First draft of ethics plan both encouraging, worrisome
House Speaker David Ralston
If tightened and passed into law, the ethics-reform package announced this week by House Speaker David Ralston could restructure relationships between lobbyists and state legislators and in some ways alter the Gold Dome political culture for the better.
Its core proposal is a provision that bans, rather than caps, most gifts from lobbyists to legislators. In an interview Thursday, Ralston dismissed a competing proposal of a $100 gift cap, calling it a “gimmick” because it puts no limit on the number of such gifts that a lobbyist could offer or a legislator could accept. A ban is more easily understood by all parties — lobbyists, legislators and the general public — and more easily enforced as well.
However, while the bill bans gifts to individual legislators, it puts no limit on what lobbyists can spend on legislators in groups, such as a House committee or subcommittee. Among other problems, that loophole plays into the hands of the most deep-pocketed of special interests. Banking lobbyists, for example, could afford to take the entire House and Senate banking committees out for a night’s dinner and entertainment, while consumer groups could not. At the very least, the legislation should put a per-head limit on such expenditures.
The bill also does too little to address the common practice of showering influential legislators with all-expense-paid, multi-day trips to resorts under the guise of speaking to associations and groups. (To Ralston’s credit, it does ban payment of golf-course fees and similar expenses on such outings.) It’s part of a legislator’s job to speak before annual conventions of professional associations and trade groups, and it’s appropriate to have legitimate expenses covered. However, appearing on a breakfast panel doesn’t justify a three-day suite at a top-end resort, all meals and beverages covered. Limiting it to a one-night stay would solve the problem.
The package offers important reform in other ways as well. It would require legislators to quickly report all campaign donations received after January 1 and just before the annual legislative session opens. Ralston refers to that window as “a frenzy of fundraising activity,” when those seeking help from the incoming Legislature often make donations. Requiring quick reporting of such contributions at least makes that window transparent.
More important, the bill restores a degree of autonomy to the state ethics commission. Several years ago, as punishment for a ruling on the use of corporate jets, legislative leaders stripped the ethics panel of the authority to make its own rules, crippling its operation. That power would be restored under the speaker’s proposal.
Unfortunately, the biggest flaw in the Ralston proposal is a doozy and a potential deal-killer. For some unknown reason, the bill redefines “lobbyist” so broadly that a PTA president speaking to a local school board or a neighborhood association leader who testifies before a planning commission would first have to pay $300 to register as a lobbyist. The same would apply to anybody testifying before or sending information to a legislative committee.
That’s unacceptable and unnecessary, a message that legislators say they have received loud and clear. On Thursday, a House subcommittee promised to extensively revise that language by next week, and Ralston echoed that pledge in our interview. There’s simply too much good in this proposal to allow it to fail on such grounds.
– Jay Bookman
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443 comments Add your comment
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 1st, 2013
11:32 am
Living with the shades pulled and a shotgun always at the ready (maybe a pistol under your pillow) doesn’t sound like much of a way to live.
But your mileage may vary.
Marty Huggins'
February 1st, 2013
11:33 am
Does anyone think that outlawing semi-automatic weapons or even ones with a pistol grip will eliminate the use of these particular weapons or in any way lower the chance one will be used in a crime or mass shooting?
Pot is illegal, cocaine is too, “Molly” not really legal these days either, pretty sure meth and heroine are still criminal to have or sell.
These are all substances you could get at any large high school (public or private) and even easier on any college campus.
I am willing to wager many of those gunned down in good ole Chi-town were done so by those not following the state and/or city’s laws.
So being that removing the weapons does not give a higher level of security,
Then why so much effort to get these weapons banned?
Morality?
February 1st, 2013
11:33 am
Got to go prepare my taxes or Obama’s gub’ment will “be in contact”! Time for my annual contribution to the gub’ment bottomless pit.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:33 am
Thanks Morality. Glad to see you don’t defend that kind of stupidity.
RB from Gwinnett
February 1st, 2013
11:33 am
“This always amuses me. It completely ignores the fact that during most of his presidency, Bush also had both a Republican House and a Republican Senate, where people such as McConnell, Boehner, Ryan and others were voting in support of the big spending supposedly perpetrated by this Bush fellow alone.”
What’s amusing is no matter how many times we try to tell the perpetually thick headed among you, Bush AND THE CONGRESS DURING HIS TERM were responsible for creating the Tea Party because they would not control their spending habits. Why you people refuse to get that through your heads I just don’t get.
