I was going to write here about the “what universe do these people occupy?” situation that popped up in Congress yesterday. We’re talking about a meeting of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, in which Republicans defended – note: we are not making this up – Republicans defended terrorists’ right to buy guns in America. And no, again, we’re not shitting you. Like I said, I was going to write about it, but Gail Collins at the New York Times did a splendid job in her column this morning, so I will simply point you to her well-informed, witty words about the Alice in Wonderlandish world of current GOP thinking.
As long as I’m at it, let me recommend a couple of other great columns. Hal Crowther, king of American essayists (yes, that IMHO) and former CL columnist, penned a classic for the Independent in Durham, regarding the state of American politics, and, specifically, the Tea Party crowd. Favorite quote: “When corporate-sponsored right-wing ideologues castigate ‘big government,’ that’s like ventriloquist Edgar Bergen settling the blame on his dummy Charlie McCarthy.”
Finally, Dave Zirin of The Nation wrote a great piece on how the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, or “Los Suns of Phoenix,” came out in full-fledged opposition to their state’s current experiment with anti-immigrant fascism – and how TNT’s basketball reporters got behind Los Suns in last night’s playoff game broadcast.
This article appears in May 4-10, 2010.
The right to self defense is a natural right and cannot be abridged UNLESS that person takes the rights of another away.
I classify rape and murder as the only two offenses where the right to bear arms should be taken.
A murderer should not have a weapon in prison while serving time or on probation.
Afterwards, they should be able to own whatever weapon they so choose.