It might surprise you to hear this, but right-wing Republicans actually agree with President Obama that America needs a radical change in our gun laws. It's just that they have a different idea of what those changes should be. In the Montana Legislature this month, in the wake of the Newtown tragedy and a scourge of national gun violence, Montana Republicans have moved quickly to introduce a series of bills to deal with what they believe is society's most pressing gun problem: it's not easy enough to shoot someone. There are dozens of proposals, each one stupider and sillier and more childish than the next. Here are few of my favorites: First is a bill to change our concealed weapons laws. In Montana, concealed weapons may not be carried in churches, schools, banks, bars, colleges, hospitals and a few other specified areas. Republicans have proposed a bill to eliminate these restrictions completely. The author of the bill, House Bill 304, is none other than the state chair of the House Judiciary Committee. A police officer showed up to a hearing to testify against it, saying he'd 'never seen a bar fight that ended well with a concealed weapon.' The Republicans were unfazed by this testimony and are moving forward with the legislation. There's also a companion bill, House Bill 384, that specifically addresses the injustice suffered by high school students who are denied the right to bring rifles and shotguns onto school grounds. The bill would forbid school officials from punishing such students. Keep in mind that these are the same lawmakers who proposed Senate Bill 279 which was a bill to allow legislators to carry guns'both concealed and open'in the state capitol building last session. Apparently they think that this will make the capitol a safer place. I'm sure the many government employees who work in the Capitol will feel secure in knowing that a few crusty old Republican men'who start drinking at 10 am and spend the rest of the day snoozing at hearings or ogling high school pages'will serve as a security force in the event the building is attacked. |
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