David Price at the Orange County Democratic Convention
Howdy folks.
I am back from the Orange County Democratic Convention, unfortunately, I had to leave early. I arrived early, though! I was tabling for the John Edwards for President Campaign, handing out bumper stickers and signing up volunteers. I had some good 'cue from the Barbecue Joint in Chapel Hill, then we went in for the meeting. I only stayed for the beginning, so I can't give you all the dirty details, hopefully someone else will fill in the resolutions and such. But, I had to make a point about David Price. There are many liberals in Chapel Hill who are so far left that they often disparage David Price and his actions in Congress. To those people I saw Phooey!!! I wish I had a recording of his speech, there were many strong progressives points he made, about mental health parity, about the VA health care system, about poverty. But, the most poignant moment was when he was discussing "gun control" and the VT shootings. I was unaware that Lisa Price, his wife, was the head of an anti-gun violence organization. I don't know the reasons behind this, if there was some personal reason that she started into this line of work, but you could tell that he was emotionally invested. At one point, the Congressman was choked up to the point that his voice was cracking and his eyes were misting.
He also mentioned a recent interview with E.J. Dionne which I would like to paste after the break.
Republicans have exploited support from the NRA for years and Democrats, eyeing rural congressional seats, are petrified of doing anything that will offend the gun lobby.
The newspaper Politico, using figures from the Center for Responsive Politics, reported that in the 2006 elections, pro-gun groups gave $962,525 in contributions, and groups considered "anti-gun" gave $49,090. Republicans received 166 times more money from pro-gun groups as from anti-gun groups. Democrats received three times more from pro- than anti-gun groups. Who owns Congress?
But it's not just money. It's also how the gun issue has been "distorted and how it has been turned into a hot-button cultural issue," said Rep. David Price, D-N.C., in an interview Wednesday.
"You're either for or against the issue and that's kind of code for being 'one of us' or not, of being in tune culturally," he added.
"And that's the end of the issue," meaning that it's difficult to deal with gun regulation "in a rational, measured way."
Price said that when he confronts voters in his district who criticize him for being "for gun control," he asks whether they favor background checks for gun buyers, a ban on assault weapons and more efforts to trace guns used in crimes "to check out gun dealers who supply guns."
In large numbers, he says, such voters agree with him and reject the positions taken by the gun lobby.
The key, Price argues, is to propose "specific and well-targeted" measures aimed at keeping guns out of the wrong hands.
OK, let's be specific. What would the NRA's objection be to a law requiring gun dealers to establish whether a potential buyer is a student and, if so, to inform (or even receive permission from) the student's high school or college before any weapons could be sold? What about raising the age for purchasing a gun to 25 or 30? Why not renew the ban on the sale of assault weapons? Why not create a national bipartisan commission that would propose ways -- including, but not limited to, sane gun laws -- to push back our culture of violence? One more question: Why are our politicians still cowering before the gun lobby after Virginia Tech?
Well, the kids are screaming for dinner, so I'll have to go now. But, David Price, I'm with ya.
- Robert P.'s blog
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I support David Price
even if I don't agree with every single vote. I think the man is wonderful and I wish you had a recording too. I would love to hear it.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Couple of things to ponder.
There were a couple of things in your post, Robert, that touched a nerve, and I really think as a progressive community we need to think about these things. Of course this is the "hot" topic almost everywhere you go. I've had to address 3 child care center parent meetings about safety and emergency plans since last week's VT tragedy. Horrible.
I can understand the instinct we all have to protect and try to fix what happened, because of the horrible loss of innocent life. Unfortunately, we can't fix what happened, we can only try to go forward and prevent further tragedies.
Let me make it clear that I am an advocate for gun control and safe gun use.
As the mother of a high-school student, I certainly would like to be in the loop there. I'd like to have a gun dealer contacting me before they contact the school. I don't want the school administrator, who shares neither my nor my son's political viewpoints to be the arbitor of what he can or cannot possess. To me there is a short step between that and someone else being able to decide what he reads, what he is allowed to watch on television, and what music he is allowed to listen to. I take my parenting seriously - and I have issues with this.
I am realistic and know that not every parent is able to take their responsibilities as seriously as some of us do, and some parents are just not as responsible. If the school or community has concerns about a student,and thinks that they are a danger to themselves or others, there are established channels and protocols in place. (What? Those don't work, you say? Fix them. That's most of the problem. If the educational, social services, public and mental health systems were fully funded, I would be willing to bet that more than 75% of violent crime would be eliminated.)
Informing high schools and colleges only touches part of the population. What about people of that age who are not in school? Should we legislate that their employers be notified that they have purchased a gun? Some of those individuals are not employed. Who, then, should be notified - their friends?
