‘Nothing short of insane’: McCollum decries concealed-carry amendment to credit card bill

So, Betty, you don’t panic over visiting, say, Wild River State Park — lovely place — or Frontenac (it is a bird watcher’s paradise) or Minnehaha Falls (city park) or any of the dozens upon dozens of state parks and thousands of county and municipal parks, where Minnesota carry permit holders can and often do “carry a concealed weapon” both lawfully and safely . . . and where the law prohibits impertinent governmental authorities from interfering in that . . . .

But your knickers get all a-twisted if the law allows the same thing in Voyaguers? Silly.

Oh. No. You didn’t mention that. You mentioned the Lincoln Memorial, which would not be affected by this, and which the beagle-eyed reporters at the Minnie Mon didn’t point out.

Got it.

Go back to sleep, Betty. The sky isn’t falling.

The Lincoln Memorial is part of the National Park Service, but Joel’s right: the amendment won’t affect gun laws in the District of Columbia.

First of all Ms. McCollum, nobody will legally be carrying a gun at the Lincoln Memorial because it’s in DC and DC prohibits lawful concealed carry by citizens. Did you even read the bill? It appears as though you did not given comments like that. Secondly, rights are not defined on the basis of “need”. To say that something is not “needed” therefore should be banned is antithetical to one of the core principles of a free society; namely that the State must have legitimate Constitutional authority before it can interfere with the activities of law-abiding citizens. Didn’t you take an oath to uphold the Constitution? Did you read it first? Looks to me like you read neither!

Betty seems to be losing her marbles. Not a good thing for a US Representative.

She asked: “What rationale is there for the need to carry…?”

What she needs to understand is “under what authority does Congress infringe the right to bear arms?”

I hope that Minnesota can do better in civics education in the future, and that voters can make choices of people who understand the highest law of the land … the US Constitution.

Paul is right when he says I’m right. So, to review the bidding: Betty’s shrieking that Obama should veto what she presumably thinks is an important credit card user protection bill (she supported it, after all) because . . . ?

Oh. That’s right: because of nothing, other than her own ignorant panic.

Ah, I finally get it! By legalizing concealed firearms in our National Parks, criminals and those who wish to do serious harm to law abiding citizens can now feel at ease in bringing a gun along on their mission to assault, rob, and otherwise terrorize hikers and those enjoying a day of fun and recreation.

Makes sense, because as we all know the social vermin among us won’t hesitate to take your life, liberty, and property, but NEVER would they illegally carry a firearm. Right?

I hate to say it (well, not really), but Betty I have to seriously question your intelligence and whether you’re even smart enough to represent the people of Minnesota.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/02/28/GR2008022800363.html
”
What rationale is there for the need to carry a concealed weapon on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial?”
Because relativly rare is not non-existant as she could have easily determined herself had she the wit to type national park crime statistics.
So the only rationale McCollum has is to score points with the anti-gun crowd. Pot calling kettle black.

I absolutely agree, thanks to a gun free campus policy at Virginia Tech a madman was not able to murder 30 people and thanks to strict gun laws in California, no one EVER carries a concealed firearm and there is absolutely no chance of being shot in LA. What is that, you mean to say that someone inclined to shoot people is also going to ignore concealed weapon laws (which among other things require a PERMIT issued after a BACKGROUND check)? Unthinkable!

EITHER
Minnesota Democrat McCollum is telling us that she *has* read the bill

AND

that her staff have discovered how many random people have obtained CCW permits from the District of Columbia. How many is that?

OR

This is a shameful example of the … only rationale can be for politicians to score political points. Say it ain’t so, Shoeless Joe.

To better understand the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution it is helpful to consider how almost every reasonable person would interpret this amendment if it did not involve something which is considered controversial or politically incorrect by some and idolized by others. Arms in the possession of ordinary citizens meet both criteria. Let’s, for the sake of argument, suppose that the Second Amendment dealt with books, not arms or weapons, and read like this: “A well educated electorate, being necessary to the maintenance of a free State, the right of the people to own and read books, shall not be infringed.” Does anyone really believe that liberals would claim that only people who were eligible to vote should be allowed to buy and read books? Or that a person should have to have voted in the last election before the government would permit him or her to buy a book? Would the importation of books be banned if they did not meet an “educational purpose” test? Would some States limit citizens to buying “one book a month”? Would inflammatory “assault books” be banned in California?

