It’s difficult enough listening to the gut-wrenching testimony from victims of the Aurora theater shooting.
But it’s over-the-top torture simultaneously watching my Twitter feed roll with sick and creepy touts from gun-goons at places like the Independence Institute and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.
All this week they’ve waxed toxic hoping to ensure that everybody who wants access to big-ammo magazines and military-grade weapons better be able to get them. If they can’t, they’re plotting ways to make sure more AR-15-grabbing, liberal Democrats will fall.
Both of these locally based groups have long battled against anyone who so much as squints at the Second Amendment. The notion that as a society we can have guns without letting every Tom, Dick and James Holmes get their hands on an insane arsenal delivered by UPS to their door or in the express line at Wal-Mart, is too difficult for these groups to comprehend.
They scoff at places like Germany, Great Brittain and Japan, which tightly regulate guns, enjoy all the freedoms we do and have huge hunting and sport industries.
Right now, these two far-far-far-right groups are fighting each other. The Golden-based Independence Institute, run by Jon Caldara, who hates gun control almost as much as he hates RTD, is sniping at the face of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Dudley Brown in a battle to wrestle giant magazine clips back into legality. After the Aurora theater shooting and the Newtown, Conn. slaughter, Democrats forced through two tame gun-control measures, both much more show than substance. One measure requires all gun sales in the state to be subject to background checks, and the other limits the size of ammo clips to 15 rounds. If you ask why anyone would need to rapid-fire off 15 rounds, let alone 30 or more, you’re a gun-grabbing commie, according to these groups.
Gun-rights groups like Brown’s went ballistic after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the restrictions into law. The measures resulted in the bizarre recalls of two Democratic lawmakers and the extorted resignation of another.
These groups have since obsessed over ways to undo those measures of gun control, making everyone at the state Capitol nervous.
It’s sick. Watch the Aurora theater shooting trial testimony and tell me that letting crazies like James Holmes have easy access to mail-order arsenals and endless ammo is a good idea. Tell me again how Holmes could have unleashed this kind of terror with a switch blade or a chain saw.
Nobody I know of has ever asked for the government to collect everything with a trigger. All level-headed people have been asking for is common sense. We can have guns and regulations just like we can have cars, toxins and marijuana, all with regulations. People who are asking for common sense are people like Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, whose life was nearly destroyed by a crazy man who had easy access to guns. People like Tom Mauser ask only for common sense. His son was murdered by mentally disturbed teens at Columbine High School who, illegally and easily, bought guns outside the retail system. And you know what I see as I’m listening to an Aurora cop break down in tears, describing the carnage Holmes unleashed with a phenomenal arsenal that any nut-case can easily get?
“Proving once again that inanimate objects don’t cause crime!”claimed the retweet by RMGO. It was referring to their Facebook post about a guy who said his semi-automatic weapon was left unattended all weekend and didn’t kill anyone. Caldera posted relentlessly all day Tuesday that the Independence Institute and supporters “Has Your Back” for those legislators who will try to undo the state ban on limitless ammo clips by pressing a ruse.
“Who’s Keeping Coloradans From Their 30-Round Mags?” he kept asking. According to Caldara, it’s Brown, who will take no prisoners in his war on any gun limitations at all. Caldara’s plan is to sneak in a little something now and then undo Colorado gun control later.
If you want, you can scroll over to the RMGO Facebook page and watch Brown fire off rounds of a remake of an antique German machine gun. Good times. Then flip on over to live streaming broadcast of the Aurora theater shooting trial and listen to 911 calls of people being slaughtered inside the theater by a madman with a rapid-fire rifle that unexpectedly jammed. Look closely at what these groups are doing and asking for, then decide for yourself, who really has your back.
Follow @EditorDavePerry on Twitter, Facebook. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or dperry@aurorasentinel.com
“We can have guns and regulations just like we can have cars, toxins and marijuana, all with regulations.”
Right…shooting up a theater full of people is the regulation that ‘got away’…the one we forgot to put in place.
