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I have an axe to grind, but unlike the New York Times, I freely admit it.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Gunning Down Poor Langauge


It is always amazing to watch Republicans talk themselves into unenviable corners.  Take for example the latest fury about gun control. A republican House member has been reported to say no “assault” weapons ban will get through the House. He failed to say that any ban that includes semi-automatic weapons will include hundreds of non-military, non-assault rifles and shotguns. He also failed to say that a 10-round limit on the size of magazines, does not affect some semi-automatic handguns that hold 14 to 16 rounds. So in reality it’s not just a ban on all semi-automatic weapons or on all clips to 10 rounds. It just ain’t that easy.  Senator Diane Feinstein's (D-Calif) bill includes more than 900 exceptions to the semi-automatic rule and grandfathers (permits) such weapons that are already in the possession of gun owners.  So simply put Republicans have permitted the press and the Democrats to put them in the unenviable position of defending “assault” weapons as if they were the only weapons under discussion, when in reality, a much larger ban (all semi-automatic) is being sought.  The assault weapons ban will include many non-assault type guns and that is why it is being contested. We all want safer streets, safer schools and safer homes, but we do not want to live in the world of “Minority Report,” where people are arrested before they have committed any crimes. Perhaps if Republicans explained it that way they would be in a better position.