 |
| Cover me guys, these reporters are armed with dangerous looking pens. |
The gun-lobby goons were at it again.
The National Rifle Association’s security guards gained notoriety earlier this year when, escorting NRA officials to a hearing, they were upbraided by Capitol authorities for pushing cameramen. The thugs were back Tuesday when the NRA rolled out its “National School Shield” — the gun lobbyists’ plan to get armed guards in public schools — and this time they were packing heat.
About 20 of them — roughly one for every three reporters — fanned out through the National Press Club, some in uniforms with gun holsters exposed, others with earpieces and bulges under their suit jackets.
In a spectacle that officials at the National Press Club said they had never seen before, the NRA gunmen directed some photographers not to take pictures, ordered reporters out of the lobby when NRA officials passed and inspected reporters’ briefcases before granting them access to the news conference.
The antics gave new meaning to the notion of disarming your critics.
I just saw Dana Milbank talking about this on Hardball and I almost could not believe my ears. (I will link to that interview when it become available.)
I almost don't know how to respond to this, but I am so angry I am spitting nails!
The idea that these NRA assholes would use their 2nd Amendment rights to bully reporters into NOT being able to exercise their 1st Amendment rights, demonstrates the seriousness of what is going on in this country right now.
And by the way if you are so paranoid that you find yourself terrified to face a roomful of unarmed reporters without a phalanx of armed guards around you, perhaps you are not the best person to be telling schools how to keep our children safe.
Update: As promised here is the interview with Dana Milbank on Hardball.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Freak Show!
ReplyDeleteCan you say Gestapo? They're heeeeere
ReplyDeleteWell, they didn't handcuff any of the reporters, did they? Must be Joe Miller wasn't there or he would have set them straight.
ReplyDeleteUnless these bullys were hired by the National Press club, they should have been told to leave. They have no right to "inspect" cases and prevent reporters from taking pictures.
ReplyDeleteIts amazing how they demand everyone follow the Constitution except when it is inconvenient to their point.
I watched the show...unreal how all this is really happening, they have all drank the kool-aid. Could any of us really forseen the complete melt down of the GOP electing a black man? Electing him twice has sent them over the edge....insanity knowing the majority of this country hates them. I am afraid to turn on the news in the AM...it is so scarey to think what these maniacs are capable of.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the NRA expected every one of the reporters to be carrying loaded weapons as well. Right, NRA? Right?
ReplyDeleteAnd the reporters and the National Press Club didn't evict these thugs why? Or at a minimum, reminded them that they were guests and if anyone should be showing what was in their briefcases, it was the thugs?
ReplyDeleteAs a reporter and newspaper publisher, I'm stunned at the lack of guts shown by fellow reporters.
+1
DeleteThugs and bullies who are also a bunch of yellow bellies for feeling that they can't go anywhere unless they're armed like a small squad of soldiers. Pathetic prisoners of their own fear and hatred.
ReplyDeleteM from MD
Allowing them to get away with it this time will only embolden them to do it again, and maybe with 30 or 40 thugs next time.
ReplyDeleteI can understand one or two personal security guards protecting Hutchinson, since he IS possibly a target for people who might want to harm him. However, 20 armed men taking over the Press Club and being permitted to intimidate and terrorize the reporters is just unconscionable.
I wonder WHY all the reporters there did not simply walk out and turn off the lights and sound system. Sorry NRA... party's over.
Delete
ReplyDeleteIt's always fear that drives people to madness, and if this isn't crazy, I don't know what is.
http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_289563/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=NV6MHyoy
ReplyDeleteConn. lawmakers pass wide-ranging gun control law
AMEN
But will it take a ghastly tragedy in every U.S. state to get gun control laws in place? Sure as heck hope not.
But it's Obama's the Nazi, how do you not see that?
ReplyDeleteCuba, El Salvador, Al Qaeda, Hamas...
ReplyDeletethose are the regimes that come to mind when I think of thugs with guns at a "news conference."