# How will the Tea Party spin the CT shooting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 15, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098 "2012-12-15T07:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/21 "2012-12-15T15:30:17Z")
> [@Tarwater](#): > > Most meaningless article of the year. Mind explaining how it’s meaningless? ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/22 "2012-12-15T15:36:56Z")
Where he’s explaining his methodology, he sure omits a lot of data. Basically he’s limiting the scope of his results to only shootings where civilians stopped the shooting or police stopped the shooting, eliminating data where the shooter killed himself and eliminating data where the suspect fled the scene and was later apprehended. Uh, yeah do you think the numbers are going to be a little skewed? He started with 93 spree killings and through eliminating all but the incidents that would prove his hypothesis, had a whopping 30 cases. Which proved his hypothesis. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/23 "2012-12-15T15:38:09Z")
[Like so](http://mariondollar.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Freedom.346121346.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/24 "2012-12-15T15:49:10Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > Where he’s explaining his methodology, he sure omits a lot of data. Basically he’s limiting the scope of his results to only shootings where civilians stopped the shooting or police stopped the shooting, eliminating data where the shooter killed himself and eliminating data where the suspect fled the scene and was later apprehended. Uh, yeah do you think the numbers are going to be a little skewed? He started with 93 spree killings and through eliminating all but the incidents that would prove his hypothesis, had a whopping 30 cases. Which proved his hypothesis. He was quite upfront on why he chose those cases. He was measuring cases that could have continued without intervention, not cases where the damage was done and finished. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/25 "2012-12-15T16:05:15Z")
It doesn’t matter how they spin it, there won’t be any efforts at all to address gun control. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/26 "2012-12-15T17:22:56Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > He’s already proclaimed it a tragedy They’ll say he didn’t call it horrible, so obviously he’s covering something up. He probably had advanced knowledge of the shooting and allowed it to happen. More seriously, I’m guessing it’ll be a mix of _“sure, this was a tragedy but what about all the other tragedies that Obama has been ignoring?”_ (as Lobohan already provided a link to) and _“this reflects the general moral breakdown in American society caused by the liberals.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/27 "2012-12-15T17:28:42Z")
I’m sure Obama watched the whole thing play out in the Situation Room, via one of the many drone spy planes flying over America Every minute. And he refused to call the police! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/28 "2012-12-15T18:07:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > They’re waiting for Obama to take a stance on it. Once he does, they’ll know that they believe the exact opposite of whatever he says on the matter. He did say in a nonspecific way that “We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.” I think we can count on the Tea Party to support this as long as it doesn’t involve any kind of additional restriction or tracking of the sale of guns or any additional federal spending. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/29 "2012-12-15T18:10:14Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m going to guess most of them think the shooting is tragic, and they’ll support the same policies they did before (which is true of just about everyone). I realize that I am not “just about everyone” but I can tell you that prior to yesterday I didn’t really give two shits about gun control, but I am now contacting all of my representatives in Congress via email, snail mail, and phone, to let them know that I support stricter gun control legislation and improved access to mental health care in this country. This has rocketed to my top-5 list of issues I care about and I don’t see that changing any time soon. So I don’t support the same policies I did before, actually. As for the Tea Party: “This is due to a failure of morality as a nation,” “We need more prayer in schools,” “We should arm teachers,” and “We should post armed guards at all schools,” are all things I have heard from idiots on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/30 "2012-12-15T18:13:20Z")
Michigan’s House had just voted for a bill that would allow concealed carry in public schools, among other places. In light of the shooting, Gov. Snyder is sitting on it instead of signing it right away. There was an article in the local paper this morning with some reaction from concealed and open carry advocates today. [ > [@](#): > > “This kind of tragedy is hard to process, but if one person – a faculty member or a parent – could legally carry, at least it could have limited some of the mayhem,” Rob Harris, media director for Michigan Open Carry said Friday. “This legislation has to be passed to at least have a fighting chance against the evil in this world.” > > … > > The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners also backed the legislation. Green is a member of the organization’s board. > > “We were fully behind it because what happens when you disarm law-abiding people is there is nobody to stop the crazy people,” said Steve Dulan, a spokesman for the organization. ]([http://www.freep.com/article/20121215/NEWS05/312150110/State-s-new-guns-school-law-provokes-outcries-praise-wake-Connecticut-rampage](http://www.freep.com/article/20121215/NEWS05/312150110/State-s-new-guns-school-law-provokes-outcries-praise-wake-Connecticut-rampage)) Searching around the web, Rob Harris appears to be a member of the Rattle With Us Tea Party group, and Steve Dulan claims no party affiliation but was a guest speaker at a gun rights rally this spring where the Tea Party were heavily represented. So, the same line as usual: If some teacher or parent had a gun they would have stopped the guy. The answer to guns in schools is - more guns in schools. I found this quote interesting: > [@](#): > > Dulan said most gun owners are responsible. > > “Many gun owners take their guns with them to the shopping mall, where there are kids,” Dulan said. “Schools will be no different than shopping malls.” Funny you say that, sir, as there was a shooting in a shopping mall too, earlier this week. Was that supposed to be a reassuring comment? