Kucinich : BAN HAND GUNS

[denem]

Kucinich is drafting legislation to "ban the purchase, sale, transfer, or possession of handguns by civilians'.

"A gun buy-back provision will be included in the bill".

I put this up not to start a flame war on gun control, but as an illustration of the fact that Dennis IS quite unelectable. His policies read as an ambit claim for hard liberal agenda on every issue.

Abolish the Death penalty? Ask Michael Dukakis how well that worked out for him?

Single Payer Health Insurance: The "Health Industry" spent $700 against Jimmy Carter's proposal? How much this time - $7 Billion in the course of the GE alone?

Legalizing same sex marriage?

Ending the "war on drugs"?

If you want an agenda to energize the Republicans Base, this it it.

The point is not that I disagree with Kooch - with some exceptions I think he is on the money. but it would take extraordinary political skill and good coalitions to get even one of these proposals through, something that Dennis has not demonstrated so far.

What I am trying to say is that by putting together an ambit claim feast on the hottest topics imaginable, there will be little left of Kucinich once the shooting is over. He could out McGovern, McGovern.

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=62819

[rjones2818]

1. Actually...

It's time for Dems to start acting like Dems. That's one of the reasons I support Dennis.

[dmallind]

5. Except...

...at least 1/3 of Dems own guns - a rate not that much lower than the general population.

I can't imagine all of them being just peachy with drug legalization either (I personally would be at least for marijuana, as while I have no interest in the stuff I know it causes little harm).

Universal health care? That one is probably pretty solid as far as Dem support goes.

Death penalty? Plenty of divergence of opinion there.

One litmus test is bad enough but if you want to insist that the only real way to act like a Democrat is to support all of these positions, you're left with an irrelevant, tiny and impotent party. No thanks.

[denem]

27. Single Payer Health Insurance

I should have explained that in my view, the best way to get this is from within the Whitehouse. I am ultra strongly in favor of Singer Payer, but I don't think it's wise to confront that huge money when you are still a candidate.

They would have to go a bit more carefully when they are treading on the Federal Governments toes,

[liberalnurse]

102. I'm not peachy with it myself.

I am a Constitutional Democrat! The Second Amendment works!

[LakeSamish706]

2. Given the current situation in the US I'm not so sure thats a good idea at this time...

One may very well need these weapons for defensive (or other) purposes.

[razorman]

28. Yes. How will we defend ourselves when the UFO aliens invade?

[unpossibles]

33. oh look

a concerned person bringing up rightwing media talking points. How original.

Which is more daft - saying you saw something which you could not explain, or believing that a guy was born to a virgin, then died, then came back, and on every sunday a pit of bread and wine turn into him?

[razorman]

36. What makes you think I wasn't serious?

Maybe I really am concerned about how to defend myself against space aliens.

[unpossibles]

58. I think you were serious

about bringing up silly non-issues to make fun of Kucinich.

I don't like his gun stance, but otherwise I think he has guts on a lot of issues. If you want to repeat rightwing media memes, go right ahead, but I'll also feel free to call you out on it.

[defendandprotect]

87. What makes you think they're "invading" . . . ????

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. His views work for me, but I get what you are saying...nt

[Tyler Durden]

4. Oh THAT will work...NOT.

Dennis has climbed the scaffold, put the noose around his own neck, and pulled the trap lever all by himself.

There isn't a gun owner in the country that will vote for him now.

[denem]

8. I believe it's political suicide

[Tyler Durden]

18. The heart is still beating, but the Body is definitely DEAD.

It was dead the moment this flew out of his mouth. He could run with a Kucinich/Jesus ticket and he'd still lose now.

What a BONEHEADED thing to do. I'd like to think this was the work of adviser, but what the fuck difference would it make?

He's STILL dead.

[MadHound]

37. Well then, since only aproximately a quarter of the population owns guns,

And most of those are die hard Republicans anyway, then this position of Dennis' really won't change much of anything.

[immoderate]

41. It's a deal breaker.

I'm guessing that as many Dems as Repubs own guns. I'm one of them. :)

After he ends the war, brings us health care, and restores general prosperity, is the time to bring this up.

