January 11, 2011

The Gun-Free Lawmaker Zone Act?

"Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), one of the few pro-gun control Republicans in the House, wants to make it illegal for someone to carry a gun within 1,000 feet of certain high-ranking federal officials, including members of Congress.... Under federal law, it’s illegal to bring a gun within 1,000 feet of a school. King wants to apply that same standard to federal offices, including the president, vice president, members of Congress and federal judges."

Because the murder-free-zone law that protects the rest of us is just not working well enough. The high officials need a double layer of legal protection.

So when you gun-carriers are out and about, you'll to have make sure you know who all the relevant officials are and where they are at all times and stay 1,000 feet away from there. And if, while you're standing back out of the zone, somebody else, some non-respecter of gun-free zones, pulls out a gun and starts shooting, make sure you don't cross the 1,000 foot line when you try to take out the shooter.

122 comments:

Revenant said...

What a wuss.

Lockestep said...

Let's make more rules highlighting the difference between the Elite Class and everyone else. That will help with civility.

Kirby Olson said...

1000 ft. to a sniper isn't much is it?

What's it going to matter to someone like Loughner, who didn't even care if he was caught.

I haven't got a gun but this is silly.

coketown said...

I just blogged about this. Same sentiments. It strikes me the same way as when a commentator would point out that Virginia Tech's campus was a gun-free zone--then they'd get a sheepish look on their face and change the subject, noting the obvious disconnect between the rationale of the rule and its pure ineffectiveness.

Still, if someone's really determined to shoot a public figure, 1,000 feet isn't that large of a buffer for a skilled marksman. How far was the book depository, after all? And the grassy knoll, now that I think about it.

Unknown said...

Agree with Kirby. The old Mark Twain line, "Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt", has never been so applicable to so many people in so little time.

h/t Winston L S Churchill

PfMoen said...

Yeah- the nutters really DO care about the law.

Anonymous said...

Let's make it illegal to bring a microphone within 1,000 feet of a Congressman.

Revenant said...

This one time I was thinking about murdering a whole bunch of people, but then I realized it would be against the law to bring my gun with me when I did it. So I went to Starbucks and bought a latte instead. Now I'm a productive citizen, all thanks to gun control laws.

kjbe said...

Silly, indeed.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Congress critters can't get over their kneejerk groupthink that more & more laws will fix everything.

The Tea Party should add this to their demands: Give us fewer laws not more.

Paddy O said...

what if the lawmaker owns a gun? Are they banned from being within 1000 feet of themselves?

chickelit said...

Metes and bounds define deeds.

The deed is done. The perp is caught.

Thought was a crime here, I thought.

Why are they still targeting Palin?

Wince said...

Under federal law, it’s illegal to bring a gun within 1,000 feet of a school.

And there I thought the Gun Free School Zone Act had been struck down by SCOTUS in Lopez.

The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 was enacted as section 1702of the Crime Control Act of 1990 and signed by President George H.W. Bush on November 29, 1990.

It was subsequently declared to be an unconstitutional exercise of Congressional authority under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution by the United States Supreme Court, and was therefore voided. This case, United States v. Lopez (1995), was the first time in over half a century that the Supreme Court limited Congressional authority to legislate under the Commerce Clause.

Following the Lopez decision, Congress made minor changes requiring that the firearm in question "has moved in or otherwise affects interstate commerce," and re-enacted the law with President William J. Clinton's signature as the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1995 Title 18 U.S.C Section 922(q). As nearly all firearms have moved in Interstate Commerce at some point in their lives, this was merely a legislative tactic to circumvent the Supreme Court's ruling. Although The 1995 GFSZA has yet to be challenged in the United States Supreme Court, it has been reviewed and upheld by several United States Circuit Courts. In a 2005 Appellate case, United States v Dorsey the minor changes of the revised law were specifically challenged. In the Dorsey case, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the minor changes were indeed sufficient to correct the issues that had caused the original 1990 law to be struck down in United States v Lopez, and they upheld Dorsey's conviction under the revised 1995 version of the law.

chickelit said...

Metes and bounds define deeds.

I had that backwards actually. No matter, my point is the same.

rhhardin said...

I have a gub.

bgates said...

They should have stopped the First Amendment after the fifth word.

Shanna said...

Because the murder-free-zone law that protects the rest of us is just not working well enough

For real. While people ignore the big law (when they are crazy), they'll definately stick to this new, less important law!

