rifle Association stunned Washington observers Friday when the group’s CEO announced a plan to install armed guards at every school in the country — its response to the Connecticut shooting last week that left 20 children dead…
Now that Obama made it a point in his plan it you would be “irresponsible to oppose”. Nice backbone. Make a stand and stick with it. You have become nothing more than ideological fodder.
Jm
January 16th, 2013
5:57 pm
josef
they’re all crazy? just kidding. multi-talented?
Recon 0311 2533
January 16th, 2013
5:57 pm
Yeah, too costly to save the children
getalife, clearly you’re not quoting from one of my posts.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:57 pm
tom,
reagan was a lib.
Krystal'sBalls
January 16th, 2013
5:58 pm
@Fred.
Yeah man I used to bump that track hard back in the day! As much mysoginy TS was spitting that was real nice and needed changeup. That is my outlook. I do realize it may throw some people off when some of my positions reveal dichotomy, but as one who has the unique experience that I do and being who I am, that is what it is. Good lookin’ out on that one!
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
5:59 pm
pogo
January 16th, 2013
5:40 pm
Personally, I thought he let the movie industry off too easy. I guess he did it because he is enthralled with their celebrity and especially their un-ending campaign money……… blah blah……
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Come on now REALLY? That’s what they were saying on Megyn Kelly’s show right after his speech and you are just NOW hearing about it? Oh wait, I know, it’s you own original thought. That ass clown on Megyn (who taught HER mindless parents how to spell Megan?) who was saying that at around 1:45 had just gotten off the phone with YOU so he would know what to say……….
yawn.
godless heathen
January 16th, 2013
5:59 pm
So Obama’s answer to more guns in schools is more guns in schools. I’ll be damned.
Doggone/GA
January 16th, 2013
6:00 pm
“Now I see the problem….we don’t even know what kind of government we have”
Nope. Only YOU don’t know. I know perfectly well. We are a democratic republic. I refer you to the dictionary to educate yourself.
Jm
January 16th, 2013
6:00 pm
“The cons will fail the mental check to lose their guns jm.”
not a con
sorry, those are the facts. O is nutso. research supports that. or don’t you believe in science anymore?
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:00 pm
I m pretty sure rush is a lib too because he says something so crazy at election time, he helps the Dems get votes.
Georgia
January 16th, 2013
6:00 pm
Hey, why can’t Obama use the war powers act to ban assault rifles? Bush did worse, much worse with his stupid war powers. I say it’s payback time!!!
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:01 pm
jm,
I don’t believe in mindless con deflecterbation.
I don’t think you should do that in public.
Ew.
Georgia
January 16th, 2013
6:02 pm
Semantics. This blog always devolves into semantics. I know, it’s the way Jay and his paid confederates want it. Big shots.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
January 16th, 2013
6:02 pm
I should be able to buy whatever gun I want because, um……ABORTION and SLUTS! AND NO JEEZUS IN SCHOOL!
Well, if it’s true we keep coming back here in another form after we die, I want to come back as a snake. And first I want to be a intern to Aquagirl before I die. Cause the way she cuts a man down, I can have a few months of practice wriggling along the ground and won’t need to learn how to crawl in my new life.
Have a good night everybody.
too little time
January 16th, 2013
6:03 pm
My only question would be what happens to all the higher cap magazines already out there?
Unless Congress passes some legislation regarding high capacity magazines… nothing happens. The LAST time Congress banned high cap magazines, the existing magazines were grandfathered in, and folks were allowed to keep them. If you figure a ratio of about 10:1 (even though some gun owners purchase magazines by the hundred, most will purchase around 3-10 magazines per semi auto), then there are about 1.5 BILLION high capacity magazines out there.
Now, you might be asking yourself: why all the magazines? Generally there are two reasons:
1) Range time is expensive. Most shooters like to load their magazines BEFORE they get to the range so that they spend their time shooting rather than reloading.
2) The 1994 AWB left a lot of people with just one or two magazines for their semi autos. They had to use those for 10 years, and would have had to use them longer if the AWB had been reinstated. In an effort not to get caught without magazines again, the typical shooter might buy as many as he/she anticipates needing FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, as they may not be able to purchase more.. .ever.
