The NRA's Hissy Fit

I was catching up on my news watching over the weekend, and an article on Rachel Maddow's 3/20 show caused me to do a double-take:

  

And even having watched it several times, it still brings tears to my eyes.

This is the reality of gun ownership slamming into America's fantasy.  It is an amazing experiment.  It is more effective than anything the creeps at the NRA have come up with.

And so the NRA and other gun organizations have (no pun intended) gone ballistic.  They are in full whine.  And the irony of it all is quite a thing to see.

They are talking about deceptive advertising and breaking New York City gun laws.  They bring up violations of city codes about displaying guns.  They question whether the city used public funds.

It turns out, the group that conducted this research in gun marketing, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, dotted their i's and crossed all their t's when they planned this experiment.  All legal.  Which won't stop the NRA from trying to find a way to destroy the group.  But as I am writing this blog, there have been 3,180,543 youtube views, and there are likely to be millions more.

On a day when I was feeling pretty discouraged by all the attacks coming from the right-wing in so many areas of individual rights, this was a great victory.

Here in South Carolina this week, on Tuesday, the House is going to be taking up S 3, the Senate's version of the Criminal Domestic Violence bill.  In light of our shameful statistics on domestic violence and shooting deaths -- more than 61 percent of women killed by domestic violence were killed by guns -- Senators Katrina Shealy and Larry Martin included a prohibition on convicted abusers owning or having in their possession a gun.  Although the bill was inevitably watered down to give judges discretion in ordering this prohibition on a case-by-case basis, the bill is still far stronger than the House version, H 3433, which has no language prohibiting guns.

So here we are, with S 3 already passed by the Senate and introduced into the House.  But the House appears to be ignoring S 3 so that they can be credited with passing the inferior H 3433, which will go before the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday.  I surely don't understand the fighting over territory that sees so many bills duplicated, but I do believe it enables our legislators to muddy the water enough that they can do damage and take credit at the same time.  Which appears to be the plan here.

That's why it is important to contact House representatives immediately and tell them that we expect them to pass a Criminal Domestic Violence bill that includes strong gun prohibitions.  This is not a Second Amendment issue.  This is about not allowing violent individuals to have easy access to weapons.  This is about protecting families, women and children, and yes, men, from violent individuals the very best way possible.

The video produced by States United to Prevent Gun Violence should be enough to convince us that we can win this fight.  But our legislators need to hear from us.  Today, and as long as it takes.

When Family Violence Is More than Violence

On Tuesday, February 17th, the South Carolina Senate will be hearing S 3, Criminal Domestic Violence Offenses and Penalties.  Unlike the House version, H 3433, the Domestic Violence Reform Act, the Senate bill has teeth.  Most important, the Senate bill prohibits any person convicted of an act of domestic violence from owning or obtaining a firearm.

An important question has come up, the same question that comes up when laws are being considered that would incur greater penalties on "hate crimes" than otherwise:  Why do we need to make this distinction at all?  An attack on another person other than for self defense is still an attack; a murder still a murder.  The same suffering is imposed whether the rage was fueled by racial hatred or hatred of women or of homophobic rage.

I agree, completely.  But in the case of family violence, there are conditions that are unique that must be addressed.

A family, in close quarters, is particularly vulnerable to a dysfunctional member of that family.  Moods and habits are absorbed in some way, by each individual in that household.  Most of us see family as a support system, but a volatile family member can make home a frightening place.  And people who experience bouts of rage may be more out of control when others around them are intimidated and afraid.

A women alone against a man in a rage (and yes, the situation does happen in reverse), because it is her home, is often made to feel trapped, afraid of the revenge to be exacted if she fights back.  The law has too often lagged too far behind in protecting a woman in her home when her spouse or partner has been threatening, even attacking.  So that women are often overly compliant, and the abuse becomes habitual, and escalates.

