Boston Herald: Maura Healey shoots Dems in foot with gun grab

[benEzra]

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/hillary_chabot/2016/08/chabot_maura_healey_shoots_dems_in_foot_with_gun_grab

Attorney General Maura Healey’s controversial assault weapons crackdown has become yet another political land mine threatening the Bay State’s already shaken Democratic Party as it seeks to mount a serious 2018 challenger against Republican Gov. Charlie Baker.

In deeply blue Massachusetts, the Democratic Party is turning into its own worst enemy.

“There are a lot of Democrats who aren’t happy with her decision, but they don’t want to come out against one of the party leaders,” said state Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut), one of 58 lawmakers who signed onto a letter opposing Healey’s ban.

What I've been saying for a long time.

This move was based on fundamentalist idealogy, not public safety. Massachusetts had 1,301 total murders 2007-2014; only 7 of those (0.5 percent) involved *any* style of rifle. That's fewer than one per year, on average, in the entire state.

[elleng]

1. What's new???

[Mass]

2. Ms Chabot is a GOP columnist. No surprise she would take this view.

It will be hard to start a serious attack against Baker, who has been very low key and repudiated Trump very clearly, but this has nothing to do with this.

This measure is favored by many Democrats in MA.

[friendly_iconoclast]

6. "This measure is favored by many Democrats in MA." And opposed by others:

http://www.wbur.org/news/2016/07/25/healey-assault-weapons-letter

58 Mass. Lawmakers Write Letter Opposing Healey's Assault Weapons Directive

All 40 of the Legislature's Republicans signed and 18 Democrats — four in the Senate and 14 in the House — did as well. The letter was sent to Healey's office over the weekend.

http://leemonroe0.bluemassgroup.com/2016/07/here-are-the-ma-dems-against-gun-safety/

Joining the Legislature’s 40 Republicans in signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Anne Gobi, Jennifer Flanagan, James Timilty and Michael Moore, and Reps. James Dwyer, Colleen Garry, Brian Mannal, Alan Silvia, Thomas Golden, Thomas Clater, Jonathan Zlotnick, John Velis, Josh Cutler, James Arciero, Stephan Hay, Dave Nangle, Paul McMurtry and Stephen Kulik.

[pablo_marmol]

8. "Do these Democrats really think what we need in America is less gun safety? More assault weapons?"

NO! These honest, intelligent Democrats know pure bullshit when it's reeking under their noses -- and vote accordingly.

[benEzra]

7. Healey just turned a hell of a lot of Dems in Massachusetts into criminals.

She says she will use her "prosecutorial discretion" not to prosecute them...for now.

I don't see how this is going to hold up in court (the actual rules Healey's office has belatedly issued don't clarify anything, except to reinforce the fact that nobody in Healey's office knows beans about civilian guns), and it won't save any lives whatsoever. What it *does* do is give downticket Dems a black eye nationwide.

[pablo_marmol]

9. "What it *does* do is give downticket Dems a black eye nationwide."

And here at age 60, I don't think I'll live long enough to see Democrats come out of denial on this issue. Very, very sad.

[pablo_marmol]

10. "This measure is favored by many Democrats in MA."

To their great discredit -- as it damages Democratic Party interests nationwide.

TRUTH from the OP:

This move was based on fundamentalist idealogy, not public safety. Massachusetts had 1,301 total murders 2007-2014; only 7 of those (0.5 percent) involved *any* style of rifle. That's fewer than one per year, on average, in the entire state.

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. "This measure" is a solution to a problem *that doesn't actually exist*:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1172198012

Per the FBI's Uniform Crime Report "Crime In The United States"

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s

Murder
by State, Type of Weapon

All figures are for Massachusetts

https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/data/table_20.html

Rifles 1

Handguns 65

Knives or cutting instruments 31

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 14

https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2008/data/table_20.html

Rifles 2

Handguns 59

Knives or cutting instruments 49

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 3

https://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/data/table_20.html

Rifles 2

Handgun 47

Knives or cutting instruments 40

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 7


https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/tables/10tbl20.xls

Rifles 0

Handguns 52

Knives or cutting instruments 50

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 10

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/table-20

Rifles 0

Handguns 52

Knives or cutting instruments 30

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 9

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/20tabledatadecpdf

Rifles 0

Handguns 32

Knives or cutting instruments 33

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 6

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-20/table_20_murder_by_state_types_of_weapons_2013.xls

Rifles 2

Handguns 35

Knives or cutting instruments 41

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 7

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-20

Rifles 0

Handguns 33

Knives or cutting instruments 34

Hands, fists, feet, etc. 3

[pablo_marmol]

12. "Solution" in search of a problem.

Just like hysterics regarding armor piercing ammo, "gun show loopholes" etc.

Doesn't seem like we'll ever learn.......but the oligarchs who rule us sure love the culture war we stoke with this nonsense. Keeps us distracted from the real issue. Do you think they want us armed? Not on your life.

[Eleanors38]

14. Healey and the Demo Speaker of the House allied with GOPers to oppose legalizing pot.

A clever appeal to the younger generations.



MY generation:

[benEzra]

15. These are guns that are civilian-legal in *Canada*, and are used in less than 1 murder/year in MA

despite being some of the most popular civilian target rifles in U.S. homes. This is not a moderate position.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. Without that law (or reinterpretation)...

Last edited Thu Sep 1, 2016, 10:29 AM - Edit history (1)

...folks will flock to Mass. and buy evil assault rifle and take them to neighboring states like Vermont where...

[pablo_marmol]

3. Not just damaging in MA, but nationally.

Given the timing with California's silly new laws, gun owners across the country can rightfully point to the stupidity and dishonesty of Democrats w/regard to "gun control". Damn good thing we're dealing with such a weak candidate in Trump.......still, gun owners have long memories and this felony stupid behavior can only harm us.

[virginia mountainman]

4. This is on the news, nationwide..

And most see it as "More more proof that the Democrats just want to take our guns"

It's *only* an election year, what do we have too loose?

[appal_jack]

5. It's they who are "too loose" with Constitutional rights.

Sorry, vmm, but I've got to take advantage of your spelling errors here to point out that Maura Healy and her gun-grabbing peers do great disservice to Democrats nationwide by playing far too fast and "too loose" with Constitutional rights.

k&r,

-app

[ileus]

13. We're supposed to be the party of expanding rights...why do we get it wrong on the 2A.

[pablo_marmol]

17. Why? Hmmm -- let me take a crack at this..........

Arrogance, prideful ignorance, stupidity, dishonesty, hypocrisy, self-righteousness.

I'm certain I've left something out..........

Edited to add bigotry. (as in "redneck control&quot How could I have forgotten that gem?