Hopefully, the congresspeople who aren't idiots will shoot this down. (damn these metaphors!)

Opus One Media said...

Oh for heaven's sake. Just give all the kids guns to keep in their desks and issue one to each for use on the playground then arm every politican, judge and covered official with a shotgun and forget about the whole thing.

Leland said...

What's it going to matter to someone like Loughner, who didn't even care if he was caught.

He might not post that he expects to be killed.

Freeman Hunt said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DADvocate said...

Laws like this would effectively make it illegal to carry any where in the downtown of many large cities because there are federal courts, congressional/senatorial offices, federal reserve offices, post offices, etc.

Plus, many more ordinary people are murdered than federal officials. How many people died in the Tucson shooting who weren't federal officials? How many people across the country who weren't federal officials have been murdered since Giffords was shot?

Grow a pair. Giffords is more of a man than King. We need more leaders who are willing to face danger so they understand what our citizens and soldiers face every day rather than the plush, cuddled lives they lead.

Sprezzatura said...

Don't forget the crosshair-free zone act.

Freeman Hunt said...

Right. Because we never have shooting sprees at schools. And surely Loughner, had he known about such a law, would not have dared bring a gun inside Giffords radius of special legal protection. He was ready to murder, not ready to defy the bureaucracy!

Althouse needs a moron tag.

Wince said...

Point of parliamentary procedure...

Will that 1000 feet be measured from the congressman's center or his perimeter?

Revenant said...

Don't forget the crosshair-free zone act.

It warms my heart to see that this tragedy has brought our representatives together, from across the partisan divide, to jointly propose a series of excruciatingly stupid laws.

Wince said...

make it illegal for someone to carry a gun within 1,000 feet of certain high-ranking federal officials, including members of Congress.

Now's a good time for gun rights activists to have the last laugh and push for that change over to the metric system!

Fritz said...

Can we hang large bells off of them so we know they're in the vicinity?

traditionalguy said...

The Monarchists are genuinely scared of the voters. Is that because they know that they are at war with the voters. America is still appears to be an ungovernable accumulation of rebels when seen from a King's perspective. So let's send the newest Kings back to England and Kenya where they are really needed. What was the bill's author named?

Big Mike said...

1000 feet is much shorter than 400 meters. With my M14 I only missed one target at 400 meters back when I was going through Basic Combat Training, though that was a long time ago (more than 40 years, in fact).

But let's run this law past the Giffords scenario. Jared Loughner would be guilty, but he's already been charged with multiple counts of homicide, and I can't imagine that the penalties for violating the "gun-free lawmaker zone" would be more severe than the penalties for multiple homicides.

On the other hand, the guy who came rushing up with his own handgun to try to engage the shooter and save lives, now that guy would be guilty of violating the "gun-free lawmaker zone," and he could be looking at some prison time.

That's Democrats for you -- letting no good deed go unpunished since the days of Thomas Jefferson.

Freeman Hunt said...

What the hell is wrong with New York? Pro gun control Republican? Does just not being a full on fascist/communist make you a Republican there?

You can't even be a pro gun control Democrat here and hope to get elected.

DaveW said...

I don't own a gun either, but suppose I did, and I was cleaning it on the back porch and a congress critter came wizzing by in their limo. Would I be breaking the law?

This is so stupid. I think some people lost their marbles over the Giffords shooting.

Loren said...

In order to identify the public officials, so that you may stay in compliance, can we get them all to wear aluminum foil suits with flashing strobes?

Palladian said...

I propose a Lawmaker-Free Gun Zone Act, which requires lawmakers to stay at least 1000 feet away from legally owned and carried firearms.

X said...

I think it's a good idea. Of course we'll need to implant GPS transponders in the feds brains so we can all comply. And mandated purchase of tomtoms.

ricpic said...

No guns within a thousand feet of canteloupes! Honeydews? Eh.

Unknown said...

How about a law that makes it illegal to break existing laws? That'd cover it, right? No, maybe not enough,... another law making it illegal to break the law against breaking existing laws. There, now we're 3 times as safe!

Right?

Anonymous said...

See? There are idiots on both sides.

Deb said...

Trying to explain the futility of such a law is harder than trying to explain to transplanted northerners why we don't have snow plows in the South.

Hagar said...