[...] success in tacking a concealed-guns-in-national-parks rider onto the credit card reform bill, reports the Minnesota Independent. This is a shameful example of the failure of the legislative process and I would urge President [...]

I thought it was not constitutionally permissive to pack unrelated issues into a single legislative bill. The connection between financial interest rate legislation and the priviledge of gun owners to take their weapons into public parks is lost on me.

Have there been numerous acts of violence in parks – so many that we’d prefer untrained citizens to help augment well-trained ranger and park police in securing the public safety in camp grounds. Really?

This process of tacking offensive gun law changes that are completely unrelated to the bill being considered is constitutionally reprehensible.

Also, to John Bates Thayer, if you’d like us to buy your interpretation of why the preamble to the Second Amendment should be interpreted in the manner you describe, perhaps you can also explain why it’s the only one in the Bill of Rights to have such a preamble attached. It clearly suggests to me that the notion of state militias was formative in the drafting of the Amendment.

At any rate, it’s clear that the Founders didn’t anticipate crazed nuts with automatic weapons heading into McDonalds to kill large numbers of people. Not only did McDonalds not yet exist, but neither did the automatic weapons. Even if McDonald’s had existed, the bespectacled citizenry in their powdered wigs could have temporarily abandoned their McJohnniecakes to dog-pile the musketeer and disable him as he was reloading after his first shot. Times change, and so should laws. Unlike most of the rest of the world, we’re going in the wrong direction on gun laws.

It is a terrible idea. I used to work for Glacier National Park! Do they have no lobby at the legislature anymore?! This isn’t just about protecting people, it is about protecting wildlife. Do you know how many people want to go in to these wildlife reserves and shoot bears?

mill
Comment posted May 22, 2009 @ 8:34 am

“Have there been numerous acts of violence in parks – ”

There are enough, and if it saves one life, it’s worth it.

“so many that we’d prefer untrained citizens to help augment well-trained ranger and park police in securing the public safety in camp grounds.”

Yes. The history of concealed carry shows that these “untrained” citizens are fully capable of protecting themselves and others. Besides, these citizens are not charged with “securing public safety in camp grounds”, only with securing their OWN safety within the park. Leaving aside the statement that rangers and park police are “well-trained”, it is obvious to anyone that these guardians will almost never be around when you are assaulted.

“Really?”

Yes, REALLY.

Julie J
Comment posted May 22, 2009 @ 10:22 am

“It is a terrible idea. I used to work for Glacier National Park! Do they have no lobby at the legislature anymore?! This isn’t just about protecting people, it is about protecting wildlife. Do you know how many people want to go in to these wildlife reserves and shoot bears?”

Do YOU? Do you have any data to support that rhetorical question.

Are you suggesting that law-abiding gun owners are just dying to go out and blow away protected wildlife? If someone DID want to do that, do you suppose that a silly law would stop them?

Voyageurs National Park? It that like your Minnesota Boundary Waters where you guys had all those terrorist problems two years ago that made the national news? Those victims (unarmed) were threatened with rape and death while seeking enjoyment, recreation, and peace in your lovely state.

Strike One for Betty (Story) -> http://www.timberjay.com/current.php?article=5293

If I’m on Namakan, Kabetogama, or Rainy with my family and one of your Minnesota meth addicts come into my camp and threatens any of my family – I’m dropping them like a stone.

The criminals now know about the new law so they would be smart to stay away (enjoyment, recreation, and peace once again)

Betty needs to focus on Minnesota’s drug and domestic terrorism problems and not worry so much about law-abiding citizen who are protected by the 2nd Amendment.

Typical liberal “I know what’s best for you”

She’s a Laugher!!!

