It's Impossible to Legislate Against Evil or Madness

It's Impossible to Legislate Against Evil or Madness

Friday, October 12, 2012

By David A. Keene, NRA President

https://www.nraila.org/articles/20121012/its-impossible-to-legislate-against-evil-or-madness

Just a week after the theater massacre in Aurora, Colo., an ancient oak tree in Great Falls, Va., fell on a passing automobile, killing the driver. The Washington Post noted that the killer oak ignited an argument between residents who enjoy the presence of these enormous trees and those who believe the community would be safer without them.

The debate rages on.

As I read the Post report, I was reminded of the New York Times headline over the initial article reporting on the mass murder in Aurora and its immediate proclamation that the rampage meant the debate over gun control should be reopened.

At a gut-wrenching level, the Aurora tragedy was made worse by the eagerness of so many to exploit the deaths of innocent men, women and children for potential political gain. The New York Times, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Brady Campaign and television’s “talking heads” saw Aurora’s victims primarily as an excuse to advance their ideological agendas and ghoulishly make NRA and our membership accomplices to these murders.

As in the past, in the midst of this tragedy, NRA refused to be drawn into superficial gun policy debates. Rational discussion suffers when solutions to such mindless violence succumb to unseemly shouting matches that accomplish nothing and take place before anyone has any real knowledge of the facts.

Prior to the Aurora tragedy, there was a similar media frenzy following the Florida incident that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin. For example, one New York Times reporter who must have known better denounced the NRA for supporting laws that make it “legal to shoot someone you sort of suspect may intend to hurt you,” and hoped that the shooting would lead to the rapid repeal of pro-self-defense laws nationwide.

Evidence subsequently has shown that regardless of which version of facts one accepts, the Florida “Stand Your Ground” law was not a factor. As a result, we don’t hear much anymore about the case and recent polls reveal that the existing statute enjoys majority public support.

Confronted by a reporter after the Florida incident, I was asked what I thought about the case. I told the reporter that since I wasn’t there that night I had no idea what actually happened, adding that I couldn’t understand how dozens of television commentators, editorial writers and politicians could possibly draw conclusions about these events before the facts come out.

Within hours of the Aurora murders, ABC’s Brian Ross placed the blame for the massacre squarely on the shoulders of the Tea Party movement merely—and erroneously—because he managed to find a Colorado Tea Party member with the same name as the killer. Another “expert” on a conservative talk show argued that it wasn’t the Tea Party, but the Occupy Movement that was to blame. Neither had any idea what they were talking about, but saw the tragedy as an opportunity to attack folks they don’t like and policies they disdain.

Then attention turned to the NRA and the nation’s “lax” gun laws. Colorado was assailed as a wild and wooly place where anyone could buy a firearm and carry it without restriction. There were renewed calls for new “assault weapons” bans, restrictions on “large” capacity magazines and online ammunition sales.

The fact is the perpetrator had no public record that would have prevented him from buying firearms and his purchases were approved following the requisite background checks. But the end game is as it always has been: Pass a new law that would keep all of us from purchasing firearms in the name of public safety.

President Barack Obama predictably proclaimed that we all should get together on “common-sense” gun control laws that might keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. This is pure Obama-speak for a new “assault weapons” ban, elimination of what gun-banners like to call the “gun show loophole,” restrictions on magazines and other restrictions.

None of these “common-sense” restrictions on our gun rights would have altered what happened in Aurora. Colorado has already closed the so-called “loophole” and the killer didn’t buy his guns at a gun show. He reportedly purchased ammunition legally when he purchased the firearms and passed the required background check. Under a prohibition statute he might have been forced to purchase a different semi-auto firearm, but that wouldn’t have made any difference to those he viciously wounded and killed.

Colorado’s Gov. John Hickenlooper got it right when he told viewers of ABC’s “This Week” that “Even if he didn’t have access to guns, this guy was diabolical. He would have found explosives. He would have found something else. . . . He would have done something to create this horror.”

None of these proposed limits on our rights would have made one iota of difference because it is impossible to legislate against evil or madness.

If that were possible, the killer—like his victims—would have honored the theater owner’s mandate declaring the theater “a gun-free zone.”

Occupy Movement

Movement Resource Group was a funder for the Occupy Movement.

Note: Lear Family Foundation was a donor for the Movement Resource Group, and a funder for the People for the American Way.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the People for the American Way, the Harlem Children's Zone, the Human Rights First, and the Sundance Institute.

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and William D. Zabel was his divorce lawyer.

