Warner changes stance on AWB

[Mindflayer]

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Sen. Mark Warner says the massacre at a Connecticut elementary school has changed his supportive stand on assault weapons.

Warner is among the few Senate Democrats who has found favor with gun rights groups.

He said in interviews Monday that the shooting deaths of 20 children and seven adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., overcame his opposition to a ban on assault weapons.

The centrist former Virginia governor says the status quo is unacceptable. He called for "stricter rules on the books" and endorsed President Barack Obama's call for cracking down on assault weapons.

Warner says there are ways to achieve "rational gun control," but that he hadn't yet devised details for a bill that would have bipartisan support.


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

[OakRidgeStars]

Virginia deserves better than this worthless POS.

[GeneFrenkle]

It's clear his stances on positions are only fair weather ones. Definitely not a person of conviction.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Kreutz]

has anyone ever used an "assault weapon" in one of these massacres?

[M1A4ME]

Even FOX News reported that the nut used a Bushmaster assault rifle like the military uses with ammunition meant to cause maximum damage.

I looked at my wife, said turn the channel, they don't have a clue.

I was in the Army. I never saw a Bushmaster, let alone a semi-auto M16A1 (yeah, long time ago). The ammo? Its a damn varmint cartridge. A good one, but only a "souped up" .222 Remington. No doubt it kills. Look at how many people have been killed with the little .22 rimfire. Or a club/stick.'

As long as you don't have to be smart or knowledgeable to be a reporter or a politician this garbage will go on.

[wpoppert]

I called his office today. The woman who answered the phone assured me that they don't want to take MY guns (not sure how she knows what guns I have), just ASSAULT weapons. I asked her if she knew what an assault weapon was, and she said, "It has one of those fast clip things that lets it shoot twenty bullets all at once." I pointed out that according to the initial reports, pistols were used in the Sandy Hook shooting, but a ban would not have prevented that or the Clackamas shooting, because the weapons were stolen. She said, "Well, we realize that criminals will always get guns, but we have to do something!" Unbelievable! I think we're all screwed.

[gunderwood]

I think we're all screwed.

Yup.

[zerodown1]

I quess it's possible that these politicians are that stupid, But I really think they just use these tragedys to further a political agenda. 16000 people killed every year by drunk drivers, but no one blaming the cars and trying to ban them. Automobiles used in all of these mass murders, no one blames the cars or tries to get them banned.100,000 medical mistakes resulting in death, never hear about it. Eighty people every day leave home and never return as a result of traffic accidents. Men, women, children , all die in these and never return home, don't see anyone blaming the cars. The tragedy and pain is the same and just as real in all these things. Governments want to disarm their populations for one reason, to control them,take away their freedom, put the people in a position to have to accept anything they do with nothing to defend themselves with. The constant bararrage of attacks on guns by the mainstream media,who by the way is not in the business of telling the truth anymore and are only an extension of the left wing communist government. Their job now is to spread lies and propaganda to influence the minds of the populace and to villianize everytthing the government wants to destroy. They know gun control laws are like pissing into the wind and won't work, they don't care. Their job and the medias job is to turn the minds of the public with lies and propaganda to achieve their goal of diarmament. Can you really believe that limiting a magazine to 10 rounds is going to do anything. Are they saying it's ok to just kill 10 people before you have to change mags. Why not two rounds, why not one,why 10.And we all just know that when one of these lunies gets ready to do this again, he will say to himself,wait my magazines are illegal, I have to get 10 round mags. You cannot legislate bad or crimminal behaviour out of exsistance. Hers a clue for you clueless idiots in DC. Crimminal don't give a damn about you damn laws, they only make more sheep, only hurt the honest law abiding. I just know that if an "assault weapons" ban is passed they will line up to turn in their guns. Try dealing with the failed social engineering policies you have been cramming down our throats for the last 40-50 years, and while your at it try dealing with the nut cases that do this kind of thing.

[FiremanBob]

In WV, they are organizing a demonstration at Manchin's office to protest his betrayal. Perhaps we should do the same at Warner's.

[wpoppert]

In WV, they are organizing a demonstration at Manchin's office to protest his betrayal. Perhaps we should do the same at Warner's.

Count me in! I'm pissed!

[VBshooter]

Warner= Bull$hit, pinhead is just following the crowd for personal gain

[Reverenddel]

Warner, and Kaine... the Dynamic Doo-OH!

[wpoppert]

Here's what I wrote to Warner yesterday:

Mr. Warner:
I am writing to express my grave concern regarding your recent remarks indicating that you would now support gun control legislation. When you took office, you swore the following oath:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States specifies: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” United States Code clarifies the term, “Militia,” as follows:

The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard... The classes of the militia are - (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

Clearly the notion that the term “militia” refers only to the uniformed National Guard is incorrect. If there is any doubt as to the intent of the framers, please refer to the words of George Mason, who was the primary architect of the Bill of Rights: "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."

The purpose of the Second Amendment is not to allow people to hunt or shoot at targets. It refers specifically to “the security of a free State,” and therefore is foremost about defense, both public and personal. The arms to which it refers are those suitable for such defense. The arms that the British sought to seize at Concord were not hunting pieces, they were military-grade weapons, as noted in a report from Lieutenant Colonel Smith to General Gage:

I marched on the evening of the 18th inst. with the corps of grenadiers and light infantry for Concord, to execute your Excellency's orders with respect to destroying all ammunition, artillery, tents, &c., collected there…

You, as a government official, do not legitimately have the power to infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms. As an honorable man who swore to support and defend the Constitution, you should have no wish to exercise such power, as it is not yours to wield.

To be prepared for public defense, as a member of the militia, is a civic duty. Personal defense is a basic human right, one that is denied to those who work in “gun-free zones” such as Sandy Hook Elementary School. Victoria Soto is rightly called a hero for her efforts to save her students. What makes her death even more tragic is that she was denied the ability to defend herself, just so that people with an irrational fear of an inanimate object could delude themselves into feeling safe in their “gun-free zone.”

I ask of you the courtesy of a reply, either pledging to refrain from usurping the rights of the people, or explaining why you have decided to ignore the Constitution. Please consider that if you choose to ignore the restrictions that the people have placed on you, it is only to be expected that the people may ignore any restrictions that you place on them. What will happen to those who resist such an unconstitutional abuse of power? Will they be deprived of their property? Their liberty? Their lives? I swore an oath similar to yours, and have defended your rights through over 23 years of military service. I sincerely hope that you will defend mine in return.

[mamabearCali]

wroppet do you mind if I borrow some of your lines and amend them to my situation (no military service...a woman etc). You did such a succinct job at explaining things and I don't think I could do better in between my laundry cycles and reading lessons?

[wpoppert]

wroppet do you mind if I borrow some of your lines and amend them to my situation (no military service...a woman etc). You did such a succinct job at explaining things and I don't think I could do better in between my laundry cycles and reading lessons?

Please do! I would be honored. I am also pleased to see that you are a fellow resident of the 4th District -- glad to have you in the neighborhood!

[mamabearCali]

Sent a message to Warner. I called Forbes office to tell him to stay strong. The fellow there was VERY courteous and talked with me at length like a human being.