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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 (57)


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  • HLC wrote...
    cigarfan
    January 15, 2013 7:02 am
    When the left decides that abortion kills way more children then guns ever will get right back to me. Until that happens you've got nothing for me. Maybe we should ban knives in the hands of baby killing liberals? That would save more lives then any gun law.
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @HLC
    January 15, 2013 7:06 am
    Maybe you should focus on the subject that dave is discussing -and not drive all over the road.
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  • Seattle Dad wrote...
    I think he did....
    January 15, 2013 8:55 am
    Protecting children from violent psychopaths.
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  • murr wrote...
    New
    January 15, 2013 7:14 am
    ???????
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  • murr wrote...
    Ney york has had tough gun laws ????
    January 15, 2013 7:18 am
    Notice how their has been no crime with guns their. Its been bliss in the past !!! should even be lees crime with guns now ??? If it was zero before, how can you get less than that.
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  • sambra27 wrote...
    murr
    January 15, 2013 8:32 am
    That's good. I also heard there was no snow in the Andes this year.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    Well Dave says, "I'm pretty even-handed on most issues"
    January 15, 2013 7:33 am
    Especially those issues which fit his liberal agenda. In regards to mass murder it appears the liberal agenda has in fact solved all our problems and woes.......after days of study it has been determined that the 2nd Amendment is to blame. The White House Declares War on 2nd Amendment comming soon to your neighborhood. They have to wait a few weeks to tie up loose ends on the White House's war on wealthy Americans, succesful Americans, anti illegals Americans, non transgendered, lesbian, gay Americans, religous groups Americans, caucasian male Americans, conservative Americans, tax payibg Americans, Americans that don't believe in global warming or sciences that conflict with the higher power of the liberal party, non Prius owners, suburban Americans and other Americans that have to commute more than 5 miles to work each day and finally of course non hipster Americans.
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  • OceanPro wrote...
    Where will the Bill take us?
    January 15, 2013 7:58 am
    This bill will make 'assault weapons' of great value to gangs and felons on the street, increasing theft of these guns in the short term. Supply and Demand... If this bill passes, I predict that all the felons and criminals that now have guns that meet one or more of the ban criteria: (detachable magazines, barrel covers, magazines holding more than 7 rounds, etc.) will immedaitely turn in these weapons or sell them legitimately. Um - NO. The druggies and felons will be rejoicing as the law abiding protectors of family and home will be less equipped to fight against them...
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  • sambra27 wrote...
    A "guinea pig" city
    January 15, 2013 8:27 am
    It seems like this should serve as the guinea pig example for the rest of the nation. I think there has to be some sort of set precedent that can be used as evidence that this decreases gun-associated crime rate before any national gun legislations take effect.

    I do not own a weapon so I cannot speak for the way people feel if they have any of the assault weapons (including handguns and shotguns - described above) taken away from them. Any owners of those guns on this forum? I would like to get an idea of what you personally think about that, and the implications that losing any of those particular firearms would have on your daily life.

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  • Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...
    it will be very interesting to see how the medical side of this law is handled
    January 15, 2013 8:29 am
    Based on decades of history, this NY law should disarm law enforcement and military on a grand scale. At the same time, the law makes no measure to compel those with mental illnesses to take medication that stabilizes their condition. All they have done is give everyone a reason to mistrust and avoid psychological services. Nice job, Cuomo!
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  • zounds wrote...
    Ah the newest "theory" from you nuts
    January 15, 2013 8:36 am
    Sandy Hook was a gubermeint conspiracy so it could take away your guns.

    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/gene-rosen-sandy-hook-conspiracy-155033813.html

    If you weren't so scary, you'd be funny.

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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    The New York gun bill puts lipstick on a pig, as well as a bow between her ears...
    January 15, 2013 8:47 am
    but she is still a pig.

    Laws will not protect us from the crazies. Laws will not protect us from violent criminals. Laws will not protect us from "patriots" who fantasize they are going to start a political uprising. Laws will not protect us from family arguments in which a gun is merely the weapon of first opportunity. The crazies will not understand the law. The violent criminals will disregard the law. The "patriots" will be out to take down the government that passed the law in the first place. The family members currently resolving screaming matches with a gun blast will simply turn to some other weapon instead.

    Smoooooooooch! Kissin' a pig is even worse than kissin' your sister- and just as useless.

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  • Seattle Dad wrote...
    And magically
    January 15, 2013 8:49 am
    All of the gang bangers and crooks in New York instantly turned in their guns, extra clips and New York began to enforce their goofy law by locking up crazy people. And then rainbows started coming out of the mayor's butt! If only life were that simple, but it's not. Simply another exampe of people sticking their heads in the sand and believing that people willing to murder others will somehow be stopped from doing so by this new law.
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