Morning Reads — June 13th
So, yesterday sucked. We’ll get to that later on. Just hug your loved ones.
Jawja
- A huge slip-n-slide is coming to Atlanta!
- Run.
- Miss Georgia is beginning. These ladies represent our state so well.
- Georgia judge, transgender name change, and Hawaii. All in one story!
- Yikes–Senator Perdue had a moment.
Murica
Yesterday’s terrorist attack is the largest mass shooting in our nation’s history. Yes, it impacted everyone on an emotional level; you should be as sad as I. However, it was an attack on our LGBT brothers and sisters. Don’t diminish that. If a shooting happened at a church, we would be talking about the Christians who were killed, not simply labeling them as “Americans”. Let’s respect that a community was targeted and harmed. Anyway.
- 50 dead and 53 injured.
- It was complete chaos. Police are still identifying bodies.
- The gunman was an Islamic extremist who pledged allegiance to ISIS.
Important
- No important story this Monday. The only thing you need to know is I picked up my adorable 8-week-old black lab. She’s the best.
About Author
Will Kremer
Will is an active member of the Georgia Republican grassroots. He previously served as Chairman of the Georgia Association of College Republicans, 2nd Vice Chairman of the 7th District Republican Party, and Treasurer of the Forsyth County Republican Party. Promise Land = Forsyth County.
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Orlando and the nation has experienced a horrible tragedy. More information and details will reveal themselves in the coming days on the terrorist, his activities, his family and our security. In April “mainstream” Muslims strongly defended the right of an Imam to talk at a Mosque in Sanford on killing gays out of compassion. Perhaps they will now rally for a jihad on Islamic extremists.
Thank you, Will.
While the shooter’s ties to ISIS are yet to be confirmed, what’s clear is that he specifically targeted, after much research, an LGBT club and LGBT people. They were the specific target. It is offensive for so many to write that off.
And while I’m sure there’s no one who doesn’t think donating blood is a wonderful way to respond to the massacre, folks must remember that, due to homophobia and transphobia, gay/bi men and trans women are legally prohibited from giving blood. Ignoring that reality when suggesting it as a response to an LGBT-specific tragedy, as was done on this site yesterday, erases the real pain of the LGBT community and continues to remind us that even in death, we are not equal citizens.
Just off the top of my head, how about a formal declaration of war by Congress? Those that know how that process would actually work, please opine.
Both houses of Congress pass a (the same) Joint Resolution and the President signs it.
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/wwii/dec05.asp
I was actually asking how an actual declaration of war would change the way we would fight ISIS.
It would give the President a very broad ability to attack ISIS. Basically everything available to the Pentagon would be on the table. I’m not sure it would work becasue Obama has shown that he has no desire to commit more troops and resources than we have already committed to the Middle East. I highly doubt that with 6 months left in his term he will have any desire other than wait and pass the problem off to Hillary. And I don’t blame him for that decision. That’s just the way it is. If he wanted to do something he would have done it three years ago.
War includes broad domestic powers as well. Like detaining American citizens indefinitely without charge–Ask Japanese-Americans about it. Or from the large majority of the GOP that is voting for Trump, keeping Muslims from entering the country.
I don’t think it would. We don’t acknowledge that ISIS is a government in any sense of the word, so there’s nothing “there” against which to declare war.
n.b. Before the invasion of Iraq I wrote to my senator, the recently-deceased George Voinovich, asking him to sponsor a resolution to declare war against Iraq. Never got a response.
Wars are usually declared against sovereign nations. Wouldn’t the appropriate act by congress be a letter of Marque ?
As like pirates, Islamic extremists have several names. But that classification will not pass. And like a Chinese spy group if we get hot, they change the name.
Then again would we shun nations that imprison women for sex outside marriage when they report they are raped, like Qatar and the UAE ?
Then we have The Saudi’s.
Would we have our military tip toe thru streets and mine fields in Syria looking for terrorists ? And have the success we have had since WWII ?
How about we just not open our borders until we can sort it out? Not ignoring positive things we can do to stop genocide and destruction of histories.
How did Mateen finally die? Suicide or by cops?
Also, if you have a Carry Permit…Carry. It might feel a little weird on your hip or under your shoulder for a while, but do it. It may truly be the only chance you’ll have to try and protect yourself or family. The next one may be at your favorite restaurant.
