Fire Mission - Lautenberg meanerings

[rbernie]

CNN is running a typical 'the sky is falling' article about how folk on the 'terrorist watch list' can still buy firearms. Well, of course they can, because you need be convicted of no crime to be placed on that list.

They have the usual poll up, and I think that we should hit it. Go to www.cnn.com and look halfway down on the right.

Current law doesn't stop firearm or explosives sales to people whose names are on the terrorist watch list. That's the finding of a new report by the Government Accountability Office, sent to lawmakers last month and released publicly Monday.
....
Of the 963 background checks, 865 were allowed to proceed, and 98 were denied, the report said.

"The integrity of the terror watch list is poor, as it mistakenly contains the names of many men and women, including some high-profile Americans, who have not violated the law," said a statement by Chris W. Cox, the NRA chief lobbyist. "In fact, a March 2009 report by the inspector general of the Department of Justice concluded that many people whose names were mistakenly placed on the list remain there even after their cases have been vetted and closed."

 

[hso]

Most folks are going to vote "YES" because they don't want terrorists to have access for firearms.

They're not going to read, much less think about the fact that anyone
s name can end up on the list and that a hundred "Bob Smith"s can have their constitutional rights denied without ever breaking a single law.

 

[5whiskey]

See, I wouldn't be so completely appalled at this news piece if several different portions of our government hadn't come out with "intel bullitens" describing libertarians, conservatives, returning war veterans, or people who bear 2A rights stickers on their cars, as terrorists. I've smelled a foul stench in how our government has been run for some time now, but it smells even worse now than before. God help us.



Disclaimer: I'm not trying to express any hidden political view, I'm just stating fact. If you can find an "intel bulliten" labeling left-wing extremists then I will feel much better. Really, I will... at least then it wouldn't appear quiet so overt that the current party in charge is trying to silence all dissenting opinions that differ from their own.


EDIT: One more thing... If people on the terrorist watch list are there for a reason, then instead of banning guns when we all know there could easily be a mistake, why not use the flagging purchase as an opportunity to pay a visit. It serves two purposes. If someone IS acting like a terrorist, then the feds can keep tabs on them. Likewise, if I'm Joe blow general populace... I would like to know if I'm on the terrorist watch list so I can quickly go about clearing my name if I've done no wrong.

 

[chuckusaret]

Most folks are going to vote "YES" because they don't want terrorists to have access for firearms.

Most people voted no meaning they did not want weapons sold to people on the terrorist watch list. The correct answer should have been yes because the people on the watch list have not been charged with any crime. Veterans are on that list because the Home Land Security Secretary placed all veterans on the list because of their training.

 

[eqfan592]

Whisky and Chuck, not all vets nor all people with a 2a bumper sticker are on any sort of watch list. And if you want a watch list about "left wing extremists" they HAVE existed.

To be frank, this kind of crap is what feeds the anti's. They look at people saying things like this, then read the actual item in question and see that the above statements are crap, then say "See, if they are willing to distort this, then they must be willing to distort everything!"

 

[Neverwinter]

Talk about hitting two amendments with one stone.

 

[Old Fuff]

How many people are going to vote "yes" to a question: Should terrorists be allowed to buy guns?" Talk about a loaded question, but this is the left-wing news media after all.

 

[John Q. Pirate]

Here's the letter I plan to send to Lautenberg - if anyone else is interested in doing so as well, feel free to use my template in whole or in part.

Mods, I apologize if this more appropriately belongs in Activism, but I didn't notice a relevant thread.

The Hon. Frank Lautenberg
US Senate
Hart Senate Office Building, Suite 324
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Sen. Lautenberg:

I am profoundly disappointed upon learning today of your newest endeavor to further inhibit the rights of Americans under the Second Amendment.

Pursuant to a GAO report you requested which cross-references firearm background check data with individuals listed on the terrorist watch list, you made the following statement:

"this new report is proof positive that known and suspected terrorists are exploiting a major loophole in our law, threatening our families and our communities. This 'terror gap' has been open too long, and our national security demands that we shut it down."

Notwithstanding the naked fear-mongering the above represents, I fail to comprehend how one in your position reconciles a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution with an attempt to deny others their rights under same, without due process of law, insofar as the details of your anticipated legislative proposal have revealed. Specifically, reports indicate that you would seek to empower the Attorney General with broad authority to arbitrarily deny firearm sales to any individual appearing on said "watch list," who have otherwise been found guilty of no crime, nor even charged with one. The frequent inaccuracies that characterize this and similar watch lists, despite the government's best intentions, are almost an afterthought in light of the foregoing.

I therefore respectfully urge you to abandon this misdirected effort, and understand that I will support no candidate for re-election that disregards the Second Amendment or our rights under the Constitution.

Signed,


John Q. Pirate

 

[slabuda]

I saw that and fired off a letter to my senator/congressman. Not only for 2nd rights but the 6th as well.
I will get a reply and post when they arrive if asked.

 

[waterhouse]

"this new report is proof positive that known and suspected terrorists are exploiting a major loophole in our law

If there are known terrorists on the watch list, why are they on the watch list and not on trial/ in jail?

 

[5whiskey]

Whisky and Chuck, not all vets nor all people with a 2a bumper sticker are on any sort of watch list.

Never did I say that all vets were on a watch list... it's still appalling that they suggest that anyone should be cautioned about vets.

To be frank, this kind of crap is what feeds the anti's. They look at people saying things like this, then read the actual item in question and see that the above statements are crap, then say "See, if they are willing to distort this, then they must be willing to distort everything!"

Right, my links below are big time distortion of facts. Read my post again. I never said any of the group that I mentioned were on the actual terror watch list, I just said that are own government has released several "intel assessments" that states people from these groups should be "treated with caution". Personally I think that anyone from PETA that gets PO'd at the president swatting a fly should be treated with caution.

And if you want a watch list about "left wing extremists" they HAVE existed.

Really? Let's see em'. I have links to support my side. Let's see yours.

http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf

http://www.constitution.org/abus/le/miac-strategic-report.pdf

 

[Animal Mother]

Right now that poll is leaning 89% Anti-Gun, 11% Pro-Gun.