I personally keep 6-10 magazines per gun/rifle, and take as many loaded magazines as I anticipate shooting at the range.
Jm
January 16th, 2013
6:06 pm
btw getalife
I hope they do real background checks
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
6:06 pm
This blog always devolves into semantics.
Republispeak for we don’t need no stinking dictionaries!
We just make up our own moronic definitions and can’t figure out why intelligent people laugh their ass off at us all the time!
That Black Guy
January 16th, 2013
6:07 pm
Paul
January 16th, 2013
3:56 pm
DannyX
The president calls for a //study// to see if there is a //possible link//.
You guys ridicule him for taking knee-jerk actions that won’t have any impact, yet when he calls for a //study// to determine if there’s a link, you ridicule him, too.
Obama Derangement Syndrome is in full bloom.
__________________________________
Paul, DannyX is on your side.
And doing his level best to ensure there is NO civil, rational, or PRODUCTIVE discussion of the President’s proposal.
td
January 16th, 2013
6:07 pm
getalife
January 16th, 2013
5:34 pm
td,
You should be worried about losing more seats in the house and senate because that is what is going to happen.
Go read Nate Silver and see what he had to say about the Dems winning back the house.
Doggone/GA
January 16th, 2013
6:08 pm
“Do you understand the difference between a democracy and a republic.”
Do YOU understand the difference between a representative democracy and a democratic republic? (Here’s a hint: THERE ISN’T ANY DIFFERENCE)
Jm
January 16th, 2013
6:08 pm
“I personally keep 6-10 magazines per gun/rifle, and take as many loaded magazines as I anticipate shooting at the range”
the chinese are crazy if they think they can ever invade the US
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:09 pm
“I hope they do real background checks”
They probably will so the goal to save one child from getting slaughtered at school is the best we can get out of failed congress.
indigo
January 16th, 2013
6:09 pm
Krysta’s Balls – 5:58 “some of my postions reveal dichotomy”
And not only that, they seperate into two divisions that contradict each other.
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 16th, 2013
6:09 pm
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
5:53 pm
I’m pretty sure that the “decent” (LOL!) Reagan administration is still the all time leader in criminal arrests, prosecutions and convictions in his administration…
———————————————————————————————-
.
One decent man against Leviathon.
Ronny could only do so much while in the District of Crooks.
The American people know(and remember) decency though…………and they also recognize pure corrupt sleazeoid Washington trash.
That’s why even Chicago Sludge administrations like to evoke his spirit.
It isn’t working.
.
Uncle Sam boot-lickers wouldn’t understand.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:10 pm
td,
I will around election time but not focused on that like you.
TBS
January 16th, 2013
6:10 pm
td
Which post did getalife say the Dems were going to win back the House?
See you love ole Nate these days. Guess after fawning all over Morris, Rove and those articles you posted on oversampling it was time to change ships.
Oh the irony
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:11 pm
tom,
Look at what he did.
Liberal.
Paul
January 16th, 2013
6:11 pm
“The administration would have sufficient revenues to service the national debt and pay all of the above. The government just would not have an extension of a maxed out credit line and would therefore need to curtail additional borrowing and deficit spending.”
Y’know, Recon, every time something like this comes on someone pops up and says “there’s enough money for that.” Every time. If there’s enough money to pay this and that and everything else that comes up, then why do we need a debt limit increase?
Other point that was asked but no con would answer: why are Congressional Republicans so eager to give a Democratic President the power to decide what gets paid and what doesn’t?
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
6:12 pm
Nope. Only YOU don’t know. I know perfectly well. We are a democratic republic. I refer you to the dictionary to educate yourself.
I would refer YOU to the Constitution to educate YOURSELF, but this whole”Republic, Democracy, Democratic Republic” thing is so picking uselessly at nits.
Technically, and in all actuality we ARE a “Republic” for whatever that is worth given the linguistic shifts in our language.
Unfortunately, I was once one of the dumb asses who thought I was being clever and making a point when I tried to argue that we were a Republic not a “Democracy.” It embarrasses me to remember those days. I have matured and learned so much more since then. I freed my mind. I wish I could help free the rest of the talk radio/FOXBOT sheep……….. then we could all say “Free at last, Free at last, FREE AT LAST.