Also remember Holmes could not get into school he wanted in California, or get work with degree he had. He came to Colorado and applied here, and a school in mid-US. That school rejected him, but CU accepted him (why????? I have no idea). He exhibited strange behavior from the day he got here, and California should have done something about him. God knows they have many like him on the streets out there, so maybe they knew something CU did not. But he started buying and planning this. If states would comply with suggested listing of names of those with mental problems, Gabby Gifford would not have been shot in Arizona with the others. Arizona only had 200 people listed on their database, and that shooter was not one of them. Background checks are only current as when completed and signed. I typed many in 26 years of military service, to attach to applications for security clearances. Higher the clearance requested, the more information and people who had to be contacted, to learn of past. No one can predict what that person will do the next day, let alone the next year. So I don’t believe much in background investigations, especially when contracted out to non-responsible companies to complete. Only gun control I believe in “always use two hands”.
One more comment: If California had listed him, I wonder if CU would have still accepted him, with idea that they could learn from him, since he had not harmed anyone yet, that we knew of. And did not learn it after the shooting, when press rushed in where police cannot without a warrant.
So your critics say there would have been fewer dead at the Aurora theater, and Columbine, if we had no gun rules in Colorado? How can you argue with that reasoning? There is worse on Twitter. The gun promoters still are trying to argue that if we all had guns then these massacres would be halted quickly by gun carrying citizens. In fact, this hasn’t hasn’t happened once. Even with millions carrying.
We have had gun laws. The question on the table is did we need more laws, not none.
Your use of the phrase “all had guns” is, I suspect, intentionally inaccurate. You might like to imagine such is true, but in reality you just made that up. There are no advocates of forced gun ownership or forced gun carry.
This idea that a good guy with a gun could shoot the monster quick to stop a monster from creating a massacre but we’d still call it a massacre, but one that was stopped quick – is just plain silly talk. Even simple minded people would, and do, see the catch 22. You just wasted everyone’s time Robert.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/10-potential-mass-shootings-that-were-stopped-by-someone-wit
Actually it has, but you can’t see it because of the low body count.
OK. Tell me when? As if the NRA wouldn’t be shoving it in our faces.
https://buzzpo.com/breaking-armed-cc-civilian-stops-mass-killing-vegas/
How? When is the last time you saw the mainstream press print *anything* the NRA says?
They have no problem quoting the fallacies that Bloomberg and his shills all spout, but facts from the NRA… oh no, that would be biased!
Every month the NRA magazines have a section highlighting 5-6 self defense cases in the news.
The best scientific estimate (Kleck – US DoJ) we have of defensive gun use is that roughly 800,000 – 1 million people a year in the US use a gun to stop a criminal attack.
But you will never see the major press outlets talk about that.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/RYANHATESTHIS/10-POTENTIAL-MASS-SHOOTINGS-THAT-WERE-STOPPED-BY-SOMEONE-WIT#.auzrWM4x
No, they do happen.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/10-potential-mass-shootings-that-were-stopped-by-someone-wit#.wjR4gwwYy
Oh, Really? Most that I have read about or seen in media occurred in gun free zones like schools, parks, here in a theatre, and even in stores, Some with police in them, and there was still shooting. But I would refer you to Chicago and Illinois. When the judge gave opinion that their ban on guns was unconstitutional, they started issuing Concealed Carry permits. And report said the street shootings on Chicago streets have decreased by over 20% in first year. Also when Australia went on their “buy back guns” and destroyed them, they started having home invasions and attacks by rapists, using knives and other weapons. I see that UK bobbies are carrying guns now, and civilians have strict control of their guns. So knives are used there. Just how reliable is the information of other countries, with their gun control. Canada has strict controls, but recently we had bunch of shootings up there. So all you liberals-progressives, just how efficient are your laws of gun control? Mayor Bloomberg had about 9 security guys with him on NY streets, so naturally he did not need a gun. But how do we know he was not carrying?
the feel good laws of the high cap magazine laws did nothing but make people feel good inside. it was a push to make a law to stay in office from the left and to make people feel good inside.
I agree lumping every one that enjoys the 2nd amendment and are law abiding into gun goons is coming from some one that most like has never been around guns or does not realize in one day walks past tons that are carrying.
the spin on saying some one bought a bunch of ammo makes them a crazy or a terrorist is bull Sh!!!T. maybe that person is a trainer or competes in professional competitions. shooting does happen to be a very large sport. the 2nd amendment was never built to protect our self from bears and deer. it is a way to ensure the government does not grow to big.
our government is full of checks and balances. this is one to make sure the people can still check the government if needed.
