It's not enough that Republicans in both the House and the Senate blocked measures this week that would keep suspected terrorists from getting guns, now the GOP presidential candidates are delivering an impressive display of nonchalance and ignorance on the matter of gun safety. Here’s my interpretation of a report from Daniel Strauss:
Marco Rubio doesn't read
"I think the left often pivots to gun laws," the Florida senator told Fox News host Neil Cavuto. "But the truth is states like California have very strict gun laws, as they do in Illinois — in Chicago, as they do in Washington, D.C., as they do in many other jurisdictions that have a significant amount gun violence. So it's never been shown that these gun laws have been effective other than keeping guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens."
Well, only if you don't read, Marco. Numerous studies have proven exactly that, including at least two that were reported on in the last couple months.
One of those studies showed that Hawaii's very strict gun laws had led to "the lowest number of gun-linked deaths—2.5 per 100,000 people—in the country in 2013"; whereas Alaska, with no background checks or permits required, had "the highest rate of gun deaths: 19.8 per 100,000 people in 2013."
Ted Cruz doesn't have an empathic bone in his body
Ted Cruz chose symbolism, deciding to go ahead with a previously scheduled event where the Texas senator plans to unveil his "National 2nd Amendment Coalition." The event is to be held Friday at a 17,000-square-foot indoor shooting range in Johnston, Iowa, that defines its corporate purpose as, "to glorify God in all we do and to be a positive influence to all who come in contact with CrossRoads Shooting Sports LLC." [...]
A spokeswoman for Cruz, defended the decision not to cancel or reschedule the event. "Even in the midst of horrific events like this, we should never rush to take away the basic liberties enshrined in our Constitution that are guaranteed to law-abiding American citizens."
Interpretation: Ted Cruz will never rein in his First Amendment rights to benefit politically from the Second Amendment rights that have just served up the slaughter of completely innocent people.
Jeb Bush thinks “Stand Your Ground” has gone swimmingly in Florida
Jeb Bush has said little about the San Bernardino shooting. But in an op-ed published earlier this week in the Iowa Republican, after the attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he touted his support for concealed carry and "Stand Your Ground" laws as governor of Florida and said he couldn't wait to "expose the folly of Hillary Clinton’s gun-grabbing agenda."
But honestly Chris Christie really took the cake when he announced, “We need to come to grips with the idea that we are in the midst of the next world war.”
Great, let’s make sure to arm everyone with an endless supply of guns.
