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Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts) Mon Dec 17, 2012, 09:37 PM Dec 2012

School attack doesn't change Alaska delegation's stance on gun laws

Not surprising, but disappointing, nonetheless.

http://www.adn.com/2012/12/17/2727355/conn-school-attack-doesnt-appear.html

<snip>

Begich's spokespeople would not answer when asked Monday if he would now at least consider supporting such a ban or other gun-control changes in the wake of the Connecticut massacre.

Begich's office responded to the questions with a prepared statement saying Begich believes "we must start with the ever-pressing issue of mental health services in this country."

<snip>

"Sen. Murkowski's top priority in the coming days is to pray and mourn for the victims of Newtown and their families. In the near future, we will seriously discuss the issues that led to the Newtown shooting, and whether we are doing all we need to do to protect our children and one another," Murkowski's office said in a prepared statement in response to questions.

Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young's office was more straightforward about his position on the issues.

"Congressman Young has not and will not support an assault weapons ban, and believes any such ban would be an infringement on an individual's Second Amendment rights. The conversation going forward should be larger than any one gun law; it should be about how we diagnose and treat mental illness in this country," said Young's spokesman, Mike Anderson.

<snip>

They're all falling back on the "mental health issues" cop-out.

I realize this is a rural state and people hunt and carry weapons for protection against bears, etc., but I fail to see why an assault weapons ban or a limit on the number of rounds in a magazine would be interfering with these legitimate uses.

3 replies

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School attack doesn't change Alaska delegation's stance on gun laws (Original Post) Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 OP

Mental health issues are NOT a cop-out lbrtbell Dec 2012 #1

I'm sure you know that's not what I meant at all. Blue_In_AK Dec 2012 #3

I just read this. Arctic Dave Dec 2012 #2

lbrtbell

(2,389 posts)

1. Mental health issues are NOT a cop-out

Reply to Blue_In_AK (Original post)

Mon Dec 17, 2012, 10:34 PM

Dec 2012

It's a critically important health issue, and your statement is a slap to the face of anyone who has ever suffered from the very real, life-destroying effects of mental illness.

You do realize that the other school kids who witnessed this Sandy Hook shooting will be suffering from mental illness as a result? So it's a cop-out to treat them, too?

Whatever your stance on guns, it is absolutely wrong to classify a call for better mental health care as a cop-out.

Blue_In_AK

(46,436 posts)

3. I'm sure you know that's not what I meant at all.

Reply to lbrtbell (Reply #1)

Mon Dec 17, 2012, 11:39 PM

Dec 2012

What I meant is that the people who are opposed to any kind of gun control like to deflect by saying that guns aren't the problem, that mentally unstable people with guns are the problem, thus absolving themselves from any responsibility as they insist on their right to own any kind of weapon they choose with no restrictions.

Of course, we need more and better mental health services in this country, but the two issues need to be considered apart from one another, in my opinion.

Arctic Dave

(13,812 posts)

2. I just read this.

Reply to Blue_In_AK (Original post)

Mon Dec 17, 2012, 10:37 PM

Dec 2012

Pathetic, but like you said, not surprising.

I knew they would all be spineless against all the gun psychos up here.

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