In the wake of the horrific mass shooting in Orlando, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick tweeted out–you guessed it–a biblical phrase: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” –Galatians 6-7
In the wake of a tragedy that took 50 lives, this poor excuse for a human being decided to blame the victims for not living in accordance with his warped version of Christianity.
Yesterday, I posted about just this sort of use of “Christianity” (note quotation marks) in the service of hate. It isn’t just Christianity, of course; any religion can be pressed into that service, and all of them have been and continue to be so used.
There is something so smarmy, so distasteful, about people like Dan Patrick. Their willingness to use tragedy as an occasion for moral posturing is small and mean and utterly despicable.
This sort of offensive faux piety from deeply flawed public officials drives me nuts. And Patrick is far from alone. Texas politicians are currently among the worst, but Indiana is hardly in a position to point fingers.
Hoosiers who read this blog have probably seen the bright blue and gold yard signs proclaiming “Pence Must Go.” They are the brainchild of Kevin Warren, a local realtor, and his husband Neil Bagadiong, who established pencemustgo.org as a political action committee in reaction to the Indiana Governor’s RFRA debacle.
RFRA was an effort to legitimize the sort of attitude displayed by Dan Patrick–to create a culture in which LGBT persons would be legally “less.” Given the number of “Pence Must Go” signs I see, it seems a lot of Hoosiers understand where the attitudes such measures foster can lead.
The original signs have been joined by a number of others: Women’s Health Matters, Separation of Church and State, and Indiana Needs Leadership, among others. (Hoosiers can also buy anti-Pence hats, mugs and bumper stickers on the political action organization’s website.)
One of the newer yard signs that particularly appeals to me is “Pence is Not a Mensch.”
Mensch is a yiddish word that literally translates into “a real human being.” In usage, it is intended to refer to upstanding, worthy, honorable people–people who exhibit compassion and loving-kindness, who are not judgmental or–to use the biblical phrase–“stiff-necked.”
When my children were very young, I used to tell them that I didn’t care what professions they chose, what interests they pursued, what beliefs they embraced or who they chose to love….but I did want them to grow up to be mentsches.
Self-satisfied public officials who use the power of the state to marginalize and stigmatize people who are different, who ignore the Constitutional separation of church and state in order to privilege their particular belief systems, who ignore the needs of those in need–those officials are not mentsches. Not even close.
When people in leadership positions signal that bigotry is acceptable, when they contribute to an environment that diminishes and marginalizes people who do not fit within the narrow categories they deem biblically appropriate, that sends a signal to unstable and troubled individuals.
The message is: these people are unworthy, sinful, expendable. Attacks on them are “God’s work.”
It’s a gross oversimplification, but at some level, the world is divided between two groups of humans: mensches and assholes.
Pence, Patrick and their ilk are definitely not mensches.
“At some level, the world is divided between two groups of humans: mensches and assholes.” … Perfect! Thank you for my new favorite quote.
I’m waiting for the NRA to speak in the wake of this latest mass killing. Why does anyone outside of the military need an assault rifle? There is no justification, second amendment or not.
Mensches also do not include those posting Facebook memes saying Obama needs to start bombing ISIS as that’s what other countries did after terrorists attacks or we should not allow these terrorists into our country meaning Muslims. I don’t understand the alternate world where they live;this tragedy calls we Christians to love and compassion not more hate.
As for Dan Patrick; let us hope – and pray – that the Bible verse he chose to quote against the Orlando victims proves to be true for him and he will soon reap what he sows.
Kevin Warren was kind enough to deliver my “Pence Must Go” yard sign after I asked if there was somewhere near my East 10th and Arlington area I could get one. I explained that my driving is very limited due to age and disability and he immediately offered and carried through. The “Pence Must Go” sign is still standing near my “Bernie For President” yard sign; it will remain standing until Pence is GONE – including the next four years if those who know no better in this state reelect him.
Over it and I debated on yesterday’s blog; he/she does not know the difference between religion and pseudo religion which is used for selfish reasons and/or political vote gathering as we witness in this Republican state. The last Republican Mensch we saw in this city and state was Mayor Bill Hudnut who recently, although terminally ill, came forward to speak out against our current GOP leadership. He specifically cited Pence’s RFRA and the damage it has done here.