That's fine with me - but I'm 47, and I haven't purchased one yet. Of course, if we're still asking 18 year olds to volunteer to go and pick up a gun to fight for their country, I think we're going to have to let them have the right to purchase one if they make it safely home.
Be realistic. It's not the age of the person who purchased the gun. It's the mental health of the individual who is using the gun.
There is gun control, which is smart and makes sense, and then there is gun paranoia, which is what makes the right wing think we are crazy. The Virginia Tech murders are a terrible, heart-breaking tragedy - there's no getting away from that, and we want to fix it. We can't. Controlling access to guns is a start, but going overboard won't solve the problem.
David Price is right. We need to talk about specific, sensible measures that everyone, or almost everyone, can agree on. Almost no one thinks that criminal records checks on gun buyers is a bad idea, even at gun shows. Let's start there. I think most people will tell you that there's no good reason to have enough ammunition stockpiled to take out your entire neighborhood; chances are they're not all going to attack at the same time. We have to find common ground, and make this work. It's too important.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
I just love you
This one humorous statement can cut the Republican scaremongers off at the knees. It makes them look ridiculous. I will tuck this away for future use.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
The problem I see
with having to call the parents or the school is two fold.
First, they are over the age of 18. When I went to school I had to sign something just to give my parents the ability to check on my grades. At 18 you are an adult under the law.
Second, if this only applied to people who go to college it would be thrown out immediately. Essentially you would be granting special rights to those who do not go to school. I guarantee that this would be challenged immediately, and even before Alito and Scalia the law would have failed in court.
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33
I like David Price a lot.
Rarely do intellect, progressive spirit and flat-out nice all converge in the same person. We are all lucky has heck to have him in Congress.
I agree 100%
Have liked him from the minute you introduced him to us here at BlueNC last year. He's just a couple of votes shy of perfection in my book.
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
Durham County convention?
Any reports from the Durham County convention on Saturday? I've looked around and haven't seen any.
I don't believe anyone has reported back
Robin Hayes lied. Nobody died, but thousands of folks lost their jobs.
What?
"Permission" from a high school or college to do something one would otherwise be legally allowed to do? That is perhaps one of the silliest "gun control" suggestions I have ever heard. Unless they have changed the rules, freshmen at UNC are not allowed to have cars. By the VERY SAME logic, a car dealer should seek permission from UNC before selling a car to a UNC freshman. What about alcohol free dorms? Should Teeter check the address on an ID or school registration to make sure the legal buyer doesn't live in an alcohol free dorm?
If a person is otherwise legally allowed to purchase a firearm, it is not any school's business.
I have to admit that is very funny. That aside, how much is "enough" to take out the neighborhood? One single box of handgun ammo will usually have at least 50 rounds. If you are at the range practicing, this is gone in no time. A "brick" of .22LR ammo has 500 rounds and can sell for as little as $10. With a .22, it is really easy to shoot a couple hundred rounds in a session while out shooting for fun/sport.
I dont think
that it is a good idea, but you could do something like sell the ammo at the gun range and not allow it to leave the property, and then start selling ammo in smaller quantities.
Draft Brad Miller -- NC Sen ActBlue :::Liddy 44 Brad 33
Next thing you know
we'll all be required to have guns. Not by law, of course, but by survival.
Yours in violence,
Mad Max
And then there's this:
story about guns,
Well, in my neighborhood
Well, in my neighborhood, you'd need a lot, because they're all armed to the teeth. I wasn't really trying to be funny, though.(Well, maybe a little) I was trying to point out the irony in the statement that many people make: I only have my gun for protection. Yet they have entire arsenals - as if they are going to be under attack by an entire platoon. I'm sure that there are reasonable solutions, if enough reasonable people are willing to put aside the hot buttons and just talk about it. No one wants a repeat of the VT shootings.
Given that, if you want to take out a school and don't have a gun or enough bullets, it can still be done.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi
Did you hear about the professor that was fired?
He and other professors were told to try to help the students work thru their confusion and grief. He held a mock shooting and had another kid in the classroom pretend to shoot him back. All to show that students should be allowed to have guns to protect themselves. Awww, read this, it explains it better than I do. Professor Fired Over Virginia Tech Discussion
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
Progressive Discussions
Why are they always in business...
It's like business is the last refuse of the Bush republicans, not that all businessmen are Republicans, but that all Bush Republicans (anti-Eisenhower, anti-Teddy Roosevelt, anti-Lincoln Republicans) seem to be involved in business or evangelicalism.
One man with courage makes a majority.
- Andrew Jackson