And if you can find evidence of me supporting Bush’s spending habits, go for it. And, yes, I did vote for him the second time too but if you expected me to vote for Kerry instead, you would be kidding yourself. We had a choice between a big spending Republican or a bigger spending Democrat.
Erwin's cat
February 1st, 2013
11:34 am
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Last I checked, we weren’t patting down people as they cross state borders
then I guess the “ban” is not enforced as Jay indicated….seriously going after assault rifles is not a fat rabbit..fact it’s pretty skinny…something like 3% or less of all gun homicide is committed with a rifle…feel good legislation is all it is
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
11:34 am
The assault weapons ban is aimed at reducing the number
of people killed in mass killings by gun.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 1st, 2013
11:34 am
I own a 9mm but that is only for hiking in the mountains – where the white male nut jobs are more dangerous than the cougars and bears.
Regnad Kcin
February 1st, 2013
11:35 am
“The shooter from Price Middle should be punished severely….like putting his parents behind bars if it was their unsecured gun..that will get attention across the country..”
Generally, there has to be a law to do that, right?
kayaker 71
February 1st, 2013
11:35 am
Keep, 11:28,
Admit what? Bozo’s inconsistency in facing reality? Wonder if the SS has a limit on how many rounds or what type of magazine they can carry. No, you don’t need 10 rounds to kill a deer, as your esteemed NY governor has pointed out but you might need more than ten rounds if a group of five kicked in your door some night. Then by the time you reached the last one and were out of ammo, then perhaps you can call the police or tell that last guy to wait a minute until you reload. That’s not mentioned in the second amendment either.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 1st, 2013
11:36 am
“Background checks will never be universal because criminals will never submit to them,” says NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre.
“Good point,” says Jon Stewart. “Let’s pass laws that only criminals will immediately obey. Let’s do that.”
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:38 am
EC — something like 3% or less of all gun homicide is committed with a rifle
However those mass murder situations using a semi-assault rifle or multiple bullet rapid fire clip are likely in excess of 85% (without looking up the actual percentage)
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
February 1st, 2013
11:38 am
No, you don’t need 10 rounds to kill a deer
Actually, Kayaker, the POINT is that some people DO need 10+ rounds of ammo to kill a deer.
It is exactly these incompetents that we want to keep guns out of the hands of.
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:39 am
rb,
You cheered w on for 8 years.
You are not fooling anyone so stop lying.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
11:39 am
Marty Huggins’
February 1st, 2013
11:33 am
Nope…they will still be available in massive quantities….this political theatre (i agree that more enforcment and hurdles to obtain is idiotic not to pass) is simply due to the political need to show some response…
None of this stuff will make our kids safer at school….why didn’t they address that issue? At least some BS “task force” to examine ways to minimize the exposure to bad guys getting in to schools…that’s the real issue. Nothing can be done with other public gathering places…310 million guns in circulation seems to render pulling a few million guns off the market trivial..
Living With Open Eyes
February 1st, 2013
11:40 am
Stevie Ray, I agree with your statements about work being sent abroad, and mechanization of remaining industries, and globalization causing our current unemployment situation. However what do you think all these displaced workers are supposed to do for a living? There just aren”t that many service jobs available or 12.3 million people wouldn’t be out of work.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:41 am
Well I should have known that you would be too stubborn to admit that your joke was asinine as most people are not likely targets of assassination. But you’ve gone to the posts of stupidity again. I can’t help you there. I tried to help you see intelligent commentary but the Stupid side of the Force is hard to beat, especially when you love it there.
kayaker 71
February 1st, 2013
11:41 am
Chicago had over 500 murder/homicides last year and they headed for another record this year from the looks of things. The highest rate of gun violence in the country governed by some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation. Something ain’t working.
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:41 am
kay.
Admit what? Bozo’s inconsistency in facing reality?
When the facts do not agree with your ideology, you ignore them.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
11:41 am
Regnad Kcin
February 1st, 2013
11:35 am
Not necessarily. Civil suit by BOE and parents of injured kid will reap wonders especially if becomes case law…this assumes that the parents did’t secure the gun…he could have gotten it on the street.
Economic ruin is pretty good motivation for securing handguns….at least in this sense.
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:43 am
“Something ain’t working.”
The drug war is a massive failure and colossal waste of money.