Betty,

Since, as evidenced by your comments, you do not possess the basic intellect or allegiance to your Sworn Oath of Office to protect and defend the Constitutiion of the United States of America,

RESIGN, IMMEDIATELY, and forfeit your taxpayer-supplied pension and benefits.

It is moronic power-hungry despots such as yourself that are the PROBLEM. Go out from amongst us, Satan.

Hey, Art Carney, you’re embarrassing yourself. In the first place, there have been no incidents where anyone has entered a McDonald’s with an automatic weapon “to kill large numbers of people.” In the second place, whether such a thing had ever happened or not, automatic weapons (also known as machine guns) are illegal in the US so this law wouldn’t have any affect on your firearm-phobic scenario. In the third place, your view of the interpretation of the Second Amendment has been repudiated by the Supreme Court and Harvard Law, and you should get over it.

Art Carney is your typical liberal moron. The Bill of Rights was drafted for individual rights. It cannot be read any other way.

The Founding Fathers could not have anticipated the stupidity of the Art Carney’s of the future world. He’s probably a convicted felon that posses a gun illegally to commit his crimes. Individual freedoms under the 2nd Amendment are eating into his livelihood.

They always play the way left card for other benefits. Hey Art I thought you had to be in Massachusetts to marry Jackie Gleason today – You’re not pursuing happiness – You’re just looking for some free insurance benefits that you don’t deserve?

Yep the Fathers of this Nation never saw the California Pelosi Fruitcakes coming – Commune Hippies going through their acid flashbacks.

I’m hungry and feeling pretty free – I think I’ll go out and get a Big Mac with my kids………………

Art –

I searched the entire internet for that machine gun killing at McDonalds. I must say that I came up empty. Perhaps it’s hidden in the Nancy Pelosi “The CIA lied to me” folder. We’ll just have to believe that it’s true, and that you know what is best for all of the citizenry.

I did run across the “Art Carney Story” in my search. I encourage everybody to watch your video “the downgrading of my profession”. Poor Art.

Sad Story -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ER8Ieop6_Jc

Perhaps you can move to S.F. and become a gay rights activist.

Art -

You slimy dog. You already made your part 2 sequel for us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCezcAHXxRY&feature=PlayList&p=0DFEE4D406F11490&index=1

Don’t opening my car door – loser………….

Congresswoman McCollum -
First – One cannot obtain a concealed carry permit without paying for and attending and passing a Hand Gun Safety Class – issued by the applicants home state or a state with whom the applicants state has reciprocity in this matter. IE possession of a Utah State Concealed Carry Permit is good in 30 States at this time.
Second – The permit applicant will be checked out through FBI, local law enforcement, and NCIC.
Third – An applicant whom has been convicted of 2 Class I Misdomeanors within 5 years is inelligible.IE Tresspass, disorderly Conduct. An applicant with 3 drunk driving convictions is ineligible. An applicant whom has EVER been under a restraining order is ineligible.
Fourth – Legally present persons (Not illegal aliens – not tourists) are the only persons eligible to apply.
Fifth – the dirty truth is – our National Parks and our State Parks are conduits for felons – rental of a spot to pitch a tent near a hot shower is very cheap and BELIEVE ME there are felons camped in your beloved park tonight.
Registration and restrictions will never prevent criminals from obtaining guns – they steal them, buy from straw buyers (criminals themselves), or obtain them from friends. We recently had a licensed concealed carry person involved in a jewlery store robbery here in Leesburg VA. He was on the sidewalk and had the opportunity to shoot the subject but could not in his opinion do so safely – too many civilians on the sidewalk. He did follow the robber and alerted the Police as to his location – a 20 hour stand off ensued. The convicted felon who did the robbery was not eligible to obtain a hand gun and held an elderly couple hostage with a pistol and a rifle he had ILLEGALLY in his possession.
You might consider obtaining such a permit yourself as a means of obtaining excellent information in these matters – and thus gain an informed insight. You do not have to buy a gun but you need to understand the 2nd Ammendment. You and I breathe the same air in Washington Metro – you cannot tell me you feel safe in the parking garage of every mall in the area.