--IMM

[MadHound]

43. You would be guessing wrong then

My father in law is a die hard gun nut, and while visiting I've perused several of his NRA and gun mags. The stats that I've seen in there indicate that about twice as many 'Pugs own guns as Dems do. Like I said, this will effect aprox twenty five percent of the voters at most.
Besides, who says he'll bring this up at all if he is elected:shrug: He will indeed be concentrating his initial efforts on ending the war and bringing about UHC first, this, perhaps later. If it is a deal breaker for you, so be it. But I would rather have a guy in office who is going to do the right thing, end the war and take care of the poor and middle class, even if he does want to ban handguns, than to have somebody who will keep the body count climbing in the war and pandering to corporations, including the gun lobby. And yes, I own guns also.

[immoderate]

44. By deal breaker, I'm talking about electability.

Too many people vote on that issue. I'd vote for Dennis because I don't think he can deliver on that, and I like his policies in general. My gun is legal now, but it wasn't always. I won't give it up, no matter who's president.

--IMM

[MadHound]

45. How can it be a deal breaker on electibility

Like I said earlier, only a quarter of the US population owns guns, and most of those are Republicans who won't vote for any Dem anyway, no matter what the position on guns is. Therefore that still leaves a large majority of people who would vote for Dennis.

It is time to stop allowing the fear of a small minority of voters to sway our policies and voting patterns.

[RB TexLa]

63. So if he said he was going to outlaw abortion, only those who might have any abortion would be

influenced by that decision?

[immoderate]

76. It's a policy that will lead to a loss in votes. Not like Dennis has so many...

to spare. It's a wedge issue and it will be a loser for DK, or any other Democrat that tries it.

--IMM

[immoderate]

78. Elections are won and lost by a few per centage points.

--IMM

[dysfunctional press]

113. you're assuming that 100% of the population shows up to vote...they don't.

the people who are passionate about an issue- for example...um...say "gun-control"- that's an issue that will get the vast majority of gun owners to the polls.

[mainegreen]

49. Why does gun ownership % = supporting gun rights %?

False analogy.

[Bake]

73. How do you know they're mostly Repubs?

I own a Smith & Wesson, and I'm no Repub.

Bake

[krispos42]

90. A bit less than half are Repubs... the rest Indies and Dems

A lot of people will ask this question: "How can we support a candidates that actively attacks a blatant Constitutional right when we HATE BushCo for doing the exact same thing?"

[dysfunctional press]

112. but you can count on most of that 25% to show up and VOTE.

the other 75%...not so much.

[krispos42]

88. I would vote for him

He doesn't make legislation. Any attempt to do that has to come from Congress and survive the Supremes. Which won't happen.

Nonetheless, it's a stupid idea. Americans are better-armed than they have every been, yet in all catagories crime is down to levels that are less than half they were just 15 years ago. and now that the Clinton COPS program has been competely defunded by BushCo, coincidently the crime rates are starting to creep back up again.

They did this in the UK, and the best spin you can put on it is that the homicide rate didn't go up too much. And that wasn't just a ban on the transfer of handguns, which grandfathers in the ones currently owned until their owners die or voluntarily turn them over to the government. Britons had to actually turn their guns in to the police/government by a certain date.

Kucinich could wipe out a large part of the pharmaceutical lobby's influence, save billions in judicial and corrections costs, and raise billions in tax revenue by legalizing and taxing recreational marijuana. Many expensive patented pharmaceuticals would be replaced by people smoking or eating marijuana, saving billions in private and public health-care dollars and wiping out all the profits Big Pharma used to pay their lobbyists. And since industrial hemp can be used to make biodiesel and ethanol and paper and clothing, it would help on other issues as well, such as imported oil and deforestation. It would also take a serious bite out of the illegal drug trade, and maybe some of the millons of illegal Mexicans in this country would move back to Mexico to grow pot and hemp and sell it to Americans, reversing economic hardship south of the border.

I say this as a drug-free handgun owner.