F. Sinkwich
January 16th, 2013
6:12 pm
“Among other things, it includes a proposal to put as many as 1,000 federally funded, armed police officers in schools;”
Get the Feds out of the education, police, and fire business! These are state and local issues.
Brosephus™
January 16th, 2013
6:13 pm
1) Range time is expensive. Most shooters like to load their magazines BEFORE they get to the range so that they spend their time shooting rather than reloading.
What’s considered expensive? The range I go to is pretty damned cheap if you ask me. When I go shoot my handgun(s), I don’t carry more than 3 magazines with me. I only carry 3 at work, so there’s no need for me to get used to firing off more rounds than I normally would without reloading magazines.
As to capacity, even for home defense, if you need more than 6 shots, you might need someone else doing the shooting for you. If there’s 4 people trying to break into my house, after the first person get’s shot 3-4 times, the other’s will get the idea and back off. If not, I still don’t need multiple magazines to take care of them. I only need one to reload when I’m done.
Georgia
January 16th, 2013
6:13 pm
I sure wish I was one of them paid AJC blog confederates what gitz to blog all day and make trouble for folks.
Paul
January 16th, 2013
6:14 pm
“Semantics. This blog always devolves into semantics. I know, it’s the way Jay and his paid confederates want it.”
Semantics: conspeak for “but why can’t I make up my own definitions for words?
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:14 pm
“Guess after fawning all over Morris, Rove and those articles you posted on oversampling it was time to change ships.”
Ouch. td is focused on trying to win the next election like his party.
Boeing just got their 787 grounded by the FAA.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 16th, 2013
6:15 pm
Tenthers.
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 16th, 2013
6:15 pm
Romney/Obama voters=tools——tools to facilitate your financial rape—————-
.
“I think what the gun debate exposes is that a modern fascist authoritarian state like the US has to tread lightly- they can’t just go about rounding up and mass murdering people like the Nazis did- at least not out in the open and certainly not domestically. Overseas is another situation altogether; in foreign countries they murder with impunity. So rather than openly use brute force and confiscate the guns, rather than expose their true nature to their own population, they use the power of propaganda to the fullest. They maintain heavy influence on the largest media outlets; TV in particular and they’re hard at work to gain control of the internet. The ruling power elite have had lots of practice at these tactics of persuasion and have remarkably refined their techniques; they’ve become quite adept at manufacturing consent.
My own take away on this is that the pervasiveness of media manipulation of public opinion in the US is so successful that Americans by and large do not even realize that what they perceive to be their own personal thoughts and opinions are in fact not their own. The average American’s opinions, and beliefs are instead created for them through a suffocating saturation of mass media. Their thoughts sprout in their psyche after having been planted there by a powerful propaganda establishment. This manipulation begins at childhood and continues throughout a person’s entire life and its very difficult if not impossible to escape its influence. Especially when the subject is so emotionally charged as the current gun control debate.
It’s an ingenious and highly effective way to control people. Americans by nature tend to be very stubborn about their personal opinions but what if this supposed natural tendency was actually artificially induced? Have you ever really thought about the term “American Exceptionalism”? We’re taught that it’s our individualism that makes us special, that we must hold tight and never waver from our beliefs. Well, what if that same “individualism” was not ours to begin with? What if what we think of as our personal beliefs and tightly held opinions actually came to us through constant psychological conditioning? What if everything we think we know was fed to us through an all encompassing media barrage?
These days this barrage is in full assault mode. It’s so rapid-fire that people aren’t given a moment’s time to think before the next “crises” presents itself. There truly is a struggle going on to maintain this control and the ever increasing momentum of the propaganda barrage is the clearest evidence we have. The gun debate is simply a tool used to leverage opinion and divide the public. Americans are under constant psychological attack and notice how we’re never allowed to hardly even take a breath? The public is now left permanently back on their heels, they’re not allowed a moments contemplation or reflection on these events. It’s pow pow pow! 24-7!
