Hypocrisy? Gabrielle Giffords' Husband Buys an 'Assault Rifle' and 'High Capacity' Magazines

If the woman I loved was shot down in the street by a crazed lunatic, I might just be tempted to make sure I was armed myself, but a less conspicuous Sig Sauer would be my choice. Highly-visible assault weapons pretty much severely limit being welcomed at many social functions.

Thanks, Gerald - you do raise a good point - and it reinforces my belief that if law-abiding people want to protect themselves, they should not be criminalized for that belief. I think the conversation needs to turn from "gun violence" to violence.

I can certainly agree to that.

Not really, this article is not about gun control, it is about slandering Mark Kelly, trying to make him look like a hypocrite, which when you read the comment he made is the opposite of what is inferred by the title. Asking the question "hypocrite?" when you already know he is not is right "down" there with Andrew Breitbart tactics.

Actually, if Mark Kelly wanted to make a point, he probably should have made it before he got scrutinized. It is not quite as effective after he buys an "assault weapon" and high capacity magazines.

> he probably should have made it before he got scrutinized.

See below ...

Maybe he was hoping to get some media attention to his cause.

Not sure what he was thinking, Heather - I would imagine that if he was trying to make a point that purchasing guns didn't require a background check... that wouldn't make much sense.... since he had to undergo a background check....

It would seem to me he would have had that all prearranged if the original plan. He also has to go through another check when he picks the rifle up after the 20 day hold, the first check was for the .45 pistol according to the store. Being a used rifle it was on hold to make sure it didn't end up being stolen or used in a crime recently, etc. Also ironic, if he does turn it over to Tucson PD, they will reportedly sell it to raise funds for the dept., for all we know back to the same dealer?

> "I just had a background check a few days ago when I went to my local
> gun store to buy a .45. As I was leaving, I noticed a used AR-15. Bought
> that too. Even to buy an assault weapon, the background check only
> takes a matter of minutes. I don't have possession of it yet but I'll be
> turning it over to the Tucson PD when I do."

In other words the implication of the title of your post is totally hypocritical
and Mark Kelly's is being slandered here by implication ...well, that's just
typical.

Bruce, you can call me names - I am used to it. But I DID quote him - perhaps you are missing the fact that he is against high capacity magazines and so-called "assault weapons," but waited until after media scrutiny before posting something about his personal purchase on FaceBook...

After what happened to his wife you are suggesting that Mark Kelly should have held a big media event before buying the gun to take off the market, or that because he did not hold that event or give that notice that you write that that was some kind of sign of inferior character or hypocrisy, and I think there is nothing but nasty innuendo behind that claim, and not proof.

See, I read your posts and they are very nuanced, there is an intelligence behind you posts that I frankly do not see behind many of your supporters, so I imagined, I give you credit for probably thinking about this and going ahead and writing the distorted headline anyway. I don't think the media, journalism, discussion, conversation, whatever you want to call it is helped or furthered by that kind of writing, though I suppose there is a niche for it on the level of an Andrew Breitbart.

Recall that just the other day that Breitbart.Com had to pay $100,000 and apologize to the ACORN employee that was taped without his consent and the tapes edited to make him appear that he was furthering the crime of human trafficking, when in fact he went to the authorities he was so shocked by the "sting" from the Breitbart people. Do you think the Breitbart style of journalism was justified or tolerable?

Uh, I don't recall calling you a name, what "name" did I call you?

??

Bruce, do you believe Kelly purchased the gun to get it off the market?

If he did purchase it for that reason he wouldn't say he was turning over to the Tuscon PD since they will auction it for revenue. That is just his excuse after some crafty reporter found out he was buying guns.

Big Mama... ding ding ding!! You win a prize!

Why Thank You. And I don't even have an acceptance speech prepared. LOL

Laughs!

Well, there's always a Teleprompter! ;]

Maybe Obama will loan me his. HUH?

This demonstrates how people who only act based on their 'good intentions' are so wasteful and end up promoting what they want to stop or discourage.

His 'good intentions' so overwhelm his intellect that he will never see any change in what he wants to change. If anything he will see no change in a reduction in the violence of killing or of killing with guns. You can already see that as he and others are more agressive about curtailinig gun ownership it has simply grown faster.

"Good intentions' without consideration of the consequence of their actions. These 'good intened' just don't stop or prevent what they claim they trying to stop. They always create unintended consequences that in most case perpetuate what they want stop and generally create consequences that simply make matter worse or prevent other actions that would help control if reduce the problem they most want eliminated.

The most glaring example was prohibition, all those 'good intentions' did was faciliate the explosion of organizaed crime in America. The LBJ 'War on Poverty' did nothing more than destroy cities (though urban renewal), promote the break-up of the two parent family structure, spend billions and billions to create a system that has overseen the expansion of the poverty they were against. It has even lead to the demagoguery of those who aren't in poverty.

I am sadden by Mr. Kelly having his reason forced into a tunnel with only a single like that prevents him from seeing other possibilities of reducing the ultimate good of preventing gun violance toward others.

Mr. Kelly has succumb as many others to a 'true believer' mind set toward his 'good intentions' and prevents him from even looking for other possible actions.

This is a highly visible example of the close mindedness of those who simply rely on 'good intentions' for their actions and thinking.

Very well said, Duane! And awesome comparison to prohibition....