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During a event near Louisville, KY this morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell commented on the Giffords shooting in Tucson on Saturday. McConnell was giving a talk to high school students, an event that had been scheduled long before the weekend's tragedy. McConnell said Congress would take a look at "the way security is provided."
McConnell cautioned, "We don't want to get into a situation where elected representatives don't feel comfortable interacting -- what we're doing this morning -- interacting with people they represent. And I don't think we'll, that we will end up in that position."
Interestingly, McConnell strongly disagreed that stronger gun laws are needed in the wake of the shooting. "I think it is extremely unlikely that any kind of gun control laws would have prevented a young man who was obviously as troubled as this one. He would have found some way to do what he did. I don't think that's the appropriate reaction, to what happened."
At the end of his event, McConnell participated in a moment of silence with the school.
Leave a Comment:
Did Mitch refer to it as a 'job-killing' event?
Funny you mention that Buzz...
From an earlier post of mine this morning:
What McConnell & Boehner fail to realize is people are starting to catch on to their 'thinly veiled' code words!
It will be interesting to see if they actually walk the walk for a change or continue on with nothing more than 'lip service'!
I saw your post. Between 'job-killing' and "failed (fill in blank)", they are pretty much a broken record. It's the old "if I say it all the time, nonstop, it will pick up traction". And, sadly, it does.
From an earlier reply to your earlier post:
Feisty,
It better - That's what it does.
And guess what - the minority of metaphor morons who are too obtuse to understand the history of American political lexicon (as well as every day lexicon), the contemptible who exploit this tragedy for their political agenda....
... THEY DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT SAY.
Don't feed the troll!
"Independent, nonpartisan experts project only a "small" or "minimal" impact on jobs, even before taking likely job gains in the health care and insurance industries into account."
To all of those affected by this Tragedy, here in Rural KY, we offer our Sincere Condolences & the Hope that something Good can come from this.
As for Minority Leader McConnel, he has made a career(Political from Taxpayers) of being the Defensive Captain at all times. A lifetime Dream, such as Boehners of being an Offensive political leader will Never come to pass.
Having the ability to fire a handgun 30 times and kill or injure 20 people in seconds seems to me to be giving a lunatic too much power. Maybe the people of Arizona should have more gun restrictions not less.
" I think it is extremely unlikely that any kind of gun control laws would have prevented a young man who was obviously as troubled as this one."
Australia banned these semi-automatic weapons after a mass killing, and they have not experienced tragedies on this scale since. Why does the USA work so hard to keep weapons out of the hands of rogue states, but any lunatic or drug dealer can buy weapons designed to kill enemy soldiers in our own communities?
Loughner used a 9mm handgun.
At least ban clips that can hold more than nine rounds. The west was won with a six shooter, so why would any one need a gun that can hold 30 rounds.
Zombies.
We do seem to work against our own best interests.
Gail Collins of the New York Times:
"Loughner’s gun, a 9-millimeter Glock, is extremely easy to fire over and over, and it can carry a 30-bullet clip. It is “not suited for hunting or personal protection,” said Paul Helmke, the president of the Brady Campaign. “What it’s good for is killing and injuring a lot of people quickly.”
One could postulate Mr. Helmke's association with the Brady Campaign renders his opinion on gun control issues somewhat-less-than-unbiased - it could throw his credibility as a news-worthy source into question.
There is nothing exotic or special about a Glock 9mm. Actually, 9mm is on the lower end of the pistol ammunition perforance spectrum.
Yea, 9mm is not a hunting cartrige, very few pistols are suitable for hunting. those that are, are exotic/specialized.
Personal protection?
That is exactly what the civilian utility and purpose is, in addition to a lesser extent -recreational shooting and competitive shooting.
30+ round clip for personal protection...not likely. They are illegal in some state and should be illegal everywhere.
Senator McConnell, while you are discussing security for congressional members, discuss how to dial back the inciteful language--one place to start is by not naming the GOP repeal of health care as the "Job Killing Health Care Repeal". For one thing, not one GOPTPer can name one job killed by the legislation but many supporters can point to those who have received health care because of HCR that it is "life affirming".