I am sure our founding fathers did say government only exist if the people let it.
oh and for passing more laws make you safe well its illegal to drink and drive people still do that. oh yeah you also should not be able to do hard drugs such as crack people still do that. that’s a zero tolerance law and it still happens.
no for all the school shootings and such. these are all places that a criminal that wants to hurt you goes when he knows he has the biggest weapon and will most likely do lots of damage with little threat to his own life. aurora theater shooters is fine with saying he is guilty as long as we dont kill him. this tells me he wanted to do this to go to jail and live out his life working out watching tv a warm bed food and a shower with out having to work for it.
I am open to reason and trying to find a good solution to both sides but ill i ever here is take all guns away your all crazy. well the truth is you cant ever take guns away it wont happen. use facts not feelings and i am sure a compromise can happen.
Most gun control laws are nothing but red herrings.
If you have been reading Dave Perry all these years, long before Rocky Mountain News folded, and Denver Post became a downtown Denver paper, and he was last one left at Sentinel, you know of his history by his own statements. He has stated he was not the most productive student early, and of his experiences in college. He writes from his own experiences as youth, and believe ALL youth were the same. Therefore not responsible. I will fall back on my youth. Oldest of 5 children in family, I was responsible for my sibblings to see chores were done, with each child having certain duties. My father worked timber cutting for $1.00 a day in 1930s, 1940s. At age 13, brother 11, Father took us both to the woods, showed us how to load single shot 22 caliber rifle, to hunt squirrels. Had us fire few rounds (and they were expensive) then left us each in different woods. We both came back to house with squirrels in Ohio. At 16, I bought my first rifle in Romney WVa while visiting. No ID, no signature, paid $8.00 for 8 mm Belgium Radome army rifle with the military stock. Son now has that rifle, and it is worth about $4,000 to collector, since all parts have same serial number. If different would be worth about $400. I was responsible, and my siblings were responsible. None of us would do anything to effect our family’s name. Now 85, my brother died at 75, few years ago. I served in military 26 years, brother 2 years in Korea on Heartbreak Ridge, and Bloody Ridge, and metal worked out of his body from then, until death. Right leg amputated, with prosthetic leg from knee due to gangrene at age 60 something. None of ever was arrested, or received DUI, including our sister and both younger brothers. Dave does not know farm folks, hunters, fishermen, military, or lot of other folks. So mistrusts all of us, because he does not relate to us. Let me put it this way. He is no supporter as Ric Crandall is to military. Neither is Barack. And John Kerry trashed all military after Vietnam, when he testified before Senator Fulbrights committee, and wrote ‘Winter Soldier’, which he has recalled all the books he could. I used to subscribe to Sentinel, but read it now on net, to know what is coming down to us for those who know what we need, more than we do. I amy be blocked for this, but I am not impressed. But it is only paper in town, which is a shame. We deserve better. And had it when Post and News competed.
No military uses AR-15s, Dave.
Big ammo magazines? Magazines up to 30 rounds have been common and standard for many types of firearms for over a century.
What Holmes did was horrific.
After 9/11 did we blame box cutters or aircraft? No, we blamed the terrorists.
After Oklahoma City Bombing, did we blame the Rider Trucks? No, we blamed, tried and fried the killer.
After the Happy Land Fire, did we blame matches and gasoline? No, we blamed the perp that set the bar on fire.
After the Bath School Bombing, did we blame the dynamite? No, we blamed the killer.
After the Boston Bombing, did we blame the pressure cookers? No, we blamed the perp(s) and hopefully, the second one will fry.
The only good thing to come from the gun control push is more states are relaxing laws, more gun owners, more guns in circulation, more people supporting the Second Amendment.
Way to go!
Well, the conspiracy theorists, did blame the ‘dynamite used in the making of the twin towers, causing them to fall inward’ Another liberal rant.