[The Straight Story]

6. Dumbest idea ever. (nt)

[Mountainman]

7. Well there goes my support for Dennis. I was thinking about voting for him in the primaries.

Why do we have to shoot ourselves in the foot every time?

There is a immoral war going on. The economy if not good for most of us. The earth is heating up. The right wing controls the message and we go after a minority of people who own hand guns.

Nothing is more stupid than to end your chances of doing anything good than blowing it all on one issue like that!

[Didereaux]

9. HAs Dennis gone to work fro ROVE? n/t

[Squatch]

10. Being a gun owner myself, I find that this proposition is at odds with

the manner in which I choose to practice my rights and, therefore, causes a bit of concern. While I am not a gun voter, I will find it difficult to vote for somebody who is seeking or has sought to curtail and abridge ANY of my rights.

[steve2470]

11. oh no

I would easily vote for Kucinich in the General Elections. However, if he introduces that, he is political toast.

[bluestateguy]

12. Those space aliens must have done something to him when he saw the UFO

nt

[FyurFly]

52. Perhaps they probed him with a Glock!

:)

[onehandle]

13. This is from April.

I imagine the "news" that day was...

"All day today on Fox News, the Democrats War on Gun Ownership."

[denem]

19. It was onnounced in April, as a knee jerk response to Virginia Tech

That will hardly stop it being a white hot incdenary issue in the GE. The point I was making that if you to to the GE presenting all the hottest read meat issues around, having to defend them all at once, you are charcoal.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Golly, a Democrat who isn't trying to be a Republican is unelectable.

He'll get my vote, anyway.

[Al Federfer]

15. Say "Goodnight", Dennis. n/t

[Tyler Durden]

21. Goodnight Dennis..

Somebody had to take the punch line.

[The Straight Story]

24. Good night Tyler , good night John Boy, good night AHHHHHHH

I just realized John Boy has not switch his light bulbs over yet!

[madokie]

16. well I'll see you later dennis, cause you'll not be a contender after all

americans aren't going to let you take their guns no matter how you package the deal

[aikoaiko]

17. when youre irrelevant in an election you can say anything to placate the extreme edge

Good for DK for carving out his niche. I hope for the sake of the party (because now the right can use him as an example of democrats who want to ban guns) he shuts the fuck up about banning a whole class of guns.

[King Coal]

20. Stick a fork in him.

[Basileus Basileon]

50. If you stuck a fork in DK each time he said something principled but unpopular,

he'd look like a porcupine.

[King Coal]

53. Yep. A dead porcupine, laying in the road, stinking to high heaven.

Banning handguns is not principled, unpopular yes, but principled no.

[Basileus Basileon]

54. It's certainly principled.

It may not be a principle you agree with, or even a principle most people agree with. But if you believe that handguns have no legitimate purpose, as DK does, then pushing for a ban is indeed principled.

[King Coal]

61. I disagree with you in principle. Just because Dennis has toast in his hot milk every night,

doesn't make him principled, it makes him toast. Face it, he is a goofball. I like him a lot, and I would like to see him as president, but, he is too much of a goofball. It is not going to happen. Sorry. He has balls, but they are of the goof attribute.

[youthere]

22. Way to alienate a large portion of democrats.

We are very anti-NRA but pro gun ownership...so are most of our Dem friends...but they will vote republican before they will lose their guns.

[riverdeep]

62. That's how I am, too.

Pro gun, anti-NRA. And I know people say the NRA is non-political, but when the members are mostly from one party, it becomes defacto political.

[youthere]

67. all someone has to do is take a look at how much money the NRA sinks into the GOP.

[bluedog]

23. it'll never happen

this is a dumb bone ass idea.........

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Please note this press release is from April and Kucinich has yet to introduce his gun-grabbing bill

[aikoaiko]

31. Thanks for pointing that out - I assumed it was followup to his April stance

But now he is in a double bind -- he said he was proposing the legislation, but none yet.

Does this not puzzle gun-grabbers?

[thunder35]

26. I would ban guns also

Europe doesn't have all the violence as the us does.

