Peter King (R-NY): ‘I Really Don’t Know Why People Need Assault Weapons’

[Tx4obama]

Rep. Peter King (R-NY), a longtime proponent of gun safety, said that Americans don’t “need assault weapons” during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe Thursday.

The vocal New York Republican discussed his efforts to force House Speaker John Bohener (R-OH) to bring a Hurricane Sandy relief bill to a vote, but not before agreeing with Joe Scarborough’s argument that lawmakers should move to limit the availability of assault weapons in the aftermath of the Newtown shooting:

SCARBOROUGH: But don’t you hear from Republicans, don’t you hear from conservatives… ‘Hey Congressman you know what, I want a handgun to protect my family. I want a shotgun, but do we really need assault weapons all across America?’

KING: Joe, I fully agree with you. I voted for the Assault Weapons Ban back in 1994. My father was a police officer. I really don’t know why people need assault weapons. I’m not a hunter but I understand people who want to hunt. I understand people who live in rough neighborhoods or have a small business and want to maintain a pistol to protect themselves as long as they’re properly vetted and licensed. But an assault weapon? Listen, I’m sure 99% of people with assault weapons are good Americans. But to give that potential to a mass murderer who would be able to outarm the police who as we saw could carry out the worst devastation? … Why the issue of an assault weapon should even be on the table, why we want to identify with that when it’s a vocal minority, but it is a minority who support these weapons.

-snip-

Full article here: http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/01/03/1390081/top-gop-congressman-i-really-dont-know-why-people-need-assault-weapons/

[CBHagman]

1. Good to hear the blunt talk from King.

I didn't seen entire segment, just the clip you posted, but it appears Scarborough's in a tearing hurry to switch the subject back to lowering taxes and dealing with deficits (or however he put it)...

[fascisthunter]

2. because in the perverted mind of a gun nut

they are always one possible incidentaway from war in their own country/state/town/house. They are paranoid vigilante wannabes.

[former_con]

3. but you are exactly right...

the meme on the right is that the second ammendment allows them to protect themselves from government and to do that they must be as well armed as any government backed militia would be...

[Chan790]

6. They never will be as well-armed as a federally-backed militia.

That's the hole in that logic. I'm yet to see the militia that possesses the armament to face down a military helicopter or tank with its full loadout of ordinance. Edit: or a trained battalion of infantry.

The entirety of RW gun-nut culture couldn't repel the Mexican army...let alone the US armed forces.

[marmar]

4. A stopped clock moment for Peter King.

nt

[Canuckistanian]

5. Assault weapon apologists in 3...2...1...

Disagree with Peter King, I DARE you

[BeyondGeography]

7. It's the rare week where I say, "right on Peter King"

But that's twice now. Obama's re-election has freed guys like him up to distance themselves from the crazies. Maybe the floodgates have finally opened. Or maybe he's just pissed off about Sandy relief...

[bowens43]

8. Oh come on, it makes it easier to slaughter large numbers of people that's why they need them.

same goes for hand guns. Used as intended they kill people.