Here is the news story wherein GA Rep. Bob Barr (Hyper-Conservative) fires an antique handgun with a Negligent Discharge after being handed a LOADED 1908 Colt .38 Semi-Automatic. Barr is a Board Member of the NRA, and is using that as a campaign platform. The owner of the weapon had it stored locked and loaded (magazine inserted, round in the chamber), and removed the magazine without clearing the round in the chamber, then handed it to Barr, who did not clear it.
Astounding ignorance and deadly negligence raise their ugly heads. Noone was hurt.
These two Right-Wing Wackos are from the side that should fucking know better. “Pistol Fires at Event for Rep. Barr”. No it fucking didn’t fire. Some numbnuts, braindead, smug fuck pulled the goddamned trigger.
Yeah, and General Custer won the Battle of Little Big Horn, except he Lost!
I’ll use small words here.
TREAT EVERY GUN AS IF IT WAS LOADED, UNTIL YOU HAVE PROVEN IT TO YOURSELF OTHERWISE.
I’m fairly sure a 1908 Colt semi-automatic has a trigger guard. Sometimes old guns are liable to go off if moved around; pretty good reason not to keep a round in the chamber. This is the kind of accident that comes from serious negligence.
I wish the NRA would stick to its chartered purpose of teaching safe gun handling; these guys could use a remedial course.
I think Barr is a jerk. I live in Alexandria, VA and along comes this snot from Georgia who pokes his nose into our business and threatens to hold up transportation money to Metro until they change the signs at Washington National Airport to read Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. First, what business is it of his what the airport is named? Second, doesn’t it look stupid to have an airport named after two presidents? Third, what business is it of his to hijack needed funding for mass transit in order to satisfy his delusions of grandeur?
Words can’t describe the enmity I feel for Barr. He’s the worst type of congressman. He’s hypocritical (criticizing Clinton on morals while he himself has had his own troubles in his personal life), ineffective (he often goes off on personal crusades instead of tending to his district), vindictive (the Metro snafu, Clinton and a host of other stuff) and he appeals to the lowest common denominator (just gooder? The people of the 7th district should be insulted). Oh, and he refuses to compromise on anything. He’s like a conservative Maxine Waters. I hope he loses the August 20 primary.
UncleBill and other gun enthusiasts, I pose you a question. Say you’re a GOP voter wavering between the equally pro-gun Barr and Linder. Does this incident make you move toward Linder? How forcefully? Formal polling propbably won’t come out before the primary that takes this incident into account, and up here in Connecticut there’s only one gun store within 30 miles of me (in a densely populated area), evidence of the dearth of gun owners in the area. So I’d really like to know.
It is hard for me to say this, but if I was still in the 7th district, I’d probably vote for Barr.
The Republicans are going to win that one anyway, so the primary between Barr and Linder pretty much decides the issue. Both are far right wing, but Barr has one edge over Linder, he does support liberty, whether anybody wants to admit it or not. Linder will tow the administration’s line. Barr has rather vocaly criticised TIPS and even proposed a new position within the new Homeland Security Department to insure privacy. Also, he consistently oposes laws expanding search and seizure powers.
I’m not a big fan of the guy, but I think that his being a loose cannon might be a good thing. If he’s re-elected, I think Ashcroft will be looking down the bore of that cannon. I’d like to see that.