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Movement on the gun issue

BY Dave Ross  on January 15, 2013 @ 5:17 am (Updated: 5:46 am - 1/15/13 )

AP: 7ec8898f-923a-4c71-bd9b-711ef0debb72
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference announcing an agreement with legislative leaders New York's Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act in the Red Room at the Capitol on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Look at this gun control bill in the New York legislature: It expands the ban on assault weapons to include certain handguns and shotguns. It requires mental health professionals to report any patient likely to harm themselves or others, so that the cops can confiscate that patient's firearms.

It would also hold gun owners to certain standards for storing their weapons if they live with someone who can't legally touch them.

New York would also ban any gun magazine that can hold over 7 rounds, require background checks, for most private gun sales, to buy ammo, and it alert the cops if you buy a large number of weapons. It would create a statewide database of gun licenses - which the news media would not have access to - and increase penalties for gun crimes.

Wow. How did that happen?

As for the chances of anything like that on the national level ...

The latest Pew research poll finds across the board majorities among Democrats, Republicans, Independents, men and women - and I'm talking well about 80 percent in most cases - supporting two things: extending background checks to gun shows and private sales, and preventing people with mental illness from buying guns.

With numbers like that, if Congress can't figure out a way to address at least those two issues, Democracy is a failure, and we might as well go back to a monarchy.

Of course we won't because that's why the Second Amendment was passed - to protect us from tyranny by arming people like James Yeager.

"I am not letting my country be ruled by a dictator. I'm not letting anybody take my guns. If it goes one inch further, I'm going to start killing people."

James Yeager is a Tennessee firearms instructor, explaining what he'd do if the President signed an executive order restricting guns. He later said he'd let his emotions get the best of him. But the Tennessee authorities suspended his concealed carry permit anyway. He also might want to avoid New York.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (59)


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  • HLC wrote...
    You are probably right Dave.
    January 15, 2013 5:21 am
    After all we are closer to a dictatorship then we ever have been with the fool you elected. We might as well make him king instead of another well known dictator hero of his.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    HLC? So Obama is now running the legislature in New York State?
    January 15, 2013 8:30 am
    Gee, who knew?

    'Course if he has any 'nads as POTUS he'll veto that darn bill in New Yo....(oh, wait- first of all he can't, and if he *did* interfere with state legislation *that* would make him more of a dictator than you already allege)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Chuck
    January 15, 2013 11:15 am
    Did you see anything like this under Bush or any President? Even Clinton?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    HA HA asked, "Did you see anything like this under Bush....?"
    January 15, 2013 11:32 am
    Hunh? You and HLC must have taken the same civics class. (Or listen to the same radio propaganda). Once again; Barak Obama is the President of the United States. He is not responsible for, and cannot pass or prevent, legislation considered in the New York State legislature.

    Did I ever see anything like this under Bush? I suppose not, if you're willing to overlook the Patriot Act. :-)

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    NO :-) for the 'patriot' act, Chuck.
    January 15, 2013 1:53 pm
    I would roundly condemn that ploy by Bush as a ALSO a violation of our liberties. ANOTHER case of giving up freedom for the pretense of security.

    But, then. it's understandable. If Obama isn't blaming Bush for all the problems in the economy, he's passing off other things as OKAY (like Gitmo) because 'Bush did it too.'

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dsbab wrote...
    Thank God
    January 15, 2013 6:07 am
    we aren't NY. We in Washington like our freedoms, our guns. We are a very armed state with a very low crime rate. We are responsible, practical, law abiding citizens. The best way to go the way of high crime areas like Chicago and New York, is to go they way they did by disarming the people. If you don't want to be like them, don't be like them.
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  • messiah101 wrote...
    dslab
    January 15, 2013 7:57 am
    Your logic seems a bit flawed on this issue.Did you ever think that those people in those cities already have plenty of guns and thats part of the problem
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gbrown5 wrote...
    messiah
    January 15, 2013 9:35 am
    that's absolutely untrue. New York and Chicago have some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. So its the law abiding citizens that are unarmed, making the entire city a gun-free zone.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Knee Jerk
    January 15, 2013 6:12 am
    All of these controls will never fix a mass shooter problem. When will you dopes get that? I say we start gun control by taking away all the guns from the cops and secret service agents who's sole purpose is to protect these liberal fools... If we can live without them so can you...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Full of holes
    January 15, 2013 6:16 am
    This will end of in court, just like District of Columbia vs Heller. You cannot confiscate someones firearms without due process.

