"Gun Zealots: Shooting Victims Should Stay Out of the Debate"

[applegrove]

Gun Zealots: Shooting Victims Should Stay Out of the Debate

By Alex Seitz-Wald at Salon

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/23/gun_zealots_shooting_victims_should_stay_out_of_debate/

"SNIP................................


But it’s not just Taranto. From Sen. Rand Paul to small-time radio hosts, gun rights absolutists seem eager to dismiss gun violence victims and condemn them for daring to speak out.

The National Review’s Kevin Williamson criticized Giffords in a particularly ugly way, saying, “It should be noted that being shot in the head by a lunatic does not give one any special grace to pronounce upon public-policy questions.” A Washington Times editorial said that Obama was “exploit[ing] the grief” of the Newtown families by “using them at every opportunity as props to make a political argument.” Breitbart’s Ben Shapiro likewise decried Obama for “exploitation of victims of violence using guns.” Another conservative blogger accused Giffords of “emotional bullying.”

Of course, Republican Paul called gun violence victims “props,” but even conservative Democrats were not above rejecting the right of victims to participate in the debate. “It’s dangerous to do any type of policy in an emotional moment,” Alaska Democratic Sen. Mark Begich told the New York Times. “Because human emotions then drive the decision. Everyone’s all worked up. That’s not enough.”

A radio host in Minnesota even told gun violence victims to “go to hell.” “I’m sorry that you suffered a tragedy, but you know what? Deal with it, and don’t force me to lose my liberty, which is a greater tragedy than your loss,” said Bob Davis on AM 1130.


................................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. Psychopaths too like to control the parameters of any negotiation/debate/fight. Giving themselves

the advantage because they want to knock some real truths out so they don't have to deal with them or they'd lose. Next they'll be making themselves out to be the victims. I totally expect this from the right at this point.

[freshwest]

2. And victims of rape should just get over it! Same mentality.

[freshwest]

3. Next tack: Rapist never tried in court, nor murderers. That's where it's going.

[freshwest]

4. BTW: Those kids were 'asking for it'!!!!

[sigmasix]

5. why do gun nuts protect the rights of pedophiles?

The NRA and other domestic terror organizations work very hard to destroy America and our children. The NRA is responsible for pedophiles like Ted Nugent having the right to own guns. What does this say about someone that would join such an organization?

[zbdent]

6. Do they mean like women in the debates about womens' health issues?

[SunSeeker]

7. Yes. Exactly. nt

[DanTex]

9. Exactly.

[Progressive dog]

12. Exactly

You nailed it

[riqster]

8. And black folk should shut up about slavery...

Because they'd not be "objective"?

Christ in a teapot.

[mokawanis]

10. Sorry, but if you get shot in the head

and survive you must surrender your right to be part of the debate about gun control.

[Paladin]

11. And how many times have DU Gun Enthusiasts griped about "emotionalism"?

Countless times. This is the truly dark underside of the gun militancy movement: victims of gun-related violence just don't count for much. On a typical thread involving a gun massacre, the Enthusiasts concentrate on the make and model of the weapons used, and gripe about the media incorrectly describing intricate details of said weapons, and that's it---nothing in the way of sympathy for the victims and their families. I often wonder what sort of homes our resident Gun Enthusiasts were raised in; I believe they are missing vital segments of their personalities, and the guns they own obviously offer nothing in the way of restorative power.

[Robb]

13. Remember, the internet tends to amplify nuttiness as a rule.

It's not that there are more "glib sociopaths" than there used to be; it's that their voices are amplified more than ever before. Sadly a lot of the media -- and lawmakers -- don't quite get that volume is not the same thing as importance; it's important that we hammer the difference as often as we can.

[premium]

14. Shooting victims have just as much right to participate in the debate

as anyone else does, and those that think they should just STFU, are clueless assholes.

[Kalidurga]

15. Sadly many victims of gun violence can't join the debate...

Or be their for there children, or grow up and go to a prom, or hug their mom and dad, or enjoy a sunny day. So, I guess they are the proper victims according to the gun nuts.