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/31 "2012-12-15T18:18:00Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I realize that I am not “just about everyone” but I can tell you that prior to yesterday I didn’t really give two shits about gun control, but I am now contacting all of my representatives in Congress via email, snail mail, and phone, to let them know that I support stricter gun control legislation and improved access to mental health care in this country. This has rocketed to my top-5 list of issues I care about and I don’t see that changing any time soon. > > So I don’t support the same policies I did before, actually. Then good for you. Get informed and stay on top of it. > [@](#): > > As for the Tea Party: “This is due to a failure of morality as a nation,” “We need more prayer in schools,” “We should arm teachers,” and “We should post armed guards at all schools,” are all things I have heard from idiots on Facebook. In other words, the same dumb stuff they were saying yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/32 "2012-12-15T18:22:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He did say in a nonspecific way that “We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.” I think we can count on the Tea Party to support this as long as it doesn’t involve any kind of additional restriction or tracking of the sale of guns or any additional federal spending. But they’re open to the idea of addressing this issue via tax cuts. ---
**Author:** ![dexter8459](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dexter8459](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dexter8459)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/33 "2012-12-15T18:30:58Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Here’s one of the posts I was thinking of. That article describes two shootings. In the first the gunman ran away unharmed. In the second the gunman was wounded by an armed security guard (who also was a member of the congregation). Since he was armed because he was in a security role I don’t see that as validating the argument that armed civilians that just happen to be present take the initiative to exchange gunfire with someone who opens fire. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/34 "2012-12-15T18:32:02Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But they’re open to the idea of addressing this issue via tax cuts. Along with cuts to the Department of Education and an increase in school voucher programs. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/35 "2012-12-15T18:34:03Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Then good for you. Get informed and stay on top of it. > > In other words, the same dumb stuff they were saying yesterday. The tone of your post feels argumentative but your words seem to be agreeing with me. So…thanks, I think. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/36 "2012-12-15T18:37:39Z")
> [@dexter8459](#): > > That article describes two shootings. In the first the gunman ran away unharmed. In the second the gunman was wounded by an armed security guard (who also was a member of the congregation). Since he was armed because he was in a security role I don’t see that as validating the argument that armed civilians that just happen to be present take the initiative to exchange gunfire with someone who opens fire. But how would an armed citizen be any different? The idea is that having someone who is armed confront the gunman and possibly bringing the incident to an end long before the police can respond. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/37 "2012-12-15T18:39:56Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > The tone of your post feels argumentative but your words seem to be agreeing with me. So…thanks, I think. No argument intended. If this does change your views or your priorities on policy, go to it and good luck. But for most people, I don’t think this changes much- and certainly a group on the far right is not going to change its mind just because some children were murdered. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/38 "2012-12-15T18:42:09Z")
Last week, Republicans and conservatives thought teachers were over-paid union thugs. This wee the think these same losers need to be armed. One of the teachers was armed. Unfortunately, her gun was used against her. Republicans and conservatives also think people need ID to vote. I wonder if they will be opposed to ID, education or licensing for owners of deadly weapons. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/39 "2012-12-15T18:46:22Z")
> [@Ca3799](#): > > One of the teachers was armed. Unfortunately, her gun was used against her. What? Where did you hear this? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098/40 "2012-12-15T18:50:12Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > What? Where did you hear this? He means the shooter’s mother- although it has since been reported that she was a school employee and not a teacher. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-will-the-tea-party-spin-the-ct-shooting/644098.md?page=3)