# Rep. Barr Fucks Up Big Time **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 7, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830 "2002-08-07T19:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/1 "2002-08-07T19:49:38Z")
[Here](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=684&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20020807/ap_on_el_ho/congressman_pistol_2) 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. > [@](#): > > “Nobody was in any danger. We were handling it safely, except that it was loaded,” 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.** It is a VERY easy concept. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/2 "2002-08-07T20:07:05Z")
[Cartman] Augh! God **DAMMIT**!!! [/Cartman] The guy had the _perfect_ opportunity to rid the world of a complete and total jackass, and he fucked it up. Gods. > [@](#): > > “This accident only underscores the importance of proven gun safety measures, especially when owning and handling antique firearms.” No. It underscores the importance of a well-thought-out assassination plan, and/or not giving a gun to a total numbnut. > [@](#): > > “I am thankful Bob was careful to always keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction.” Yeah, I wonder how that glass door feels right about now. -BK ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/3 "2002-08-07T20:18:08Z")
He fired an ANTIQUE??? Good GOD, you don’t treat antiques like that! Sheesh!!! RUIN an artifact, why don’t you, asswipe! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/4 "2002-08-07T20:47:14Z")
Don’t you just love the “passive” tense in English language? “The gun _fired_…” How much more decorous a sentence than “The drooling moron mishandled…” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/5 "2002-08-07T20:52:18Z")
Oh, **Bobkitty** , I believe further in the article the glass door’s feelings are described as being “simply shattered”. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/6 "2002-08-07T21:01:43Z")
Guinastasia, from what I understand it was accidentally fired- I’m assuming the antique didn’t have a trigger guard. I agree with you on the “asswipe” part. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/7 "2002-08-07T21:32:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/8 "2002-08-07T21:54:25Z")
It has a trigger guard. [http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1000/1037.htm](http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1000/1037.htm) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/9 "2002-08-07T21:58:52Z")
And it has a grip safety and a thumb safety, too. These guys had to really try to fire it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/10 "2002-08-07T22:08:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Oh, **Bobkitty** , I believe further in the article the glass door’s feelings are described as being “simply shattered”. \*\* The door was in “considerable pane”. ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/11 "2002-08-07T22:27:11Z")
The door will just have to pick up the pieces and continue on. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/12 "2002-08-07T23:20:31Z")
. . . Which will be hard to do, because its nerves are shattered. > [@](#): > > Don’t you just love the “passive” tense in English language? “The gun fired…” This is such a well-known way to deflect laying blame that legal brief writers joke about it. The classic line is: “Mistakes were made . . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/13 "2002-08-07T23:56:30Z")
In the right circumstances an antique gun could be a thoughtful gift for the right person. But who the hell gives a gun as a gift and LOADS IT FIRST? ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/14 "2002-08-08T00:01:46Z")
Most of you don’t live in Georgia, so you haven’t seen his campaign ads for the upcoming primary. His slogan? “Barr’s just gooder”. That’s correct, “gooder”. I guess he’s the education candidate. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/15 "2002-08-08T00:56:46Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/16 "2002-08-08T03:58:16Z")
Hmmm. Ronald Reagan Failing Memorial Doorway, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/17 "2002-08-08T04:46:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/18 "2002-08-08T05:51:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Gui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@El\_Gui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Gui)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/19 "2002-08-08T06:22:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\*His slogan? “Barr’s just gooder”. > > That’s correct, “gooder”. I guess he’s the education candidate. \*\* and isn’t Linder’s (his repub. primary opponent) slogan something like, “I promise not to embarass you”? Barr’s a total loon. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830/20 "2002-08-08T06:39:14Z")
A loon? Well, maybe. Hell, probably. But politics makes strange bedfellows. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rep-barr-fucks-up-big-time/122830.md?page=2)