I thought of this at the election last fall, when I drove into the parking lot at the school where my polling place was. I bet at least every third or fourth vehicle in the lot had a loaded firearm in it, and no, they had not let the schools out for the midterm election.
Yet we kick kids out of school for bringing their nail-cutters to school!


Wv: pants - several words in one!

Deb said...

You see where this is headed...they willkeep expanding that gun free zone until it takes up the entire country.

wv: wadaza. What this law is.

MadisonMan said...

This does seem kind of silly. What if you're sitting outside somewhere with a gun, and a lawmakers strolls by?

In other words -- what exactly do they mean by carry.

Oh, but Thank Goodness politicians are doing something!!!!!.

XWL said...

Anyone who serves more than 5 terms in the House should ask themselves why they are so afraid of getting a real job...

Palladian said...

"Oh, but Thank Goodness politicians are doing something!!!!!."

For the children!

DaveW said...

How about a law that we all have to bow down face to the ground when one of these characters is near? Can't shoot from that position plus it's a worshipful pose. So it would accomplish two goals.

And really, these guys are special, not like us peons, and they deserve to be worshiped.

Anonymous said...

"What the hell is wrong with New York?"

I've asking that question all of my life and I still don't know.

Ray said...

I wonder if the proposed bill also bans knives, cars, gasoline, fertilizer, and/or physically strong people from within a 1,000 feet of his cowardly self?

Big Mike said...

This a--hole is a Republican!?!?!

holdfast said...

Ok, so if you own a house next door to a school, or a Congressman's house if this abortion of a bill passes, then you are barred by Federal law from keeping an otherwise legal firearm in your own home?

This is just one of those nasty little laws that is almost never enforced, except against the "wrong" sort of people, amirite?

holdfast said...

@Deb

With all this glow-ball warmening going around, you might want to invest in some.

DaveO said...

How far away was Lee Harvey Oswald?

Larry J said...

1000 ft. to a sniper isn't much is it?

You don't even need a sniper's skills for a shot at that distance. When I was in the infantry, we routinely shot targets at 300 meters using nothing more than a standard M-16 with iron sights. Millions of guys have had that kind of training. A real sniper can kill someone from 1000+ meters with a medium rifle and over a mile with the heavy iron. Last year, a British sniper in Afghanistan fired 3 rounds from over 1.5 miles, killing two men and destroying a piece of equipment.

tim maguire said...

New Yorkers don't believe anybody should have a gun unless they also draw a government paycheck (in which case guns may be handed out like after-dinner mints).

Observations that this law puts anyone owning a gun in jeopardy of arrest are not uncovering a flaw in the law so much as revealing the secret motivation.

Peter Hoh said...

This is the same Peter King who supported terrorists, right?

Freeman Hunt said...

Too bad we don't have a "no shooting people" law. Perhaps this tragedy could have been prevented.

Paul said...

Don't worry Ann, being a CHL holder here in Texas I sure won't cross that 1000 ft line to save that politicans bacon.

We used to have that 'gun free' school zone act that really stopped those nutjobs at schools, right?

And they ruled that unconstitutional. Bummer. You want to bet they won't rule this egghead politicans law unconstitutional?

If they really want to stop nutjobs, then allow doctors to commit nuts to the mental wards like they used to!!!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I heard that one of the reasons one of the person that ultimately tackled the shooter did so was that he was/is a licenced gun owner and had his gun with him.

When he heard the shots he ran towards the scene.. and when he got there the shooter was reloading and so he felt he could tackle him w/o having to shoot him.

Had it been a "gun free zone" more people would have died.. that is an incontrovertible fact that gets in the way of gun control advocates over and over again.

Freeman Hunt said...

Next up, Congress proposes to make it illegal for people to be crazy.

"Psychotic people clearly represent a danger to our society, and so it is important that we make a stand today to let them know that they will no longer be allowed to be psychotic and must immediately desist in their psychoses," said one Representative.

Freeman Hunt said...

And then,

"Today I stand with my Congressional colleagues as we prepare to introduce the No Aiming Act. It is nearly impossible to murder someone with a firearm without the use of aim, and so we propose to outlaw aiming entirely. By this act, we have balanced the interest of stopping murderers with the interests of those who shoot guns for recreation. This act does not ban guns, nor does it outlaw the shooting of firearms for entertainment. It simply forbids the aiming of firearms. We understand that this may end the niche sport of target shooting, but we feel that that is a small price to pay for saving lives."

