The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

#Newtown: ‘Exotic Weapons’? Nope.

Posted on | December 18, 2012 | 13 Comments

Today on the Endless Gun Control Telethon that is MSNBC — I Watch, So You Don’t Have To™ — a guest on Morning Joe referred to the Newtown shooting as exemplifying the problem caused by “exotic weapons.” This demonstrates the problem caused by common ignorance.

Adam Lanza’s weapons were a Bushmaster .223-caliber semi-automatic, a type described by the New York Times as “the most popular rifle in America, according to gun dealers,” as well as two 9-mm pistols (Glock and Sig Sauer) and a shotgun of unknown make.

These are not “exotic weapons” by any definition.

It has been reported that the shotgun was found in the deranged gunman’s mother’s vehicle, which he drove to the school after shooting her in the face, and that the main weapon he used in his massacre was the Bushmaster, using 30-round magazines. Here’s a headline:

 Assault weapons in the cross hairs
— Law.com

Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Californication) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Corruption) are vowing legislation to bring back the (absurdly misnamed) “assault weapons ban.”

We will leave aside the biggest aspect of the misnomer (i.e., semi-automatic rifles are not “assault weapons”) and focus instead on the “ban” part of this rhetorical delusion. The Bushmaster was NOT banned under the law Democrats want to bring back.

What we are dealing with here — amidst the chaotic cacophony of frenzied liberal noise — is another one of those “do something” episodes that occasionally afflict the media/politics nexus. The follies that result from the “do something” impulse, as politicians react to the latest headline and try to reassure voters that government can fix whatever problem concerns them, has resulted in some of the most awful stupidity in history, including Republican stupidity: Terrorists strike New York? Create a new government agency for airport security! Give the feds more wiretapping authority! Invade some foreign countries! And . . . how’d that work out for ya?

There’s Little We Can Do to Prevent Another Massacre
— Megan McArdle

Consider the possibility that we really can’t “do something” in terms of dramatic new legislation, but rather that seemingly small adjustments — in terms of policy and practice, in terms of training, enforcement and investigation — could make a significant difference. I have sarcastically referred to “The Dangerous Lunatic Incarceration Act of 2013,” meaning to suggest we re-examine how we deal with mental illness, especially in terms of the policies (and misguided court decisions) of the 1960s and ’70s that we refer to collectively as “de-institutionalization.”

Da Tech Guy offers an interesting idea: Let retired law enforcement and military personnel serve as volunteer armed “sheepdogs” in schools.

My personal favorite quote of the day:

“I refuse to dwell in the madness and melancholia
inherent in the human condition.”

Whatever you do, if you’re feeling depressed or stressed, don’t watch MSNBC. This insane crap could drive anybody nuts.




 


Category: Crime, MSNBC

Comments

  • Garym

    “Whatever you do, if you’re feeling depressed or stressed, don’t watch MSNBC. This insane crap could drive anybody nuts.”
    You have to do what Limbaugh says, which is in essence: unplug and don’t watch for a week or two. It will help your mental well-being.

    I do it often.

  • http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/ Evi L. Bloggerlady

    Go hug your kids and have a cookie.

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  • http://boogieforward.us/ K-Bob

    It also helps to have a sign under the TV pointing to the screen saying, “This Leftist Propagandist Is Lying”

  • http://marezilla.com/ Zilla of the Resistance

    Linked:
    http://marezilla.com/2012/12/a-week-before-christmas/
    MSNBC makes my head hurt, so I thank you for watching it so I don’t have to!

  • scarymatt

    Sure, but it’s like yelling at your kids. You’re still going to get tired of saying the same things to them over and over and over and over and over and…

    Sometimes, you just need a break.

  • http://wizbangblog.com/ Adjoran

    They can have my guns when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

    I only hope they send Chuck Todd, Toure, Mourning Joe, and Soledad to fetch them.

  • http://boogieforward.us/ K-Bob

    That’s why we come here. To commiserate, drink, and be merry!

    But mostly to commiserate and drink.

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  • malclave

    Exotic weapons?
    They’re blaming the shootings on reruns of Xena now?

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  • Guesty McGuesterson

    What’s the definition of an assault weapon?