Video: Should Congress pack heat?
posted at 2:55 pm on January 14, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
The correct question should be, “Why shouldn’t Congress pack heat?” After all, as Rep. Louis Gohmert says to Steve Doocy on Fox today, elected officials are American citizens with the same 2nd Amendment rights as anyone else. The question in DC now, though, is why can’t all other law-abiding citizens carry a weapon, once properly licensed — a policy that the nation’s capital has resisted strongly. Must-issue carry laws in other states, including my own state of Minnesota, have not resulted in any uptick in crime. It’s at least arguable that the prevalence of those armed in self-defense can act as a way to discourage crime from happening in the first place.
However, it’s the wrong question in another sense as well. Representatives don’t face the kind of danger against which self-arming would defend on Capitol Hill or its environs. The larger threat comes from their public events back in home districts — and even that is a fairly small risk, when viewed on a historical basis. There have been very few attack attempts on members of Congress, and the latest one resulted from a deranged, cowardly lunatic that shot Congresswoman Giffords from behind. The policies of carrying weapons by members of Congress should really be first addressed by their home states, and whatever decision is made should apply to the rest of the law-abiding citizenry as well.
Related Posts:








Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2
Deserving people should be rewarded. It is nice to see this happen.
burt on February 15, 2013 at 5:41 PM
America ALWAYS getshe government it deserves so excuse me for NOT being shocked that the CLUELESS democrats in Minnesota discovered they just sat on a barbwired enema tube.
Actions have consequences just as does lethargy.
DannoJyd on February 15, 2013 at 5:46 PM
To quote a now decades old movie “Welcome to the party, pal!”
Fynxbell on February 15, 2013 at 5:51 PM
Bend Forward!
DavidM on February 15, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Wisconsin definitely doesn’t want these business people moving in, especially that Taft guy. They would just bring their big government mindset with them. They still haven’t really learned the lesson that stupid people like them should have learned, they just think that it’s not fair that their businesses were affected.
AZfederalist on February 15, 2013 at 8:02 PM
Ah…of course. It’s Daddy’s business and this hippy dipstick inherited it and is in the process of running it into the ground. That’s pretty much the sissy/liberal model — born with money, happy to call for higher taxes…until.
Jaibones on February 15, 2013 at 8:25 PM
I’d tell him he can’t move. You wanted Dayton, now you got him. Live with it.
TulsAmerican on February 15, 2013 at 9:15 PM
You reap what you sow.
COgirl on February 15, 2013 at 11:03 PM
Better to move to the Dakotas. They have oil and gas and lower taxes. Also, if there is the “divorce”, they will be on the right side.
Mirimichi on February 16, 2013 at 1:22 AM
Higher taxes!
Oh wait, I thought that meant higher taxes for everyone else?
It’s very simple to understand. When you are frivolously spending, you very quickly run out of other people’s money.
Democrats can simply not deliver the utopia they’ve promised. It’s collapsing the economy and that destruction will continue until people realize it’s the big lie.
Look no further than states like Wisconsin and Texas for models that work.
Demonizing people doesn’t work when folks can look across the border and see how much better their neighbor is doing.
Marcus Traianus on February 16, 2013 at 6:41 AM
http://hotair.com/archives/2012/09/02/video-axelrod-dodges-the-better-off-four-years-ago-question/comment-page-1/#comments
rogerb on February 16, 2013 at 6:45 AM
I support Obama!–No wait!!!
You screwed yourselves and the rest of us along with you.
I don’t like you very much.
Sherman1864 on February 16, 2013 at 9:44 AM
Don’t worry libfree Governor Moonshine and the DFL plan on expanding our Sales tax as well. When corporations pay more in taxes they pass that expense on to their customers. Eventually the end user pays all of those expenses + profit or the business goes under. Voting DFL always means trickle down taxation.
jpmn on February 16, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Ah Minnesota Schadenfreude, brewed in the state, kept in secret dark liberal think tanks, only served at the start of a term in office and denied that they wanted it. Best served ice cold with a hint of hypocrisy to give that burst of irony. You wanted it Minnesota, now drink rhe Witches brew you voted for, as we laugh at the ” elections have consequences” reactions. Sweet for me but not for thee. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
stormridercx4 on February 16, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Great comment thread but I have to say this: I live in a 3rd ring suburb of the Mpls/St.Paul geography. I’ve watched the Dems leave Mpls and St. Paul b/c of crime and taxes. But they move out and continue to vote Democrat.
Either they’re too stupid to figure out it’s the Democrat policies that cause the problems or ?????? can’t think of anything else. But the worst is, those of us who “get it” get stuck with them and their fantasy world of a better city through OPP (other people’s money) in their new city.
Lefties will never get it – they won’t listen. During gun hearings this past week, the Dems left when challenged by people who understood what’s at stake with taking away our guns.
Then there’s our questionable elections but not for today.
MN J on February 16, 2013 at 10:35 PM
If things are that bad, MOVE! I did when I discovered there was no way I could have an actual life in Illinois, and my family thinks it was the best idea I’ve ever had, while my friends still in ChiTcago think I was nuts to do so.
Today they remain cowering in their overpriced shacks scared that today will be THE DAY they are attacked by the criminal element there. The mere thought of a firearm scars them as well.
DannoJyd on February 17, 2013 at 1:09 AM
‘Ones Demise is always one’s own making’
Hello Voters… You’re screwed! Guess who’s to blame!?
I’ll give you a hint: there’s a bullet sized hole in your shoe and there’s a smoking gun in your hand.
Chaz706 on February 17, 2013 at 1:31 AM
It is great to see another Blue State going down the same crapper as my own native state of California. Just keep voting Democrat, people. That will equal high taxes, a terrible business climate, and a bankrupt state. That must be the “attributes” that this hippie whack-job wants.
Rogervzv on February 17, 2013 at 12:56 PM
Yet, after the 2008 campaign of Hope and Change, and four years of destroying the republic, topped with 2012 campaign of Forward, ole JugEars earns fore more years to complete his destruction of the US.
Way to go, Libs.
socalcon on February 17, 2013 at 9:45 PM
The Captain Louis Renault award is off base.
Captain Louis Renault was handed his winnings at the end. The productive people of Minnesota are being handed the bill.
krome on February 19, 2013 at 10:54 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2