Michael R. Bloomberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, a contributor for the Americans for Responsible Solutions, is a co-chair for the Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the founder of Everytown for Gun Safety, Diana L. Taylor’s companion, and the founder of Bloomberg LP.

Americans for Responsible Solutions is a “Gun Safety, Gun Control” PAC for guns.

Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a “Gun Safety, Gun Control” group for guns.

Everytown for Gun Safety is a “Gun Safety, Gun Control” group for guns.

Diana L. Taylor is  Michael R. Bloomberg’s companion, and was a director at Brookfield Office Properties.

Brookfield Office Properties is the owner of Zuccotti Park.

Zuccotti Park is the staging area for 2011 NYC Occupy Wall Street protests.

Occupy Wall Street was the initial protest for the Occupy Movement.

Daniel L. Doctoroff was the president & CEO for Bloomberg LP, and is a director at the Human Rights First.

William D. Zabel was George Soros’s divorce lawyer, a trustee at the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and is the chair for the Human Rights First.

James D. Zirin was a director at the Human Rights First, and is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.   

Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Mark A. Angelson was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, and a director at the Human Rights First.

Kenneth R. Feinberg is a director at the Human Rights First, the victim compensation administrator for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the administrator for the One Fund Boston, was the special master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, and the administrator of victim payments for the 2012 Aurora (CO) theater shootings.

Deepwater Horizon was an oil rig that exploded, killing 11 & triggering oil spill in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

One Fund Boston is the victim assistance fund for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 for 9/11.

2012 Aurora (CO) theater shootings was a mass shooting where 12 were killed & 58 were injured.

2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a mass shooting where 28 were killed, including gunman.

Newtown (CT) is the location of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Martin Feinberg is a Newtown (CT) resident, and Stephen A. Feinberg’s father.

Stephen A. Feinberg is Martin Feinberg’s son, a trustee at the Public Theater, and the CEO for Cerberus Capital Management L.P.  

Faith Elizabeth Gay is a trustee at the Public Theater, and was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP.

Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.          

Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Cerberus Capital Management L.P. is the owner of the Remington Outdoor Company.

Remington Outdoor Company is a gunmakers manufacturer.

Bushmaster Firearms is a Remington Outdoor Company brand.

Why Shooting Victims Can't Win Lawsuits Against Gunmakers

An AR-15 rifle similar to the gun used by Adam Lanza in the Sandy Hook school shooting
By Paul M. Barrett December 16, 2014

http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-12-16/sandy-hook-victims-will-misfire-in-bushmaster-ar-15-gun-lawsuit 

The latest attempt to sue a gunmaker for firearm mayhem is under way in Connecticut. Nine families of victims and one survivor marked the second anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre by filing a wrongful-death suit against Bushmaster Firearms in state court. Bushmaster, you’ll recall, made the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle used by the killer of 20 first-graders and six educators.

Michael P.C. Carns is a director at the Remington Outdoor Company, and was a director at the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank).

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Atlantic Council of the United States (think tank), and the American Constitution Society.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, and was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.  

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Sundance Institute, and the People for the American Way.   

Kenneth D. Cole is a trustee at the Sundance Institute, and married to Maria Cuomo Cole.

Maria Cuomo Cole is married to Kenneth D. Cole, a trustee at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, and Mario M. Cuomo’s daughter.

Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is a “Gun Safety, Gun Control” group for guns.

Mario M. Cuomo was Maria Cuomo Cole’s father, and a board of adviser’s member for the American Constitution Society.

Faith Elizabeth Gay is a board of adviser’s member for the American Constitution Society, a trustee at the Public Theater, and was an attorney at Sidley Austin LLP.

Stephen A. Feinberg is a trustee at the Public Theater, Martin Feinberg’s son, and the CEO for Cerberus Capital Management L.P.  

Cerberus Capital Management L.P. is the owner of the Remington Outdoor Company.

Remington Outdoor Company is a gunmakers manufacturer.

Bushmaster Firearms is a Remington Outdoor Company brand.

Martin Feinberg is Stephen A. Feinberg’s father, and a Newtown (CT) resident.

Newtown (CT) is the location of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a mass shooting where 28 were killed, including gunman.

Barbra Streisand Foundation was a funder for the American Constitution Society.

Margery Tabankin is the treasurer for the Barbra Streisand Foundation, and a director at the People for the American Way. 

Lear Family Foundation was a funder for the People for the American Way, and a donor for the Movement Resource Group.

Movement Resource Group was a funder for the Occupy Movement.

Occupy Wall Street was the initial protest for the Occupy Movement.