Rand Paul blocks Surgeon General nominee for saying gun violence is a public health threat

[Redfairen]

Source: Think Progress

On Wednesday — two years to the day after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) placed a hold on President Barack Obama’s nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, over Murthy’s view that gun violence represents a significant public health threat.

“In his efforts to curtail Second Amendment rights, Dr. Murthy has continually referred to guns as a public health issue on par with heart disease and has diminished the role of mental health in gun violence,” wrote Paul in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“As a physician, I am deeply concerned that he has advocated that doctors use their position of trust to ask patients, including minors, details about gun ownership in the home… Dr. Murthy has disqualified himself from being Surgeon General because of his intent to use that position to launch an attack on Americans’ right to own a firearm under the guise of a public health and safety campaign.”


Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/02/26/3332741/rand-paul-hold-murthy-guns/

[Dopers_Greed]

1. So the Brillo Pad Plagiarist is essentially...

Pro-violence?

[Scuba]

15. Or really bad at math.

[Tx4obama]

2. Guns to surpass car accidents as leading cause of deaths among young people

Guns to surpass car accidents as leading cause of deaths among young people

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014422109

Guns Kill More People Than Car Accidents In 14 US States

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014422109

As usual Rand Paul doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.

[freshwest]

3. Aqua Buddha, fake physician, needs to be evaluated for fraud and other things... n/t

[SoapBox]

4. What freaks this family is...

Krazy son like Krazy daddy.

[FiveGoodMen]

5. "under the guise of a public health and safety campaign"

under the guise

That's some serious denial.

[onehandle]

6. Kentucky needs to do some serious fucking soul searching. nt

[Blue_Tires]

7. But of course Paul is against the NSA so plenty of DUers will give him a pass

[DisgustipatedinCA]

12. I challenge you to show me one DUer supporting this idiot re his hold.

You'll not be able to do that, because you're wrong.

[Blue_Tires]

17. Not supporting the hold, BUT

I'll post a link to this story or something similar in the next Rand Paul cheerleading thread, and you watch damn near everyone ignore or gloss over it...

[blkmusclmachine]

8. ,

,

[billh58]

9. This right-wing Libertarian asshat

also attacked Obamacare for being a "conspiracy" against gun owners:

"Rand Paul Pushes Conspiracy Theory that Obamacare 'Databanks' Gather Information on Gun Owners"

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rand-paul-pushes-conspiracy-theory-obamacare-databanks-gather-information-gun-owners

The right-wing gun lobby (NRA, ALEC, Fox News, Koch Brothers) will go to any lengths to promote more gun violence and deaths for profits. Gun violence is indeed a health threat to Americans -- especially obscene CCW and SYG "laws" which promote and excuse vigilantism.

[NastyRiffraff]

10. What part of gun VIOLENCE does he not understand?

“In his efforts to curtail Second Amendment rights, Dr. Murthy has continually referred to guns as a public health issue on par with heart disease and has diminished the role of mental health in gun violence,” wrote Paul in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Emphasis mine.

By deleting a single word, Paul completely changes the meaning of what Dr Murthy actually said. But then, that's what Rand does.

[rafeh1]

11. so is dr murthy blocked from SG

[gopiscrap]

13. Rand Paul is such a fucking nutbag!!!!

[Owl]

14. Rand's a nobody, who thinks he's someone of stature.

[davidpdx]

16. What a tool!