So Now You Can't Even Go To A Movie Without Worrying About Getting Killed?

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

2004: Romney signs off on permanent assault weapons ban

'In a move that will help keep the streets and neighborhoods of Massachusetts safe, Governor Mitt Romney today signed into law a permanent assault weapons ban that forever makes it harder for criminals to get their hands on these dangerous guns.

“Deadly assault weapons have no place in Massachusetts,” Romney said, at a bill signing ceremony with legislators, sportsmen’s groups and gun safety advocates. “These guns are not made for recreation or self-defense. They are instruments of destruction with the sole purpose of hunting down and killing people.”'

So, Mittens, why was this a good idea for Massachusetts but not for the United States?

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Obama is on the right on gun control too. He can't risk losing any swing state voters.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Besides, I was asking Mittens himself. Mittens would not be able to give you that answer. He would have to come up with something that actually explained why his position has changed, not why he was doing something politically advantageous.

[Sally, la reina]

W ho is yelling at people about gun control? All I see is a civil conversation.

[Cynthia]

*wrings hands, goes downstairs to write a check to Handgun Control (formerly the Jim Brady Campaign.) Fuckers.*

[Sally, la reina]

I didnt really read that comment you mention as hyperbolic or condescending, Bun. I thought it may have been a tad anti-American and yes, its rhetoric is provoking, but I see it is thought-provoking and compelling in a good way for discussing a debatable topic that purple rightly feel very strongly about right now. What's so bad about that?

[Sally, la reina]

People, not purple. Fucking phone.

[Félix]

I thought the comment raised an excellent point, a commentary on some of the radical-right political rhetoric these days.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

The only word in the quote which could be construed as in the slightest way derogatory or condescending is "prattle." Maybe the person could have said "talk" instead. We do talk endlessly about freedom, and praise ourselves endlessly for our love of freedom and our Founding Fathers' love of freedom and how freedoms are enshrined in our beloved Constitution.

The commenter raised an incredibly profound point about our freedom, which is in no way condescending, derogatory, inflammatory, or uncivil. The commenter wants to know why it's okay to enshrine a freedom that means freedom for some, but death for others. If that particular issue can't be raised in this "conversation," what's the point of having the "conversation?" If we have to tiptoe around every gun owner or gun lover in this country for fear of irritating them, the "conversation" is never going to advance. I would like to see that Brit go into a bar in rural wherever and have this conversation with a bunch of gun owning gun lovers. I would like them to explain how their right to own an assault weapon is more important than a child, teenager, or adult's right to sit through a movie without being massacred.

[Sally, la reina]

Lobstergirl wrote: "If that particular issue can't be raised in this "conversation," what's the point of having the "conversation?"."


That's what I mean.

[Cheri]

I would like someone that represents the Tea Party to answer: Do the victims in the hospitals in CO deserve care if they are not insured? I hear 'ObamaCare' opponents say the young and healthy shouldn't have to buy health insurance. Ron Paul said in a Republican debate the churches can take care of them. An audience member shouts, "Let 'em die!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yva0VS...

[Phil]

They would say something like this (from the movie "Airplane"). Just substitute "die" for "crash."

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

The NRA and gun manufacturers should have to pay the full medical costs of every single gunshot victim in the U.S., whether they live or die, whether they have insurance or not.

[Félix]

Yeah, but . . .

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Okay. So imagine you are in a room with Sarah Palin or Joe the Plumber and you need to have "a less polarized conversation" about gun violence. How do you begin? What do you propose to these individuals?

[Cheri]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Okay. So imagine you are in a room with Sarah Palin or Joe the Plumber and you need to have "a less polarized conversation" about gun violence. How do you begin? What do you propose to these ind..."

I would begin with, "Is there any number of innocent people killed by a madman that would warrant a change in your position that Americans have a right to buy as many repeating/rapid fire guns and as much ammunition as they want?" If the answer is: 'No' then there can not be a conversation.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

He looks kind of worried!

[Sally, la reina]

He should be.

[[deleted user]]

A boil on the taint of progress.

[Sarah]

He's just the right age for the onset of schizophrenia. I can't help thinking that's what's going to be revealed.

[Phil]

24-hour news networks have been covering this non-stop since it happened. They have experts on to analyze everything from every angle. Tonight, Headline News is having a full special with Dr. Drew to talk about it even more.

Question:

When does "coverage" and "news" become "overkill" and "entertainment?"

And by "entertainment" I mean the focus on its emotional appeal and People magazine approach rather than sticking with hard news coverage.

For me, I think it was Sunday afternoon. Everything factual had been reported, yet airtime continued and moved into speculation, prayer vigils and human interest stories.

I think this is a horrible event, but coverage and interest is way out of proportion. Is there really nothing else happening in the world for four days?

[Sally, la reina]

I agree that coverage is way out of control. Isn't there something big happening in China right now? We'd never know.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

I've been seeing just as many stories on the statue of Joe Paterno being taken down. But I'm not watching tv, just looking at internet newspaper stories.

I really don't see any point in following these gun massacre stories unless actual guns are being addressed. There's some of that going on, but there's way more bullshit swirling around.

[Sally, la reina]

I know it is cheesy but I keep thinking about the movie based on a Grisham about a gun control court case. Runaway Jury?

The point being debated in that case was that these guns are made to kill a lot of people (not for hunting, not for sport, but for rapid sprays of deadly bullets) and are too easily obtained.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Sally wrote: "I agree that coverage is way out of control. Isn't there something big happening in China right now? We'd never know."

