The Kind-Hearted Smart Aleck

Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn was one of 46 Senators to recently reject the bill which would have expanded background checks on firearm purchases. Coburn is now attempting to pass legislation which would require all government agencies to "report the number and types of firearms owned, purchased or lost each year" - in other words, a background check. While I'd be perfectly fine with the government receiving background checks regarding firearms, it's not at all consistent for Coburn and like-minded individuals to believe in such legislation and reject background checks for everyone else. It would be akin to Coburn saying these following lines: - "Parents should be obligated to tell their children who they're with and what they're doing when they're out and about, but kids shouldn't have to do that. That would be unconstitutional!" - "Bosses need to disclose every bit of information at their disposal to their workers. Wor...

Are you still having trouble persuading someone that gun control legislation, especially expanded background checks, isn't such a bad thing after all? Well, if so, hopefully this blog will help. Adam Yahiye Gadahn is an al Qaeda translator and spokesperson, who was born in the United States. He left the U.S. for Pakistan in 1998 and has been reported by the FBI as a member of al Qaeda since 2004. On June 2nd of 2011, Gadahn released a video, which urged followers to attack targets inside the U.S., and added the following: "America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms. You can go down to a gun show at a local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle without a background check and most likely without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?" When a member of the terrorist group al Qaeda urges fellow terrorists to take full advantage of America's weak gun laws and specifically cites the backgro...

Main character: Buster Magnum, who just got out of jail for committing gun- and meth-related crimes Setting: Pharmacy Buster Magnum: "Hey, I'd like to get some Sudafed please." Pharmacist Cindy Chu: "I'll need to see some ID." Magnum: "ID? I don't have any ID. I just got out of jail and have really bad, um, allergies." Chu: "I'm sorry, sir, but I won't be able to provide you with any Sudafed until you show me some ID." Setting: Job interview to become a greeter at Wal-Mart Interviewer Chip Filet: "Good afternoon, Mr. Magnum. So, tell me, what interested you in this position?" Magnum: "I just got out of jail. I need a job. I thought even with my history, I could get this job." Filet: "I see... So, if I may ask, what were you in jail for?" Magnum: "I had a meth lab in my grandma's garage. I did a lot of that stuff, and sold it too. When I was high on it one time, I just...

Where have gun control debates been in the past 5-10 years? Where has just that term - gun control - been in the past decade? For as many awful gun-related crimes and killings as there have been over these past ten years, it feels as if the term and potential legislation surrounding it have decided to hibernate for a decade, and only now is deciding to awaken. Whenever I get into a debate regarding gun control, it feels as if a majority of the country look at me in fear and simultaneously shout back, "It's our 2nd Amendment right! ::mumbles something:: ...militia... ::grunts:: Yeah!" What many of these people have had implanted in their brains is that ANY form of gun control would be another step toward the government talking over - that it'd be the start of tyranny. However, if you break things down with these people - don't refer to it as "gun control laws" - and specifically go through different forms of action concerning gun control, most see...

In light of former Kansas City Chiefs player Javon Belcher killing his girlfriend and then shooting and killing himself, NBC's Bob Costas made a few pro-gun control remarks at halftime of Sunday night's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Gun control is a rather divisive issue, so as could be anticipated, Costas has received his share of support and criticism for his on-air remarks. While I haven't seen any gun control advocates posting statuses regarding Costas, I have seen a few anti-gun control individuals posting pictures with commentary on them. One has Costas pictured alongside O.J. Simpson and asks Costas "How about knives?" In another, Sam Elliott is portrayed with the following words written across the screen: "Do you really think criminals will obey gun control laws?" I understand people believing in their right to own guns, but do these uber-gun rights enthusiasts realize what they're saying when they post such thi...