Where there are children in the family, the abuser wields even more power.  The woman not only has to juggle the moods, threats and aggressive behaviors in an attempt to protect herself, but to protect her children.  She may become even more compliant to try to calm down the aggressor, the aggressor becoming even more violent.

Now add a gun to this mix.  A man with a gun and rage and poor impulse control is a terrifying way for a woman and children to live.  And if he has hurt any member of the family once, that gun is an undeniable symbol of the power he has over them all.  Mostly powerful because of its potential to destroy, in an instant.

If a women is courageous enough to get to court, and the abuser is convicted of assault, we know that while the abuser often claims remorse, it is very likely that when things get "back to normal" the violence begins again.  An order of protection may be filed, but that does not quell the rage of the attacker.  Access to a gun means the ability to "get even," in the eyes of the abuser.

Yes, it is true that in our society, guns are going to be accessible to anyone that looks hard enough.  But to a person whose problem is one of impulsive rages, having a gun be out of reach may be what saves a life.

And here in South Carolina, we consistently rank in the top ten states in which women are killed by a spouse or partner and in 2013 we were ranked #1.  It is unquestionably easier to kill with a gun, and far more likely if someone owns a gun or knows he can buy one.  Where the overwhelming majority of murders of women were caused by guns, it makes sense that our lawmakers should do everything in their power to take those guns away.  When someone has been convicted of domestic violence, there is absolutely no excuse for that individual to have legal access to a weapon.

I agree that, all things being equal, any instance of domestic violence, or any attack based on rage against a person because of race, religion, sexual identity, should be treated the same as any other attack.  An assault is a violation regardless of the cause.  A murder destroys not just one life but the life of those who surround her (or him).

But in a state where the Second Amendment is misinterpreted at a fever pitch, and guns are now allowed in bars and restaurants, and there is a bill this year to allow guns at private and public colleges, a strong bill that takes guns out of the hands of those who have used violence against a family member is a very big step to making all of South Carolina safer.

But to do this, we have to be louder than loudmouths like Thomas Corbin, South Carolina state senator who made international news when he professed that, according to HIS bible, women are lesser humans, and yes, specifically, a "lesser cut of meat."  This, people, is one of the senators who will be voting on S 3, and his display of ignorance came in reaction to that bill.

We need to send Corbin an email telling him we support S 3, and he needs to support it.  We need to be sure to email our own senators and tell them to vote Yes on S 3 on Tuesday.  And we can send an email to ALL senators at one time urging them to vote Yes on S 3.

Go to  http://www.scstatehouse.gov/email.php?chamber=S to find Corbin's email address as well as that of your own senator.  Click on the name to send a message (or click on "All senate members" to email all).  Then just fill in the blanks.  Type "S 3" in the subject line, and then make the message as short or long as you need, but be sure to include "vote Yes on S 3."

Here is the message I just sent to Senator Corbin:

 Senator Corbin: 

I believe you are probably unlikely to threaten your spouse or loved one with a gun, and that is why you were able to talk about women so callously that you made international news.  But since there are men who have uncontrollable rage and do strike at women and children, and will be more likely to use a weapon if it is available, I trust that you will vote YES on S3. 

Thank you.

Join me in giving Senator Corbin the opportunity to do the right thing.

Gun Fantasies

Holiday time, and neither the anti-abortion nuts nor the guns rights idiots could take time off.  Weeks before the start of the South Carolina 2015 legislative session, bills were being pre-filed to make sure they were right in the front of the line to trample on our desire for peace and civil liberty.

As far as gun rights and the NRA are concerned, don't ever think you've heard it all.  And, as with the anti-abortion war, any recent victory -- or defeat -- will result in more attacks on more fronts.