Yes, the biggest rains in 60 years have killed 37 in Beijing. Also, massive bombs in Iraq have killed 107.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Some columnist made the point that if Holmes had been Muslim and had a name like Mohammed or whatnot, his big guns and ammo buys would have raised red flags and he probably would have been monitored and stopped.

A worthy point, I think.

[Sally, la reina]

Good ol' American racism.

[Sarah]

I saw a request on g+ suggesting that people not post this man's picture and celebritize him.

[Carol]

people that are hurting sometimes hurt themselves.
people that are hurting sometimes hurt others.
I'll bet everyone that knows him is wondering what else they could have done for him.
13 people were killed on a Texas highway.

[Sally, la reina]

Car wreck?

[Sarah]

Carol wrote: "people that are hurting sometimes hurt themselves.
people that are hurting sometimes hurt others.
I'll bet everyone that knows him is wondering what else they could have done for him.
13 people w..."

There was a brief mention in a couple of articles about him that when they went to talk to his mother, she said "you have the right guy." That gave me chills.

[Carol]

if he didn't seek treatment, it would be very difficult to get more than a 48hr involuntary...and those aren't easy, either.

[Carol]

Sally wrote: "Car wreck?"

14 people in one pick up truck.

[Cheri]

Sally wrote: "I agree that coverage is way out of control. Isn't there something big happening in China right now? We'd never know."

We had a big fire here last week with evacuations. I have corrals that are used for relocate horses. I was watching the local news at 6-7 AM to get some information: "Live press conference from Cal Fire about evacuations in the Calf Fire at 7 AM!' At 7 AM the local news switches to Good Morning America (?) with a baby falling out the window in NJ. WTF! Do I need to know this? What benefit do I get knowing a baby fell out the window? She was OK.

My point is: News nowadays is not about information but entertainment.

[Cheri]

Sally wrote: "I agree that coverage is way out of control. Isn't there something big happening in China right now? We'd never know."

We had a big fire here last week with evacuations. I have corrals that are used for relocate horses. I was watching the local news at 6-7 AM to get some information: "Live press conference from Cal Fire about evacuations in the Calf Fire at 7 AM!' At 7 AM the local news switches to Good Morning America (?) with a baby falling out the window in NJ. WTF! Do I need to know this? What benefit do I get knowing a baby fell out the window? She was OK.

My point is: News nowadays is not about information but entertainment with ratings. At least, those 'socialists' at BBC still do the news.

[Cynthia]

Sally wrote: "I know it is cheesy but I keep thinking about the movie based on a Grisham about a gun control court case. Runaway Jury?

The point being debated in that case was that these guns are made to kil..."

Oh Sally, that is a darned good movie.

[Cynthia]

Carol wrote: "people that are hurting sometimes hurt themselves.
people that are hurting sometimes hurt others.
I'll bet everyone that knows him is wondering what else they could have done for him.
13 people w..."

Well, I understand his own sweet mother was not surprised.

[Cynthia]

Cheri wrote: "Sally wrote: "I agree that coverage is way out of control. Isn't there something big happening in China right now? We'd never know."

We had a big fire here last week with evacuations. I have cor..."

It's interesting when people die, we love dirty laundry.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

That story about a girl falling (if I'm thinking of the same one) was broadcast widely because it was actually a good news story. The girl was autistic and had removed an air conditioning panel and was dancing around on top of a window unit AC. For awhile. Maybe 3-4 stories up. Several people gathered below and when she finally fell, a bus driver caught her (and dislocated his shoulder). I think we need to hear these stories about heroes. They inspire us and it probably makes it more likely someone else will try to be a hero and save a life the next time.

[evie]

Thanks LG I really needed that today. :)

[Félix]

Awwwwwwwwwwww.

[Cheri]

Lobstergirl wrote: "That story about a girl falling (if I'm thinking of the same one) was broadcast widely because it was actually a good news story. The girl was autistic and had removed an air conditioning panel an..."
OK. I agree. But my point was that I was looking to the news for information about how my day might be impacted (take off work to save animals from a wildfire) and I got a news story from the east coast that was shown for entertainment value on a news show. FYI: no horses or people died in the fire which is why none of us heard about it on the news.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

BunWat wrote: "But the reporter found the other interpretation of what she said more dramatic. "

Actually the first time I read that story I interpreted it the way the mother intended, you've got the right person, meaning, yes, I'm his mother. The reporter didn't put any particular spin or interpretation on it, just reported her words, but some readers' minds immediately interpreted her words in a different and more malevolent way, you've got the right person = you've arrested the right person.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

A tragedy we will not try to avert

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinion...

Yep, this is exactly right.

[Cynthia]

BunWat wrote: "The man who caught the 7 year old girl also has a seven year old daughter who was interviewed and said, "I knew he could catch her because he catches me. He's my hero."

Everybody say awwwwww!"

Awwwww. That's adorable.

[Sarah]

Lobstergirl wrote: "BunWat wrote: "But the reporter found the other interpretation of what she said more dramatic. "

Actually the first time I read that story I interpreted it the way the mother intended, you've got ..."

Yeah, my apologies. The stories are saying now that she was speaking of herself when they asked "are you the mother of ____?" and she said "yes, you have the right person."

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

Gun Sales Spike After 12 Killed in Colorado Movie Theater

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

While the homicide rate has declined by half in the past two decades, there has been no corresponding drop in killing sprees such as the one in Colorado.

[Lobstergirl, el principe]

What. The.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives...

James Taranto tweets: "I hope the girls whose boyfriends died to save them were worthy of the sacrifice."

James Taranto is a WSJ columnist.

[Cynthia]

Dickface.