[The Straight Story]

29. Remind me never to vote for you

:)

[cali]

32. Neither does Vermont and we have some of the laxest gun laws

and highest rate of gun ownership in the country.

[razorman]

40. I've always found that to be curiously ironic.

Vermont, one of the most politically liberal states in the U.S. has so few restrictions on guns.

[cali]

42. Well, Vermont is a very rural place with a long

tradition of hunting and a big gun culture. Always has been, and when Vt became increasingly liberal, that didn't change.

[aikoaiko]

46. I always figured it was because of the amazing grass grown up in VT

Everybody is just happy. :hippie:

[otherlander]

81. Hmmm....

A state full of heavilly-armed liberals?

Huzzah! :D

[superkia]

30. If he got legislation like this passed, he would lose my support.

At a time when our constitution is being attacked, he wants to poke at it a little more? I don't even own a handgun but I believe we should still have the right to own one if we choose, he should walk away from this one.

[Snarkturian Clone]

34. Is there a prison enlargement program in that bill?

Cause that's what you'll need.

[dethl]

35. Changing our views to prevent any Republican pre-emption in future elections is self-defeating

I really think I'll be voting for Kucinich in the primary. He's the only one who seems to be acting like a Democrat and not a Republican appeaser.

[Wcross]

38. Handguns are involved in 85%+ of the gun homicides.

It sure makes a LOT more sense than the "assault weapons ban" seeing as long guns are only involved in 3% of gun homicides. (these are rough numbers).

I like Dennis and a LOT of his ideas however I don't think he is on the short list of candidates.

[krispos42]

91. Yeah, except most of those are by people already forbidden from owning guns...

... and the guns used are typically stolen black-market guns.

This only works to reduce crime if at some point in the distant future it makes it significantly harder for career criminals to get handguns. And until that point is reached... :scared:

[Wcross]

96. Yes, however Kucinich is the most honest politician about it.

He isn't like the others who want to slowly nibble around the edges of gun rights until people are conditioned enough to give up all of their second amendment rights. Face it, the assault weapons ban didn't do anything to reduce gun crime. All it does is condition people to the idea that gun rights can be taken away. Very few people will stand up and defend the right to own a so called "assault weapon" so it is an easy victory for gun control people.
Next comes the dreaded "sniper rifle", easy enough for the majority of Americans to agree that we don't need them. Then comes certain types of handguns. Then comes the rest of the handguns. Then the rest of the shotguns & rifles. Death by a thousand cuts.
Kucinich is being honest about it. The most effective way to reduce gun homicides is to ban civilian ownership of handguns. We both know that criminals and gangsta's will not comply with this law of course. If it were possible to remove handguns from society entirely there would be no handguns used in homicides. I suspect there would be a spike in other types of homicide but the "problem" of gun homicide would be solved.

[krispos42]

110. Yes, that is exactly the plan

Which is why many, including myself, draw parallels between the anti-abortion movement and the anti-gun movement. Not necessarily between the rights themselves, but the tactics and strategies used. You could also draw parallels between the anti-gun movement and the vote-surpression movement.

What's really happening here is an analogy to Iowa trying to pass a state ban on the posession of black-painted cars, trucks, and SUVs. After all, nobody needs a black-painted vehicle, right? And the color black's obvious association with darkness and evil and death are nothing a civilized society should have to tolerate.

And then this ban reduces the number of deaths and injuries by black-painted vehicles. Soon, the only black-vehicle-related deaths and injuries come from out-of-state black vehicles. Iowans tout the success of lawmakers and law enforcement in bringing the number of deaths and injuries by black vehicles to historic, record lows. Iowa starts bitching about how if only Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, South Dakota, and Wisconsin would ban black vehicles as well, they could get the numbers down much lower. The six neighboring states would refuse, thinking Iowa's policies insane and unconstitutional, and Iowa sues them in federal court. Lawmakers across the country, sensing a winning campaign issue, start to jump on the bandwagon, calling for a nationwide ban on the manufacture and sale of black vehicles to non-law-enforcement customers. Advocacy grounps, both pro and con, are formed nationwide, soon followed by Dems and Repubs taking one side or another in their party platforms.