I watched President Obama’s speech to the nation yesterday regarding the massacre in Orlando; he spoke in a very matter-of-fact manner in his brief speech. I saw the anger and grief in his eyes. If this country didn’t care enough about 20 slaughtered small children and 6 of their teachers at Sandy Hook to enact sane gun laws; how much care – not attention – will be shown to 50 dead and 53 injured LGBTQs in Orlando. Gun sales will probably soar again because Americans are still waiting for President Obama to come confiscate their guns.
Indiana does have another Mensch in the political arena; Dana Black who is running against Brian Bosma in the 88th District. She is speaking out against his old man rhetoric and lies with a strong voice; a black lesbian with a wife whose primary aim was to bring the LGBT issue into the Indiana legislature but she speaks for all who need her 21st Century goals and morals brought to the fore.
Now is the time, before November 8th, to seek out and support the Mensch candidates and rid our cities and state of the pseudo “Christians” now in power before we see our own Sandy Hook and Orlando mass killings.
Pence will only do what appears to be proper (as in lowering flags to half staff) and nothing more. He won’t say a word and his silence will speak volumes about how he and other bigots think of the LGBT community. Prejudice against the gay community rests solely on the head of politicians like Pence and his counterpart in Texas. They are beyond assholes. They are disgusting and not worthy of being re-elected.
When politicians and pseudo-religious people use bible verses to justify acts of hatred, my first inclination is to uncover their un-Christian behavior and tell the world about it. Sometimes the only way to silence those holier-than-thou assholes is to throw their own dirt back at them.
I don’t use the term “asshole” to describe a bigot or other unworthy persons. An asshole is a necessary part of our anatomy. Instead I call them an “appendix” a useless and often a painful and sometimes danger to our body. 🙂
The HRC did a press statement / stand up event on Sunday. They are in accord with what Prof K said this AM. Some of it follows. I cannot find the video link, if there is one.
=========================
From HRC:
“He wasn’t just hearing these messages from a faraway terrorist organisation,” Griffin said. “He was hearing it from politicians and from radical anti-LGBT extremists right here in our own country. Every time we see legislation that puts a target on the back of LGBT people. Every time we hear a preacher that spews hate from the pulpit. Every time a county clerk says that acknowledging our relationships violates her ‘religious beliefs’.
“That is deeply ingrained in the hate and the bigotry that motivates such tragedy in this country and together that’s what we must defeat.”
Hatred also killed the gay student Matthew Shepard and motivated mass shootings at an African American church in Charleston, South Carolina, and a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, he added.
Griffin was joined outside the Human Rights Campaign – where giant letters in the windows spelled “Love wins” – by African American, Latino and other civil society leaders, all of whom expressed solidarity.
Gay men can’t donate blood to victims of the Orlando shooting. That’s absurd
John Paul Brammer
Read more
Mara Keisling, the executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, said: “This is hate aimed at all of us. This is extremism aimed at all of us.
“And while there’s no direct link between the kind of hate being spewed by politicians, by extremist rightwing groups, by extremist ministers, there can be no mistake that they are raising the heat against us, they are trying to make us scared, and they are going to cause people who are not thinking straight to come after us.”
Keisling added: “So we are going to be strong, we are going to be together and we are going to win. When I say ‘we’ are going to be together, it has to be all of us.”
=====================================
Teresa, I imagine Pence will be completely silent about the Orlando murders and will probably be upset that he might have to order flags to be flown at half staff. Who knows, maybe he won’t do that.
However, his silence on this matter will speak VOLUMES.
I found a Mister Rogers quote today:
————
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
— Fred Rogers
Thanks, Sheila. This makes me so angry that I am unable to be articulate about it. I’m so thankful for you and your articulate posts, especially when I am unable to do it myself. Dan Patrick is indeed a poor excuse for a human being. I have to have faith that the evil karma he puts out in the world will return to him.
Pence did make a statement and the Star has printed it in today’s edition.
I find it curious that right winged religious nuts only see God’s work when it comes to disasters that hit liberal areas and the LGBTQ community: Wildfires near Orlando a few days after a Disney gay day some years back; Katrina devastating New Orleans; Sandy hitting New Jersey and New York; and finally a young man mowing down over 100 people in a gay bar.
Meanwhile Texas floods, Oklahoma and Kansas have twister after twister, people are killed and displaced, but it’s never attributed to their beliefs or policies.
I also wonder what Governor Scott’s reaction would have been had the shooter not turned out to be a Muslim.