You speculated back at the time that the outcome of the San Bernardino massacre could have been lessened had someone with a concealed carry permit been able to mimic the movies. There was an armed off-duty officer working security at this one and while it is possible lives were saved by him let’s wait for the dust to settle. What is now known about the San Bernardino shootout after the fact is that upon stopping their vehicle it took 23 trained officers firing 380 mostly armor piercing rounds from their own AR type carbines to put down the perpetrators. I really don’t think even Mitch Rapp, Jack Bauer, or, to go real old school, Roy Rogers could have prevailed in that incident with a conventional concealed pistol.
I’ll stand by my opinion/belief that an armed individual might/could/possibly have helped end this abomination with a lower death count. We’ll obviously never know for sure. I’m too sickened by this to argue back and forth about it. I’m sure you and I will be debating something else soon with our usual vigor.
There should be a ban on assault rifles like the ak-15 this guy used. He was on the terror watch list yet was still able to but one. Forgetting the fact that no one can provide a reason to own this type of weapon (outside of a wartime battle field) other than maximum ability to kill and do it efficiently…he was on the terrorist watch list, and I remind everyone that attempts to fix this loophole were blocked by Senate republicans. If he hadnt been able to freely purchase this a case can be made that fewer would have died.
Ban assault rifles…end of story. Australia did so and guess how many mass shootings they’ve had since ’98
ZERO
You know, when most people are trying to change policy they do research to at least look like they know what they are talking about. You, on the other hand, throw around things like “ak-15” and “assault rifles” without having any idea what you are talking about.
It’s unfortunate, but expected from someone debating something they obviously know nothing about.
“Ak-15″….. face…palm…
There is no reason to continue this conversation.
As unlikely as it is that I’d defend Scott, he probably just made a typo. Ak-47/AR-15? Who cares, really? He had a point to make. Y’all don’t pile on him this am.
You are probably right. Sorry.
It just rubs me the wrong way when people talk about AR-15s and the people who own them. Scott said “reason to own this type of weapon (outside of a wartime battle field) other than maximum ability to kill and do it efficiently.”
So he’s saying that I’m probably one step away from going on a shooting spree just because I own an AR-15?
Eiger,
Given that you are willing to engage and debate this, I have no reason at all to suspect you would go on a shooting spree.
But please do enlighten me – why do you own an AR-15? What do you use it for? What purpose does it serve in your home and life? Would you be willing to have a 10-round fixed magazine, as is the law in Massachusetts and other locales, or do you insist on 30? 60? 100?
These are honest questions. I shoot skeet for sport; having 2 rounds in my shotgun is plenty. My kids will learn, as I did, to shoot 22 long rifles in Scouts – with one round, bolt-action.
I also love to go skeet shooting. I still have my old FFA and 4H trophies for trap and skeet competitions. But trap and skeet shooting serves no purpose other than just for sport. The same reason applies to my AR-15. I enjoy going to the range and shooting with my friends. When I have the time again soon I would like to start shooting in competitions again.
I also grew up on a farm where coyotes were a very real problem during calving season. Carrying my AR (which is half the weight of my Remington 300 and shorter) is easier when checking the cows. For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, we kill the coyotes. Sorry.
I own multiple 30 round magazines For no other reason than that’s what was on sale when I went to buy a few extra magazines. Do I think you “need” a 150 drum magazine for sport? No. A 100, 60, or 30 round? No. Do you need a pistol grip, collapsible stock or laser sight? No. The question I ask though does banning them make us safer? The answer is still no. People will take everything I say and latch onto that one line and say I’m wrong. But the fact is it will not make us safer to ban those things.
The reason many gun rights people are against bans on anything is becasue they believe it is a very slippery slope. Let’s get rid of 30 round plus magazines. It doesn’t solve the problem. Let’s do away with everything over 5. Doesn’t solve the problem. No aftermarket attachments (pistol grips, collapsible stocks and laser sights). Doesn’t solve the problem. Well, it’s time to just ban all the weapons.
There you have it. That’s the goal all along. Liberals are great at taking once slice of the pie at a time. We republicans are not that forward thinking and patient.
Eiger,
Really, this is good information. I fully understand the need to protect your livestock, and that part makes sense – but I guess I would challenge you whether you’d need the repeat-fire speed of an AR-15 when one, maybe two shots is enough to get the coyotes running away if you didn’t hit and kill.
