O'Malley Earns a Vote For Standing Up to NRA (Powerful Video)

[askew]

This a great moment from O'Malley's townhall in Texas today:

[pipoman]

1. How has he "stood up to the NRA"?

[FSogol]

3. From his gun plan:

As Governor of Maryland, O’Malley implemented some of the toughest measures in the nation to reduce gun violence. He put in place licensing, fingerprinting, background checks, and safety training requirements for all buyers. If a firearm was lost or stolen, owners were required to immediately notify law enforcement. And Maryland prohibited the sale of assault weapons and limited the size of magazines—all while protecting the state’s proud hunting tradition.

Entire plan and proposals here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12813600#post2

and of course the ridiculous NRA's response:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/08/21/nra-smears-martin-omalley-as-a-friend-to-crimin/205084

[pipoman]

5. There is no relationship between what a state can do and what the federal government can do

For instance there will not be a federal requirement for background checks between private citizens of the same state without a constitutional amendment. Any state can require it....the feds cannot. The same is true for virtually every other gun control measure enacted in Maryland.. states have far more latitude than the federal government in this regard.

[FSogol]

7. The Federal Government is one of the largest purchasers of firearms on planet earth.

You don't think the Federal government can affect what gun companies are doing?

Use the Power of the Federal Purse to Advance Gun Safety

Government agencies are the largest purchaser of firearms, accounting for 40 percent of gun industry revenues. By adjusting federal procurement policies, the federal government can encourage gun manufacturers and dealers to work to prevent trafficking and gun violence, while driving innovation that advances gun safety.

As president, Governor O’Malley will:

Use procurement contracts to advance gun safety. O’Malley will require manufacturers that seek federal contracts to make simple design changes that advance gun safety and improve law enforcement’s ability to trace firearms. These include hidden serial numbers that cannot be defaced, microstamping, magazine disconnect mechanisms, and other safety improvements.

Ensure Gun Manufacturers Act Responsibly

Holding gun manufacturers accountable when they contribute to gun violence can help break the pipeline through which criminals and dangerous individuals obtain and traffic guns. Yet, manufacturers have little incentive to encourage bad actors to reform: they continue to profit from dealers’ unscrupulous sales, while Congress protects them from any liability for contributing to criminal or deadly behavior.

[pipoman]

9. Oh they may be able to do something

Maybe...

He cannot:

1. Require background checks on private sales
2. Create a registry of any kind
3. Enact another "assault weapons ban"
4. Create a waiting period
5. Enact or force a requirement for technology that doesn't exist
6. Hold the manufacturer of any legal merchandise responsible for criminal misuse of the product.

Most of his statements (like the ridiculous demonstrated false 40% of gun sales being intrastate private sales) are regurgitation of demonstrable lies of Brady groups that when taken to task will fall apart.

Again, he may....may (I doubt it)...be able to bully some manufacturers.....

[FSogol]

10. Oh well, then we shouldn't ever try to do anything right? Long live the NRA and its

glorious nutters!



LOL at "regurgitation of demonstrable lies"

[pipoman]

11. We shouldn't pretend we can now do things that we already know that we can't..

What is that thing....doing the same thing over and over expecting different results?....there's that, then theres the "do something, even if it's nothing, as long as I think its something" mentality I don't grasp...

My process for candidates is determining substance from bluster...this is the latter...

[askew]

4. By enacting the strongest gun control laws in the country after Sandy Hook as Maryland Governor.

That's why the NRA made him their #1 enemy.

As for why this is important - that student in the video is talking about how Republican Texas Governor just allowed open carry on all Texas campus and students are scared and angry.

[pipoman]

13. Politicians with this type of record really won't do so well in November

My point isn't (and has never been) that nothing can be done, my point is that 95% of his gun control manifesto is constitutionally impossible. Why would anyone make impossible promises without addressing how he will overcome the very real challenges based on asked and answered case law? No, it's doing exactly the same thing over and over expecting different results.

[FSogol]

2. Nice. K&R n/t

[one_voice]

6. Awesome! K&R

I love seeing younger people engaging.

[askew]

8. Full event video

http://trib.it/1NNDJzB

[pinstikfartherin]

12. K&R.