To be fair, Patrick does claim it was a pre-scheduled tweet and that he wasn’t even in country at the time. Not that I think that particular verse is ever posted by someone trying to be a mentsch, but he may be garden variety horrible rather than staggeringly evil.
Chalk-up another victory for the ASSHOLES. Orlando was “just in time.”
What about this?::
Attitudes toward LGBT people may have their ancient sources in certain Bible and Koran verses that cannot possibly be the attitude of the God or Allah as we know Him. None can be attributed to Jesus. They must have been inserted by scripture copyists. Let’s have those “hate” verses removed to free future generations. After all, hate speech is punishable, why not hate texts?
As with other episodes lately , the ” victims” were un armed , and the attacker knew it – most likely in a ” gun free” zone , too.
Hang on to unlimited 2nd amendment rights , friends we’re gonna need ’em .
irvin – for those of us who do not subscribe to the Star could you copy and paste Pence’s statement here for us? I looked at the Star online and couldn’t find anything. I also checked the news websites and found no statement from Pence anywhere.
The republicans apparently have their own bible quote for President Obama….
as reported in the Huffington Post (and elsewhere):
Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) joked at a conservative Christian event on Friday that he
prays President Barack Obama’s days will be “few.”
The first-term senator began his opening statement at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s
Road to Majority conference by telling attendees to pray for Obama. With a smirk,
Perdue said, “We should pray like Psalms 109:8 says. It says: ‘Let his days be few
and let another have his office.’”
The large crowd laughed.
Perdue did not continue reciting the words, but Psalm 109 is a death wish
for one of David’s enemies.
It goes on: “Let his children be fatherless; and his wife a widow. Let his children
wander about and beg; and let them seek sustenance far from their ruined
homes. Let the creditor seize all that he has; and let strangers plunder the
product of his labor. Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him; nor
any to be gracious to his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off; in a
following generation let their name be blotted out.”
Caroline Vanvick, a spokeswoman for Perdue, issued the following response:
Senator Perdue said we are called to pray for our country, for our leaders, and
for our president. He in no way wishes harm towards our president and
everyone in the room understood that. However, we should add the media
to our prayer list because they are pushing a narrative to create controversy
and that is exactly what the American people are tired of.
The Christian Science Monitor noted that conservatives have used this verse
in the past to talk about the end of Obama’s days in office.
Actually everyone in the room did understand what he was saying…. they don’t even have the courage to voice their own convictions. I was so angry at the media yesterday for reporting only the “reasonable sounding” Trump tweet and not the ones calling for more guns or for Obama to resign because he didn’t mention radical Islam in his speech…
BTW: I totally agree with JoAnn’s comments about Dana Black
I first met Dana at an IFDW training about a year ago… I have met her a few times since and she came down to speak to our local Democratic Women’s Caucus at our last meeting. She never fails to amaze me with her intelligent grasp of the issues, and her caring and commitment to the concept of PUBLIC service for all… her birthday is tomorrow and I can’t think of a better way to help her celebrate than to send her a few bucks for her fight against Bosma… check her out at http://www.indianasown.com
Mark – Two thoughts: I believe the club had an armed, on-duty police officer working inside. Also, anywhere serving alcohol (bars, clubs, etc) seems like a poor place to be armed. I’ve seen enough bar fights to have serious concerns about adding firearms to a drunken fight.
It looks like most of the evangelical Christians were RIGHT about their ARMAGEDDON. They were just WRONG about the location. Hasn’t it always been about “location, location, location?”
Mark. Be careful in this group advocating for self-defense and against gun-free zones. Such views bring out hatred normally attributed to conservatives.
Ken,
“Be careful in this group advocating for self-defense and against gun-free zones. Such views bring out hatred normally attributed to conservatives.”
Why not? The Republican Party has been advocates for “hatred” ever since the election of Richard Nixon. Who are you kidding?
I apologize….please insert between been and advocates: [a haven for]. Thanks!
ha-ven n. 1. a port 2. any sheltered place; refuge
~Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus
“To be fair, Patrick does claim it was a pre-scheduled tweet and that he wasn’t even in country at the time.”
Dirk Gently; please, as Ricky Ricardo so often said, ” ‘splain, Lucy!” How could this be a pre-scheduled tweet regarding his response to a massacre of LGBTQs…no matter where on this earth he was when the massacre happened or when his tweet was posted.
We have reached a time when issues like reasonable gun control, veteran’s health care, the future of the environment, economic disparity, terrorism, war and gender/sexual/religious choices have become the bumper stickers of politics and “reasons” for elect ME….when they should be cause for serious discussion and public policy for all of US.
