The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age

    A Glimmer of Hope?

    By EmmaZahn on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 7:44pm |

    At first I was not going to open the e-mail I got from my brand new Congressman this morning because I expected it to be the same-old-same-old that I have received in the past from my Congress critters telling me what they think about the latest issues.  What a pleasant surprise it was instead to be asked what I think for a change -- and the choices were not phrased all that leading.  Here they are:

     

    Please pick the one that is most representative of your views:
     
    (1) America has too many gun laws already. Rather than passing new restrictions, we should be repealing current restrictions and restoring freedom.
     
    (2) America has too many guns. I support anything the federal government can do to restrict gun ownership and gun use.
     
    (3) There is a place for some gun laws, but that place isn’t Washington and the federal government. Let the states lead on this issue so that different groups of citizens can implement different sets of laws that best reflect and serve their state and community.
     
    (4) I understand that a tragedy is driving this debate. I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know that we rarely get the law right when we rush to change it after a tragedy. Whatever needs to be done, it needs to be done deliberately and thoughtfully; not rushed swiftly when Americans are still raw with grief and emotion.
     
    (5) I want to do more to protect our children, but I don’t think new gun laws will help. Criminals who commit these crimes don’t care about the law. I support focusing on our mental health system, our justice system, violence in the media, and other opportunities to stop crimes before they happen.
     
    (6) None of these capture my feelings well, but in general I believe that politicians who have always opposed the 2nd Amendment are using a national tragedy to push their anti-Second Amendment agenda.
     
    (7) None of these capture my feelings well, but in general I believe we must do more to curb gun violence.
     
    (8) None of these capture my feelings well.
    Amazing.  Eight choices covering the whole spectrum of opinion. Do I dare hope that Congress can be saved from the death match both political parties are presently locked into?  
     
    For the record, I chose #4.
     

    Comments

    Emma, how does the cited material cover the full range of opinion?

    How about:

    "Fuck the Second Amendment, children are dying"?

    or

    "OK, we have a Second Amendment problem, let's amend the constitution"

    or

    "Consistent with the Second Amendment, lets register all guns and ammunition buyers"

    I could go on, but you get my drift.

     

    Let me venture a wild stabbing guess:  You are represented by a Repugnant.  Sorry bout your luck...


    by jollyroger on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 8:19pm

    Some of my previous Congressmen:  Newt Gingrich, John Linder, Tom Price.

     


    by EmmaZahn on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 8:28pm

    It also did not include my own preference of mandatory military and firearms training for all citizens, "a well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state" but I think the list does reflect the choices of that at least 80% of the population would find acceptable.

     

     


    by EmmaZahn on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 8:36pm

    Aren't they all still leading answers?  Wouldn't it have been better to ask you what you thought in your own words?  I would choose #4 as well, but it's not really an answer.  What happens when, say, the majority of responders choose #4?  Does anything ever get done?

    Still, it's far better than most questionnaires, I'll give the new guy that.


    by Ramona on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 8:47pm

    Listed in order of priority; definitely #6 then #5 because of #4

    believe that politicians who have always opposed the 2nd Amendment are using a national tragedy to push their anti-Second Amendment agenda.

    That's how our Nation was led to hate and fear the Japs; which led to their incarceration and confiscation of property. The fear mongers and their dupes deprived  Japanese/ American citizens of their rights.


    by Resistance on Mon, 02/25/2013 - 11:14pm