It is my understanding that the gun laws in Arizona are some of the most lenient in the nation. As much evidence as there is that Loeghner was mentally unstable, it makes me wonder how he was able to walk into a gun shop and walk out with a gun. I am not anti-gun but I do believe laws should be reasonable, should require background checks, should require a waiting period. What's the big hurry?
I heard yesterday that in NH, they are considering making it legal to carry firearms into the State House and Senate. Does this seem rational to anyone? Especially in this politically divided environment? This is 2nd amendment rights run amok. It is bad enough, that more and more frequently guns are being allowed into bars, on planes, trains, etc. I don't care how responsible that guy sitting next to me on the plane is, my rights should be considered as well, the right to be somewhere and not wonder if the gun I see is just for "macho" show or does the person intend to use it. It seems we keep making it easier for the mentally unbalanced to cause great harm.
He is another person who could have stopped all this a year ago and chose not to .....i blame the republicans for all of this they lied about everything...and now we have this happen !
I must be Dreaming
How could Sen McConnell have stopped this a year ago?
For one thing he could start telling his followers the truth and since he's the "leader" he should respect his own position and not come out saying things like he's going to do everything in his power to make President Obama fail because McConnell should realize that would extend to the entire country. It's the same as McConnell saying that he hopes the whole country fails, and it makes us look bad overseas.
He should support things that are good for America and the American People, instead of being so darn partisan that he has the entire country believing that he [McConnell] would rather see the entire country destroyed than to concede that everything the POTUS is doing is, in fact, good for the country.
And McConnell should not support hate speech or threats between parties, and he should speak loudly and often against it.
Maybe, to Republicans, being a "leader" is nothing more than a title with no substance.
American Girl
I address each of your points below
The role of the opposition party (insert Republicans here) is to try and make the sitting party of the other party (insert Democrats here) a one term President. That my friend is the nature of the two party system.
You point about bipartisan approaches to legislation could be applied to Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and all of the Democratic leadership in Washington. The reason there are two parties is that they think things should be done in two different ways. That is way compromise not capitulation is the key to governing.
You have no empirical evidence to show that Sen McConnell supports hate speech amd in fact your statement is hate speech.
Again your comment about "real leaders" could be argued just as effectively against the Democratic leadership.
I am an independent, but I want cooperation, civility and accomplishment in the governing process and I want the two sides to get over themselves and work together
I'm going to betray my left-leaning ways, here, and make this observation:
Back in the good old days, you were allowed to punish kids. Not abuse them, but a few whacks with a belt never did any real harm. Kids then did NOT go on shooting rampages at school and elsewhere. THey duked it out with their enemies behind the school or on the way home, sometimes becoming the best of buddies afterward.
Coincidnece?" Maybe. Maybe not.
If you believe, as McConnel does, that gun control laws would not have helped in this incident i.e. not allowing those with mental illiness carring guns. Then why do we have any laws around guns? Why do we have any laws around drugs? Why have laws? Anyone can find a way around any law.
St Louis
Did you read the Senator's statement, he said that the young man would have found a way to get a gun even he were unable to get one legally
At the risk of setting off a political firestorm, something occurred to me today.
Maj. Nidal Hasan opens fire at Fort Hood and all the Right Wing can say about him is "TERRORIST".
Jared Loughner opens fire in Arizona but I've yet to hear the same kind of condemnation.
Why the difference?
I've been wondering that myself... *crickets*
Only Muslim-Americans can be terrorist.
If you are Anglo-American you cannot be a terrorist because the conservatives said so.
Now there.
The difference is that one was propelled by fanatic ideas, and one was compelled by mental illness.
Get it?
Da Noid
Great point
If the goal of this young man's attack was to stop Rep Giffords governing or in protest of an actual policy she supports then I think you are correct with the terrorist. If it is as it seems now that he was driven by a "perceived" slight from her which existed on in his mind, then I would say he is just a crazy guy.
Sheila
Your point is as asinine as Da Noid's was good
I blame Republican leadership for the hate speech, and for this shooting because the GOP LOVES IT when their followers are riled up and they don't say or do anything to lead their followers in the right direction.
American Gir
Would you have any empirical data to base this absurd statement on?