Shanna said...

Trying to explain the futility of such a law is harder than trying to explain to transplanted northerners why we don't have snow plows in the South.

Heh.

The Dude said...

All citizens should be required to carry guns whenever they are within 1000 feet of a politician. No exceptions.

J said...

How about a law that makes it a felony for an elected official to propose, sponsor, or vote in favor of any flagrantly unconstitutional law, with mandatory prison time and unlimited personal liability if convicted. And a clause that the call on whether a law is flagrantly unconstitutional or not will be decided exclusively by the jury, not anyone in the judicial chain.

Paul Kirchner said...

Coketown said...Still, if someone's really determined to shoot a public figure, 1,000 feet isn't that large of a buffer for a skilled marksman. How far was the book depository, after all? And the grassy knoll, now that I think about it.

I've been to the Texas Book Depository and all of Oswald's shots were at relatively close range--under 100 yards. His first shot was at 175 feet and his third at 265 feet.

I agree that the proposed law is stupid and pointless, as are "gun-free" zones around schools.

Anonymous said...

If the doors of mental institutions had not been thrown open in the late 70's going forward to save the states money, maybe guys like this would be watching TV in the sunroom instead of walking amongst us killing people.

Just a thought.

Harry said...

Russ said...How about a law that makes it illegal to break existing laws? That'd cover it, right? No, maybe not enough,... another law making it illegal to break the law against breaking existing laws. There, now we're 3 times as safe!

I've got to remember this one. Brilliant.

chuckR said...

OK, if I'm carrying a gun, or even a gub (thanks rhhardin), how exactly am I to know that I'm within 1000 feet of Congresstwit King? What am I, some sort of psychic?

I don't know what's more appalling about this proposal, the sentiment or the complete disconnect from reality.

Freeman Hunt said...

Later,

"Today we introduce a new layer of protection upon the American people; today we put forward the No Eating if You're Planning to Murder Anyone Act. The protection provided by this bill, if passed, will be twofold. First, it will deincentivize murder by forcing would-be murderers to endure extreme hunger to carry out their bad acts. All people planning to murder anyone will consider themselves put on notice to starve. This great suffering will, assuredly, cause them to rethink their intentions. Two, would-be criminals will weaken themselves by their lack of food and be inhibited in their abilities to carry out their nefarious deeds. By supporting this bill, we are telling the would-be murderers of this country that we don't like what they are planning to do. Not at all. And so, we ask our fellow Representatives to come together with us on this legislation. That is, unless they want more Americans to die."

Anonymous said...

This is the best idea I've seen all day for controlling Congress.

This way, there won't be anyone to protect any lawmakers within 1,000 feet of them when they're riding down the street in the parades.

I'm sure the crazed wackos think it's a wonderful idea to disarm any potential heros within 1,000 feet of their targets.

That way, they can reload easier.

Pretty soon, we won't have to worry about that pesky Congress because there won't be any of them left.

The Crack Emcee said...

Can it get any stupider than this?

Wait - don't answer that.

Toad Trend said...

Peter King missed the bus!

The real danger is fresh fruit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piWCBOsJr-w

Freeman Hunt said...

If they really cared about us, they'd pass a Murderer-Free People Zone Act.

DADvocate said...

See? There are idiots on both sides

I don't think any reasonable person ever thought otherwise.

I read somewhere that the difference between genius and stupidity is that genius knows its limits. We've certainly been seeing the proof of that the last few days.

Freeman Hunt said...

And a ban on skull shrines.

And incoherent YouTube videos.

And maybe just round up and jail all Pima County Community College students.

A.Worthing said...

um, i thought that law about bringing a gun near a school was struck down. did i miss something?

DaveW said...

It would be easier on all of us if we made it against the law for a congress critter to approach a gun owner within 1,000 feet.

After all, that way the congress critters are the only ones responsible. Plus it wouldn't be in conflict with the 2nd amendment or over broad.

Whaddaya say Rep. King?

KCFleming said...

Idiocracy Redux.

William said...

It is fair to say that over the years Ben & Jerry's with their artery clogging wares have killed more people than Smith & Wesson. I think even Michelle Obama would agree with that. And yet these merchants of death proliferate like dandelions. Is it because of their hippie coloration? I would propose a law banning the opening of a Ben & Jerry's within one thousand feet of any fat assed politician. It is too late for Ted Kennedy, but there is still time for Barney Frank and, for that matter, Peter King.

