"The Colorado shooting and the gag rule on guns" - E.J. Dionne, WP blog

[NRaleighLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ej-dionne-on-the-colorado-shooting-the-gag-rule-on-guns/2012/07/20/gJQAt4gPyW_story.html

"For all the dysfunction in our political system, a healthy pattern usually takes hold when a terrible tragedy seizes the nation’s attention.

Normally, we engage in a searching conversation over what rational steps can be taken by individuals, communities and various levels of government to make the recurrence of a comparable tragedy less likely. Sometimes we act, sometimes we don’t, but at least we explore sensible solutions.

Unless the tragedy involves guns. Then our whole public reasoning process goes haywire. Anyone who dares to say that an event such as the massacre at a Colorado movie theater early Friday demands that we rethink our approach to the regulation of firearms is accused of “exploiting” the deaths of innocent people.

This is part of the gun lobby’s rote response, and the rest of us allow it to work every time. Its goal is to block any conversation about how our nation’s gun laws, the most permissive in the industrialized world, increase the likelihood of mass killings of this sort."

snip

[flamingdem]

2. I met some today, in fact they accused me of distastefulness because I posted

about how we need to make changes to honor the victims and their families.. OP is right on

[AndyA]

3. +1. n/m

[Skittles]

6. the "gun lobby" is a PC word for GUN NUTS

plenty of us have no problem with guns but we have HUGE PROBLEMS with GUN NUTS

[_ed_]

9. Gun lobby = selfish gun nuts

NRA members. Paranoid losers.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

4. "Who ... on this site are members of the 'gun lobby?' If the powder burns fit--

"They" reveal themselves with their INSTANT negative responses to any rational consideration of gun violence. If you fit that pattern, IMO "they" is YOU.

[flamingdem]

5. They act just like the (edited anti made it pro) Pro-nuke squadron

They are shrill and sharp and offer incomplete references if not outright lies to build their case.

Both are strangely seemingly trying to change your mind but all it brings to mind is .. why is
this so important to you that you are insufferable?

It doesn't seem like they are paid, but almost in the regularity of their responses, as if from a script.

[AllyCat]

7. And don't forget that we keep the profits coming to the gun and ammo manufacturers

as well as keep our war-machine well-tuned and oiled.

[freshwest]

8. I confess to having given up on having any discussion on this issue. it's pointless.

The forces are drawn on either side, throwing rocks at each other, try to come to a median and you'll get smacked in the head just the Hatfields think you're one of the McCoys.