There is one criminal in the act, a deranged, angry, infantile brained, megalomaniac. There are others like him out there.
Like all criminal acts his makes us angry and because it and he are so despicable, as angry as we can get.
I don’t think that the situation improves at all by further explanation.
He was a P.O.S and that always attracts flies.
JoAnn Green – well, it’s possible. I mean, it’s certainly the type of tweet/message a socially/religiously conservative person might send out on any given day. I imagine his hootsuit/tweetdeck is filled with similar things. I like to think it was coincidence. If you’re unpleasant everyday, chances are you’ll be unpleasant on the day of a tragedy.
To normal people arming criminals seems utterly stupid. To Wayne LaPierre it seems like a market served.
Marv; as a Florida resident I have a question for you. In a state where “stand your ground” is a legal defense, can businesses declare their property “gun free zones” legally? Especially when “open carry” is also legal. Does Florida have a law protecting business owners from serving armed customers as Indiana has RFRA giving business owners the right to refuse service to LGBTQs for religious reasons in most of the state. I am asking seriously, I do not know Florida law. And after the continuing Zimmerman saga…it seems a confusing set of circumstances.
President George the first signed into law making all military bases and posts “gun free territory”; that is the only legal gun free zone I am aware of. I’m still trying to understand the mentality behind “gun free territory” serving and housing our military.
As Dirk mentioned, there was an armed security guard in the building. The police confirmed that the guard exchanged gunfire with the killer. However, no one is prepared to defend themselves against an automatic assault weapon. They should be banned from sake to the public.
We’ll never know the exact route the Orlando mass murderer took descending into his personal hell.
But we do know lots about the route the country followed to our collective hell.
It’s doubtful that it was possible beyond some point that he could have avoided his ignominious end.
It’s likely though that we can.
But we have to collectively choose to.
The Guardian has a report – Omar Mateen’s former wife says the man responsible for America’s deadliest ever mass shooting was physically abusive towards her. Then after a few months he started abusing me physically, very often, and not allowing me to speak to my family, and keeping me hostage from them,” she said. Sitora Yusifiy was married to Mateen for four months in 2009 until her family was forced to “literally rescue me” after he kept her “hostage”, she said on Sunday in Colorado. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/13/orlando-massacre-omar-mateens-ex-wife-says-he-beat-her-and-held-her-hostage
The above does not surprise me, Masculine hierarchical religion at work. I seem to recall Pat Robertson blaming 9/11 on Sin.
Mental instability and religion chicken and the egg scenario. Do the mentally unstable seek out rigid extremist religion to put some form of “Order” to the World??? Do they then justify they are simply carrying out “God’s Will” when perceived sin is revealed???
One sentence from Sheila’s post today jumped out at me. “When my children were very young, I used to tell them that I didn’t care what professions they chose, what interests they pursued, what beliefs they embraced or who they chose to love….but I did want them to grow up to be mensches.”
I don’t know her children; however, I’m wagering they are “real people”, not judgmental, not “stiff-necked” as in the biblical phrase and certainly not miserable hateful people passing through life like they “have a corncob up their butt” as in rural-speak. But, raising a mensch, a real person takes effort on the parent’s part, requires an awareness that your children are sponges absorbing everything they see and they hear without the benefit of a filter.
I can only imagine the dreadful family conversations the mass-shooter in Charleston, SC heard on a daily basis while growing up. For no other reason than my personal curiosity, I am sorry the media did not interview the young man’s family, did not provide a deeper look into the cultural environment that may have shaped his hatred for African-Americans.
On the other hand, today CBS News did provide a glimpse into the home environment, delusional at best, that may have incubated the Orlando mass shooter’s apparent hatred for members of the LGBT community.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/orlando-shooting-omar-mateen-father-seddique-mateen-taliban-god-punish-gays/
For those sane people who wonder why anyone would need an automatic weapon, I have asked that question many times to owners of such weapons. They reply: In these dangerous times, I need it for protection from those who threaten my family and friends, and my right to buy any weapon I wish. They also have fears that the US government wants to take away their weapons and constitutional rights. I might add, these people can no more be reasoned with than an evangelical Christian or a radical Muslim. They know the ” truth”. I don’t try to reason with them any more. Perhaps I should buy some automatic weapons to protect me from those who already own them. Eh what?
Pence has not made a public statement about the Orlando mass murder.