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
11:43 am
Stevie Ray
…310 million guns in circulation seems to render pulling a few million guns off the market trivial..
………………………………………………………………………….
but if it lets one child live to be get old I consider it worth it
Erwin's cat
February 1st, 2013
11:45 am
Keep – However those mass murder situations using a semi-assault rifle or multiple bullet rapid fire clip are likely in excess of 85%
probably true….but until now, I haven’t been hearing the mass murder argument….so all of this feel good legislation is to eliminate like 0.1% (w/o looking up the actual numbers) of all murders? Strange place to put so much energy while ignoring a larger problem
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
11:45 am
Living With Open Eyes
February 1st, 2013
11:40 am
I have no clue. Keeping the jobs domestically to simply be a good corporate citizen will likely cause more domestic jobs lost since loss of market share from inability to compete globally will result in scuttling of existing operations…
Job retraining sounds all well and good and likely best option in a bucket of poor options, but concern there is that many, especially older folks, generally will resist starting a new career in 50’s…IMO
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:46 am
“but if it lets one child live to be get old I consider it worth it”
That is the goal of the gun debate.
kayaker 71
February 1st, 2013
11:47 am
Most of these 513 murders in Chicago occurred on the South and West side. Guess who lives there?
Regnad Kcin
February 1st, 2013
11:47 am
“Economic ruin is pretty good motivation for securing handguns….at least in this sense.”
That’s a better idea, Stevie Ray. You can’t really lock ‘em up, but you can sure sue the $h!t outta them.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
11:48 am
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
11:43 am
Agreed but linking a life saved to this legislation will be near impossible to carry off…legislation is long overdue IMO and is simply intuitive, but any impact would be non-distinguished…plenty of guns in circulation now to allow these shooting to continue. I do note that school violence is alledgedly on the down slope….too bad a single event like CT eliminates 30 individual instances..
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:48 am
“Guess who lives there?”
The American people live there.
DownInAlbany
February 1st, 2013
11:49 am
Letter signed by 1,100 Green Berets:
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40772
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
11:49 am
Erwin’s cat
Strange place to put so much energy while ignoring a larger problem
………………………………………………………………………….
People will continue killing each other but mass killing of children
with superfluous weapons cannot be allowed to continue.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:50 am
Most of these 513 murders in Chicago occurred on the South and West side. Guess who lives there
My guess would be humans (as well as any number of dogs, cats, squirrels) but I am sure you can tell us more.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
February 1st, 2013
11:50 am
Regnad Kcin
February 1st, 2013
11:47 am
Also, if any law is passed, strict liability should be imposed meaning no trial is needed once link established to parents not securing gun…just a hearing on damages or jail time…
td
February 1st, 2013
11:50 am
Jay
February 1st, 2013
11:19 am
“Here is the best reason: It is none of anyones business because it is a Constitutionally protected individual right.
No, td, it is NOT a constitutionally protected right to possess a 20-round magazine. Or an assault weapon, for that matter.
California, for example, bans magazines of more than 10 rounds. It also bans assault weapons. Those restrictions have been on the books, and enforced, for decades now. If those laws were unconstitutional, they would have been challenged and overturned by now.
They have not.
It is my understanding that there are cases in the Federal court system now that address these types of restrictions. Do you remember the latest appeals court ruling that told IL that they could not ban cancel carry.
kayaker 71
February 1st, 2013
11:50 am
The “American people” also live in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Salt Lake City Utah and Boise City, Idaho as well but wonder why they don’t have over 500 murders/year?
the cat
February 1st, 2013
11:51 am
1,110 Green berets signed a petition.
Almost equal to the number of people shot since Newtown.
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:51 am
The murders in Chicago are the same concept during prohibition.
Knock off the competition.
Marty Huggins'
February 1st, 2013
11:51 am
Enter your comments here
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
11:52 am
somebody wrote:
100% secure border?
Whatever happened to that _Great Wall of Bush_ ??
The one with the built-in gaps…IIRC….at the Hunt Bros. plantation
and the resort/country club belonging to another Bush crony right on the borderline.
Only the (stinky) Little peeps get the wall on their property.
DownInAlbany
February 1st, 2013
11:52 am
the cat
February 1st, 2013
11:51 am
1,110 Green berets signed a petition.
Almost equal to the number of people shot since Newtown.
Since you mentioned Newtown….