Since his not-quite-stunning defeat in the US Senate primary against Lindsey Graham, not-so-bright state senator Lee Bright has redoubled his efforts to be South Carolina's most formidable gun nut.  If you recall, in the last legislative session, he attempted to top the "guns and liquor" bill by offering up his "guns everywhere" bill.  Supporters of the "Constitutional Carry" bill claim that South Carolina is one of the most restrictive states in terms of allowing folks to tote guns, interpreting the lack of express restrictions in most states to mean that gun-toting is allowed, and not that it should be so obvious that guns aren't allowed that there has been no need for express laws banning them in specific situations.  The "Firearms Freedom Act"  would have kept South Carolina gun manufacturers and owners safe from all those pesky federal laws.

Neither bill passed, but we can count on Bright to come back energized and ready to take up the mantle once again like a warped Don Quixote.  And he has been joined by fellow gun nut, Alan Clemmons, who has proposed a required three week Second Amendment curriculum in all public schools, ending in a Second Amendment Awareness Day, with the festivities closing with a poster/essay contest on "The Right to Bear Arms: One American Right Protecting All Others."  That's right, because in the America we all grew up in, it's guns that have protected our freedom of speech and our individual rights.  Oh, irony, since it's these same goofballs that are continually attacking individual rights.  Maybe if we had weapons, women would be free to have private reproductive health care and gays could marry, anyone could vote and poor people would be given a living wage....

Anyway, obviously, the NRA has its hands all over this one.

But wait!  Here are some of the other less-than-delectable tidbits from the gun nuts in our state legislature:

Again, the "constitutional carry" bill, which would change breaking the law from carrying a gun to carrying a gun with intent to commit a crime.  So, as long as our police officers can spot a crime before it's committed, we're okay.

And because having all South Carolina residents carrying just isn't enough, there is a bill which would allow reciprocity for citizens from other states.  Now, here's the thing about this.  South Carolina does not allow reciprocity with other states for licensed professionals.  South Carolina does not even allow persons from other states with motor vehicle learners permits to drive with licensed SC drivers.  But:  "Got a gun?  Come on in!"

Last year, gun nuts had a resounding success with passage of the bill that allows guns in restaurants and bars.  Because you never know when a gunfight will break out at the saloon, and we should all be ready to defend our honor and our shrimp 'n' grits.  If you don't look too closely at the numbers of shootings in and around South Carolina, you might think that hasn't been a problem.  And if you like the idea of protecting yourself when you take the family out to dinner, you will love the bill that will allow guns to be carried at any college.  Because we'll all rest easier knowing our kids are getting their secondary education in a place where there will never be anyone who is stressed out and unstable and feeling the need to bring a gun to school.

The topping on that deadly cake are bills that would remove the fees for applying for, renewing or replacing one's concealed weapons permit, and of course, allowing it to be used as Voter ID.

To end on a more optimistic note, Democrats Gilda Cobb-Hunter and Mia McLeod have filed H 3034 that would require a person to surrender firearms if the courts have determined that he (or she) presents an imminent danger in a domestic abuse situation, with comparable bill S 3 in the Senate; and H 3033,  requiring national criminal background checks.  I believe I also saw a bill that would create penalties for adults when a child is endangered by a weapon in the home, but I haven't been able to find it again.

Now this is all very confusing for me, as I am sure it is intended.  But I did my best, and apologize for any mistakes.  The important thing is that we know these bills are up there, and they are going to move forward as long as we don't oppose them.  That's how Georgia ended up with its "guns everywhere" law.  Our state restaurant association claims not to have know about the bill allowing guns in bars and restaurants.  So it will take more than occasional disgruntlement to fight this tsunami.  The gun nuts in our legislature know how to rally the gun nuts in the populace.  There really aren't as many of them as there are of us, but, as with the fight for reproductive rights, they are loud and persistent, and we need to keep up, and keep shouting.  So find out who your legislators are, and let them know, today, tomorrow, and next week, how you feel about people walking around in our communities with deadly weapons, and how you feel about our children being forced to learn untruths about the Second Amendment.

It's not just a matter of quality of life, it's a matter of life and death.