So I guess I’d also challenge you – what *is* the solution? The “nothing can be done!” mentality is beyond disturbing – I cannot and will not accept that I have to raise my children in a world where an armed gunman can burst in at any time and squeeze off 100 rounds without reloading.
I can assume that you have never tried to shoot a coyote when you are on a 4 wheeler. It’s not easy. With my 300 ultra mag I could hit a coyote at 200 plus yards with one shot, sure. But that is in a deer stand with my rifle braced properly and my breathing calm. At that range when your heart beats the crosshairs on your scope jumps with your heartbeat. The average coyote is small. They aren’t the size of a St. Bernard, so imagine a border collie. Jogging. Coyotes rarely stop moving in the open unless they are eating. In the daylight they are always moving and they are very smart. I would say I’m a better than average shot and I’ve missed my fair share of coyotes. I haven’t missed a deer since I was probably 12.
So with that picture imagine you are driving your 4 wheeler checking cows and you see a coyote at a 100 yards. He sees you before you see him so he’s running. By the time you get the gun sling over your head, get off the 4 wheeler and prop the gun on the seat he’s gone or maybe you get one shot of a target running full speed away. A large hunting rifle is too heavy to freehand shoot at that distance with the coyote running. My AR is light enough to have across my chest and light enough to shoot freehand. It’s quicker and gives me the firepower to reach him at that distance. My .22 is too small. Shotgun won’t reach that far. Bolt-action hunting rifle is too bulky, heavy and slow. That’s why. And you are right about only have one or two shots, but I’m able to get those one or two shots off quicker with my AR.
Dang, now I itching for hunting season.
Now, to your other point about nothing can be done. If you were to know me you would know that that is not my belief at all. You probably think that I’m your typical gun nut. I’m not. I don’t have a concealed carry permit. I have nothing against them I just don’t feel the need. I have guns in my house, but don’t carry everyday. I’m not a member of the NRA and never have been. I think for the most part the NRA is just a money making organization. I prefer to give my money to Trout Unlimited and Ducks Unlimited. Organizations that work towards conservation rather than stoking political flames.
What should be done? Couple of things. No one should ever say the phrase “national conversation again.” Ever. We don’t need to talk, we need to do something. When something tragic happens both sides should show restraint and keep their mouths shut for a time.
I have no problems with background checks, but all of the most recent mass shooters passed them. Why? because we are dependent on a bloated and often times incompetent government to coordinate and make sure people aren’t slipping through the cracks. Instead of starting fights with law abiding gun owners, the internal process that allows a guy investigated by the FBI for connections to ISIS to buy an AR needs to be fixed. It’s easy to talk about background checks fixing the problem and I believe that it should be a part of a larger solution but they don’t always work. They do work more than we know. People are turned down from buying a gun every day.
I do firmly believe that mental illness is a real issue. Many of the most recent mass shooters have had obvious mental issues, but friends and family have no real avenue to have those people committed so that they can get help and not be a danger to others.
I have no problem with increasing the punishment for crimes committed with a firearm. I’m never going to rob a bank and don’t care about the person that tries. Many gun rights people argue with me all the time on this next point, but if you are a felon (any felon whether violent or not violent) you should rightfully lose your right to own a firearm. Sorry, I’m not sorry. Don’t be stupid.
Policy discussions on this topic should be had with clear eyes and outside of the media. Nothing has ever and will ever be solved through the media. The first step that the left should take is the tone down the accusatory statements that all gone owners are one step away from killing someone. The right needs to allow competent leaders to speak about the need for background checks and changes made to mental illness laws. People like Debbie Dooley should never be allowed to speak on behalf of republicans in public on this topic or any topic really.
Sorry, that’s a lot, but there is no easy answer and I certainly don’t have them all.
David, since I own a few guns, too, I’ll give you my answer, we’ll wait for Eiger’s. I like guns. My Dad taught me since I was about 7. I was roaming around our farm by the time I was 10 with a Colt Woodsman .22 on my hip. The holster was about as long as my leg! During hunting season once, I shot a squirrel out of the top of a tall pine tree once with that damn pistol. Lucky shot, I know, but at the time I thought I was the s**t, pistol wise. I have a Model 12, 12 gauge that I killed my one and only deer with. ( I regretted the hell out of that about 5 secs afterward…) I’ve got assorted pistols, revolvers, semi autos that culminate in my favorite .22 magnum semi auto, Kel Tech. That thing has a 30 round mag. I call it my Fire Breathing Dragon. It’s almost like shooting a .222 rifle out of a pistol barrel.