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Newtown-Votes-for-Armed-School-Officers-189320221.html?dr
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:53 am
EC, when the politics of the NRA has blocked any reform for years and years and have made the problem worse, the first thing to address would be the easiest fixes that almost anyone with a brain would agree with. Then we can get down to the issues of addressing the more difficult issues. But I am sure you know that if you have given this serious thought.
Erwin's cat
February 1st, 2013
11:53 am
frog – People will continue killing each other but mass killing of children
with superfluous weapons cannot be allowed to continue.
all you’ll do is change the weapon for the premeditated
DannyX
February 1st, 2013
11:54 am
Kayaker—-”Chicago had over 500 murder/homicides last year and they headed for another record this year from the looks of things. The highest rate of gun violence in the country governed by some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation.”
They did until the McDonald v. Chicago Supreme Court decision that was issued in 2010. Things may be getting worse there because of that decision.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:54 am
Ok K71, so if its not “Americans” what are you saying is the answer to your “Guess who lives there” question.
Erwin's cat
February 1st, 2013
11:54 am
NRA has blocked any reform for years
I didn’t realize they were part of the gov’t
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
11:55 am
Stevie Ray
you go to war with the army you got, not the army you want -rummy(paraphrase)
I agree about the inefficacy of most gun control laws but we got to where we are
from a better place, wouldn’t hurt to go back there..
Marty Huggins'
February 1st, 2013
11:55 am
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:43 am
“Something ain’t working.”
The drug war is a massive failure and colossal waste of money.
—————///———————–
We can agree on that.
So why do you want to start a “war on guns” that won’t work either?
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:56 am
cat,
Lobbyists write the laws now.
Try to keep up.
They are part of government and your cons on the sc made it worse.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
11:56 am
then I guess the “ban” is not enforced as Jay indicated….
no, that wasn’t my point–my point is, a state can only do so much with a law like that, if it’s perfectly legal to go into another state and procure such a beast legally. But I think you get that.
seriously going after assault rifles is not a fat rabbit..fact it’s pretty skinny…something like 3% or less of all gun homicide is committed with a rifle…feel good legislation is all it is
Don’t entirely agree, but I’ve acknowledged all along that a holistic approach is needed to make much of a difference in our overall murder rate. I’m well aware that high capacity assault weapons used for certain infrequent high-publicity mass murders are only a minor part of the picture, and I’d just as soon not even focus on that part of it so much.
But the capacity/assault rifle definition issue comes up a lot, sparking regulation advocacy positions, and some of the arguments against regulation are pretty lame, is all.
(I guess some that are for the regulation are likely lame as well, maybe I’m not as likely to go sniffing those out.)
td
February 1st, 2013
11:56 am
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:38 am
EC — something like 3% or less of all gun homicide is committed with a rifle
However those mass murder situations using a semi-assault rifle or multiple bullet rapid fire clip are likely in excess of 85% (without looking up the actual percentage)
And there was not a mass murder at a school in Atlanta yesterday due to a brave armed security guard.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
11:57 am
[oops, missed turning off the ital in my second graf, @ 11.56, sorry.]
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:57 am
marty,
The war on guns is a figment of your imagination.
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
11:57 am
Erwin’s cat
all you’ll do is change the weapon for the premeditated
…………………………………………………………
and slow them down in the process which may be all we
can get now.
DannyX
February 1st, 2013
11:58 am
“I didn’t realize they were part of the gov’t”
Seriously, EC? In the age of lobbyists, campaign cash and Citizens United? We now have a new branch of government.
Tundra Dude
February 1st, 2013
11:58 am
The murders in Chicago are the same concept during prohibition.
Wonder why all the interest in Chicago’s 500+ murders. ??
That’s a mere 11% increase over 2011.
Back in the 90’s 700+ to 900 was the norm.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:58 am
td, you have proof that it was an attempted mass murder and not just a dispute between two people with gun violence? Please prove it.
Common Sense isn't very Common
February 1st, 2013
11:59 am
Keep, 11:17,
It only takes one animal crashing through your front door and the odds are even.
—————————————
Yeppers i shot the crap outta that field mouse.
RB from Gwinnett
February 1st, 2013
11:59 am
When one of you can tell us how this background check nonsense would have prevented any of the mass shooting we’re trying to prevent, then we’ll discuss it. Until then, why don’t we take the opportunity to make ice cream illegal in response to traffic deaths while we’re at it.