William said...

A word on behalf of magazine control: what's the point of gun magazines that contain thirty bullets and where's the harm in banning them? And many articles in the New Yorker are too long.

Freeman Hunt said...

And many articles in the New Yorker are too long.

Absolutely. And how many madmen among us might become frustrated reading such overlong articles and lash out upon society?

R.L. Hunter said...

Exactly William 30 bullets is nowhere near enough
I want a law that forbids magazines that hold less than 1000 rounds.

Anonymous said...

ChuckR's question is my question too. If I have a stuffy nose I may have no way of knowing that peter King is in the area.

Cedarford said...

Larry J said...
1000 ft. to a sniper isn't much is it?

You don't even need a sniper's skills for a shot at that distance. When I was in the infantry, we routinely shot targets at 300 meters using nothing more than a standard M-16 with iron sights.
----------------------
Agree. Nothing new. Everything is pretty effective and accurate out to 359 yards since the 1898 Mauser came out, along with the speer tip. And most infantrymen can be trained to be accurate, 15-20% deadly accurate, without specialized sniper skills. Gun-ignorant people think, just like the movie heroes in their gunfights, it is incredibly difficult for the bad guys to hit anything, even from 50 yards. Leading to the "Master Sniper" theories from the ignorant and dumb FBI profilers who spent more time in pop psychology classes than on a gun range.

Phil 314 said...

So when you gun-carriers are out and about, you'll to have make sure you know who all the relevant officials are and where they are at all times and stay 1,000 feet away from there

Isn't there an app for that?

Known Unknown said...

Let them shoot cake.

Revenant said...

I've been to the Texas Book Depository and all of Oswald's shots were at relatively close range--under 100 yards. His first shot was at 175 feet and his third at 265 feet.

This is one of many reasons why the whole "there's no way Oswald could have made that shot, it was just too hard" meme is so silly. You have to not know anything about shooting to believe that.

Fen said...

what's the point of gun magazines that contain thirty bullets and where's the harm in banning them?

Recent home invasion in Arizona: perps came in daylight, about 6 of them, all armed with illegally obtained AK47s. Homeowner barriaded himself inside and kept them at bay with his own arsenal, which included high-capacity mags.


Lesson: its not our place to determine what someone else's self-defense needs are. Esp in places like Arizona, where Obama has admitted to looking the other way on border crime to extort support for amnesty for illegal aliens.

Fen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fen said...

So when you gun-carriers are out and about, you'll to have make sure you know who all the relevant officials are and where they are at all times and stay 1,000 feet away from there

"Isn't there an app for that?"

Ha. Yes, all congress-critters should wear LED beacons that alert gun owners when they are in range.

Bruce Hayden said...

Well, it would be interesting. Somehow we would be expected to know where these federal employees are at all times, so that we don't go near them. Or, maybe move away when they come.

But, that would seem to me to mean that if a federal lawmaker, etc. approached someone who was carrying, then the lawmaker would have some vicarious liability - conspirator, accomplice before the fact, etc. Of course, the law would be subject to discretionary application by the U.S. Attorney's office, and so they would never prosecute those actually causing the crimes by walking towards someone who had a gun. But still...

And, then you would have the problem of lawmakers, etc. who actually like guns. If they went to a shooting range, everyone else would have to leave. And, no one would show up for their political events. (reminds me of when VP Cheney went to speak in Utah - the SS wouldn't let any guns near him, but the Republican party wouldn't disarm its members. The solution was a bunch of gun lockers brought in for just that one appearance).

Sayyid said...

"How far was the book depository, after all? And the grassy knoll, now that I think about it."
Not far at all. A stone's throw.

"You see where this is headed...they willkeep expanding that gun free zone until it takes up the entire country."
You don't need to when you make the barrier mobile. Anyone within 1000 feet of a *road* is now potentially going to violate this by possessing a stationary handgun within the bounds of their own home if the wrong car drives by on a parallel street three blocks down from their house.

I seem someone else mentioned how this violates Lopez. For the reason above, I'd say it also clearly runs against Heller.

Beth said...

But more non-elected officials died in that shooting than did elected officials.

Beth said...

Dammit, I mean more citizens vs. elected officials.

Beth said...

And really, post-Cheney hunting fiasco, shouldn't a ban go the other way 'round?

furious_a said...

