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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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  • James N. wrote...
    Why are they so worried about guns?
    January 15, 2013 8:44 pm
    Funny... Alcohol claims the lives of 100,000 people a year.... But we aren't clamping down on it. Lets just get rid of cars... We would be much safer if we didnt drive around in cars. A life lost is tragic, but how many lives will be lost when we continue to allow our liberties to be taken away under the guise of safety. I agree that people should keep thier guns in a safe and that mentally unstable people shouldn't be permitted to buy guns, but how do we mandate that without taking the liberties of sound minded, law abiding citizens?
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  • ratrustle wrote...
    James
    January 16, 2013 6:39 am
    perfectly spoken! But, that's not on the agenda this week.
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  • mpgunner wrote...
    So, how about a 1 bullet limit?
    January 15, 2013 10:04 pm
    Do that yet another killing will happen. Why not give families with mental health issues help to report/support their troubled kids? Duh..
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  • Pink Pony wrote...
    gun control
    January 16, 2013 10:28 am
    Besides controlling guns, they really need to focus on Mental Health. I have a son with mental health issues that at times he seems totally normal and at other times off the wall. He has been a high maintenance child from the beginning....he has been diagnosed with ODD, bipolar, close to phychotic, disalusional and schizephrenic. He has been in jail, numerous times, hospital, mental evaluation lockdown and has always been set free. We have tried all the legal medications and now he self medicates....the latest is heroin. Over the last several years he has gotten guns and actually arrested with one in his possession.... When he has had the guns he was very paranoid that someone was after him. He refuses to go to treatment and our hands seem to be tied. We can send him to jail for some things that he has done, but he actually does really well in jail.....immediate consequences....meds on a regular basis....food...housing...and a strict routine. Once he gets out....in a week he is back to his same old ways. We don't have the money to pay for 1 - 6 months of rehab, which he won't go anyway. He is a smart creative person, but all these shootings could have been him behind the gun during one of his psychotic states. As parents, my husband 67 and myself 63 we are worn down and we are one of many in the same spot...just here in the Pacific Northwest. If you look at all these shooters....they all have some sort of mental illness. I could go on for hours. I listen to your show as I am driving for work...really enjoy listening. Thanks, Jane
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  • SeattleD wrote...
    Make sure your son is in the new NRA database
    January 16, 2013 6:35 pm
    I think the leader called it the Lunatic Database.
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