TresSugar

Front Page: People Keep Bringing Guns to Healthcare Protests

TresSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:00:39 -0700

About a dozen protesters were carrying guns outside a convention hall where President Obama was speaking about healthcare reform yesterday. One man had a semiautomatic rifle slung over his shoulder. - AP
The US Army will require all soldiers to undergo intensive mental stress training. - New York Times
A judge in Texas is on trial for professional misconduct after refusing to let lawyers file one last death sentence appeal for a convicted murderer. - BBC News
A brief filed by the Obama administration yesterday supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Even so, administration lawyers will defend the national gay-marriage ban in court. - Christian Science Monitor

Nothing Goes Together Better Than Guns and Alcohol

TresSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:00:00 -0700

As of yesterday, patrons of alcohol serving establishments in Arizona and Tennessee can exercise their second amendment rights while downing a cold one. How . . . American.

The new laws allowing registered gun owners to carry concealed guns into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol are part of a trend of loosened gun control laws. Ironically, right after the election last November, gun shop owners reported record sales, suspecting that customers feared that a Democratic federal government could curtail the right to bear arms.

Complaints by Arizona and Tennessee's business owners that the new law would hurt business went unaddressed. (Hurt how you ask? You know, when "1 or 2% of would-be Dirty Harrys," as one restaurant owner plaintiff put it, decided to mete out vigilante justice.) As for critics who point to recent public shootings, proponents of the new laws say that the violence shows the need for private citizens to protect themselves with firearms.

Lawmakers Crack Down on Guns After Shooting Rampages

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:30:28 -0700

Shooting rampages filled today's headlines. In Alabama, a man killed a dozen people, including the members of his own family. Over in Germany, a 17-year-old boy attacked a high school, killing at least 16 people.

When attacks occur, European countries often hurry to tighten gun laws. Following two school massacres within a year, Finland announced plans today to raise the minimum age for handgun ownership from 15 to 20. In Belgium, lawmakers passed strict gun laws in 2006 after a racially motivated shooting of a toddler and her black babysitter. In Portugal, the parliament is considering denying bail to anyone suspected of a gun crime.

American lawmakers have responded, too. After the Virginia Tech massacre, the governor signed an executive order requiring that anyone ordered by law to get mental health treatment be added to a database of people barred from buying guns.

Do you think this is the correct response to gun-related tragedies?

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Front Page: AL Community in Shock After Gunman Kills 11

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:02:56 -0700

A gunman in Alabama killed 11 people yesterday, including his mother, his grandparents, his aunt and uncle, the wife and child of a sheriff deputy, and himself. - CNN
Stocks opened with a gain again today, as Wall Street hopes to extend big gains made yesterday. - MSN
Pakistan arrested hundreds of opposition activists today and banned protests in two regions ahead of a planned rally outside parliament. - AP
President Obama plans to lay out a new set of guidelines for Congress's earmark process. He will sign the spending bill today that has 9,000 earmarks. - CNN
Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks Congress may have to approve another stimulus plan in order to ease the effects of the recession. - Washington Post
Citigroup and General Motors might be removed from the Dow Jones Indexes, if the government takes more control of the companies. - Reuters

Eric Holder Says Assault Weapon Ban Is Back

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:30:10 -0800

Attorney General Eric Holder announced yesterday that the administration will reinstate a ban on assault weapons.

Before you get too worried that Obama is taking unprecedented steps to limit your right to bear arms, know that he just wants to reinstate the ban that expired in 2004. In 1994, Congress banned 19 types of semi-automatic military-style guns and ammunition clips with more than 10 rounds.

Holder's statements yesterday focused on the positive impact the ban will have . . . in Mexico! Drug traffickers south of the border often buy sophisticated weapons in the US, according to the Mexican government. And Mexico needs all the help it can get fighting the drug traffickers, since 6,000 people were killed last year due to drug violence.

