Reactions to New Bedford Bar Assault
From thebostonchannel.com (WCVB, Channel 5 in Boston), we get some local reaction to the horrific assaults that took place in Puzzles Lounge in New Bedford last night.
If this type of horrendous assault against our fellow citizens is inevitable, why on earth would anyone insist that the victims of such an assault be left standing there defenseless when it happens? To embrace such a philosophy is entirely indefensible.
And from our beloved junior senator, John Kerry:
Try this one on for size, John.
Anyone who doubted that allowing for armed self-defense by decent American citizens makes damn good sense should think about the fact that just after midnight last night, a man walked into a bar and attacked people with a hatchet, then opened fire with a handgun.
No more un-American, Senator, than depriving your law-abiding constituents the right to protect themselves and their community from violent, hate-filled scumbags. It seriously makes me wonder about whose rights you're more concerned.
And from our hero, Jarrett T. Barrios:
Hey, jackass! When you finally get your head out of the sand, what say you get to work on some legislation that would it easier for the civil members of our civil society to defend themselves against the psychotic little shits like this guy, who apparently didn't get your fucking memo!
As opposed to what? All those "love crimes" that have the good people of Roxbury and Mattapan barricaded within their own homes for fear of getting killed on the way to the corner store for a quart of milk?
"Civil rights"? He went after one of his victim's heads with a fucking hatchet, asshole! And randomly shot another one in the gut as he was walking out of the can. I think we're well beyond the realm of "civil rights" violations here.
Hey, here's a thought, J.B.
Let's pass a law that says if you attack ANYONE unprovoked like this for ANY fucking reason with a hatchet (or a handgun, or a brick, or a nine iron, or a frozen pork chop) you go away for life.
And, if you kill anyone unprovoked like this for any fucking reason with a hatchet (or a knife, or a 2-by-4, or a Louisville Slugger, or a sharpened #2 pencil) you get a taxpayer-funded dirtnap.
Hell, I'd even check off the little box up in the corner of my MA state tax return, and voluntary pay the higher tax rate if I knew my money would be going toward such a noble cause.
UPDATE (2/3/06): More commentary this morning in the Boston Globe from some of our local pols reacting to this latest brutal attack on innocent, defenseless citizens. We've heard from Senator Shotgun. What does Senator Shotglass have to say?
Let's play "Fill in the blank".
Does anyone actually need the answer guide for this one?
Sorry, Senator, but passing laws that merely react to crimes like this, and affect the perpetrator only after he's apprehended and convicted in a court of law, are simply not enough.
Even choice (B) above would do very little to prevent someone with nothing but abject hatred and cold-blooded murder on his mind from carrying out his nefarious schemes. Laws such as that serve only to deter rational people - those most likely predisposed to obey society's laws in the first place - from committing this heinous type of crime.
Then again, if Senator Kennedy were one of these rational people, perhaps we wouldn't need to be having this discussion this morning.
Unfortunately, we're not terribly surprised. You can't live in an environment so regularly bombarded with anti-gay rhetoric and not expect something like this to happen.
- The Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus
If this type of horrendous assault against our fellow citizens is inevitable, why on earth would anyone insist that the victims of such an assault be left standing there defenseless when it happens? To embrace such a philosophy is entirely indefensible.
And from our beloved junior senator, John Kerry:
This tragedy must be a serious wake up call to anyone who pretends hate crimes don'’t exist in America. Anyone who ever doubted that bigotry is still with us should think about the fact that just after midnight last night, a man walked into a bar and attacked people with a hatchet, then opened fire with a handgun. He wanted to kill them for being who they are.
Try this one on for size, John.
Anyone who doubted that allowing for armed self-defense by decent American citizens makes damn good sense should think about the fact that just after midnight last night, a man walked into a bar and attacked people with a hatchet, then opened fire with a handgun.
That's a hate crime, and that's un-American.
No more un-American, Senator, than depriving your law-abiding constituents the right to protect themselves and their community from violent, hate-filled scumbags. It seriously makes me wonder about whose rights you're more concerned.
And from our hero, Jarrett T. Barrios:
Violent crime has no place in a civil society.
Hey, jackass! When you finally get your head out of the sand, what say you get to work on some legislation that would it easier for the civil members of our civil society to defend themselves against the psychotic little shits like this guy, who apparently didn't get your fucking memo!
A hate crime deserves special attention because the suspect plans the attack and targets his victims based on hatred, bias, or prejudice.
As opposed to what? All those "love crimes" that have the good people of Roxbury and Mattapan barricaded within their own homes for fear of getting killed on the way to the corner store for a quart of milk?
Thankfully District Attorney (Paul) Walsh has developed a strong a civil rights division to investigate and prosecute this case.
"Civil rights"? He went after one of his victim's heads with a fucking hatchet, asshole! And randomly shot another one in the gut as he was walking out of the can. I think we're well beyond the realm of "civil rights" violations here.
Hey, here's a thought, J.B.
Let's pass a law that says if you attack ANYONE unprovoked like this for ANY fucking reason with a hatchet (or a handgun, or a brick, or a nine iron, or a frozen pork chop) you go away for life.
And, if you kill anyone unprovoked like this for any fucking reason with a hatchet (or a knife, or a 2-by-4, or a Louisville Slugger, or a sharpened #2 pencil) you get a taxpayer-funded dirtnap.
Hell, I'd even check off the little box up in the corner of my MA state tax return, and voluntary pay the higher tax rate if I knew my money would be going toward such a noble cause.
UPDATE (2/3/06): More commentary this morning in the Boston Globe from some of our local pols reacting to this latest brutal attack on innocent, defenseless citizens. We've heard from Senator Shotgun. What does Senator Shotglass have to say?
Let's play "Fill in the blank".
Senator Edward M. Kennedy called the attack a "sad reminder" of why Congress should pass a bill that would ______________.
(A) restore to all law-abiding Americans, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, their God-given right to defend themselves, their families, and their communities from senseless attacks at the hands of violent, maniacal thugs everywhere.
(B) restore the death penalty on a nationwide basis, so that scum like this can be readily removed from society - forever - and our neighborhoods can be made safer for our children to play in.
(C) extend the federal law on hate crimes to cover offenses targeting people because of sexual orientation.
Does anyone actually need the answer guide for this one?
Sorry, Senator, but passing laws that merely react to crimes like this, and affect the perpetrator only after he's apprehended and convicted in a court of law, are simply not enough.
Even choice (B) above would do very little to prevent someone with nothing but abject hatred and cold-blooded murder on his mind from carrying out his nefarious schemes. Laws such as that serve only to deter rational people - those most likely predisposed to obey society's laws in the first place - from committing this heinous type of crime.
Then again, if Senator Kennedy were one of these rational people, perhaps we wouldn't need to be having this discussion this morning.