And the fact that the number of people killed and injured annually on America's roads is unchanged? Irrelevent to the argument.

[denem]

39. C'mon we could have a hand guns, don't ask, don't tell :)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

47. As a former mod in the Gun Dungeon, I know that there is a certain percentage

of the population that would vote for Genghis Khan as long as he promised to allow unrestricted ownership of firearms.

It's literally their ONLY issue.

During the 2000 election cycle, I was on another discussion board in which a poster claimed that while he realized that Bush would be bad for the country, the NRA had told him that Gore would take away his guns, and that was the dealbreaker.

It's a peculiarly American sickness, perhaps brought about by decades of economic insecurity and people wanting to feel that they can control something. Maybe that's why you there's no significant population of "gun nuts" in either Japan or Western Europe.

[Swamp Rat]

60. "The population ... would vote for Genghis Khan."

But they already did, in a way.

[riverdeep]

64. There are always going to be one issue voters.

Look at the Obama situation. He's actually challenged the black churches to rethink their position on homosexuality, a bold move. At the same time, he cynically allowed a platform for a bigot. But he is pushing for civil unions. But because of his association, there are dems who will never vote for him now. Right, wrong? It's their choice.

[aikoaiko]

69. thats a little unfair.

hardly any one advocates for unrestricted ownership.

[piedmont]

99. Seems strangen to me that a former moderator of that forum would have that distorted opinion. nt

[Basileus Basileon]

48. While I think that's all electoral poison, I agree with all of it,

word for word. I am in favor of rifles and shotguns. I like rifles, personally. But I think handguns have no legitimate purpose.

That said, I would never advocate that position as a politician. Gotta pick your battles.

[Mojorabbit]

98. My husband uses

his when he is hunting. He sometimes takes a pig down with his bow then uses his handgun to the head to finish it off so it does not suffer. So there is a use for them.

[karlrschneider]

51. It doesn't really matter, he has about as much chance to be elected as my dog.

Not saying that pleases me but it's a fact.

[Mz Pip]

55. Right, Dennis

That'll work...

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Darth Lenore]

56. Brave man.

Well, brave or suicidal. Making a statement like that in this trigger-happy society is just begging to be assassinated.

Stay safe, Dennis. Maybe call up Der Pope and see if he'll lend you the Popemobile.

[Junkdrawer]

57. As my 13 yr. old was just robbed at gunpoint on Halloween...

I think Kucinich is right.

[Darth Lenore]

59. That is jacked up

What the hell is wrong with people? I'm so sorry your child had to go through that.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

65. Forty years ago, my high school history teacher

who was a hunter (he lived across the street from us, and every November, we'd wake up one morning to the sight of deer carcasses hanging from a tree in his front yard) and a member of the American Legion, was adamantly opposed to banning rifles and shotguns, when the topic was first brought up in the years after the JFK assassination.

However, he was fine with banning handguns. In his opinions, handguns were used either by people who were up to no good or by people who thought that possessing one would protect them from other people with handguns.

He predicted that the handgun problem would grow worse, with a sort of arms race between criminals and ordinary people, and that handguns stolen from homeowners would be a prime source for "entry-level" criminals.

Subsequent years have proved him right.

That particular horse is out of the barn door. I doubt that there's any way we could contain the flood of handguns that has washed over this country.

Gun nuttiness is one of the things that I hate about this country. When I was a mod in the Gun Dungeon, I saw a lot of paranoid anger junkies. Note that I'm not criticizing all gun owners, just the single issue voters, who would happily see the Bill of Rights gutted (who in fact voted for the man who is doing his darnedest to gut the Bill of Rights) as long as the Second Amendment was kept in its broadest interpretation.

Being so frightened that you feel you have to be carrying all the time must be a sad way to live.

[-..__...]

66. The guy shows a lot of nerve and hypocrisy...

waving around his pocket version of the US Constitution. (Maybe it's the condensed version with the 2nd amendment omitted?).

Oh well... let him preach his idiotic idea; only an act of Congress can fulfill his pipe-dream anyways.

