Tuesday, March 15, 2005

And Still More

It's shaping up to be quite the day for GFW-inspired drivel in our local papers. This first item comes from The Patriot Ledger:

Thanks to the vigilance of the gun lobby, a person on a government terror watch list can sashay into a gun shop and buy a weapon.


These are the same watch lists that were used to prevent Senator Ted Kennedy from boarding a plane - must've got mixed up with the "do not drive" list - and to issue alerts to airlines regarding suspicious passengers on-board the aircraft up to an hour AFTER the plane has taken off. There are many issues to be resolved concerning the government's use of "watch lists", but using them to regulate the legal sale of firearms through licensed gun dealers isn't one of them.

I mean, if the person in question IS a terrorist, it's not like there's a massive black market out there from which his organization could purchase pretty much anything they want - for considerably less than retail.

And, echoing the same tired rhetoric, is this letter to the editor of The Republican from Jerry Belair of Springfield, Massachusetts - another proud graduate of "The Ponch and John School of Firearms".

It's too easy for terrorists to get guns in the U.S. It is comforting to know that our U.S. House of Representatives is protecting our nation's citizens from the "threat of terrorism" by prohibiting the issuance of driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants.


I particularly like Jerry's use here of "scare quotes" around the phrase "threat of terrorism", but not around the phrase "undocumented immigrants". It's always good to know right off the bat where someone's coming from.

These same venerable congressmen, in kowtowing to the National Rifle Association, have taken no action to prevent terror suspects from legally acquiring firearms...


Well, Jerry, in your opening paragraph, you acknowledge that Congress is acting to prevent illegal aliens from getting government-issued identification cards, a pretty damn good first step to prevent them from purchasing firearms from any gun shop in the country, if you ask me.

...including .50 caliber rifles capable of piercing armored vehicles at distances of two miles...


Yeah, like if given a set of surgical tools, I'd be "capable" of performing brain surgery. And if you and Jarrett continue copying off each others papers, I'll have to separate the two of you for good. And no recess!

...and 5.7 and .50 caliber handguns capable of piercing body armor.


Brilliant cut-n-paste job there. What happened, Jerry? Was the foam frothing out of your mouth as you were trying to type this shit interfering with your ability to work your mouse properly? And, hey, any chance you could send me some information on where I can get me one of those 5.7-caliber handguns? That thing must ROCK!

We can only imagine how many terror suspects bought guns from unlicensed sellers at gun shows where no application process is required.


Would you feel better, Jerry, if the transaction took place in a run-down crackhouse across town? Or in the back of a van in the parking lot at Denny's. Where are the cries for legislation closing the "Denny's Parking Lot Loophole"? Come on, people, think about the children!

But, hey, I'm sure Jerry is just a regular guy, a concerned citizen just like you or me. Maybe he just doesn't know any better. I mean, it's not like he's the legislative chairman of Stop Handgun Violence or anything.

Twit.