Tracy Schumer
GT
January 16th, 2013
6:15 pm
The way to handle this crowd is to pick one of their favorite subjects like guns and have O campaign for it. O kind of did this in picking the cabinet selections, he got a nominee that was for water torture and one against gays or made negative comments. What he could do is put up a bill that legalises guns and do the Cobb County thing and make it law that the citizens have to buy a gun. Since the Republican Congress vetoes all things from the White House before even reading them they would have this one at the morgue before the sun goes down. Would be interesting to see if they noticed what they had done.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:15 pm
Georgia,
Soros pays better.
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
6:15 pm
Ronny could only do so much while in the District of Crooks.
True, He was so busy covering up for Scumbag Ollie, he couldn’t possible protect all of his other lawbreakers. Even the criminal Eddie Meese had his hands full trying not to go to prison, himself…
Perhaps you were just a tyke back then, but even so you should crack a book now and then before writing sophist garbage about the “decent” Reagan.
Reagan was lying, bigoted old dipstick who got countless innocent men, women and children around the world killed.
The only guy who could make Nixon look clean in comparison…
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:17 pm
“It’s pow pow pow! 24-7!”
This debate was not on his agenda con.
Stop reading that crap.
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
6:17 pm
F. Sinkwich
January 16th, 2013
6:12 pm
“Among other things, it includes a proposal to put as many as 1,000 federally funded, armed police officers in schools;”
Get the Feds out of the education, police, and fire business! These are state and local issues.
+++++++++++++++++++
Wow. Really? So you are against federal dollars? How do we pay for the army there you brainiac?
TBS
January 16th, 2013
6:19 pm
Jam
Reagan sure did have a lot of suspicious activity going on in his administration. Guess all those investigations, indictments, convictions as well as the pardons to keep others from being indicted were just “theater”…….
Liberal witch hunts I say
Doggone/GA
January 16th, 2013
6:19 pm
“Technically, and in all actuality we ARE a “Republic” for whatever that is worth given the linguistic shifts in our language”
We are a DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
If a truck goes by would it be incorrect to say “that’s not a truck, it’s a Ford”
Just as a truck can be a FORD TRUCK, our government is DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. A republic is merely a form of representative government…it can be Communist, it can be democratic, it can even be dictatorial.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. Memorize it. That’s what we have.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:20 pm
“How do we pay for the army there you brainiac?”
The gop want to welch on paying our troops.
They claim to support them.
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
6:24 pm
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. Memorize it. That’s what we have.
No. i will nOT memorise your stupid incorrect crap. When our Country was founded there was NO SUCH TERM AS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.
Maybe you can’t read but I can. Maybe you don’t know history, but I do. We didn’t have television on the late 1700’s either.
DannyX
January 16th, 2013
6:24 pm
“And doing his level best to ensure there is NO civil, rational, or PRODUCTIVE discussion of the President’s proposal.”
Wow, Blog Over Reaction Syndrome is in full bloom.
Krystal'sBalls
January 16th, 2013
6:24 pm
@indigo.
it is not as if I view it as a negative contradiction either. I simply speak from the standpoint that it is in fact possible to have views that fall outside of that little box that so many people try to put you into based upon what your political affiliation, ethnicity or other things are thought to be. It just comes down to your particular experience and life’s outlook.
The other half of your brain.
January 16th, 2013
6:25 pm
Midori
January 16th, 2013
3:33 pm
as a Army vet and someone who has personally trained on the M-16, I know first hand the damage that and other weapons like it can do.
It has absolutely NO PLACE in civilian society.
Those weapons are made for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill. To kill as many as possible in as little time as possible.
” And a Glock with a 17 round clip doesn’t? Sometimes the intelligence on here scares the hell out of me.
what a country
January 16th, 2013
6:26 pm
jamvet what are you a vet of ?the herby derby 60’s your liberal rants are so fooooooolish
Georgia
January 16th, 2013
6:26 pm
We are not a republic, we are a reich, a corporate reich.