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
11:59 am
>>NRA has blocked any reform for years
>I didn’t realize they were part of the gov’t
EC, come on. That’s kind of a dishonest selective quotation–it actually read “…the politics of the NRA has blocked any reform…” and while I do think that the NRA is overappreciated as a boogieman (some courage to tell them to eff off is needed from the left, rather than just crying about how mean they are), they HAVE directed traffic on this issue in the relatively recent past.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:59 am
EC – The NRA is a lobbying group just as Grover represents some as does Karl Rove. But you know that. Really weak response on your part. I guess I was wrong to believe you were capable of intelligent commentary on a subject like this.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
February 1st, 2013
12:00 pm
Got to go prepare my taxes or Obama’s gub’ment will “be in contact”! Time for my annual contribution to the gub’ment bottomless pit.
Well, maybe I need to put Morality in touch with my tax guy Bubba. Bubba always gets me back everything they took out of my check plus about 4500 bucks. It’s a special trick he uses. I never understood it but it has something to do with something that starts with “E” and ends in “Credit” and he always tells me to be sure and take good care of little Nathan Zell George. And the best part is he only charges me 800 bucks or so.
If Morality was a nicer person I might put him in touch with Bubba. But naw. . .let him pay up.
It’s time for my lunch break and my mouth is watering every time I think of showing up at Billy Bob’s tonight. PBR always tastes better at Billy Bob’s place.
the dog
February 1st, 2013
12:00 pm
Officially changing my “handle” to the dog since I may be mistaken for Erwin’s Cat and he isn’t the brightest bulb in the drawer.
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
12:00 pm
td
And there was not a mass murder at a school in Atlanta yesterday due to a brave armed security guard.
…………………………………………………………………
and I sincerely advocate this position also especially by policemen.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
12:02 pm
When one of you can tell us how this background check nonsense would have prevented any of the mass shooting we’re trying to prevent, then we’ll discuss it.
Sure as soon as you explain factually, with verifiable evidence, how Obamacare is going to raise the basic price of pizza from $11 to $25, pizzaboy.
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
12:04 pm
Unusual that the advocates of ‘fix the mentally ill’ don’t want
background checks to identify them.
kayaker 71
February 1st, 2013
12:04 pm
Keep, 11:54,
The same answer that so obvious that even you could figure it out. OK, let’s gear up for all of the name calling, especially the racist rants, bigotry and white male idiocy that will follow. Chicago, on its West and South sides is largely populated by blacks and latinos. Same with the most violent districts in NY, LA, Houston, Detroit, Atlanta and other large cities that the Democrats control. They are killing off their best and brightest at an alarming rate. The most common cause of death in a black male between ages 18 and 35 is violent homicide. Oh, but we can’t say that, now can we? Might offend someone to even mention the elephant in the living room. Liberals have their heads so far up their collective arses that they cannot or will not admit the obvious. So rant on about all of this white male racist bigotry, Keep. But while you are at it, open your eyes and extract your head out of your posterior and look around. It is amazing what you might see.
td
February 1st, 2013
12:05 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:53 am
“EC, when the politics of the NRA has blocked any reform for years and years”
The NRA has not had to do hardly anything since 1993 (and has lost membership until now) because the Dems concluded that their huge defeat in the House of Reps (Newts revolution) was totally caused by the last “assault weapons” ban. The Dems took guns totally off the table and would not even mention them until now.
the dog
February 1st, 2013
12:05 pm
I noted a while back that the high schools in Gwinnett county are extremely large with many entrances and buildings. No one has answered the question of are we going to put an armed officer at every entrance? In most instances it is a good 10 minute walk from one side of the school to the other. Your average Barney Fife is going to take 20 minutes and be winded.
getalife
February 1st, 2013
12:05 pm
It is not just the cat.
cons write dumber and dumber stuff everyday.
Stuff not even close to the truth.
I guess it is the old age senility kicking in or too many meds.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 1st, 2013
12:07 pm
t. dog — “I may be mistaken for Erwin’s Cat and he isn’t the brightest bulb in the drawer.”
As one of the more contentious lefties on Jay’s board, let me be the first to strongly suggest that you’ve badly misread E. Cat.
Jay
February 1st, 2013
12:07 pm
kayaker, speaking of seeing better, you might want to cut those eyeholes a little bigger.
Marty Huggins'
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
………………………………………………………………………….