I feel safe in assuming that not only does he not care about the people who were killed, but that he has no intention of being a decent human being because making a statement against the mass murder might offend his pseudo-religious supporters.
He is only concerned about himself and getting re-elected. Pence Must Go!
My knowledge of Yiddish doubled today in learning that “Mensch” means a real human being. Interesting.
Clearly America is troubled nowadays by an apparent shortage of them.
Is that different than it used to be or have whatever you call their antitheses just gotten louder? We bestow celebrity so liberally now.
In my experience the alarm first went off when I found Rush Limbaugh shouting out of my car radio. I thought whatta hoot, Archie Bunker in the flesh. Then I realized that Rush was not being funny.
It seems that one could draw a straight line from that experience to Donald Trump, a decidedly unreal human being.
That line awaits a future Ken Burns to document.
It seems obvious to me that the main plot line of that future documentary will not be the failure of education but the success of ignorance; how it spread and took control and was celebrated not unlike the Chinese Cultural Revolution. We know the bad guys who drove that.
Who are the bad guys here? Who benefitted?
JoAnn,
“Marv; as a Florida resident I have a question for you. In a state where “stand your ground” is a legal defense, can businesses declare their property “gun free zones” legally?”
“A license issued under this section does not authorize any person to openly carry a handgun or carry a concealed weapon or firearm into:
Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is principally devoted to such purposes.”
See the Florida Statutes
Does that answer your question? I hope so.
Pete,
“It seems obvious to me that the main plot line of that future documentary will not be the failure of education but the success of ignorance; how it spread and took control and was celebrated not unlike the Chinese Cultural Revolution. We know the bad guys who drove that.
Who are the bad guys here? Who benefited?”
Answer: It was the multi-millionaire oil men in Texas with their interests in the Middle East who also had control of the Southern Baptist Convention and Jerry Falwell. It was a “bat-crazy scheme” that included both $$$$ to be gained in the Middle East along with white supremacy control in the U.S.
We in America are now facing the “blowback” from both ends of the scheme. It’s as simple as that.
Also, don’t ever forget that the first Bush President was an oil man.
Marv; thanks for the info. I checked with Wikipedia regarding Indiana gun law restrictions, copied and pasted them below. The private business restrictions are lacking; this explains the number of shootings in bars here. The restrictions regarding no carry on the list of lakes seems to me to prevent shooting of fish; however, it is open season in bars regarding shooting people.;-) Florida is ahead of Indiana with their restrictive law regarding bars.
Restricted locations[edit]
It is illegal to carry a concealed weapon, even sporting arms, on school property (K-12 and day care) or on a school bus,[5] Lawful gun owners may have guns in their vehicles on school property provided the gun is stored out of plain sight in the person’s locked motor vehicle[6] or that the driver is only transporting someone to, or from, a school event. It is also illegal to carry on a commercial airplane or in the controlled section of an airport,[7] on a riverboat gambling cruise, at the Indiana State Fair, courthouses and the Indiana Statehouse and Government Center. It is also illegal to carry on Army Corps of Engineers property which include Brookville Lake, Cagles Mill Lake, Cecil M. Harden Lake, J. Edward Roush Lake, Mississinewa Lake, Monroe Lake, Patoka Lake, and Salamonie Lake.[8]
Private businesses may restrict or forbid firearms on their properties. However, a 2010 law prohibits employers from discharging employees for in-vehicle firearms possession on business property.[9] Furthermore, an employer may not ask any employee about the possession of firearms and/or ammunition.[10]
To All,
By the way Jacksonville, the spearhead, prototype, model, Tea Party City isn’t doing doing very well right now. The following was the headline in the Sunday Edition of The Florida Times-Union:
“COULD JACKSONVILLE REALLY END UP LIKE DETROIT?” You better believe it can. It’s 2.7 billion dollars in debt from using the Police and Fireman’s Pension Fund to finance the oligarchy’s right wing agenda. And meanwhile, it is being blacklisted around the U.S. by major corporations for failing to pass a human rights ordinance to protect the LGBT community. In other words, why don’t we all commit economic suicide?
What a MODEL for the U.S……. Are we all bat-shit crazy not to FOCUS on this city like the Germans did with Munich in the 20’s.
To understand things better, I refer you to http://www.EthicalForum.net……I warned the citizens of Jacksonville both on TV and the radio before this terrible mess even started.
By the way, I started a local counter-movement yesterday.
