Republicans at today's shooting aren't sticking to the NRA talking points

[NightWatcher]

Rand Paul is saying that none of the Congress-critters were armed and they were pinned down by the shooter and had they not had the protection of Capital Hill Police (due in part to Scalise being in leadership and having a security detail) that "it would have been a massacre".

Rep DeSantis FL said that without Scalises's detail there would be many more dead Representatives and staffers.

So the idea of an average citizen "good guy" is a load of shit. How long until one of LaPierre's NRA tools shows up on TV to change that narrative?

[cyclonefence]

1. Yes, if they had all been packing

semi-automatic long guns... probably a hundred passers-by would lie bleeding to death, and at least two of them would have shot off their own feet.

[NightWatcher]

3. Plus its hard to play second base with an AR slung over your shoulder

I've friends who served in Af/Iraq and they commented that many of them at forward bases always had to have their rifles slung and it makes regular daily activities a pain.

[riversedge]

2. Oh, give them time.

[mucifer]

4. Their talking point is intact. None of the players were armed is why people were shot.

The NRA thinks people should have weapons wherever they go.

Most Americans don't have a security detail.

The NRA wants more guns and that leads to more deaths.

[NightWatcher]

5. They are responding honestly for once in their lives, in fear having been a victim

and not as they normally do, a paid performer for the NRA.

[mucifer]

6. Are they saying they shouldn't have been armed?

[justiceischeap]

7. There's nothing in the state of VA that prevented them from being armed

We have very, very lax gun laws here.

[NightWatcher]

9. No, they are responding as regular citizens, it's impractical to be armed all the time.

Many of them said they were just playing baseball at the time and were surprised when it started.

The NRA talking point is that everyone should always be armed and ready for conflict, and that if good guys are armed they can defeat armed bad guys.

No one (aside from security and police details) can/will/do live their lives at a constant state of armed readiness.

[TheBlackAdder]

14. So, they will say that none of them went to the field without any friends or family?

[WillowTree]

19. Huh?

[TheBlackAdder]

20. Nobody went with them to watch the practice, who could carry. No family and friends is unusual.

[BannonsLiver]

8. I expect "crazed liberal whipped up by Russia hysteria" is the aim here.

Followed by heartfelt calls for unity and a backing off on all the mean anti Trump/Russia rhetoric "for the sake of the nation".

Never underestimate what these people are capable of and how low they are willing to go.

[Mike Nelson]

10. I heard...

...Rand Paul say it would have been a massacre if not for the majority whip's police - because they were otherwise unarmed. I took that as a call for more armed non-police.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

11. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) who was also at the practice, ... so where was his gun?

They talk big when other people are the victims.

[jmg257]

12. I expect even more people will be carrying now. Sort of a 'threats are real, wherever you are'.

[NightWatcher]

13. Do you carry when you're playing baseball? Can you imagine sliding into 2nd base with a gun?

The lesson from this should be that we don't need armed citizens, we need protection from armed nut jobs.

[jmg257]

15. Of course not. I imagine most people don't.Then again, plenty of people don't play babseball

Though they may go to games and do all kinds of other things.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

16. Now that they're taking away healthcare I doubt the GOP will be so keen on that...

could make town halls very interesting.

[jmg257]

17. Great point! One they could feel the threats of even more. ugh.

[alarimer]

18. Of course, now that it has happened to them.

Reaping what they sow. This will keep happening as long as the NRA holds sway in the gun debate. I have zero sympathy also because they will not figure out that, while their injuries are covered by a gold-plated health care plan, many other people who get shot are patched up, sent out the door and left to deal with the bills and long-term consequences.

I'm glad nobody died, but that's about it.