Gun Violence Victims Detained, Put Through Background Check For Yelling ‘Shame On You’ At Senators

[alp227]

By Igor Volsky on Apr 18, 2013 at 10:45 am

“Shame on you!” Patricia Maisch and Lori Haas yelled in rapid succession at the 46 senators who had just voted to kill a compromise amendment to expand background checks for gun purchases at gun shows or online. The women were sitting in the gallery with a large group of gun violence victims as the Senate responded to the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut by defeating the measure advocates and law enforcement officials consider crucial to keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

The pair has first-hand experience with the consequences of the broken system. In 2011, Maisch was hailed as a hero for disarming Tucson shooter Jared Loughner by preventing him from reloading a fresh magazine. Haas’ daughter Emily was shot twice during the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 and survived, leading her to become a proponent of stronger gun regulations. But on Wednesday afternoon, the two women faced tighter scrutiny for interrupting a Senate proceeding than many individuals seeking to purchase guns.

As they left the Senate gallery, a police officer approached and asked them to follow him. The three walked downstairs to a public hallway, where they were peppered with questions: “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “What are your Social Security numbers?” The officer left to run a background check on the women, who were instructed to sit on a bench. Another uniformed officer watched over them, even escorted Haas to the bathroom and told her she couldn’t lock the stall door.

Sitting there, waiting for the officer to return, Haas stewed over the failed vote. “I just can’t fathom that these people don’t have a heart,” she told ThinkProgress in a phone interview. “If they had seen, just one miniscule of the pain I’ve seen from the Virginia Tech families and so many other families that I’ve worked with in the last 6 years, they couldn’t help but want to do something about stoping gun violence.”

full: http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/04/18/1886801/gun-violence-victims-detained-put-through-background-check-for-yelling-shame-on-you-at-senators/

[MotherPetrie]

1. Grrrrrr

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of...

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

[NightWatcher]

6. Congress didn't make a law. The people were in the Capitol Blg

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. ..and seeking redress of their grievances.

[NightWatcher]

9. So everybody should be allowed to stand there and yell?

Sure, lets let everyone scream in the Senate office. Maybe they could all do it at once too. There are limits to free speech.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. What part of petitition the government don't you get?

Last I checked the congress is a goodly part of the government. Or, are they to be immunized and protected from the people they allegedly represent?

[NightWatcher]

12. Petitioning the government is not the same as yelling while they are conducting business

You really think we all have a right to yell and interrupt the Senate anytime we choose?

When you disrupt any government meeting you'll be asked to leave. There are proper channels, screaming is not the way to seek redress of your needs.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. Apparently, the did leave. And, were detained and questioned by the cops.

Free speech? I think not.

[auburngrad82]

11. So if you exercise your right to free speech you should have to undergo background checks

but if you're a redneck hillybilly gun totin' douche bag you get a free pass?

I'm just trying to understand how our laws work here in the wild wild west.

[NightWatcher]

13. I never defended their harassment. I said you can't yell at Senate during business

[Fumesucker]

3. The proles should know their place n/t

[Rex]

4. Big Brother flexes his muscles for the plutocracy.

Sick...this country is sick.

[City Lights]

5. FUBAR.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

7. Whoever made the decision to detain should be fired

It's the people's house you dumb mother fuckers.

[Javaman]

15. First and only question you ever need to ask is, "Am I under arrest?"

if no, you leave.