Monday Open Thread [5.6.13]
At this weekend’s NRA convention you could buy ‘Obama’ mannequins designed for use as target practice which actually bleed when shot. It is things like that which makes me have almost no sympathy for families like the Sparks family in Kentucky, the family that had a five year old son shoot and kill his 2 year sister with his “My First Rifle.” That family may be suffering horribly, but in my opinion they deserve that suffering for their irrespondibility and negligence. I know the two things are not directly connected, and I don’t know the particular political views of Mr. and Mrs. Sparks as it relates to the NRA v. Obama, but still. Irresponsibility and selling and marketing guns to children has been a direct result of the NRA’s efforts to fight any and all regulations. So when children of gun lovers actually die, it is very difficult to feel sympathy for the parents.
“The GOP leadership is dealing with an unprecedented level of frustration in running the House, according to conversations with more than a dozen aides and lawmakers in and around leadership. Leadership is talking past each other. The conference is split by warring factions. And influential outside groups are fighting them. The chaos has led to a sense of stalemate for House Republicans, who have been in the majority since 2011.”
A new Quinnipiac poll finds Hillary Clinton has a huge lead over other potential 2016 candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination with 65%, followed by Joe Biden at 13% and Andrew Cuomo at 4%.
“Hillary Clinton has a rock-solid hold on the hearts of Democratic voters at this point. If she decides not to run, Vice President Joseph Biden does almost as well as she does against the rest of the field. There is a long way to go until 2016, but none of the other younger potential candidates for the Democratic nomination currently has anything approaching widespread support from party voters.”.
Here’s another one — 13-year old shoots his sister while they were playing hide-and-seek.
The story isn’t quite so grim, at least not yet: She’s in critical but stable condition according to the link.
This week’s Gun Fail post by David Waldman at Daily Kos includes an incredible six accidental shootings by law-enforcement personnel — plus one by an NRA safety course instructor.
True, sorry. I did edit my post to get rid of the kills part.
This is so sad. If we would just register these weapons of mass destruction, so many lives would be better off.
“That family may be suffering horribly, but in my opinion they deserve that suffering for their irrespondibility and negligence.”
No one deserves the suffering that comes from losing a child.
Responsible gun owners;
1. Secure their weapons against theft.
2. Prevent access to their weapons by those who are too young to be responsible.
3. Report the loss or theft of weapon.
4. Use their weapons for defense as a last resort.
5. Train and practice handling their weapon.
6. Use the type of weapon appropriate to the intended function of self defense.
7. Never give or sell a weapon to those who are incapable of responsible use.
There could be other criteria. But to me, these seem to be the most basic. Perhaps the vast majority of gun owners meet that criteria. But daily we are witness to too many cases of irresponsbile use.
If only the NRA would use its vast resources to promote responsible ownership instead of unregulated possession.
If only people would quote the entire 2nd Ammendment, instead of just a part of it in order to eliminate the inconvenient part that conditions the right as one that is well regulated.
Quick question for DL thinktank__ I have a friend from Brazil, with all paperwork in order on track to citizenship. Fully employed, kids in schools etc.. Mama wants to finally visit from Brazil for 2-3 weeks. Only visit–not stay. Works, and has property and animals she needs to get back to and tend—plus the rest of the family. This outlier child in the US has been here 7 years, and has not seen Mama since. She cannot go back to Brazil, because and especially, since Boston and other incidents prior–she is afraid of a paperwork interruption/snafu that will prevent her re-entry. My question? Mama is being told SHE needs a visa to visit. A visa in addition to a passport. Is that true? Is that new? I thought we could visit on passports up to a certain amount of time? No? Yes? Any insight before I start my pounding on the chest? Reason denied is she only has 3k cash in the bank, and has been told to reapply in 3 months. I hate this sadness this little derailment of a visit is causing this cute, hardworking family.
A valid visa is a requirement for all Brazilians to enter the United States. Brazil is not a Visa Waiver Program country. It’s not new. There is a whole slew of countries in that program. If she had a passport for one of those countries she would not need a visa.
Dave is correct – and even if MAMA has all her ducks in a row,
the consular official who gives the Visa in Brazil may still turn her down as she has established family here and there is a chance she MIGHT be tempted to overstay
Be prepared for that, but if your Brazilian friend is an LPR – legal permanent resident, there is NOTHING preventing her from visiting Brazil
Its an easy in, easy out
if your Brazilian friend does not have the LPR status, but some other visa to live in the US, be careful, she may not be allowed back in.
for MAMA, the consular officials look at the community ties to Brazil etc, work, family, community and yes money….