“but if it lets one child live to be get old I consider it worth it”
How many other laws would you like to add restricting law abiding citizens choices for their purchases or entertainment. Cause that’s what most folks with semi-autos who are responsible with them do is go to gun ranges and shoot stuff for entertainment. Call it masculine insecurity if you will.
But does anyone really “need” a Hummer? How many children will die from that pollution?
How about folks who live in metro atl, in a very suburban area who drive large trucks not for business but for general transportation?
How about we outlaw drugs and alcohol too?
Oh wait we already tried those, both seemed to actually cause more crime than they prevented.
Though we were smart enough to actually repeal one of those.
F. Sinkwich
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
Go figure this from WaPo:
“Americans have a very special message for the federal government: Don’t tread on me.That’s the takeaway from a new poll from the Pew Research Center in which, for the first time in at least the last two decades, a majority of Americans say Washington actually poses a threat to their “personal rights and freedoms.”And it’s not just tea party supporters, Republicans and gun owners. Nearly two-fifths of Democrats (38 percent) say the government is a threat to them personally, as do 45 percent of non-gun owners.”
And those 38% voted for O’bozo…
Bwaahahahahahahaha
keith
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
now that the election is over and zero won, he has decided to change the mandate on contraception. all those stupid women voted for him and now they are under the bus. HILARIOUS!!
td
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
11:58 am
td, you have proof that it was an attempted mass murder and not just a dispute between two people with gun violence? Please prove it.
Do you have proof that it was not or that kid was not going to do anything else with the gun? We will probably not know for sure ever (because if I was the kids attorney I would tell him to say that it was nothing more then a dispute between 2 kids).
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
As one of the more contentious lefties on Jay’s board, let me be the first to strongly suggest that you’ve badly misread E. Cat.
I’ll be the second.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
Well K71, again other than your admitted prejudice and hatred of certain races, because guns are a problem in the entire country, you want to claim that a situation in a certain area of the country is race related and not poverty related or some other factor. It is amazing what we see from you….. its a shame that you are unable to see anything but race.
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
12:10 pm
the dog
I noted a while back that the high schools in Gwinnett county are extremely large with many entrances and buildings. No one has answered the question of are we going to put an armed officer at every entrance?
……………………………………………………………
school design has to be addressed. at present closing unguarded doors
may cause inconvenience but is necessary.
southpaw
February 1st, 2013
12:10 pm
sfd@11:17
Around these parts, collards (fixed your spelling) are picked, not hunted.
DannyX
February 1st, 2013
12:11 pm
“As one of the more contentious lefties on Jay’s board, let me be the first to strongly suggest that you’ve badly misread E. Cat.”
Seconded. We need more cats like that around here.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 1st, 2013
12:12 pm
F. Sinkiewicz — “Nearly two-fifths of Democrats (38 percent) say the government is a threat to them personally, as do 45 percent of non-gun owners.”
What makes you think that they feel threatened by *Democrats* and policies *sponsored* by Democrats?
How do you know that they don’t feel threatened by policies that Republicans are pushing?
barking frog
February 1st, 2013
12:12 pm
Cut Erwin’s cat some slack, he thinks he’s an engineer but
has no train…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
12:13 pm
td: Do you have proof that it was not or that kid was not going to do anything else with the gun? We will probably not know for sure ever (because if I was the kids attorney I would tell him to say that it was nothing more then a dispute between 2 kids).
keith
February 1st, 2013
12:13 pm
kayaker, speaking of seeing better, you might want to cut those eyeholes a little bigger.
CANT DISPUTE HIS FACTS SO YOU MAKE AN IGNORANT STATEMENT. TYPICAL LIBERAL BS
Jackie
February 1st, 2013
12:13 pm
It appears that many of the guns found in Chicago were not purchased in Chicago.
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/08/where-chicagos-guns-come/3090/
td
February 1st, 2013
12:14 pm
F. Sinkwich
February 1st, 2013
12:09 pm
Go figure this from WaPo:
“Americans have a very special message for the federal government: Don’t tread on me.That’s the takeaway from a new poll from the Pew Research Center in which, for the first time in at least the last two decades, a majority of Americans say Washington actually poses a threat to their “personal rights and freedoms.”And it’s not just tea party supporters, Republicans and gun owners. Nearly two-fifths of Democrats (38 percent) say the government is a threat to them personally, as do 45 percent of non-gun owners.”