As a commenter said on Instapundit, more or less:

"Fine, as long as there's a law keeping Congress 1,000-feet away from my paycheck."

sunsong said...

If Congresspeople feel they need security - they should hire their own body guards like everyone else does.

My view is that it is good if politicans fear the people. It is the opposite that is tyranny - when the people fear the politiicans.

DADvocate said...

I want a law that forbids magazines that hold less than 1000 rounds.

This would actually lower gun violence. Think how heavy a gun with a 1,000 rounds would weigh, how hard it would be to carry it and how easy it would be to see them coming.

MayBee said...

And really, post-Cheney hunting fiasco, shouldn't a ban go the other way 'round?

Prior to what happened in Tucson, I think more political violence had been perpetrated by executive branch motorcades.

holdfast said...

OK - how about we lock up all the politicos in a single gun-free city? We'll have to pick one that already has extremely stringent anti-gun laws, so we can be sure that there are no evil guns lying around. Then we build a big security fence around the city (to keep out all the dangerous armed citizens, bitter clingers and tea party types), so it is just the pols, their staffs and a select group of government-worshiping, unarmed citizens.

We will call this utopia "Washington, DC", a/k/a paradise on the Potomac.

Michael said...

I have a better idea. Why don't we make a law that says that constituents have to stay five miles away from elected officials. Then we don't have these cheesy meet and greets where the lawmakers (love the phrase) have to mingle and pretend to listen. Then we could dispense with the charade and the lawmakers would have to guess what the people wanted and if they guess wrong they are out. Oh, and that includes lobbyists. And staff. Because with no interaction with the people you don't need all that interference.

AST said...

I'm buying stock in Stanley Works, they make tape measures and laser measuring devices. I just hope they don't have crosshairs. Imagine a congressman out campaigning and seeing a dozen little red spots lighting him up.

"I wasn't going to shoot! I just wanted to know if I was far enough away!"

Michael said...

Beth: Cheney hunting "fiasco" is a case in point. What part of the hunting accident was a fiasco? How does that word get used in connection with a hunting accident? Would a liberal's hunting accident be a fiasco or a hunting accident?

Or are you referring to the treatment of the accident by the media? Because the accident was not immediately reported to Katie Couric?

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

Assuming that there would be no exceptions for security detail is a pretty dumb thing to do. But I guess you go to war with the army you have, right?

XWL said...

Here's a suggestion that I think Peter King can get behind.

Obviously, members of Congress have much to fear when mingling with the public in general, so rather than creating moving gun zone buffers around each and every Congressperson, I modestly propose we repurpose one of our federal prisons in the Northern Virginia/DC area as a Maximum Security Congressional Compound.

They can build an underground subway from the MSCC to the Capitol Building (rather than a traditional subway with big cars, have little individual coffin sized tubes for our reps to commute in, that would cut the costs of such a system by a huge margin, and really, who needs to stand or sit up while commuting, anyway?) and keep them all locked tight behind barbed wire and guarded machine gun nests when out of session.

Build a state of the art media center within the MSCC so they can still do all their appearances on the various Sunday Morning shows, and the like, that way the public won't miss out on the wit and wisdom of our political elite.

There would be an added bonus ending all junkets (if they want safety so much, they probably shouldn't be jetting off to a bunch of foreign hotspots on the public dime), and mitigate some of the advantages of incumbency during re-election campaigns (that's right, they wouldn't be paroled, even to campaign).

I think this could work, Congress might be reluctant to pass this law upon themselves, but I bet 38 State Legislatures across this great land might see fit to amending our Constitution to that effect.

Fen said...

Assuming that there would be no exceptions for security detail is a pretty dumb thing to do.

Of course, Gun control is meant for the little people. The elites, hollywood, and the politically connected get their own armed details. At our expense.

Quite frankly, I'm surprised so many of our Politburo have NOT been gunned down by now.

Fen said...

Typical Congress-critter

Bayoneteer said...

How about a law that says all lawmakers and their stooges have to stay at least 1000ft away from me and my guns? Seems easier to enforce.

Opus One Media said...

Michael said...
Beth: Cheney hunting "fiasco" is a case in point. What part of the hunting accident was a fiasco??"

I've been praying so idiot would bring up Dick Cheney and hunting...thank you Michael.


...Dick......

Michael said...

