The Brief: Top Texas News for Jan. 17, 2013
The Big Conversation
Sweeping new gun-control efforts this week have provoked a fierce reaction — and even an ad campaign — in Texas.
On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Perry, a staunch gun rights supporter, lashed out against President Obama's newly unveiled proposal, which urges Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and to require background checks for all gun sales.
"The piling on by the political left, and their cohorts in the media, to use the massacre of little children to advance a pre-existing political agenda that would not have saved those children, disgusts me, personally," Perry said in a statement ...
Comments (52)
Texas RMS
I am not an expert on constitutional laws or guns. But as a mother, grandmother, and teacher I am greatly disturbed by the lack of civility, the name calling, and fear mongering over the issue of gun control. What on earth is Abbott doing running such a ridiculous ad? What business is it of his what the state of New York does? My greatest concern at the moment is that all this hatred and anger will increase the climate of violence in our country. It sounds as if there is a whole contingent of gun owners who would like nothing better than to have another civil war--who would love to have the chance to rise up in rebellion and revolution. There is nothing patriotic in the desire to tear apart this country. If there is a voice of reason anywhere in the NRA, it is being drowned out by the shouting of the rest. No rational person should have a problem with background checks for gun ownership. And I have yet to hear a rational argument for why anyone needs high-capacity magazines. Come on, people. Lower your voices. Remember the manners your mother taught you.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It isn't about just this one incident. Rick Perry is an idiot.
Judy Burns via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Well, I guess we're even. We disgust him, and he disgusts me.
Mary Ellen Graf via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Put a sock in it Rick Perry!
Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wow! The two lib comments with all their facts and well constructed arguments sure made me change my mind about this. Way to go Karen and Judy!
Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Maru too! You folks are just too much. No wonder you won.
Michael Crabtree via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Almost as bad as making up a story about shooting a coyote to suck up to the gun nuts.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I bet Perry didn't say a word when Bush used those snowflake babies to push his political agenda.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Read. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/23/AR2010102302996.html?sid=ST2010102304311
David Theis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Speaking of disgusting....
Johnny Hughes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What is disgusting is that the twenty first graders were each shot three, five, seven times because of the weapon. He had enough bullets to kill everyone there.
Kelley Masters via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Landa STOLE the guns and ammo. Must be nice to live in la-la land where criminals obey gun laws.
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
f*&^ing idiot perry
Mary Morrison via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I certainly know I'm disgusted by Perry, on a permanent and continuing basis.
Philip Sorrells via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am disgusted by Rick Perry and his shallow minded minions.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Everyone needs to watch these two videos and share. This will make you sick and mad as hell. http://www.mediaite.com/tv/jon-stewart-trashes-nra-they-must-be-a-michael-moore-run-covert-op-to-make-gun-owners-look-stupid/
Shawn AndMichelle Wehmeyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Using children to advance a political agenda disgusts Rick Perry? He has been doing that for years!
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The shooter DID NOT steal the guns. They were his mother's and he had access to them.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perhaps if our Congressmen hadn't been in the pocket of the NRA and watered down the ATF, we would not have so much gun violence in America today. Disgusted is an understatement.
Oliver Franklin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
THey just look for every way to obscure the fact that the GOP is raping the middle class.
Debbe Busby via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Personally - RICK PERRY disgusts me. May he reap what he sows.
Andrew Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry, everything you say and do disgusts me personally.
Randall D. Craig via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Pot, meet Kettle.
Jim Hsu via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What three things disgust me the most? NRA, assault weapons fetishists, and....I can't recall. Oops. Sorry.
Ryan Schumacher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The preexisting political agenda that disgusts me is the one that bends over backwards to please a certain special interest group--gun enthusiasts and the NRA--while the rest of us have to suffer massacre after massacre, shooting after shooting, without being able to take the simplest, most common-sense measures (has anyone in all seriousness said we have to take away all guns?) to try to prevent these things from happening.
Cynthia L Spanhel via Texas Tribune on Facebook
They read the 9/11 to Iraq playbook.
Sharon Richard via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He is holding hostage ALL the children of Texas, as he pushes his political agenda to the detriment of public education across the state. Randall is so correct: pot, meet kettle.
Oliver Franklin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I have to wonder how many people Abbot's ad campaign is actually repelling from Texas?
Cynthia Casper Robertson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Personally, Perry disgusts me on all levels.
Brian Cholewinski
"Let us all return to our places of worship and pray for help."
How does he know this legislation isn't the help people have prayed for? He doesn't. And substituting prayer for enacting meaningful change is no way run a government.
"The piling on by the political left, and their cohorts in the media, to use the massacre of little children to advance a pre-existing political agenda that would not have saved those children, disgusts me, personally."
