Monday, June 1, 2009
Legislature / Politics / Woods Bredesen Beats His Chest Over Gun Veto: 'I Actually Did Something'
Posted by Jeff Woods on Mon, Jun 1, 2009 at 5:53 AM
"There seems to often be a presumption that the rational norm is a European-like careful regulation of guns, and that people who feel differently are a cultural phenomenon that needs explaining. I would suggest that it is cultural on both sides: that strong anti-gun advocates can be just as culturally biased and irrational as the most avid gun-toters. I enjoy pointing out to my more liberal friends that when they want to (e.g. choice v. right to life issues) they can happily find justification for their (and my) position in rights emanating from implied privacy rights lurking in the penumbra of our Constitution, but where they disagree (e.g. on guns) they are perfectly happy to wave off or reinterpret the clear language in the Bill of Rights."Excuse us, but we fail to see the relevance of any of this to the current situation. (What's a penumbra anyway?) Here's what happened: The governor kept shamefully silent about all the legislature's gun bills all session, even as one after another passed both houses. Then after the fact, when he's already blown his opportunity to persuade lawmakers and it's really too late to make a difference, he decides to veto one of them. Whoop-de-do. If Bredesen wanted to accomplish something, he should have tried to influence lawmakers before they passed the bill. He didn't have the stomach for that fight. If this is what it takes for Democrats to hold office in the South, then they might as well cede the territory now. Gunfight coverage: Erik Schelzig ... Andy Sher et al ... Rick Locker
Comments (3)
Showing 1-3 of 3
Bredesen might have a tinsy winsy problem finding a spot on the Obama team next year or any other year while it is running the country. One must recall his now-laughable, uh, advice to candidate Obama this time last year that he needed to reach the 'Wal-mart mom' to win the South. Didn't matter, 'cause the now-President won everywhere else where it counted in November.
like
dislike
Woods said: "What's a penumbra anyway?"
I am glad to know you are on top of your game.
Penumbral rights include the right to abortion, or the right to gay marriage (both of which I support). Enumerated rights include the right to speech, and the right to own and carry guns without infringement.
Bredesen's veto will be over-ridden, as it should. To date (and including TN), only 10 states infringe the right to bear arms where alcoholic beverages are concerned. For your math-challenged readers, that means it's legal in 40 states.
Jeff ... you should move to Chicago. It's full of progressively enlightened gun-banning types like yourself. Given all the arms infringements up here, all you'd have left to bitch about is corruption, gangs, drugs, murder, and high taxes. You'd love it here. Might I suggest a place on the south side of the city? I hear there are some houses for sale in Englewood.
No doubt our deat Governator is angling for a more progressive job once his reign of terror is complete here. Hopefully, he will change his domocile to a place more in keeping with his Laodicean view of the Constitution. He leaves behind in his wake a tornado of borrowing that will not be fully repaid until after he has assumed room temperature.