    By the way, the United States is a constitutional republic, not a democracy.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    Will the State of New York issue a warrant for Obama?
    January 15, 2013 6:22 am
    There isn't a bigger gun nut than President Obama and AG Holder with their Fast and Furious program. Maybe Cuomo can have them arrested to clear the way for a Cuomo/ Bloomberg administration? they can make Dave the minister of propaganda.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    Who in their right mind would register their guns into a database controlled by these narcissistic lunatics?
    January 15, 2013 6:37 am
    I would be plenty nervous if Andrew Cuomo or Michael Bloomberg had my address and list of firearms. Who keeps check on the mental health of these elitists who rule over us? Good luck NY. The ship of fools.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • billy1 wrote...
    Happy Days
    January 15, 2013 6:42 am
    One thing that will happen is the the unnatural selection in New York. I do hope the media informs the rest of the nation on the increased crime rate...just saying.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    weird how gun nuts overreact
    January 15, 2013 6:43 am
    to reasonable legislation. If you're going to own a gun -you need to secure it. If you're going to own a gun, it should not be an assault weapon. Background checks need to be improved and gun shows need to be regulated to a higher degree. Prices would be increased to reflect the cost of increased regulation. If you notice Dave's article above, it doesn't mention Obama but notice how many of the local crazies are unable to focus on much else. Do you really want such unstable people developing arsenals?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    cigarfan....
    January 15, 2013 7:15 am
    Define "assault weapon". Is it that it looks scary? Is it that it has a barrel shroud? Is it that it accepts a magazine? You can't define it though, because an assault weapon is a selective fire weapon. Semi-automatic, 3 round burst or fully automatic. Already heavily regulated. The only mass shooting in the last 50 years using an assault weapon (fully automatic) was carried out by a Police Officer who had gone sideways. So you want to take away all the big black scary guns from citizens, but have no problem with the police being para-military with fully automatic weapons, APC's and all kinds of other military hardware right? Face it, you are a Totalitarian turd.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Yes Define Assault Weapon
    January 15, 2013 7:32 am
    Since New York Included hand guns and Shotguns. And then next they include any weapon as an assault weapon.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • OceanPro wrote...
    Gun nuts overreact?
    January 15, 2013 7:49 am
    If I follow all the laws on the books, why shouldn't I be able to have a gun with a detachable magazine...they are much safer than non-detachable magazines. Detachable magazines are part of the bill. I bought my guns legally, secure them in a safe, and maintain a high level of safety with them. Most of my guns have detachable magazines, even the hunting ones. Two of them have protection around the barrel so I don't burn my hand...again this is part of the ban criteria in NY bill. If I lived in New York, I would be a newly minted Felon once this bill passes. Me? I am deeply invovled in youth sports and outreach, my church, my neighborhood and local politics... Yeah I am the guy you turn into a criminal....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maxwell161 wrote...
    Overreact?
    January 15, 2013 8:20 am
    There is nothing reasonable about NY's legislation, NOTHING. I'm sick of law-abiding gun owners being the target of these ignorant politicians. We are not to blame for these incidents so stop passing laws on us! I'm also tired of politicians who don't know a fire hydrant from a firearm passing gun laws.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    cigarfan,
    January 15, 2013 12:03 pm
    you are an idiot. first of all, you don't have any idea what an assault weapon is (or at least your definition is un-reasonable). I don't want my name in a database that anybody can access, that is not reasonable. As far as improved background checks, they already check for domestic violence, drug use and other criminal history. They could check for mental health, but you libs would have to make it legal to do so.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Fuego wrote...
    NY has finally
    January 15, 2013 6:49 am
    Figure out a way to stop lunatics from getting guns. I will be so excited to hear that gun related deaths will be zero in NY this year. What a great day to be a New Yorker, or a criminal in NY.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    I don't call that Freedom
    January 15, 2013 6:59 am
    I call it inslavement. Only Criminals Want Gun Control!.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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