Soothsayer
January 16th, 2013
6:26 pm
Thomas Heyward, Jr.: most of what you post on the blog is crap. However, I am in complete agreement with this:
“[M]edia manipulation of public opinion in the US is so successful that Americans by and large do not even realize that what they perceive to be their own personal thoughts and opinions are in fact not their own. The average American’s opinions, and beliefs are instead created for them through a suffocating saturation of mass media. [TeeVee] Their thoughts sprout in their psyche after having been planted there by a powerful propaganda establishment. This manipulation begins at childhood and continues throughout a person’s entire life and its very difficult if not impossible to escape its influence.”
No truer words have ever been spoken.
F. Sinkwich
January 16th, 2013
6:26 pm
“Wow. Really? So you are against federal dollars? How do we pay for the army there you brainiac?”
Freddie thinks the defense of our country is a state & local issue.
Freddie needs to read the constitution.
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
6:27 pm
Just damn. Ok Doggone, you are right (and I was sort of lol). We have EVOLVED into a Democratic Republic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_republic
You want some Ribs and french fries? Come on over, they’ll be ready in about 30 minutes. That’s all the peace offering you get.
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 16th, 2013
6:27 pm
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
6:15 pm
Ronny could only do so much while in the District of Crooks.
True, He was so busy covering up for Scumbag Ollie, he couldn’t possible protect all of his other lawbreakers. Even the criminal Eddie Meese had his hands full trying not to go to prison, himself…
Perhaps you were just a tyke back then, but even so you should crack a book now and then before writing sophist garbage about the “decent” Reagan.
Reagan was lying, bigoted old dipstick who got countless innocent men, women and children around the world killed.
The only guy who could make Nixon look clean in comparison…
————————————————————————————————–
.
Ronnie was above that crap………and kept it behind him. He had his lackeys to take care of unpleasent business.
In short…..he was a true statesman.
Unlike Obama……….who makes it a point to pick out brown children to drone every Tuesday. (I think it’s tuesdays when he picks his kill list).
As per Paul……………………..”those little children just shouldn’t be hanging around terrists.”
Sick.
.
Boottlickers.
.
josef
January 16th, 2013
6:29 pm
getalife
“Soros pays better.”
td
January 16th, 2013
6:29 pm
The other half of your brain.
January 16th, 2013
6:25 pm
I own a semi auto 30.06 with several clips (more then 50 round capacity all together). Is the AR-15 more or less lethal then the 30.06? Why is it that the Semi auto 30.06 or Semi auto 300 mag not on the list as assault weapons?
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
6:30 pm
whatameat, ask your draft dodging daddy.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:30 pm
When our government responds to the majority of the American people and acts is different from the usual doing what the donors paid them to do so the definition depends on what government does.
Fred ™
January 16th, 2013
6:31 pm
F. Sinkwich
January 16th, 2013
6:26 pm
“Wow. Really? So you are against federal dollars? How do we pay for the army there you brainiac?”
Freddie thinks the defense of our country is a state & local issue.
Freddie needs to read the constitution.
++++++++++++++++++++
I have you sad silly little man.
Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Providing money to local municipalities to hire security for schools falls under that.
You really need to quit with your inane imitations of a talk show host. You don’t have the button that cuts them off after you spew some stupid assed crap like Rush does. Here, let me refresh YOU on the Constitution.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
Aquagirl
January 16th, 2013
6:31 pm
I was once one of the dumb asses who thought I was being clever and making a point when I tried to argue that we were a Republic not a “Democracy.” It embarrasses me to remember those days.
Wow, you could get rich selling your self-awareness to the programmed babbling folk. Oh, wait, they wouldn’t buy. Never mind.
There’s a basic lack of perception in people who trot this crap out. Like someone is going to say “oh, you mean we don’t vote individually on every single law? My goodness, thank you for informing me of that fact!” But then again these are usually the same folk who argue against gay marriage because the majority viewpoint should rule, so they don’t mind looking like flip-flopping drones.
F. Sinkwich
January 16th, 2013
6:32 pm
“Among other things, it includes a proposal to put as many as 1,000 federally funded, armed police officers in schools;”
Gee, that sounds like a lot of police! That will fix the problem for sure!
Oh wait, how many elementary schools are there in the US? If I recall correctly, as of 2011 there were 67,140. So if we allocate one officer per school, that works out to not even 1.5% coverage. Bummer.