Holder also explained how the ban fits into Obama's broader plan on guns:

As President Obama indicated during the campaign, there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons.

Does this sound like good gun control policy?

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Gun Question to Potential Appointees Might Explode Debate

CitizenSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:30:00 -0800

Barack Obama is firing away seven pages of detailed questions to wannabe presidential appointees, but one inquiry has gun rights activists upset. The question states:

“Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.”

Politico reports that the Obama team says it just wants to verify legal ownership of firearms, but others accuse Obama of potentially denying employment based on an applicant's gun ownership.

Do you think Obama is putting Second Amendment rights in the line of fire or just trying to avoid embarrassing situations (think Dick Cheney shooting a man in the face)?

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Briefing Book! Domestic Abusers Can Purchase Guns

LibertySugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:30:26 -0800

Law: Supreme Court sides with domestic abusers? Court likely to uphold decision that allows those with domestic abuse convictions to purchase guns. - Jezebel
England: Has it hit bottom yet? Bank of England could slash interest rates to 0 percent. - Donklephant
GOP: What did big business say to the neocon? If they IM'd: Republican factions. - 23/6
Babies: Guess who's expecting? The pregnant man is pregnant again! - lilsugar
Northeast: Possible for fiscally conservative and socially liberal Republicans dying out in the Northeast to survive? The key is to cut spending and the size of government. – Red State

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The Democrats Are Coming! Boom in Gun Sales After Election

LibertySugar — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:00:01 -0800

Making sure to exercise their Second Amendment rights before it's too late, firearm fans have gone on a shopping spree. Gun shop owners report record sales since Tuesday, suspecting that customers fear a Democratic federal government could curtail the right to bear arms with new gun control laws. In fact in October, there were 15 percent more background checks issued for new purchases.

Barack Obama's stance on gun control shouldn't cause too much panic in the gun-carrying community. The president-elect has said that he "will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns." He also believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, just as the Supreme Court decided earlier this year. Even so, Obama does support national legislation against carrying concealed firearms, and he may reinstate the ban on semiautomatic assault weapons.

If you're a gun enthusiast, do you feel like your rights will come under fire from the new Democratic leadership, or are you comforted by the fact that a lot of other problems might push gun control to the bottom of the agenda?

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500 Guns Swapped For Cash in Harlem: Are Buybacks Good?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:00:42 -0700

In tough economic times, people are trying to make money any way they can - and one surprising example sneaks in community service too. In Harlem this weekend, five churches offered cash for weapons – no questions asked. Rifles, handguns, and shotguns were brought to the churches on Saturday and in return the unarmed were given a $200 bank card.

This program, sponsored by the NYPD and Manhattan DA’s office, was created over a dozen years ago in an effort to get guns off the streets and has been met with great success. So far about 5,000 have been removed from New York and over 500 of those in this last buyback. Two weeks ago Brooklyn churches purchased over 400 firearms.

Critics and proponents are at odds over the efficacy of gun buyback programs. Skeptics say, "It's like trying to drain the Pacific with a bucket. More guns are going to flow in." Though Oakland held a popular buyback this Spring where more than 1,000 guns were swapped for $170,000. Is cash an effective way to drain dangerous weapons from the streets?

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Do Teachers With Guns Make a Secluded School Safe?

LibertySugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:45:25 -0700

Teachers in a 110-student Texas school district can soon carry guns at school. Those advocating the new policy argue that teachers and students feel unprotected because the school is 30 minutes from the closest sheriff.

Staff that want to carry a gun must have a Texas concealed gun license, be approved by the district, receive crisis-management training, and use ammunition designed to minimize the risk of ricochet in school halls.

The district's superintendent thinks the guns are a great idea:

When the federal government started making schools gun-free zones, that's when all of these shootings started. Why would you put it out there that a group of people can't defend themselves? That's like saying 'sic 'em' to a dog.

While it's important for school staff to take the possibility of violence seriously, having multiple guns on campus sounds like it could present a danger in itself.

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