And those 38% voted for O’bozo…
Very good find. Wonder if this will be reported by the LSM? Not holding my breath.
kayaker 71
February 1st, 2013
12:14 pm
bookman, 12:07,
I might have known that Keep didn’t have a clue about the obvious but for the life of me, I didn’t peg you for that last statement. We might not agree very often but comments like that should get you banned from your own blog. To even intimate that I have anything to do with that heinous organization is not only beneath your station but shows how really small you can be. You need to be setting the example with your “journalistic” acumen, my friend. And statements like that ain’t gettin’ it done.
keith
February 1st, 2013
12:15 pm
Terrorist bombing at the American embassy in Turkey. Obama blames it on an episode of South Park. LOL
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
12:15 pm
And those 38% voted for [the President]
As opposed to the guy who said he wanted to “double Gitmo” and shut down Planned Parenthood.
Adults have to make choices. I can understand that Obama has plenty of sucky policies/positions and still support him as a preferable option.
Common Sense isn't very Common
February 1st, 2013
12:15 pm
RC
Just make sure you get the PBR in an UNOPENED can or bottle.
The vet has said Billy Bob’s mule has kidney problems
RB from Gwinnett
February 1st, 2013
12:16 pm
“Sure as soon as you explain factually, with verifiable evidence, how Obamacare is going to raise the basic price of pizza from $11 to $25, pizzaboy.”
When you don’t have a reasonable answer, throw some silly comments out there and act like it’s funny while ignoring the actual issue. It’s the liberal way!!!
stands for decibels
February 1st, 2013
12:16 pm
Obama blames it on an episode of South Park. LOL
Stay classy, keith.
td
February 1st, 2013
12:17 pm
Keep Up the Good Fight!
February 1st, 2013
12:13 pm
Your link is broke so I could not read the entire story but the byline states “police believe”. Is it not true that the police believed and it was reported for several days that the shooter at Newtown did all of his killing with handguns?
Like I said we will never know what the shooters true intentions were in this case.
getalife
February 1st, 2013
12:18 pm
kay,
Self reflect and stop making racist comments.
Marty Huggins'
February 1st, 2013
12:18 pm
getalife
February 1st, 2013
11:57 am
Sorry, I don’t actually think their is a war on drugs was a poor play on words I guess.
It was meant to show that what is currently proposed will be as effective as the war on drugs.
Which you agreed was a failure, but judging from your post since this is an idea not proposed by republicans you will support it blindly.
You honestly think getting a semi-auto will be any harder for the person seeking it as getting weed is for another person looking for weed?
keith
February 1st, 2013
12:19 pm
Obama blames it on an episode of South Park. LOL
Stay classy, keith.
ZERO has a history of blaming videos on attacks instead of terrorists.
indigo
February 1st, 2013
12:19 pm
RB – “this background check nonsense”
Darn right.
This is America.
Any old crazy fool should be able to buy any old assault rifle!!
It’s the American way.
And, if men, women and children bite the dust is a hail of bullets, well, hell, our “right to keep and bear arms” tops their right to “life, liberity and the pursuit of happiness”.
Joe Hussein Mama
February 1st, 2013
12:19 pm
B. Frog — “Cut Erwin’s cat some slack, he thinks he’s an engineer but has no train…”
Look, he’s quite possibly the most even-tempered conservative on here. That alone makes him rare and remarkable, IMO. He’s also willing to say things like ‘okay, I didn’t get your point at first, but now I see what you’re getting at.’ And I like the HELL out of that; many of our righty regulars will jump to nutty and unwarranted conclusions about what you’re saying and will then argue up one side and down the other that THAT’S WHAT YOU SAID, even though you didn’t say anything of the sort.
E. Cat’s kinda taciturn, and he doesn’t always clarify what he’s saying at first. You have to ask him a question or two to draw him out. But if you’re polite to him, even if you disagree, then he’ll be polite right back to you.
And think of this — most of our righty posters, sooner or later, start arguing religious matters. Has anyone ever seen E. Cat do that? I haven’t. I don’t even know what religious persuasion he is (although I suspect I know).
All in all, IMO E. Cat’s a valuable member of our little crew of regulars. I wish we had more righties like him.
Common Sense isn't very Common
February 1st, 2013
12:20 pm
Jay
A white hood has eyeholes? I thought they only held a’holes
the dog
February 1st, 2013
12:21 pm
JHM-why don’t y’all get a room?