But lib ilks will sleep better at night, because they “did something.”
JamVet
January 16th, 2013
6:32 pm
In short…..he was a true statesman.
Yep, he kept us safe from those marauding Grenadians.
You really are one of those fell off of the turnip truck thirty somethings aren’t you?
Thomas Heyward Jr
January 16th, 2013
6:33 pm
Soothsayer
January 16th, 2013
6:26 pm
Thomas Heyward, Jr.: most of what you post on the blog is crap. However, I am in complete agreement with this:
“[M]edia manipulation of public opinion in the US is so successful that Americans by and large do not even realize that what they perceive to be their own personal thoughts and opinions are in fact not their own. The average American’s opinions, and beliefs are instead created for them through a suffocating saturation of mass media. [TeeVee] Their thoughts sprout in their psyche after having been planted there by a powerful propaganda establishment. This manipulation begins at childhood and continues throughout a person’s entire life and its very difficult if not impossible to escape its influence.”
No truer words have ever been spoken.
———————————————————————————-
.
I felt that way too.
.
And as far as you saying my posts are “crap”…………your post are akin to people like Matt Tabbi, or Bookman, or even Wingfeild.
You can write great things and seem halfway cogniznat ..until…………you profess the ole Republican versus Democrat stupidity.
Don’t be frightened about living without your Federal father.Washington cares nothing about you.In fact they despise you.
The sooner you learn that ..the better you’re be.
.
Put the violence of the state behind thee.
Choose decency.
Paul
January 16th, 2013
6:33 pm
“Boeing just got their 787 grounded by the FAA.”
Japan Airlines grounded theirs earlier.
Hey Sinkwich!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Didja hear? Boeing made a bunch of multimillion-dollar planes with these new batteries and they keep catching on fire! You keep up with the news, don’tcha? Remember how you got all over GM’s battery and fire problems? How come you’re silent about Boeing? And let’s not offer up “cause GM is Government Motors and gets all those $$$”, okay? You do realize without government support Boeing would be… in not very good shape, let’s just say.
Doggone/GA
January 16th, 2013
6:34 pm
“NO SUCH TERM AS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC.”
and you are wrong again:
democracy: government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
(please note the words: “by their elected agents under a free electoral system”)
republic: a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.
(please note the words: “elected representatives”)
elected agents = elected representatives. We have a democratic republic
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:35 pm
tom,
“Did someone mention the liberal anti-Christ Ronald Reagan?
Supporter of strong gun control
Gave amnesty to millions of Mexicans
Strengthened the hated Earned Income Credit
Tripled the deficit
Raised taxes
Expanded Medicare
Claimed we are a democracy
Product of Hollywood” DannyX
josef
January 16th, 2013
6:35 pm
getalife
What’s your take on Mali?
Erwin's cat
January 16th, 2013
6:36 pm
josef – And the ambidextrous? -)
they spend way too much time in the shower
MeetInTheMiddle
January 16th, 2013
6:36 pm
@ JamVet
“We’re a combination of both…
Hallelujah!
A Republican who gets it!!
I was beginning to wonder if there were any of you right wingers still around who hadn’t excised the D word from your lexicon”
Stating that the US is a combination of a Democracy and a Republic is the intellectual equivalent of stating that my car is a combination of a “Chevrolet and a Tahoe.” Nice job “crushing” me and my “idiotic ideas about democracy.”
I didn’t know we were playing charades, but since we are, I’m guessing you are playing the self-righteous liberal hypocrite who demonizes gun owners in the name of stopping violence while simultaneously openly fantasizing about their violent demise with no inkling of the irony of his idiotic position.
You hate and demonize the “backwards conservatives” on this forum so vehemently. One and the same, my friend. Six one way and a half-dozen to the other.
Both of you should join us here in the middle; water’s warm.
getalife
January 16th, 2013
6:36 pm
Let us not forget, he cut and ran from Beirut.
TBS
January 16th, 2013
6:37 pm
Jam
Give Ronnie a little credit. While he never did any great movies, he should have earned an Oscar while in the WH.