[riverdeep]

68. Oh, Dennis, Dennis, Dennis.

I will give you credit for putting it out there. Most people who want to ban handguns try to be stealth. So, I deeply appreciate and respect the candor. You've got guts. So many things we agree on. But this, I would have to hear more of your explanation why, and see if there is any wiggle room, but if you're actually planning on doing this, my support is now elsewhere.

I always knew in the back of my mind you held this position, but something about seeing it in black and white, well, I guess I wanted to overlook it. Maybe, you'll change your mind about this like you did on abortion, which was also a dealbreaker. Then, we can talk.

[bonito]

70. Oh brother, dumb move Dennis.

[slipslidingaway]

71. Impeach Cheney! n/t

[michreject]

72. Another elitist politician

He wasn't against owning/carrying a gun when he thought HIS life was in danger.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/04/kucinich_packed_heat_after_197.html

Cleveland Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who is drafting legislation to ban civilian ownership of handguns, kept a pistol in his house after police learned of a Mafia plot to kill him during his tumultous stint as Cleveland's mayor during the 1970s...............more

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

74. That is one of the few things I disagree with.

[Odin2005]

75. More proof that DK is unelectable.

I want the fucking gun issue to die, that more then anything else drives many rural Americans into the hands of the Republicans

I'm moderately pro-gun rights. I know that's an unpopular opinion here on DU, but I don't care.

[karlrschneider]

77. Not as unpopular as you might think.

There have been plenty of DU polls that show about half of us agree with you and/or own guns. Some DUers pick and choose from the Bill of Rights like Fundies do from their book of myths. :eyes:

[mudesi]

79. Dennis Kucinich is a patriot and a true liberal

Isn't it pathetic that gun enthusiasts are so selfish that they'd gladly allow a pro war candidate to take office over their precious, precious guns.

[krispos42]

111. Isn't it pathetic that Democrats are so selfish they'll gladly allow...

a pro-war candidate to take officer over their precious, precious gun bans?

[Paladin]

117. So....Are You Talking About "Selfish, Pathetic Democrats,".....

....or are you talking about "Evil Elitist Libruls," as you so charmingly put it in a current thread down in the Gun Dungeon?

Either way, you make no secret of despising the Democratic Party, like so many of your fellow DU gun militants do. If you can't bring yourself to do the right thing and leave altogether, how about staying down in the Gungeon with your own kind?

[krispos42]

131. Read "Don't Think of an Elephant" or "What's the Matter with Kansas"

to help put "Evil Elitist Libruls" in proper context (as apparantly everybody else has). I can burn you the book-on-tape of the former if you want. I'll even pay postage.

As to the selfish and pathetic, ask lynard_skynard about that, seeing as how it's his term and all.

And if in your opinion a person's "Democratic-ness" is wholly dependent on whether or not they are pro-gun or anti-gun, then what makes you any less of a close-minded zealot or non-thinking single-issue voter than the stereotypical Freeper?

[ecstatic]

80. Do his body guards carry guns? Would his secret service staff be allowed to carry guns?

:shrug: His idea would be wonderful if all the guns already out there were to magically disappear. But we can't have just cops and thugs carrying guns. That's not fair.

[Paladin]

106. Sure They'd Carry Guns

Given the number of death threats he's going to get from gun loons because of his frank statement on handguns, you better believe he's going to have armed protection. If such protection isn't currently in place, it damned sure ought to be....

[riqster]

82. If I only voted for politicos I always agreed with, I'd nver have voted at all. nt

[tom_paine]

83. Dennis...NO!

Ok, then...Edwards it is.

[Quixote1818]

84. This is why I never get on the DK bandwagon. He never fails to do something insane. nt

[Azathoth]

85. It's sad. Dennis makes a lot of sense on some issues

But throwing out the second amendment because we've been rattled by one psychotic college kid is like throwing out the other amendments because we've been rattled by one major terrorist attack. Political extremists on both ends of the spectrum are always looking to exploit tragedy and fear in order to subvert the Constitution and push through their personal political agendas. I'm sorry to see Kucinich is falling into that trap.

