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The Senate rejected a bid by the gun lobby to expand gun rights by letting people carry concealed weapons across state lines. The Senate voted 58-39, rejecting the "Thune amendment", proposed by John Thune, a South Dakota Republican. The amendment was two votes short of the 60 needed.
Two Republicans, Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana and George Voinovich of Ohio, joined with 37 Democrats to reject the amendment, which was bitterly opposed by a number of big-city mayors, including Michael R. Bloomberg of New York.
The National Rifle Association called the measure a recognition that "the right to self-defense does not end at state lines." Recently gun advocates, the NRA and the powerful gun lobby, rammed through foolish and dangerous legislation that would allow visitors to carry loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges and limit Washington, D.C.'s gun-control laws. In addition, a House committee voted to prevent public housing projects from restricting guns.
The defeat for the gun lobby is a welcome respite in the politics of guns and the American culture of violence. The NRA and the gun lobby proved they are without principles or shame, supporting an amendment that would be a direct and dangerous violation of state's rights. The NRA has traditionally been a supporter and defender of state's rights, their opposition to state's rights in this case is indicative of blatant hypocrisy and opportunism.
This is a small victory for those who support sane gun laws and a sensible national gun policy. This is a defeat for a political lobby that brings death and despair to countless Americans every year. One for the good guys.
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Comments
Sorry Mikey I just checked the US Departmant of Justice's crime charts and I didn't see the NRA listed anywhere.
Mikey said: "Recently gun advocates, the NRA and the powerful gun lobby, rammed through foolish and dangerous legislation that would allow visitors to carry loaded guns in national parks and wildlife refuges and limit Washington, D.C.'s gun-control laws."
And in the full year since then.......what difference was there in the gun crime reporting?
Just a thought. You know..did the bad bad bad laws increase or decrease crime?
I will wait for your next in depth report on RESULTS!
I suggest the author wake up to a few realities in this world; I'm from Portland, very average citizen; I'm a conservationalist, father, husband and support many "progressive" causes. I'm also a gun owner and member of the NRA-- I don't agree with everything they say, but they do a great job of defending the rights of law abiding citizens. Those are the type of people impacted by the failure to pass this legislation--the criminals don't care about the law, only those of us who try to play by the rules are hurt by this. The author may be surprised to learn how many progressives here in Portland support the NRA and carry a gun. Please don't make this an "us vs. them" issue; doing so attempts to simplify a much more complex issues.
Who convinced me to get my CHL? A Portland cop. My friend said, "You have to take responsibility for your own protection--when seconds count, the police are only minutes away. We really are just crime historians sent to record what happend, not prevent it".
I love it when these gun issues come up. So many folks start to look like mad dogs in a meat locker.
---"The author may be surprised to learn how many progressives here in Portland support the NRA and carry a gun." --Actually, the author would be surprised to learn anything.
Remember the movie, Key Largo? Toward the end of the show, the heavy, Johnny Rocko, played by Edward G. Robinson asked Humphry Bogart: "What kind of a world would you like to see, soldier?". Humphry answered: " A world where there's no place for Johnny Rocko." Ditto my feelings when I read your totally twisted sick dog blither. I long for a world where there will be no place for Michael Stone. That time is soon coming.
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