How could he know that any agenda or legislation would not have saved those children? Does he know which agenda would have saved them? If so, why didn't he push that agenda? Maybe he prayed about it instead.
To blame that massacre on "evil" and "demons" is an insult to the victims and their families. Those victims died because of bullets fired from an assault rifle which was carried by a person with mental health issues.
Suzy Hagar via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry disgusts me completely. It was the massacre of the Sandy Hook children and many before that ignited the political fire storm. Rick's answer..,Texas teachers holster your guns. We will even discount your training.
Brian Cholewinski via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"Let us all return to our places of worship and pray for help."
How does he know this legislation isn't the help people have prayed for? He doesn't. And substituting prayer for enacting meaningful change is no way run a government.
"The piling on by the political left, and their cohorts in the media, to use the massacre of little children to advance a pre-existing political agenda that would not have saved those children, disgusts me, personally."
How could he know that any agenda or legislation would not have saved those children? Does he know which agenda would have saved them? If so, why didn't he push that agenda? Maybe he prayed about it instead.
To blame that massacre on "evil" and "demons" is an insult to the victims and their families. Those victims died because of bullets fired from an assault rifle which was carried by a person with mental health issues.
Jim Arnold
Perry is disgusting as always.
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Meanwhile, little kids in Texas who're poor with rotten teeth because of lousy healthcare in this state are pawns in RIck Perry's political agenda. Perry is dumb as dirt.
Cindy Rhoton Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I send Rick Perry letters every month to keep his religion out of politics.... Seems I need to substitute the word ignorance for religion, but that will never happen....
John Monarchi via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You can't say anything much dumber and uncaring than that quote, Ricky P., but somehow you always do. History will damn you for it, too!
Patrick Cassidy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You, Perry, sir, disgust ME personally. Period.
Patrick Cassidy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry does not give a rat's ass about how other people feel. He just loves to insult others for his benefit, plus he sure acts like a know-it-all. Tiresome fella he is....
JC DemocratofTejas
As usual, perry is a flaming pawn for the NRA, the Tea Baggers and anyone else who just can't tolerate a black president, and wants anyone who doesn't agree with his total hype to move on down the road. Hey, how is that back rick? Doc/friend gonna inject anymore of your stem cells illegally??
Kathy Kennemer Genet via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Anyone who is still arguing FOR multi-round clips and semi automatic assault weapons is telling us that the selfish desires of the very few are worth risking the safety of all. Perry and his cohorts bear the responsibility for the tragedies which ensue. It is clear that countries which have tight gun restrictions have fewer gun deaths by murder AND suicide. That is a fact. To willfully ignore that fact, and to promote ownership of these killing machines disgusts me.
Steve Fields via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Thank goodness all the Bush/Perry "haters" are all centered in Austin---keeps the rest of our state clean...
Linda Fischer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Personally, Rick, you disgust me with your self-righteous attitude that is politically motivated while you squander tax money on yourself, robbing the citizens of needed health care and education.
Dale Curry
Rather Obama using Children for a photo opportunity than the NRA/Abbott/Perry using them for sacrificial lambs on the alter of Assault Weapons and high capacity rounds.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry pukes!
Dale Curry
@ Steve Fields - So typical of t-party crazies to start attacking liberals on any conversation where the American Public has turned against your right wing lies. The debate is about Guns and regulation of same. It is not about liberals vs conservatives But go ahead and keep talking. Any time the NRA and their minions spew insensitively about this issue, it hastens the day when we will have an Assault Weapons Ban that works.
Joncile Martin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
and rick Perry disgusts me even more!
gypsy314 ne
Im glad to see Perry on the right side and hope he will tell his friend rino joe straus to do his job and support the bill for Steve who is rallying support for a gun bill THAT STOPS FEDS IN STATE. iF THAT DOES NOT WORK THEN THE PEOPLE MUST STEP UP AND FIGHT THE FIGHT.
Mike Heagerty via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a tool
Debbie Smith Garcia via Texas Tribune on Facebook
YOU disgust me, Rick Perry..in the WORST way!You're an egocentric PIG!!!!
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wow, look at all the Liberal have a hissy fit. Clearly none of you are in command of the facts or knowledge on the subject.
If you are upset about education then point the finger at yourself. You elected your local school board who squanders money left and right. We as a state have spent several times more on education than we did a few decades ago and to what result? The children are doing worse.
You claim you are "FOR the CHILDREN" yet you whine about Planned Parenthood exclusion from a state program. They killed more children in the last year than all the crimes committed by so-called
"Assault weapons" have ever have in the US!!
So please spare this world of you false outrage and hatred.
Steve Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oh Ricky anything to keep the eyes off of you ;) Get a double dipped paycheck lately ?
Glenda Turck via Texas Tribune on Facebook
When did being safe become political? In Texas the right wing has been in control of all state and local offices since at least 1994.