[defendandprotect]

86. Why isn't Kucinich taller . .. ???? We need him to be taller -- !!!!!

[krispos42]

89. "Buyback"

Interesting choice of words. Almost as if I got my guns from the government in the first place...

Another attempt to control the language, up there with "tax relief", "death tax", and "assault weapon".

[IndianaJones]

92. what an idiot. nt.

[Hawkowl]

93. Poor political savy = weak president

At the very least, he is displaying very poor political skills by wasting his precious political capital on a PROVEN losing issue. In fact the anti-gun public pretty much gives a pass to all politicians who do not agree with them. This position just displays a Don Quixote grasp of political reality.

I really like DK, but if he is going to waste all his time and resources tilting at windmills he will simply fail as a laughingstock. And like Jimmy Carter, his failure would lead to simply decades of rethuglicans.

[upi402]

94. if lovin' you is wrong

i don' wanna be right


fecking rightwing pseudo-Dem ostriches will ruin us. tear the phone book in half one page at a time instead of 5 pages at a time. great.

republicans ARE energized whether there is cause or not. the one guy who was right all along and 64% of americans agree with him... is an idiot???

who's the idiot

aargh, so frustrating

[hogwyld]

97. Nail on the head!

All of the single issue pseudo Dems are going to kill the party. Screw all of the other stuff, as long as they have their unhampered access to the largest arsenal possible. I hope that the next Dem president loads the supreme court with the most anti-gunners in history to address this second amendment fallacy, and limit firearms to civilians. We decry the bloodbath in Iraq, without seeing the bloodbath that's happening in our own country via firearms...

[Moochy]

100. Ignored is the idiot

He adds similar meaningful and valueable posts all over DU. Sort of like bird droppings.

[Truthiness Inspector]

95. Good guy, bad idea

He is suggesting overturning the 2nd Amendment. Not a good position to be in while arguing that Bush is violating Constitutional Rights.

[depakid]

101. Unfortunately, DK is rational- gun nuts are NOT

My friends from abroad know better than to try to talk sense to Americans about handguns.

The reason is pretty simple: they're perfectly willing to condemn themselves (and their children) to a violent society and are willing to pay for the world's largest prison system (both in terms of per capita incarceration rates AND raw numbers) just so that they can enjoy having their pistols around.

People abroad think it's some sort of pathological fetish- and just won't go there....

DK probably shouldn't either.

[Toasterlad]

103. I Love How There's More Outrage Over This Than Over Obama's Homophobic Concert.

Good old DU. Priorities all lined up in a nice little row.

[IndianaJones]

105. waaa.nt

[Toasterlad]

132. Yes, There Go Those Gays, Whining Again.

So tiresome. Don't they realize there are so many more important issues than equal rights for all Americans? Why, someone might take away my ability to accidentaly shoot my child!

[Toasterlad]

104. Dupe.

[ShaneGR]

107. The United States Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms...

While I support eliminating or restricting the ability to own assault type weapons, I don't support any effort to ban regular handguns and hunting rifles.

[benEzra]

109. "Assault weapon" = popular small-caliber civilian rifles.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms. While I support eliminating or restricting the ability to own assault type weapons, I don't support any effort to ban regular handguns and hunting rifles.

I don't support a handgun ban (lawful handgun owners aren't the problem), but a ban on small-caliber rifles (aka "assault weapons") makes even less sense, IMO.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/data/table_20.html
Total murders............................14,990.....100.00%
Handguns..................................7,795......52.00%
Other weapons (non firearm, non edged)....2,158......14.40%
Edged weapons.............................1,822......12.15%
Firearms (type unknown)...................1,465.......9.77%
Shotguns....................................481.......3.21%
Hands, fists, feet, etc.....................833.......5.56%
Rifles......................................436.......2.91%

This is an "assault weapon," banned by name by H.R.1022:


(Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle, caliber .223 Remington)

[LWolf]

108. How dare he.

He could get away with enabling the Bush administration at every turn, voting repeatedly to kill massive numbers of humans in war, refusing to take a stand on anything, inviting a homophobic religious fundamentalist to campaign with him, but this?

