My Take on Tucson

During a radio interview last January, Sharron Angle (a Tea Party fave with a concealed carry permit for a .44 magnum, and eventual Republican U.S. Senate nominee in Nevada) floated the idea an angry public would bring down an out-of-control Congress by using "Second Amendment remedies."

Then, on another right-wing talk show, she got specific... "Second Amendment remedies" were not just a way to deal with a "tyrannical" and ever-expanding national government, but also to "take out" her general election opponent: Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who was re-elected handily by voters who rejected Ms. Angle's notions of insurrection and assassination... But rhetoric has consequences.

It's an assassination attempt that we saw yesterday in Tucson...
A member of Congress targeted in Sarah Palin's 2010 gun sights.

Events may yet change the specific counts of dead and wounded, and the shooter's mental state may influence the charges he'll face. But I stand with her former 2008 running mate John McCain calling the attacker a disgrace to this country & humanity, deserving the contempt of all decent people & the strongest punishment available.

In politics, like other competitive endeavors, a civilized and decent person should be able to recognize that people with different views, or party affiliations, are opponents... Not existential enemies.



The best reasons to, with one voice, reject "Second Amendment remedies" is that we have First Amendment remedies... Ironically, it was the portion of The Constitution Representative Gabrielle Giffords of the Arizona 8th read this past week on the House floor.

Speak up. Don't shoot.