Try http://www.EthicalForum.net without the “I.”
Nancy, as I mentioned earlier, Pence has made a statement and it was in the Monday edition of the Star on page 2. You asked me to copy and paste the article. That is beyond my computer skills. But take my word for it, there is such a statement. Maybe some one else saw it. I know I should not read and answer here if I’m going to subscribe to the Star but I am not GOOPER. 🙂
Nancy,
Below is a copy and paste from the Indy Star with reactions from both Mayor Hogsett and Gov Pence. The reactions were embedded in a news article posted at 9:04 AM today.
____________________________________________________________________
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has called for all flags in Marion County to be flown at half-staff.
“Today, Indianapolis mourns yet another act of senseless violence against innocent Americans. When confronted with these far-too-common moments of tragedy, we owe it to the victims and families to honor their lives and reflect on those things we can all do to promote love over hate, and peace over violence,” Hogsett said in a statement. For that reason, I ask that other state and Marion County officials join me in calling for the flying of our county flags at half-staff this week.
“May our heavy hearts breed compassion, may our sorrowful prayers bring healing, and may our nation’s tears resolve us to action against that ‘mindless menace of violence’ that continues to plague this country.”
_________________________________________________________________________
Gov. Mike Pence called for the same action to be taken statewide, stating that flags would be flown at half-staff until sunset Thursday.
“Karen and I are shocked and saddened by the senseless act of terror committed in Orlando this morning,” Pence said in a statement. “On behalf of the state of Indiana, we extend our prayers to the victims, their families and the Orlando community. Today’s horrifying news stands as a grave reminder that we live in dangerous times, and the war on terror continues. For this reason, we must commit to ensuring the safety and security of our people.”
____________________________________________________________________
Both reactions were printed in this article http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/06/12/indiana-reacts-orlando-massacre-online/85789200/
Irwin,
Thanks for your reply. His statement cannot be found on the Star site. Was it just a short sentence? I have checked every tv station site in Indy and Ft Wayne and there has been no mnetion of a statement from him anywhere. Obviously, he didn’t care enough to make his statement very public.
Nancy and irvin; Pence did make a statement and it is on page 2 of today’s Star. His statement is a small 2 paragraph part of a lengthy article about Saturday’s Indy Pride success and the ensuing vigil for the Orlando victims and their families. Mayor Joe Hogsett gave a lengthy statement; in part he called for flags to fly at half-staff and went on to talk about the tragedy and the fact that Indianapolis is mourning. He spoke against the violence; “that mindless menace of violence that continues to plague this country.”
“Gov. Mike Pence called for the same action to be taken statewide, stating that flags would be flown at half-staff until sunset Thursday.” In the second paragraph he stated he and his wife, Karen “are shocked and saddened by the senseless act of terror committed in Orlando this morning.” He extended prayers to the victims on behalf of the state. If people looked for a separate statement by Pence; they wouldn’t find one. Mayor Hogsett participated i the Indy Pride parade and festivities.
BSH – thanks for sharing that info.
JoAnn,
Thanks for the Indiana gun law info. Just one thought – if our legislature is against restrictions, maybe they should allow guns in the Statehouse and government center.
Craig, your comment – “They also have fears that the US government wants to take away their weapons and constitutional rights.”
I was a combat infantry veteran in Vietnam draftee type. Even with the weapons we had then hand held (M-16, Light Anti-Tank Weapon, or a grenade launcher) or crew served we could blow away anyone in their house or “bug out” shelter. I have spoken to people who some how think their pretend efforts at being a soldier would prevail. It is laughable. The Bundy family was lucky some one ordered restraint during that confrontation.
Some yo-yo’s even think if we were all armed we would be safer. Shooting your own comrades happens often enough in the Army it is called friendly fire casualties. Imagine a bunch of trigger happy fools deciding in an instant if that fellow over there is the enemy.
Dr Seuss Kennedy
As a proponent of same sex rights, and religious freedom a couple of things trouble me about your blog.
1. You condemn ‘religion’ by denouncing the US citizen who expressed an opinion without killing anyone, yet did not denounce the individual who KILLED and INJURED more than 100 people in the name of religion.
Is it just acceptible that the extreme Islam is homophobic, but not acceptible that extreme Christianity is not?
Why do you denounce an indiividual with an opinion, and not an individual who killed people?
I find that hypocritical.
I think promoting a political agenda is your motivation, as you do not condemn the obvious evil, in search of another.