We can't have anyone actually putting forth legislation that backs a belief in non-violence.



:sarcasm:

In case you didn't hear it.

[Ikonoklast]

115. But HE wants to retain the right to own and use one

It's just not for the 'little people'.

That is a typical elitist attitude, "My life may be in danger, so I need a handgun, but you can go piss up a rope."

[NorthernSpy]

119. I really, REALLY doubt that DK would do that...

Kucinich is many things, but he's not a hypocrite.

He can be a little... different in some ways.

But he's not Diane Feinstein re this question. He's sincere. Give him that.

[Ikonoklast]

122. See:

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/04/kucinich_packed_heat_after_197.html


I don't care for hypocrites.

[NorthernSpy]

123. it was nineteen seventy-fuckin-eight -- a billion years ago...

He carried briefly on the advice of the police after they warned him that some people in organized crime were plotting his demise.


But that was a LONG time ago, and he has given up guns.


I don't think that makes him a hypocrite -- sorry.

[dysfunctional press]

114. buh-bye dennis...although it's not as if you ever had a half a chance in hell anyway...

don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out...:hi:

[killbotfactory]

116. First get back all the other rights that have been taken away

Then we'll talk about curbing more rights.

[NorthernSpy]

118. I support Dennis. I just think he's wrong about this...

:shrug:

Wish I could change his mind on this question.

[spindoctor]

120. No! Don't take away my guns!! I need them to protect me from...

From WHAT? You wimps.

Heard someone say the other day: "Americans should have their heads examined. Unfortunately they can't afford it."

If you don't vote for Kucinich, you don't WANT to change the political system. On the other hand, if you like more of the same corporatist administration but under a different flag, then it looks like you are in luck. And as a bonus, you get to keep your little guns.

[Wcross]

124. From WHAT?

It will never happen to me..........

What are you going to do when someone starts kicking your door in at 2am? You will call the police, right? What if the police are on their doughnut break? What if it takes 15-20 minutes until they get there? What happens between the time you call and the time they arrive? I will tell you what happens. ANYTHING the criminal desires.
Another thought is this. You don't need or want a gun yet when trouble does come kicking at the door you call someone with a gun. You call someone who has no legal obligation to protect you or come and help.
If you feel comfortable with no means of personal defense by all means do not own a handgun. I feel more comfortable having a means to defend myself should the need arise. Same thing with the fire extinguisher I keep in the house & the vehicle. I could just call the fire department but if I take immediate action there is likely to be less damage done.

[spindoctor]

125. Bla bla bla

How many times has your door been kicked in at 2am?

And should it happen, chances are its the cops anyway.

[Wcross]

130. Better to have it & not need it than to need it & not have it.

You are going to be right with your assumption until the day it happens. Unfortunately you may not be around to allow me to tell you "I told you so!". I am a civilian but in my other life I qualified expert pistol all four years of my service in the Marine Corps. I feel comfortable enough with a handgun to continue to use one for self defense purposes. (1911 of course- yes I know how old that makes me!)

Apparently, despite your assertion it can't happen to you it does happen. Here is a link to the FBI crime reports for 2006.
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2006/offenses/expanded_information/homicide.html


BTW- The police have no reason to kick my door. They will be dealt with like anyone else that kicks it.

[Neshanic]

121. All he needs is a commercial with agood ride in a tank bouncing around with a ill-fitted helmet now.

[Pavulon]

126. One more reason he will never..

be electable. Period. He is a great sideshow but of zero importance in this election.

This will NEVER happen, ever..

All it does is piss of voters who think this is the policy of the Democratic party.

[rjones2818]

127. I'm actually opposed to a handgun ban...

but I have no problem regulating the size of the handgun (shouldn't be able to be hidden in the palm of a hand) or sales of handguns (police check and waiting periods are ok by me). Overall, I think Dennis' position is a starting bid to see what can be worked out.

[tritsofme]

128. Dennis who?

When can we start excluding these vanity candidates from the debates?

[AuntPatsy]

129. Don't think so, there are many good gun laws in place, leave the issue alone.