This article was nothing more than an emotional dump. I know it’s hard for you emotional types, but schotts, lays it all out for you. In no other circumstance is the weapon blamed for the actions of the perpetrator. As for the silly magazine bans..those laws were unenforceable. The Sheriff’s from all over the state said that. So all it is, is a bunch of words on paper that are completely useless. And all but one of these mass killers could pass a background check…so what good has this done?
HE COULD WITH A CAR IDIOT
It’s morons like Perry who believe that taking gun rights from law abiding citizens will keep them out of the hands of criminals. Leftist drivel is all Perry offers.
For those who claim gun carriers stopped massacres https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/09/9-ridiculous-things-buzzfeed-mass-shootings
https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-driver-with-concealed-handgun-prevents-mass-shooting-in-chicago-2015-4
https://mrconservative.com/2013/09/24534-caught-on-tape-armed-citizens-take-down-criminals-with-guns/
It happens a LOT more than you’re being told. They’re lying to you by omission. You have to make the decision about whether to defend yourself or not, but NO ONE has the right to tell me not to be able to.
Just a week or so before Sandy Hook and citizen with a permit put an end to an attack at the Clackamas Mall in Oregon.
Look it up
Perry is an a$$…he talks about “magazine clips”. I found magazines at several gun stores, but couldn’t find any of these so called “magazine clips” the fool was talking about. ” Look closely
at what these groups are doing and asking for, then decide for
yourself, who really has your back”. My concealed weapon has my back! If the movie theater allowed concealed carry, the results of that attack could of been different.
“military-grade weapons”
Do you know what “military-grade weapons” even means?
It means built by the LOWEST bidder.
“Tell me again how James Holmes could have unleashed this kind of terror with a switch blade or a chain saw”…switch blades are against the law. Holmes wouldn’t have anything illegal!
Author is profoundly ignorant of the rights Europeans have compared to us, but, that’s typical for uneducated liberals. He dismisses facts, and injects spineless rhetoric since, well, being a coward he knows no other way. Well done Aurora Sentinel, you’ve found your resident worm.
As Liberal Big Brother’s call for “common sense” more and more restrictions on you rights we Patriots must dedicate more time and resources to eliminate their UnConstitutional laws and positions in government. Big mouth writers and speakers spouting ignorance and lies must be challenged in the most effective ways. Truth is on our side. Uniformed and intentional lies of “good well intentioned people” must be defeated.
Mr. Perry: How do laws prevent crimes? Quite simple: they don’t! They only make “criminal” (because they are presumed innocent) those who won’t abide by them.
So no matter what type of gun or ammo capacity or presence or absence of no gun signs prevent criminals from their insane/evil actions.
Criminal acts of violence are deterred/prevented by the presence of strength to resist such acts: either open or the perceived possession of weapons for defense. In the case of this shooting there would have been fewer deaths/injuries if the law abiding citizens there had not been prohibited from exercising their inalienable rights of self defense as guaranteed by our Constitution. It will be interesting to see if after this killer is convicted and hopefully executed if the victims will sue the theater for violating their rights and work to overturn any local laws supporting gun free zones.
“Watch the Aurora theater shooting trial testimony and
tell me that letting crazies like James Holmes have easy access to
mail-order arsenals and endless ammo is a good idea.”– And here’s where Perry lays his cards out on the table–it’s not about facts, its about feelz.
Here’s some actual facts: More people die from alcohol-related causes than from firearms–at a rate of about 2.75 to 1, according to the CDC. Roughly 1/3 of all automobile-related deaths are due to drunk drivers. It’s estimated that the economic costs of this excessive consumption run over $220 billion a year. Yet you never hear Perry or any of the gun control advocates call for increased regulation of alcohol purchases as they do for firearms. If guns killed as many people every year as alcohol did, Perry and his ilk would be screaming for a repeal of the 2nd Amendment. You never hear them get into hysterics over people killed by drunk drivers and pound the table for full background checks on all alcohol purchases.
So when Perry and his tribe start weeping crocodile tears over gun deaths, just remember and point out their special pleading. Remind them that by their logic, we should repeal the 21st Amendment in order to increase public safety. And when they try to double-talk their way out of it, ask them why they place a higher priority on increasing regulations on something that empirically kills far fewer people every year and contributes to far less social, economic, and community dysfunction.