HD: Not sure why you would call Beth an idiot, but that is for you to say. That was a great cartoon of Cheney blowing the constitution to bits but I thought you guys thought the constitution a bit of a laugh, or at least you did a week or so ago. And which parts of the blown up constitution has our current president restored. Thanks for serving first.

David said...

I think we should also make it illegal for a lawmaker to come within 1000 feet of a gun carrier.

That would make as much sense.

DADvocate said...

Now Democrat Rep. Robert "Bozo" Brady plans to introduce legislation that will make it easier to imprison anyone criticizing a politician. Liberal fascism marches on.

Any excuse will serve a tyrant.

Kirk Parker said...

"You have to not know anything about shooting to believe that."

True--but we have an almost limitless supply of journalists who perfectly fit that description.

IM-MTO said...

Any chance they get to ban guns they're going to take.

Opus One Media said...

Not to be too Jonathan Swift here but the obvious solution that the gun lovers would embrace would be to issue each kid a handgun when he turns, say 3 years old or so, or strong enough to pull the trigger..by the time they are adults so many would be gone that only the best shots and the most cunning gun toters would be left leaving us a population who are very good at the old lock and load.

Everyone then would be well trained and versed on shooting and although society would look like the posturing before the OK Corral shootout, eyes twitching, hands at the ready to draw and shoot, the gun lobby would have no opposition and all would be right with the world.

Anonymous said...

I think it is a great idea, as long as it applies to all "someone"s, including LEOs, bodyguards, and the officials themselves. It will allow them to feel like the rest of us when we enter a gun-free zone.

Tiny Bunch said...

I saw this in another comment in another blog posting and decided to check it. It was right. The gun-free area that Peter King would legislate is 72 acres.

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=area+of+2000+foot+circle

Bruce Wayne said...

I've been reading these wonderful comments and want to add one of my pet peeves.
Speed zones for schools during certain hours.
These laws require us to know what time it is.

Roger J. said...

I got it--why dont we just make murder illegal?

Oh wait--how did that law turn out.

Larry J makes a good point re the accuracy of ordinary rifles; I qualified expert in 1961 with an M1never having fired a rifle before. and then there was the marine sniper during the somali pirate incident that whacked two ragheads with a 50 cal Barrett from the deck of destroyer on the high seas--allowing for wave action and all, that was a great bit of shooting.

Lockestep said...

My comment got an Insta-mention. I feel very special today.

jr565 said...

Freeman Hunt wrote:

And a ban on skull shrines.

And incoherent YouTube videos.


How about a ban on Foucault? Because he's boring as fuck. And French.

test said...

HDHouse said...
Not to be too Jonathan Swift here but the obvious solution that the gun lovers would embrace would be to issue each kid a handgun when he turns, say 3 years old or so, or strong enough to pull the trigger..by the time they are adults so many would be gone that only the best shots and the most cunning gun toters would be left leaving us a population who are very good at the old lock and load.

Everyone then would be well trained and versed on shooting and although society would look like the posturing before the OK Corral shootout, eyes twitching, hands at the ready to draw and shoot, the gun lobby would have no opposition and all would be right with the world.

1/12/11 6:43 AM
______________________________

This is the sort of thing you have to believe to be a leftist.

This is one reason liberal university faculty train their acolytes to revel in absurdity. Anyone capable of embarassment cannot be a leftist as it requires one to publicly affirm many irrational postions.

Anonymous said...

So, to make sure the peasants know the 1000 foot limit, members of Congress will be required to wear GPS trackers that transmit their exact location instantly to a monitoring site that is posted in real time on the internet. Seems fair.

rosignol said...

Can we hang large bells off of them so we know they're in the vicinity?

Actually, I really like this idea, but it doesn't go far enough. We would need to attach some kind of noisemaking device to these officials, which would periodically emit a sound clearly audible at 1000 feet (say, every 5 minutes) so that those of us with carry permits would be reasonably warned and could avoid the restricted area.

It would probably also be helpful for the officials to wear distinctive clothing- maybe a blaze-orange jumpsuit- so that hearing-impaired gun owners would also have a reasonable indication of the presence of one of these officials. The Americans With Disabilities Act would require no less.

I feel these precautions would improve the personal safety of our elected officials and help ensure they receive the respect they deserve.

M.S. said...

I could not stop laughing at "the murder-free-zone law that protects the rest of us is just not working well enough."

The best point of them all against senseless legislation.