I have them, I guess, and not to be flippant, because I can. I love ARs and all the assorted rifles. My 35 Marlin is a favorite as is my .270. I even have what could be described as a “shorty” 12 gauge. Perfectly legal, of course, but you use it by holding it perfectly extended like a reg shotgun, with your extended arm acting as a kind of “stock.” That one is loaded with #4 buckshot.
I guess it’s how many of us were raised but like I mentioned, I like guns. I’m looking at getting a pistol known as The Judge, which can accommodate a .410 shell!
I think I posted this before and I don’t want to be repetitive, but once in Colombia, I actually pulled my 9mm from the old fanny pack and pointed it at some poor bastard who had manuevred his car to block mine on an isolated street in what could have been a kidnap attempt. I was under threat there and he got pale as a ghost and thought better of his plans and skedaddled!
Maybe too much info for you this am, but those of us who own a few aren’t bug eyed inbreds who are mentally unbalanced.
Before we can find a path forward, we must first face a few inconvenient points: (1) Devout Muslims follow Sharia law; for example, Islamic folks at Brannon Hill in DeKalb say they will not even take out mortgages to buy their condos because Sharia forbids taking debt. (2) Under Sharia law, homosexuality is a crime punishable by death/execution. (3) The Orlando shooter had been to Afghanistan and participated in ISIL operations in the Middle East; his friend who went with him became a suicide bomber over there. (3) Omar Marteen was the son of a Taliban supporter and self-proclaimed official who came to the US; Marteen was born in New York, but was indoctrinated by a father who spouts his Sharia creed on youtube and other internet sites. (4) Marteen was a traitor and a ticking bomb who never should have been allowed back into this country after his service to ISIL in Afghanistan and Syria. And his father should now be taken into custody as an accessory before the fact.
The Islamic Caliphate is headquartered in land that is parts of Syria, Libya, Iraq, and now Afghanistan. Most of us simply refer to it as ISIL. Their leaders have global tentacles and have declared war on America. Yet under the current administration, the FBI and HSA officials have been ordered not to even use certain “politically incorrect” words when questioning suspects of the Muslim belief, e.g., the words jihad and Sharia. This is mind-boggling. Our government’s defense agencies protect other countries around the world, but are not allowed to protect our own country and its citizens.
Like Hitler and the Nazis, ISIL particularly hates Jewish people and gays. They have attacked France, Germany, and vocally declared war on America, where they have been slaughtering at will on US soil. We are deemed the greatest power in the world, yet we allow this to keep happening to innocent Americans. It is time for America to declare war on Islamic Jihad and use our might against this evil entity. I don’t usually quote G.W. Bush, but his words after 9/11 “We either fight them over there or we fight them over here” kept running through my mind on this sad day.
+1 Sally. Well said!
+Sally. I don’t have a real issue with more restrictions on assault rifles but I do on leaders that think it is a hate crime to have an immigration plan or a workable, enforceable process for terrorist profiles. Love thy neighbor, but cut the cards.
Would rather have Trumps fingers with the code in a room full of advisors than Hillarys with the code in her personal server box.
Thanks, guys – I was just trying to get this into perspective. And based on today’s news, I guess we need to add his wife as an accomplice and accessory before the fact. She helped him buy the guns and ammunition, went with him to scope out the club and other potential targets, etc. She is also an ISIL/ISIS jihadist, part of the war on America, who should be arrested and prosecuted, preferably under military law. And what about family and friends who knew full well what he was doing, saying, planning? They should be hauled in as accessories before the fact. That would be a strong deterrent to the silence of others going forward.
I share the concerns about easy access to weapons of war in our everyday lives. I do not believe ordinary citizens have any need for military assault rifles such as these people are using. But I also consider the question of whether when a drunk driver kills someone, is it because of easy access to cars? This situation goes far beyond the weapons used. Our escalating problem is the jihadists behind the guns. Arbitrarily not enforcing existing immigration laws and becoming an easy mark is what got us into this mess. The only thing broken about our existing immigration laws is the will of Washington politicians and bureaucrats to enforce them. The bluster about “rewriting” is a smoke screen for allowing porous borders and unaccountable migration into this country from around the world.